229: harvest time

Azia shredded & froze five giant zucchinis from Gwen, Zayda and I hate broccoli from Mom's garden for lunch, and the boys picked five gallons of huckleberries. One of these days we'll actually plant something of our own, but we get by pretty well on the generosity of others for now.

228: First sign of fall!

The boys started football practice on Friday. Just a few more weeks till my favorite time of year.

120: photo day

Took team photos of these crazy girls this afternoon. What a fun bunch.

292: Missoula Maze

We went to the Missoula Maze this afternoon and of course Lex got lost in the maze.

Once I realized he had escaped from the older boys up front, as quickly as I could I made it to the lookout so I could try to locate him in the maze down below. As I was scanning the trails I heard "Hey, Mom! Hey Mom, what are you looking for in there?" I looked across to the far corner of the maze and there was Lex, sitting way up top, just beneath the flag on the little corner straw bale tower waving to me holding his little map to the maze.  After he saw me he climbed down from the little corner tower, sat down (still on the top of the maze) and continued to try to tell me about his map.  We couldn't hear each other very well since we were so far apart, so instead of staying there so I could get him, he got up and began walking across the tops of the bales. (Yes, I'm choosing to believe this was because he couldn't hear me.)  This got the attention of one the official sorts of maze monitoring people who then jumped up and retrieved him.

But since it was Lex and not a normal four-year-old he didn't get worried or start crying and actually never believed he was lost at all. He explained to me very clearly he knew where he was the whole time. He also apparently knew where I was most of the time.  I told him he still couldn't run off, and he couldn't climb up on top of the maze. The rules were you just followed the map to find your way out.

He just sighed and shook his head, "Mom, I can't follow this thing. I don't know how to read you know."

Sometimes my lack of logic really just makes him crazy.                                      

290: all four

We took a few minutes to take pictures of the kids today. It went pretty much as usual, which means not so awesome. I do consider it a success because see here– all in four one picture frame. That's often the best I can do. And I included a lot of field and sky so Azia is far away and you can't really tell she is crying. Also, the movement is a stylistic thing, not at all related to the younger boys both on about to run completely away from me in opposite directions.

286: colors

I took school pictures for Lex's class today.

It's too bad we couldn't have done it any of these places we stopped on the way home instead of in the classroom where we had to take them! (Due to the unfortunately, perfectly timed stormy weather.)

275: fall

There are a few bursts of autumn color in our yard.

267: signs of fall

Mums on the front deck. . .

262: First Day of Fall!

Leaves are changing, soccer is starting, football is in full swing, the air cooling down (though it is still full of smoke), and I am so ready for fall! In the last couple years it has become my favorite time of year.

Since the smoke ruined the air quality last weekend and there were no soccer games, this was the first week.  Azia and Zoran had a lot of fun playing, and Lex had fun watching once he ate an embarrassing number of twinkies. Azia had two games and Lex was so sad he didn't get treats with the team after the first one, I took him to the store in between games. I let him get a big box so he could share with all the other kids. Then I was not paying very close attention to him while making phone calls trying to get some ambulance transports covered. I looked up and he was on this perch watching the games and enjoying his twinkies. He had more than one. He also did not eat the entire dozen. (I'm not going to admit the number between those extremes which he did actually eat.)

Day One: Back to School

Although we were all a little hesitant to head back, the kids seemed to have a great first day of school, even if I only have sketchy photographic evidence of it.

As always, my children weren't really on board with me getting even one photo of them all together. They don't believe in that. Azia & Zoran were game for anything, Israel was annoyed and ready to walk to school more than an hour before it started and was impatient. He wanted to leave as soon as everyone was waking up. Lex needed a little additional time waking up and wasn't ready to immediately be involved in anything except a few giant plates of huckleberry pancakes. Dev thinks it's silly and annoying if I ever want to take pictures where I need people to cooperate at all, so he just told Israel to leave and Lex was still wrapped up in his blanket.

So, our group picture is a sort of collage:

Israel did some checking of his morning messages before leaving, Zoran enjoyed some pancakes, and Lex continued to sleep while everyone else started their day.

About three hours later Lex did get up and decided to measure himself like all the other kids did in the morning.  When he scooted up to the measuring chart he saw the big "3" right in front of his face and told me he was three inches. I explained to him it was three feet, and he told me that was just silly: "People don't have three feet, Mom! Look I have two, you have two. . . everyone only has two! What are you talking about three feet?"

I suppose he does have a point, though he may tell people for the immediate future that he is three inches tall.

Zoran discovered it was sort of hard to remember how to tie up those new shoes after not wearing any shoes at all for three months!

We stopped at the end of the driveway to take a couple pictures and Zoran turned around and started peeing in the field. Hopefully this socializing  & moving back to civilized days isn't too abrupt.


When I couldn't even get the kids to look at me for a picture I decided to take my favorite new shoes and backpack feet shot. . . and then I realized none of the shoes (except Zoran's) or backpacks are even new. Oh well.

 We found some friends and couple cousins once we arrived at school. Maysa & Paisley were getting there the same time we were.

Zoran and Azia were both really excited to go back this morning. It made the day so much better.

Zoran told me last night his two favorite days of the year were the first and the last. The last was quite a lot better, but the first wasn't too bad because there was always a little bit of discovery and not too much work.

We're going to work on not being so against the work part, but a little bit of discovery is a pretty good thing to hope for every day.

On to day two.

thankful this is the ordinary

The family all got together for Thanksgiving Thursday.

A big meal, a few dozen cousins all together to hang out, lots of good visiting.

And the best part? There was nothing really out of the ordinary about this all. We do this pretty much every week. Except the food was a little more extensive and impressive– three tables full. Mom cooked all day. Everyone else brought multiple dishes. Even I cooked. The ordinary gathering of the family plus amazing amounts of food makes for a pretty good holiday. 

KaNana, Gwen, and Valerie. . . last touches on the meal.

Israel and Azia cooking away.

Israel made fried ice cream.

Everyone brought food.

And Grandma and Lettie brought their wheels.

There was a lot of eating.

Zoran cautiously considered trying a little sushi. . . maybe next time.

Grandma was brave enough to try it (though her tastes are only about as exotic as Zoran's!)

Ahni, Lettie, and Dylan filling up their plates

Keilana and Azia making decisions

There was some visiting.

Keira and Lettie

Azia, Maysa, and Keilana

Eldon, Jenna, & Christina

Kylie & Azia

Grandma Elda gets a hug from Maysa

girls, girls

 There was a  little wrestling

 and a little dress up.

And of course, some Black Friday shopping preparation.

Deva and Christina formulate a plan.

And near the end of the evening, some gadget lessons.

Iyezk teaches his papa a few things.

Deva watching Michael facetime with Israel.

the girls do a little photo taking

and the boys introduce Yaya to Angry Birds

and then back to the dessert table. . . so many options.

Actually, the whole evening was sort of like dessert.

Fall. Kids.

 

Leaves.

Someday my kids' kids might enjoy fall leaves in my yard.

Luckily for now they have Yaya & Papa's yard.

 I love feet photos. So much of my kids' personality comes out in what they look like from the knees down.

We had to track down Lex's boots before we were leaving this today. When I told him he'd left them over at Iyezk's and we were going to stop and get them on the way out, he said "Oh, good. I really love those boots."

My three boys. . .  the littlest one is a little hidden. 

And my one beautiful girl. 

I'm pretty fond of my little gang.