Around here...

I am:

: painting a child's bedroom

: trying to capture everyday life

: letting kids sleep under the Christmas tree

: finding myself amazed that Sara can get herself completely dressed for the snow

: pleased that Jim took his cup of coffee with him to shovel the driveway

: enjoying scenes from our 1st snowfall

Suckerpunched...

by the supercold of 2012.

I'm not kidding folks, it's a bad virus out there and it decided to camp out at our house.  Except most people camp for a weekend or just a few days at most so perhaps we should think of our house as the Grand Hilton or something because this virus, I tell ya.  It likes it here.

I'm a great hostess too it seems because you guessed it, I feel like I've been suckerpunched by this thing. 

I have a feeling my ear might unplug today although once when I was in college I went a few weeks with a plugged ear and thought it was the coolest thing ever.  So maybe it won't unplug today but it's starting to crackle in there so maybe I'll be set free from my cloudy existence as of late.

Because a cute little glass makes gargling with warm salt water much more fun.

Perhaps Ella Jane's favorite part of the day...when she gets to put eye drops in her MAMA's eye.  We tag team she and I.  Pink eye likes to hang out here too and it seems I've caught a bout of it from her.

Because wearing your daughter's jewelry makes the day a little happier. 

Hoping you all are staying well and that we kick this darn thing to the curb verrrrry soon.

Camp Wellness...

Here at Camp Wellness you need to have suffered some sort of ailment for weeks on end.  And passed it on to at least one of your siblings.  

If you don't meet the above criteria and still want to enter in, well, a friendly relationship with germs is a must.

We do adhere to strict rules...

Earlier bedtimes.

Cancelled activities.

Home from school.

Consuming mom's new concocted vegetable/fruit juice and or smoothie.

Quiet times.

If you are not happy with said rules, there may be a few tears.

That's okay.  We have beautiful, personal, suites in which to lay your head and have a good cry.

And when you're finished, we're glad to have you back.

We hope you enjoy your stay.

Let's get a little caught up, shall we?...

First off, Fall has been brilliant here in the Midwest.  Beautiful colors and fairly mild weather.  Photos of my kids coming and going from school isn't something I have an abundance of so I was glad to capture this a few weeks ago.  The leaves are long gone by now, but this is fantastic reminder of what the walk to and from school is like for us this time of year.  Very fun.  And loud.  And crunchy.

Good heavens, this girl likes to play babies.  You know the game right?  "Mom, do you want to play babies?" she'll ask.  Which translates to her making her bed on these chairs and falling asleep and then telling me to come get her because she woke up.  And then rocking her and feeding her.  So, really playing "babies" is her giving me intructions on what to do with her.  Mmm.....

Doesn't she look funny all scrunched up?

I get to eat lunch everyday with this young lady who is flourishing in preschool.  I haven't seen a helmet at the table since Ella Jane rocked it way back in 2010!  Wow, where on earth did that time go?  Going through old photos to find that one of her in the helmet took me back to when those girls were itty bitty.  That was a great year by the way.  A remember it fondly.

We switched seats not too long ago so Sara is the one who stares back at me from the same seat Ellla Jane did and the first few times it made me look twice.  I love lunch time with Sara.  It's our time to catch up and chat, talk about the afternoon, or sometimes to just be quiet with each other.

Our days always involve coloring or drawing of some sort.

A couple of weeks ago we ventured down to the river to enjoy the warmth.  I think it was close to 80 this day!  We each had an apple and strolled the riverwalk.

Meanwhile...while Sara and I are having lots of playtime in and outside of the house...

these two big kids are working hard at school. 



These were taken at open house.  Do you remember being proud of your desk?  Mine never lifted up like these ones do.  We just had to stuff everything in from below sort of.  Hard to explain but I love how every year it's a big deal for them to show me their desk.  "Take a picture of me and my desk mom".  And so I do.  And here they are, very proud in front of their desks.

And with that I'll sign off until another day.  Hopefully, sooner than the last.  :)

Always changing...

I'm laughing because I came here to post a quick little something about our lives at the moment and noticed that Blogger has changed their dashboard yet again.  My e-mail changes its dashboard every now and then too and it always throws me for a loop.  It's like when the grocery store decides to rearrange everything.

