silly girl

After walking through Natalie's {messy} room I find her downstairs and say: "Your bedroom could use some attention..." 

She runs to the bottom of the stairs and shouts up to her room, "Hi Bedroom !"

That's not the kind of *attention* I meant. . .but nice try. 

I just love that girl.

those moments

This morning Fischer was in the high chair in the kitchen while I was baking cookies and my Dad was throwing together a meat loaf for dinner tonight. We were all three laughing. I can't even remember what over, but it was the kind of moment that I don't ever want to forget.

Dad was stealing spoonfuls of cookie dough while he asked me what I thought about tossing the left over pumpkin puree (from bread I made the other day) in the meatloaf (which we did). Something we both know we won't tell anyone about until after they eat it - a mini-secret that doesn't really matter but so does at the same time because it's what we do, ya know? Dad and I. In the kitchen. Laughing and scheming over dinner plans. So simple, right?

Those moments. 

After finding out about the loss of a loved one in Jeff's our family earlier this week I'm slowing down and appreciating these moments. I'm willing them into my memory. Carving out the space by letting go of stuff that doesn't matter and filling my heart with the things that do.

Like laughs in the kitchen with my Dad.

kid logic

Jack (at soccer practice pointing to another player on his pee-wee soccer team): "He hit me!"

My friend: "He did?! Why would he do that?"

Jack: "I don't know, but it hurt!"

My friend (calling the other boy over): "Why did you hit Jack?"

Other boy: "Because he hit me first!"

My friend (to Jack): "Did you hit him first?"

Jack: "Yes, but that's not the part I'm tattling about - I'm tattling about him hitting me after that!"

game on

Do you guys see the cloud of steam coming from the top of our house? I'd be surprised if you couldn't (no matter where you may be right now) because I am so hopping mad I'm fuming all over the place.

After my run I was hungry and wanted to grab something healthy and quick and remembered that I had bought a 3 pound bag of almonds at Costco a few days ago so I went to the cupboard to grab a handful. When I went to grab the bag I noticed that it was empty. At first I thought that Jeff must have transferred all of them into a different bag (or taken them and left the bag) but then I saw the chewed through bottom of the bag and I knew.

M.I.C.E.

Those little suckers ate through the plastic bag and took/ate the entire 3 pound bag of almonds!

GAME ON. 

Tonight they die. They all die.

Oh I'm so mad!!!

{And also still hungry!}

Source

{totally random} Thursday Thoughts

--- I'm tired. Monday my friend Maria and I ran 7 miles and then we ran another 7 yesterday on a different route (both pretty hilly and I pushed Fischer in the jogger both times) - that kind of tired...the GOOD KIND.

--- We had an awesome weekend last week and we're looking forward to another coming up. Last weekend we took the kids to Portland to OMSI (a huge {amazing} science museum) on Saturday and then Sunday we got to fellowship with a ton of friends at one of their houses (with a gazillion kids and adults and and and). We had an amazing worship/service time in their living room followed by a soup/bread/dessert potluck in the backyard followed by a bunch of hours of pressing apples and pears into cider. It was such a great time with friends. We are so blessed to have so many friends that we love like family. Oh, and this weekend we have the homecoming football game on Friday night, we're pressing apples for cider at home with our kids on Saturday and Sunday we have no plans (which is AWESOME). :)

--- I volunteered in Jack's classroom this morning. Kindergarteners are hilarious. They wanted to know how old I was so I had them guess (I know - brave). They guessed anywhere from 17 to 64. {I'm 32.} Jack thought this was hysterical.

--- Because apparently we're a little crazy Jeff and I have agreed to lead "game time" at AWANA at our church on Thursday nights. It is fun {and makes me love my husband even more - he's so amazing with all kids - not just our own} and exhausting, but we're loving getting that time with our kids too {who absolutely LOVE having us there which is so fun!}.


--- As I'm diving into Hebrews and Galations and Romans in Bible study with a few of my closest girlfriends every Wednesday afternoon I'm realizing how much I appreciate having close girlfriends. Friends who see my heart. Who know me and know me well. As we grow closer in our friendships I'm appreciating it more and more - God has blessed me BIG with the friends I have. B I G.

--- The leaves are changing color and our driveway is completely covered in yellow and orange. This is my favorite. I could walk it all day long if there wasn't laundry to be done and food to be made. . . minor details in life. :)

Hope you guys are having a thoughtful Thursday!

model fall day

Today was the kind of fall day that reminds me why I'm so in love with fall days.

The sun was out in all its glory but it wasn't too warm - crispness in the mid 60s.

Perfection.

We spent a lot of time outside today (for obvious reasons). I got to run (5 miles, which actually felt like a break after running almost 7 brutal up-and-down-hills miles with a friend on Thursday), Jeff got to pull maintenance on all the vehicles, we did some outside chores, the kids played outside all.day.long. and then we went for a drive in the mountains because my sweet husband knows how much I love the colors of fall {and we may or may not have pulled over at a gravel pile and shot our 22s at some empty soda cans for fun}.

Just a sweet day today after a week of rain and crazy schedules and apart-ness as a family (felt like we didn't sit at the table to eat dinner all together even once this past week with sports schedules and working late, etc.).

I'm so thankful for days like today amongst seemingly long lines of crazy days.

I love my little (big) family.

We are blessed.