Update on Rebekah

I have instructions from Rebekah not to blog about her, or put pictures of her on here, or talk to my friends about her ... you get the picture.

Yet, lest you all think that she was kidnapped by the gypsies, or that we stopped loving her months ago, I thought a brief (picture less) update would probably be OK. I'm pretty much going on the "I'd rather ask for forgiveness than permission" principle.

I think she would probably 1st like me to point out that she is now taller than me. We all knew it was coming, since I'm already the shortest of all my siblings! I thought that day would also bring sharing of clothes - forget it - there's no way she'd be caught dead in my stuff, so the closets remain separate.

Rebekah started 9th grade - which is high school - this year. She is taking 2 honors, and 1 AP (advanced placement; which means she gets college credit) classes. She has such a great attitude to school, and is MUCH better at being on time than I ever have been (she must have learned that from Rick.) She is also in "Players Club" the drama club at school again - and loving every minute of it. In the interests of her having a more self-directed life, we agreed to her dropping piano. She wasn't loving it, or diligent in practice, so it made sense with her new busy load at school. I am hoping that the skills she has will be enough to pick it up again, if she ever desires to.

The biggest change this year is that she also started early-morning seminary. She has had a really great attitude about it. Rick takes her at 5:45am, and then comes home to leave for his train. I leave with the little kids at 6:30, to pick her up and take her to school. We're still figuring out how to get a good breakfast into her with this routine (usually she grabs an apple, and some milk), but so far it seems to be working well. It may get more challenging in winter when I have to bundle up the younger 3 to leave the house (I just carry them to the car in their pj's now - oh for an attached garage ....) Still, I think Rebekah and Rick have the harder jobs, so I'm trying not to whine.

We really reduced her household responsibilities through the week (to accommodate her schedule) but increased her Saturday tasks, and booked her 2 nights a month for Rick and I to have a date night (we will pay her for those.) So far it all seems to be working well. She really is a great kid, and has a had such a positive attitude so far this school year, and is lots of fun to be around. Way to go bek!

A Perfect Day

It seems the past few weeks have been all about being busy, trying to get caught up from our trip, trying to adjust to school, adjust to new routines, always hurrying somewhere .... Today we had a free morning, and although there were things I really needed to do, I decided to just do something fun with my little kids. I asked Jacob what he'd like to do, and he said he really wanted to see the "ephlafants."

We took Colin (because Jacob was pretty darn sure it wouldn't be much fun without him) and Jane and headed to the Bronx Zoo. The thing I have loved about having our membership there, is that it is so close, and I feel no obligation to stay for any length of time to get my money's worth. We go a lot, and only spend a few hours.

I was hopeful that it was too early in the school year to have any field-trip groups, and

BOY WAS I RIGHT!

We arrived just after they had opened, and were the only one's on the sky-fari, then we were the only one's on the monorail (where we saw the elephants and lots of other great animals) then we were the only one's in the Jungle World exhibit, and then we went to the concessions stand and there was no line! I was euphoric by the time the kids munched down their hots dogs (and apples & water I had brought from home.) So happy, I got them each an ice cream cone - and when Colin instantly tipped his off the top of the cone, the concession stand lady gave us another one for FREE.

The kids were happy, and because it was so quiet, I let them all walk everywhere we went, straying all over the path, and taking their sweet time. The weather was warm, but not humid and the kids were well behaved and listened to my instructions. The only thing they wanted to do, that we didn't, was the bug carousel (we had to leave to make it to story time.) So, I promised Jacob we'd go back next week.

Then we headed back towards home, and to story time at the library. It started last week, but Jacob missed because we had friends from Brooklyn visiting for the day. It's a drop off, and I wasn't sure how he'd feel about me leaving. He happily ran in and sat down. Miss Mary (the worlds greatest children's librarian) exclaimed "Oh Jacob, I'm so happy to see you. Did you know, I used to have your sister, Emily, in my story time?" I hung out at chatted to my friends while he was in there, and then we headed home.

It wasn't my week for driving for swimming, so we stayed home, and Christian came here. He and Jacob played (I am not exaggerating) with Duplo's for 2 HOURS without a single disagreement. Then they watched Curious George, then played happily with other things until Christian's Mom arrived with Emily. Jane sat in her high chair and ate a lot of food (she's kind of shaping up to be an Emily-type eater - so this is rare.)

I managed to finish making Jacob's birthday party invitations while they were all at it - I couldn't believe what a great day it was.

Then I realized - we need more days like this. More days for them, where we are just enjoying each other and it's interesting and fun. This is one reason I love this time of year - we get back into a routine - and for me, having a routine means I can make sure we block out time to play and just hang out. My kids are seriously great. I think this year with Jacob and Jane is going to be really great fun. They are at two of my favorite ages, and I'm really looking forward to more stuff like this with them.

Fall

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the weather changes here. Last week Emily played soccer in 80 heat, this week we stood in jackets under umbrellas avoiding the drizzle.

In the afternoon the sun came out, and we've been enjoying some perfect fall days. Blue sky, sunny, a cool breeze, cold at night -I LOVE IT!

Often people ask what my favorite season is, and I'm sure I'm inconsistent with my answers. To me, each season is my favorite because they're just the right length (maybe winter in NY lasts a little too long...) Seriously, just about when I'm beginning to tire of the season we're in - it ends and I feel a rush of excitement for the coming one.

I'm sure we'll have more warm days (my kids have never had to wear a coat over their Halloween costumes) but the worst of the humidity is probably gone, and fall is upon us. I am looking forward to the leaves on the maple in front of our house changing - they are spectacular, and wearing layers, and the tips of our noses being cold, baking and comfort foods, coming in to a warm house when it's chilly outside, striped socks, eating soup, apple picking, the start of "The Holidays", lighting our fire, raking leaves, trick-or-treating, ALL the wonderful things we enjoy from now until the end of the year.

