Rainy Thursday

Despite a strong inclination to wear pyjamas and hang out on the couch all day I took Jack to school and ran a few errands before picking him up. When we got home Jack said "We need... comfy pants, Mommy." Yes, we do, Jack. Yes, we do.

While running errands I acquired a booster seat/chair cover for Jack. He's too short to sit in the chair without having a hard time but too much of a big boy for an actual booster. This little seat cushion does the job quite nicely!

We made naan pizza for lunch. Frozen naan + tomato sauce + masala spice blend + cheese = pizza!

Jack played motorcycles.

He insisted that Henry play too.

All it takes

... is a second. I put Henry down on the couch to get Jack ready for school yesterday and he was out like a light faster than you can say sleepy-baby.

It's a great idea...

... on paper.

There are lots of things that I think about during the day. Here are a few of the highlights:

Opening an Etsy shop. I love to paint, but I've run out of walls to hang things on (which is the real reason we're trying to move.) I'd also love to make a little cash, so marrying the two seems to make sense. I've entered art shows and such before but I was a kid, frankly the idea of putting time and effort into developing an Etsy shop, only to have things sit, lonely, unpurchased would feel an awful lot like rejection.

Build a home from 'scratch'. I would love to buy land and then buy a bunch of used shipping containers (like the ones FEMA finally started using after Katrina.) They're the right basic dimensions to create modest rooms and building a great room in the center and putting a roof on top wouldn't be that hard. Right? Besides, the idea of reusing on that kind of scale is so green it makes me squee!

Plural Marriage. I'm not talking scary FLDS, that's a whole different thing. That new TLC show Sister Wives has me thinking. Clearly, the practical applications of bringing another person into a marriage have some pitfalls (understatement.) But there would certainly be some benefits- more hands for laundry, cooking, cleaning, childcare, etc. A live-in friend for me, friends for the kids. Don't get me wrong making marriage work with only two people participating is hard enough sometimes. But if one could ignore or actually work through the challenges of that lifestyle there are certainly some benefits.

Writing a Book. I have thoughts and I'm an eensy bit narcissistic. I think I have the making of an author... maybe even a good one. I've started about 9 books, some fiction and some non-fiction so far and I have finished not a one. I'm limited by my attention span. I always get somewhere between planning & research and 20 pages before I get distracted, busy, lazy and the whole plan fizzles. Someday I swear I'm actually going to finish a book. Frankly, I don't even care if anyone would want to publish it. Finishing the damn thing would be satisfaction enough.

I believe

I believe...

... you cannot sell a house through sheer force of will. (Believe me, I've tried.)

... there are enough good ways to raise children in the world that it's impossible to claim that there is only one 'right' way.

... when fall comes it should stay. It should not go away and be replaced by 90 degree oppressive heat and swarms of stink bugs, thankyouverymuch.

... experimenting with new foods and new recipes brings me a remarkable sense of joy.

... L.L. Bean and Eddie Bauer have some of the cutest clothes.

Apparently I'm a Sap

We got a 'new' car yesterday. We traded in my Forrester. Seriously, I almost cried when we drove away from it on the lot. She was such a good car, while I won't miss her lack of leg room or her small trunk space, I will miss her. Thanks for 12 great years, little car.
I learned having kids is the best way to get a good deal on a car:

• Bring your small children with you because they will distract you enough that you'll seem uninterested even if you're very interested.
• Get their best offer and then tell them you have to go home and put the kids down for a nap... the offer will improve.
• Shop at the end of the month.
  

Here's my new car. In addition to my deep sadness leaving my Forrester behind Jack was distraught when we took him for a test drive in the new car. He was screaming "No!! NO!! I don't like this!!! I need Mommy's car!! I need to get out!!!"

This morning, however, he woke up with new excitement for Mommy's new car.

Now if only I had a garage to park it in...

Harvest Moon

The harvest moon and the fall equinox signal that it's time for change. Change that you cannot fight (good luck getting the weather to stay summer-hot in November). It signals to me that it's time to start picking apples. I love a good pick-your-own, great for the planet and a great activity for the kiddos. Today we met up with Susan and Emily and their kids.

Sophia, Jack, Henry, Carter and Brooks.
(We miss you, Cady!! Tell your Mommy "Happy Birthday!)

After picking apples we wandered over to check out the broccoli.

Jackpot.

Jack got a workout pushing Henry back up the hill. -I love the jump-seat for the Phil & Ted... so many uses... like toddler-height handle.

Here is Henry, sitting like a big-boy! I'm so proud!

First Day of School!

Today was Jack's first day of school. We're a part of a program through our county, so I suppose technically you could call it a 'camp' (because you register by 5 week session) but it has a curriculum and Jack calls it school, so we're going to call it 'school'.

After having a hard time this summer with his second week of school I was nervous about how he would do today but he did great! We also saw Andrea, Andreas and Carsten from Mom's Group, as Andreas and Jack are going to be in class together!


Henry and I had some Henry-and-Mommy special time; at the grocery store, with a pumpkin spice latte.

When we got home Jack had a special first-day-of-school treat.

I've thought about trying to be really productive while Jack is in school- running errands and all that. But I'm going to use this time to do something much more important to me- snuggle with Henry and maybe conduct the occasional cooking experiment.