Fall Fun

It's been a fun and busy fall in Virginia! We have enjoyed school, soccer, ballet and beautiful fall days. I am officially living with Todd and his kids while we still wait and hope that my house on Kipper Turn will sell. (Yes, that was a giant sigh you heard!) It's a busy and happy life with 5 kids one week and 2 kids the next - always an adjustment and always an adventure. The boys (Enzo 10, Westin 7, and Tate 6) played soccer this fall. We fanagled to get Westin and Tate on the same team and they did fantastic! Scored lots of goals, learned to dribble the ball and work as a team. They were both very sad when it ended. Enzo played on a more competitive level being a few years older and I think we all enjoyed the change of pace Enzo's games offered. Let's just say it's a bigger field, and there's a little more strategy involved other than trying to keep the kids spread out away from the ball. All three boys made "Todd's Honor Roll" with stellar report cards. They are Pokemon bandits and are constantly playing, trading, and training although Todd and I can't understand any of what they are talking about. We just smile and nod and know that they're having fun. They love to play outside, typical boys, and Tate learned to ride a two-wheeler finally!

I decided it was time to let Avarie have a chance to try something out too. She and Ava take ballet once a week and are too cute! I'm not quite sure how much the are learning, but they do enjoy going and we will be treated to a recital in June. They are both doing fantastic at school. They love playing make believe, puppies and kitties, coloring and legos. They are too funny and we often call them Frick n Frack, or when they're having a little hen party in the bathroom I call them Ethel and Margaret because they have this secret little language like little old ladies.

I'm still teaching preschool at Greenwood Country Day School and I am teaching the 4's class again this year. I have 18 students and they are a delight. I'm working more this year, staying through nap every day which is both a positive and negative some days. I enjoy having the time to work in my classroom and get planning done, but feel bad that Avarie can't get a good long nap in her own bed. Oh well, we are adjusting and I feel so fortunate to have a good job with great benefits in that I get to have Avarie right next door. Other than work, being a mom takes the top priority. I am still selling on eBay, walking 3 or more miles a day, cooking and baking. Todd and I love to go out and try new restaurants. We recently ate a a tiny restaurant called Mezzanine that was delicious!!! He and some guys in the neighborhood are playing in a band (he was a drummer in a successful local band a while back) and they have played at a couple parties in the neighborhood. I enjoy that they practice in Todd's basement because it's fun to have live music underneath the kitchen while you do Sunday chores.

All in all, it's been a great fall and we are anxious to head into winter - hoping for some snow like last year!

All I want for Christmas...

(2nd summer post still to come. This was just too cute not to post out of order.)

Ah, Avarie, and her endless joy in the most simple of activities. She has been playing with boxes for months now and plays everything from vet, to dog carrier, to cat breeder, to McDonald's worker. She and Ava play for HOURS with all sorts of random boxes. So count this post as one for me to remember the simple days with her, sweet and happy, innocently playing with whatever she can find to fit her game.

All I want for Christmas is that sweet little girl in those boxes, to stay sweet and little for as long as possible. All she wants for Christmas is some more boxes!

Summa Summa Summa

Whew! So I hear that Thursday is the first day of Fall? Really?!?! Well, I suppose I better get a little summer update on here then.

I see that my last post was from June 11, which is exactly one week before Tate's last day of kindergarten, and 8 days before Tate and Avarie left for the summer. Tate had a great kindergarten year, and Avarie grew up so much during her 2 year old preschool year. They were excited to spend the summer with their dad in Colorado, a little nervous about being away from mommy that long, but excited just the same. The end of preschool for me, the end of school for Tate, a birthday visit from my dad, and just life in general didn't give me much time to get upset before they left. (Although I'm sure Todd would say that I shed my fair share of tears.) At any rate, we met Derek in DC on June 18 and the kids flew back with him in time for Father's Day.
The first week was torture, to say the least. I remember Monday morning waking up early to go for my morning walk, and coming back to Todd's expecting a kitchen full of hungry kids, just like every other day. Kids smiling and happy that I am a morning person and am happy to cater to them for breakfast. I walked in and it was silent. No kids. Not mine. Not his. Just quiet. I know there are lots of moms (and dads) who ache for a break, just a day of peace and quiet. I know that I have my moments where I need space, but I have never been a mom who wants to get away from my kids. So, a morning of silence in what is usually a noisy, happy kitchen was painful. I cried immediately. Todd was so sweet, and I knew that I would make it through the summer, and tried to remind myself that this was a chance to take some time for me. Things I didn't expect to be difficult were awful - laundry, grocery shopping, going all the places I usually take my kids in the summer.
Fortunately, I chose to work quite a bit this summer while my kids were away. So, those quiet mornings were quickly filled with hurried hugs and coffee handoffs as I headed to work at 7:30am. At work, I got to get my kid fix with all the sweet faces of summer day care. I also got to get lots of time with Todd's kids every other week, and got a chance to do some fun summer things with them - spend afternoons at the pool, go to the library, outings to Whole Foods, and more. Todd spoiled me ROTTEN with dinners and evenings out to restaurants I'd never been to, concerts, long lazy weekends at the pool and more! We really enjoyed our time together, and he was so sweet waiting up for me to talk to my kids every night. I couldn't believe how fast the days flew by and before I knew it, it was mid-July and Todd and I were headed to Colorado to see the kids.
We got to spend a fun evening with my best college buddies, their husbands and kids. We laughed til we cried, as usual. Ally and Angie and I still know how to wrangle the kids, keep our guys on their toes and have a good time. My life is so much sweeter with friends like them!
My dad picked us up in Denver and drove us all the way back to Ridgway so we could enjoy time with Papa and Nana too. We got an unexpected surprise to join us in Ridgway - Heather broke her leg and needed some help and R&R so she and baby Boden spend the week with us too. Ridgway was great - a chance to soak up every minute with my kids, a chance for Todd to get to know my family, and a chance to enjoy gorgeous Colorado summer in the mountains. We spent a day in Silverton, drove to Telluride, swam in the hot springs, saw lots of wildlife and farm life, and just enjoyed the company. I couldn't have asked for a better place to spend the week. Good food, good wine, lots of smiles!
*sigh* That's only half...