Cooking and Food are two things that have really been on my mind lately. In so many different ways. Kyle and I were reminiscing on a meal we had on our honeymoon that I think was the most expensive meal we've ever had and it just made me think of how, 8 years ago, I had never really cooked in my life. I wasn't against cooking, but it just didn't mean anything to me. Now it's like the most important thing there is to me. If there was one thing I was ever going to pursue or spend money or time on learning more about, it would be food. I would love to work in a bakery or some kind of small kitchen. I would love to own a tea room or run one out of a bed and breakfast. And what I struggle with the most with where we're at right now is that food and cooking is something I can't enjoy at all. I hate to admit, but we actually eat Top Ramen sometimes for dinner. God has been our provider in so many ways, so many times and we've never missed a meal, but it gets pretty hard and stressful sometimes. And my love and creativity is what's taken away. It's just stress and worry.
This past weekend a friend lent me some food network dvd's and oh how I craved them! Even watching the previews, that were just commercials straight off food network made my heart ache. It sound silly to a lot of people, but when we gave up cable last year to help with Lily starting preschool, that's what I gave up. Food network really shaped and inspired who I am. Watching these dvd's reminded me of that. I don't want to have cable when I know how hard it is to provide a healthy meal to my kids, but it truly feels like a piece of me is missing.
I'm sure some people could shine in the midst of the circumstances that I'm in, but I just haven't found that yet. I want to know what God is teaching me through all this. I know I am being taught and I'm sure I will understand, but it's very hard right now.
It's also so hard to live on this amazing street that we love and want to support the local restraunts and people who have been able to make a living out of what they love and not be able too. I know that day will come too.
Ok, enough. Happy post and pics to come!

Well we sent Kyle off to Portland today. The kids and I "splurged" on .99 cent pizzas for our special dinner. I know, it's kind of sad, but they don't know any better. So I was flipping through some pictures from the summer and I realized I never posted any from our our two fun trips out to my aunt and uncles cabin in Grapeview. So here they are! The view off their deck.
An intense game of Gobblet, (I think thats what it was called)
Ice cream churning for dessert.

A bunch of great shots of swinging on the rope swing down at the beach. This freaked me out to send the kids out over my head with nothing but the hard beach to land on, but they loved it and it was fun to watch.

My sweet tree climbing babies. What a fun summer I had with you!

A picture is worth a thousand words

I always feel like I can't post unless I have pictures to go with it and that often sounds like too much work, so I end up posting nothing. There's been lots going on lately, so I thought I'd attempt a picture-less post and see what happens. Anyone interested?

What a month September has been so far! With Kyle starting a new job, Hello Washington, (or American Family Insurance) and working lots of late nights and then Lily starting kindergarten not to mention preparing for Beau to start preschool. Whew! We had a scare last week when the school opened up an afternoon kdg class to accomodate the 36 kids who were in Lily's class, Lily got moved into it despite our efforts to keep her in the morning. So we struggled with not being too pushy and not trusting with how much we should get involved. I think we did ok and then Lily was moved back into the morning. So after that little bump, its been smooth sailing.

Tonight is the first PTA meeting and then next week is the Open House, so I'm looking forward to getting more questions answered. It's so different from a class of 14 with 2 teachers, teachers who are praying for you kids and loving them.

I'm getting excited for Beau to start school too, although I'm more anxious about it than I was because I found out the timing is going to be a little crazy on the days when I'm in Beau's class, I'll need someone to pickup Lily, which Kyle will be able to do a little bit and I know there's a few I can ask, I just didn't want to have to do that.

Kyle's going to be at a Men's Retreat this weekend, so the kids and I will get even more time together. Yippee!! I think I need a vacation.

My 4 Babies

We did it!

Well there she is, my biggest girl. She looked so beautiful this morning and was so happy and excited getting ready. Everything went according to plan with getting to bed early last night and have a leisurly morning today, she ate a good breakfast, didn't scream when I combed her hair. We knew we were off to a good start. Really the only problem of the day was that she got a blister half way to school. :( Luckily Kyle was walking with us, so we slipped off her shoes and he carried her. She did fine at school.
Of course here's cheesy brother Beau who wanted his picture taken too! Look at those huge shoes he's wearing!
Here it is. The lip-bite we knew was coming. The girls and boys at her table were very nice and only a little puzzled why Lily wouldn't talk to them.
This is her teacher Mrs. Bordeaux. Kind of a crazy shot, but we're very excited about her and think she's going to be a great teacher. Kyle also heartily approved of her high heeled converse.

When I went to pick her up, she came happily marching out right next to her teacher of course. Her class has 36 students in it right now and another teacher came out at the end and announced to all the parents there that the superintendant won't do anyting about that for 3 weeks and that we all need to call and tell them that something needs to be done by Monday. Ahh the drama begins. I did feel very good today about her being in half day. I'd been feeling a little bummed about that, but today I was glad that she wasn't heading off for a whole day.

So there you have it. We survived. She did better than me! I didn't cry, I'd really been more anxious than sad. It all went very smoothly and we're excited about tomorrow.

How cute is this!

Lily is starting kindergarten tomorrow! I am freaking out and trying to hide it from her. I don't know what to have her wear or how early to get there. I still need to go buy pencils, it's the only thing on her list we haven't gotten yet. I don't know how we're going to handle adjusting to the routine and I want this to be so good for her. I'm so nervous for her. I hope her teacher adores her and her classmates are patient with her and love her. I hope she finds a best friend. I hope she knows where to sit. (When I was in 5th grade I was going to a new school and my mom told me to go sit by a nice looking girl with pretty blonde hair, so I did and she became my best friend for years and years - that's you Krissy) I hope I can point out the same kind of girl to Lily. Please everyone say a prayer for her tomorrow. Pray that she won't be afraid to communicate and she won't pick her lip or her finger and that she'll have a great day. And give me any advice you've got.

Pictures tomorrow!