Corvalis Crew in the Hood

 The Corvalis Crew was in the hood for a weekend visit.  We scored with perhaps our last perfect weather weekend.  Spent the majority of Sunday at the beach and came home with sand buried in shoes, toes and diapers.  As it should be when playing at the beach.

 The girls and Oscar still chum around perfectly but Henry and Felix are certainly getting in the mix.  The last hour before the crew headed home Henry and Felix started really playing together.  I can't wait for them to also be the best of buds.  Elizabeth cried in our arms when they left... 'why can't they live right here with us!'.  So sweet and again loving another weekend of watching my kids nurture friendships with my best friends kids.  Perfection!

Next stop with this crew is the Methow.  Can't wait to see them all there!!

Smiley Face Game

Elizabeth loves a good game and her favorite game right now is Smiley Face better known as Hang Man.  Isn't there something very Portlandia about that name!

She is always the word/phrase maker which makes this game last a veerrry loooong time since she sounds spells a majority of her words.  I did not know about sound spelling until this past year but I know it well now.  At times she is right on with her spelling and other times the phrase has not a single vowel.  You can not guess the phrase until each space is filled.  If you have no clue you can not give up until every word in the alphabet is used.  All. Of. Them. 

Needless to say the faces she draws are exquisitely detailed.  Next time I'm getting a picture of our game.

Can't we just play Uno.

Below she is wanting to show the toast she 'cooked' on her own.  Plus she is a goof ball.

Elizabeth and Anneka

 There was no school on Friday and Lynn had to work so we got to spend the day with Anneka!  Both girls were thrilled to get an entire day together.  They are really the best of friends.  I spent a good part of the day keeping Henry out of their hair although they were somewhat tolerant.  Henry alternates between being adorable and absolutely obnoxious. 

 We did a little photo shoot and they were just goof balls.

 I love them and am honored that I get to be a part of their lives and friendship.

No table manners

So apparently we are not teaching our children any table manners.  Just saying.

No Table Manners from kathleen mcgregor on Vimeo.

 These photos are from the first day of 1st grade.  Her teacher and classmates all moved from Kindergarten to 1st grade together so initially there was little transition.  It really is a great group of kids and families.  There has been a few bumps in the road but all the sort of typically kids figuring kids out.  How to play on the playground together.  How to be inclusive.  How to bounce back after being excluded.  She said to us the other night 'but why would she do that we are friends??'.  Jeff says that comment alone means we must be on the right track.  She is a kind kid.

 She now knows what resilience means and is working on implementing that skill.  Truth be told I am still working to implement that skill.  Resilience for me is truly something I must practice so it isn't always easy to then teach it to Elizabeth.  The hardest for me is not the kids but the parents.  Ugh.  Sometimes parents teach their kids to be exclusive.  Inviting the select few.  That is when I have to practice my resiliency skills.

Most of all the group of parents are great.  We have met some lovely families.  The teachers are AMAZING.  Her teacher is beyond what I could have ever hoped for my child.  The bumps in the road are making us all stronger and more aware of how treat others.  It is amazing how much I am learning from my kids.  Its all good.

Lunch time with Henry

DSC 0117 from kathleen mcgregor on Vimeo.

The other day he was playing and I noticed he was counting to ten.  Just sitting there mumbling his numbers.  He can count things up to 6 which is his sisters age.  After that it gets sort of wonky.

He is also a big joker.  Oh and sorry for the mouthful of crackers.

Some Final Summer Photos

Some final summer photos just cause I am missing summer.   Elizabeth did tell me last week that she is loving first grade cause she now feels so grown up.  I asked why and she says 'cause I can take care of the Kindergarten kids.  Now I know what its like to be a mom and plus that means I'm all grown up'.  Slow down kiddo, slow down.

The Ponies

 Jeff is coaching Elizabeth soccer team, the Ponies.  One of the thing I love about this whole thing is the team names.  In their league they have the Ponies, Fireworks, Dolphins, Rainbow Jaguar's, etc.  Don't the names just make you smile.  Much like this silly adorable team.

 We had a happy hour after the first game and it is such a delightful group of parents and kiddos.  The gals ran around together like a happy herd of ponies.

Just another camping trip

I can not believe how much has changed since our camping trips last year.  
This little man is now out and about and no longer just in my arms.

 Headed out with the same gang but now the kids are free to roam.  Well all except Henry.  He does require some supervision.  This little bicycle gang would just take off on their own.

And Then She Was 6

She truly had a birthday month and the gift she asked for was a trip up in the space needle.  It was also my first journey.  Not Jeff's as his first year here he actually had a seasons pass which still makes me laugh.

 It was quite anticlimactic and once up there and she was ready to come back down immediately.  Not out of fright just boredom.  Oh well.
 
 One day I also dropped Henry off and Elizabeth and I spent the day together.  We joined up with Lila and went to this crazy trampoline center.  So amazing that these girls are only four days apart in age.  They don't see each other as often, which is poor planning by Alison and myself, but when together they are still so connected.

 This year I finally caved and let her have a  'real birthday party with no other grown ups allowed' as she requested. 

 She invited mostly kids from her school and I found the whole thing quite stressful which I know is ridiculous.  They really had an absolute blast and it was easy.

 We had games in the yard, they jumped on the trampoline and ran around like crazy kids should.

 The winner event was the cupcake decorating.  I made boxed cupcakes, bought horrible chemical filled frosting in colors not found in nature, sugary sprinkles and candy eyes.  They each got a few to decorate and LOVED every minute.  Not a very Seattle 'take care of your body' or 'earth friendly' event but they LOVED it.

 We can not stand how fast it is going.  Her favorite days are still the days with just family and we know that will end as it should.  Until then we will continue to cherish this time.

And then he was TWO

 He walks around announcing "Enri two" as he holds up all five fingers with a raging grin.  He gives hugs with his whole body.  Face in my neck, arms around me and body just snug.  He will randomly come up to me, grab my face and give me a kiss.  He is known to just smile and laugh when disciplined.  It is so super adorable that it takes all my strength to not just grab and hug him.   He loves trucks, diggers and construction sites which we visit frequently.  He loves to nurse... still.  He loves helping me in the garden, getting dirty and being outside. 

 She is such a little helper.  The only problem is she super enjoys telling him what to do and he does NOT like to be told.  Our house runs best when he is willing to be commanded.  Then there are the times he needs help, he lets he help and then there is peace.  Those moments do happen.

 I went to his school birthday party.   He was so happy to see me and then lost it when I left.  He didn't understand that it was still the middle of the day.  Gui just swept him up, he cuddled in and then was fine to say goodbye as long as he was in her arms.  Warms my heart.

 Ran out to buy cupcakes after work as Elizabeth looked at me asking what kind of cake we would have.  I don't really like cake.  Henry does not like cake.  However a birthday means cake so we made it go.  He was excited for the candle.