Drives.me.nuts.

I like to change my living room and that's about it.   I'm kind of a routine girl.  So when I came here to think of a title and saw that everything was different, the words out of my mouth were "always changing".  With a not so nice tone of voice. 

It fits well to what I wanted to briefly say here which I find amusing.  It's bedtime; past bedtime so it will be brief tonight but the school year is well underway and guess what?  Things are different.  And it's taken me a few weeks to get used to that change.  New grades, new activities, new schedules, new friends, new everything.  I'm not sure why I always think it will stay the same from year to year because it never does.

At any rate, it's past bedtime and the girls are waiting for the bedtime stories.  I really must go!

Yes! Finally!

Well, she did it.  She lost that tooth!

Last night at the football game it took a turn (literally) for the worst.  For good?  I'm not sure how to word that actually.  I had forgotten that you can twist and turn little teeth and they will still not come out.  About a week or so ago she came to me and told me that she got her tooth twisted and it wouldn't go back to it's regular spot.

Allright then.

Meanwhile, she continued to twist and turn and Sara got started on her coloring and drawing.  Oh you didn't think we actually watched the football game now did you?

For the most part I watch but it's interupted watching.  Still fun to be out there, I love it.  And I love bringing my kids.  Jim is with us too but he gets too ancy sitting with us in the stands for very long.  He has to be closer to the team so he heads down to the field.

I adore preschool art.

 And then, somewhere in the middle of the 2nd half this determined to stay in little tooth finally decided to fall out.  And we all rejoiced. 

I love the fall and I love going to all the sporting events offered to us.  I love that we can go down to the field and let the kids run when the game is over.  The first game of the season is always under the lights and the community is welcomed to attend for free.  It's a fun spirited night with fireworks at the end. 

So that 1st game three weeks ago under the lights with fireworks and a big win was, well, magical.  Which seems funny to say.  I mean it's just football right?  But it was the whole thing; the 1st game, fall, we had won and raised the white flag, fireworks, and then a bunch of kids running free on the field with music blaring.  And my kids got to be part of that.

And that night I didn't have my camera.

Shame.  Don't I know.

So last night I was sure to bring it.  It wasn't near as warm and fuzzy as that night three weeks ago but still glad we captured a few pictures of what childhood is like for my kids right now.

{Thanks to my Matthew for the photo}

Road Trip 2012 Part II...

I now present

Gunn's at the Ocean~

We spent 3 days on the Oregon Coast with my extended family.  A reunion of sorts.  Around 45 of us or so.  When we first arrived we headed straight for the beach.  It was late in the day, so not exactly warm but excitement forced us into the water.  It had been a few at least 7 years since Jim and I had been in the ocean and 2/3 of our kids had never even seen it!

That first dip in the water landed two of our kids flat on their backs.  Thankfully, they came up with smiles and laughter.  Probably pure astonishment.  After a quick trip back to the house for dry clothes they wanted back for more.

 The next day we were ready. 

 Yes, that water is cold.  But so worth it.  Look at that sweet boy's face.

 We had many, many hours with cousins and 2nd cousins and auntie's and uncle's and grandma's and grandpa's.

 Ella Jane and her cousins' feet.  They were good company for each other; only 7 mon. apart in age.

 My kids love my mom's dog and Madeline is so tolerant of their doting hands.  There was football and baseball in the front yard, bubbles too.

 and flying kites and burrying feet at the beach.

 My girls and their cousin.  Love this.

 This is me attempting to play my 1st ever (oh shoot what do you call it?) video game.  I've played video games before but not this particular kind.  Anyway.  It was a lego star wars one.  And I'm completely blanking on the gaming system but Matthew loved playing with me.  Although he did get a little frustrated because I wasn't keeping up. 

But every now and then, you just have to jump into the world of your kids and when you do they are over the moon.

So, I didn't really get the game but it was worth it.

There is something about the Ocean that is so solitary.  It's like staring into a campfire at night yes?  Mesmorizing.  Matthew frolicked and frolicked for THE longest time.  Such a pleasure to watch.  Ella Jane had her moments alone too.  Very sweet to witness.

And that my friends was how we spent three days at the beach.