Woodland Antics

If  were one who kept up with my Facebook status this is what they would have looked like over the past week... *My kids are officially saying "tomahto" instead of tomato {a video of Reed doing just that} *I'm so bummed.  They don't sell pureed pumpkin here. What's a Thanksgiving meal without pumpkin pie? Guess I'll make it from scratch. *Life is so fun!!! *Doesn't feel much like Thanksgiving. Ry is @ work, kids are @ school and I'm Spring cleaning. Can't wait to celebrate on Sunday. *All of Fiona's ballet rehearsals & lessons are killing me. I had no clue how much dedication this would be.  What am I complaining about?  It's so worth it because she absolutely LOVES it.   *Happy Thanksgiving!!   *I found an American food store that sells pumpkin!  They also sell Goldfish crackers for only $6.99 a bag. What? *My favorite Aussie saying is "good on ya" {meaning good for you} Ry and I enjoy this commercial.

M y days as a full-time stay at home mom are numbered. Only a few more weeks until Summer break.  Then at the end of January they both go to school full time.   Looking back it's been just a blip in my life that I gotten to stay home and raise my babies.  A blip that has been the most rewarding {and trying} time.  I love and will desperately miss the little day trips I'm able to take with my monkeys.  Like last week when we went fruit picking together.   I'd only be more happy if we were independently wealthy and Ryan was able to join us on our daily excursions. Man oh man do we have a lot of laughs together.   A lot of people say "you're so lucky to be able to stay home with your kids." Luck has little to do with it.  It's a choice Ryan and I made as a couple.  I don't know anyone who makes less money than we have. {remember this post?  Ryan has been a student working for peanuts} We've gone without many material things in

Fiona: Mom I have to tell you something.  I changed the two to a zero.

I'm thankful to have this moment between  my Grammy and my Reed forever preserved. It warms my soul. I'm grateful for her long life on this earth.  It gave her time to feel comfortable sharing her love in words and hugs.  Near the end of her life she hugged harder than anyone I've ever met. She said "I love you" like it was going out of style.  Her longevity gave her a chance to meet my babies and for my babies to receive one of the best hugs they ever will. i love this one too For more about my Gram O'Dea go HERE

I t was funny to hear what the kiddies were thankful for.  I wrote their thoughts on little leaves to adorn our thankful tree. M y personal favorite was from Reed.  He was thankful for, "My strong kicking body."  As I read the thankful thoughts to Ry he guessed who the owner was.     He nailed them all.   **************************** Our Thanksgiving Banner I think it turned out cute especially given we made it out of  soda and cereal boxes. **************************** Last year we made Thanksgiving silhouettes {I'm just realizing now the 1 looks like a 7} I wanted to make another pair this year so I did  but time & material were not on my side . I didn't have black paper so I replaced it with newspaper C'est la vie Next year I'll put more effort into them.

I just had to throw this up here real quick. Ry picked the kids up from school today. Fiona was so excited about the scarecrow she made for me. I never want to forget it. we're thankful for her   She was upset when Ryan dropped her off at school.  Reed eased Ryan's heart when he told him "Don't worry Dad, I'll take care of her" {melt} p.s.- can you spot me in the photo?

Sunday... {I think this is an Eastern Yellow Robin} Laughing Kookaburra

I'm thankful for weekend family time. When Ryan was in grad school nothing distinguished the weekends from the weekdays.  He worked and I maintained with the kids.  I knew the future would be different. I promised myself I would never take a weekend for granted. And here we are ,in the future, treasuring every weekend as a family. This weekend we went ROCK CLIMBING... celebrating a job well done {gotta love that smile} just hanging out after a successful climb she's a natural check out the calf muscle on this 6 year-old We may have to clear some room in our budget for a ton  more rock climbing because we have some gym rats on our hands.

I'm thankful for Beach Days!   sand in my car, salty hair, kids chatting, waves crashing, warm breezes, giggles, dunes in bloom, pirate treasure and sand castles. I'm thankful for days like today... lil' peanut analyzing the waves & contemplating his next move. even beach days have their moments