To start with, we're going to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, because we always herald the season with them. I got the recipe from my friend Sara P. when I was pregnant with Emily, and they've been our favorites ever since. (We always make them to take apple picking for our picnic lunch.) I make a double batch, because they freeze so well, and then the kids can have them in their lunchbox, or when they get home from school. In fact, I usually end up making several double batches between now & Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

½ C butter
1 C brown sugar
1 egg
1 C canned pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla
2 C Flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
chocolate chips

Cream butter & sugar, add egg, pumpkin & vanilla.Then add all dry ingredients, then choc chips.
Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes. (They're best a little underbaked, so they are still really soft.)

Team Lemon Tree

Emily started soccer last Saturday. This year we switched leagues (last year's league plays only on Sundays starting in 1st grade, so we changed to one that plays on Saturday.)

Last year I didn't make many of the games, because her game time was 1pm (nap time for J&J.) Rick was her coach, so it became their "thing" to do together. This year, she plays at 10:15am - perfect. Since I hadn't seen much last season, I was impressed with how much she has improved (must be the excellent coaching.) Rick will be the assistant coach this year, it's more fun for him - playing & teaching, but none of the team organizing.

My favorite move of the game was when she was chasing the ball, leaped over it, stopped it with the heel of her foot and kicked it in the opposite direction! Rick said his favorite was when she stopped the ball with her foot, and then sent it sailing in the other direction. I admit, I was surprised, and tickled pink, at how well she played (it's gotta be inherited from Rick, no way I could do that.) I'm looking forward to seeing more games, and catching her moves.

I left the camera in the car - so this picture is from when we were going home - all hot and sweaty. Hopefully the cooler weather will arrive soon!

"Birth Junkie"

I wanted to wait until Erin posted about Petrea, so I didn't steal her thunder ...

I am really happy to be home with my kids right now, trying to do a good job raising these 4 souls is the most challenging, exhausting, and rewarding thing I have ever done. I am doing exactly what I had planned for this stage of our lives.

That said, I do really miss work. I am blessed to have chosen a career that really is also my passion. So, I am always thrilled to be invited to go to a birth as a support person. It gives me just enough of a fix to keep me happy, and remind me that in a few years it will be a part of my life again.

On Sunday night I was honored to be with Erin and Josh as they welcomed Petrea into the world. It was a perfect and beautiful birth. Erin was amazing, and the baby gorgeous. That sweet baby was so polite, she arrived so quickly, my family barely even noticed I was gone, and I was home in time for Rebekah to still make her first day of early morning seminary!

Thanks guys.

1st of 1st

Here's my sweet Emily on her 1st day of 1st grade last week.

Really, I can't believe we're here. I feel like I just barely sent her off to kindergarten. Waiting for the bus with Jacob & Jane.

The bus stop is at the end of our front path this year - YEAH! I'm planning on sending her out the door as it comes up the road this winter - then I won't have to bundle up the other two, only to be outside for 2 minutes and come in to un-bundle!
She was all smiles, and looking forward to going back.
She managed to navigate the bus steps really well,
with the two huge bags of supplies she was lugging with her.
See you at 3:30!
As we walked in the house, Jacob was bummed. He said "Me sad Emy not here." I told him, I knew he would miss her - but he could play with Jane. Then he said "Jane my friend." I'm so glad he likes his sisters. Isn't that face great?

Could you say "No" to this face?

Jane is learning the art of tantrum throwing. She's pretty good - her crying sounds like her heart is broken, and she drops instantly to the ground.

All day long I tell my family, "We can't just give in to her, because she's small and cute." Then, I do that very thing myself.

This is exactly how the baby of the family becomes "The Baby of the Family."

Home Again

Well, we're back from our trip to Utah, and I'm trying to decide which was my favorite part of our "vacation"

* The flight out there, where Jane screamed the entire way, because she didn't want to sit on my lap (much to the frustration of the woman beside me, who was clearly not a big fan of babies!)

* When I cut my leg 3 days into the trip, and it got infected and I had to get a tetanus shot, and go on antibiotics.

* All 3 little kids getting sick (probably from that dry, germy plane air.)

* Not being able to go in the pool the whole 1st week, because of my leg.

* Finally taking them to a water park the same day the State of Utah declared all kids under 5 were prohibited from going in public pools due to a mass RWI (Recreational Water Illness - cryptosporidium) outbreak.

* Not having Rick there any of the time.

* Rick's boss giving them all Wed - Fri of the long weekend off (we flew home Friday night, so we missed out on his time off) OK, we had the weekend and Monday - but I was still bummed.

* Spending 8 hours in mediation with my ex-husband (the reason for the trip), only to have returned home and have him be disputing things we decided there! UGH!

* Jacob finding a pair of scissors at my parents house, and cutting all Jane's blond wispy curls from the back of her head!

OK, It wasn't all bad - I'll post pictures later of some of the fun stuff.

We got back last Saturday, to Tara & Greg (my sister & brother-in-law), having arrived from Australia a few days before us. We had lots of fun with them until they left on Wednesday.

The kids were back in school on Wednesday, Thursday we signed Jacob up for story time, ran errands, and swimming started. Friday I tired (unsuccessfully) to catch up on Laundry, today Rick and I hit the gym early, took Emily to her 1st soccer game, and then took the kids to Stone Barns and met friends for lunch at the Blue Hill Cafe.

Phew - I'm looking forward to next week and getting back into a routine - and of course being a more regular blog poster!