September Stuff

Have I really not posted since The Gnoming?  I am trying to figure out where the time went and I can't account for it.

On the 15th we went to our annual Homeschool Field Trip at Kah Nee Ta, a full day in the pool and 6 hours of driving always wipes us out but we did enjoy a stop at Timberline Lodge.

Boba Fett started Cub Scouts a couple weeks ago and lost a tooth.

The 20th was my 33rd Birthday and it was an absolutely perfect day.  The weather was glorious and I did just what I wanted all day long.  I knit, I watched North By Northwest, I went to Sushi Town with Boba Fett.  Dinner was the Surf Side at Benihana.
 

The most fun gift I received was a plot by Paula where everyone who stopped by brought me some yarn!  Two of my favorite gifts were a hug from Zac and a hug from Brock. And as it has turned out the most thoughtful gift was from Moose, he downloaded a bunch of Relief Society podcasts for me to listen to while I sew.

I sewed 2 dresses, one because it had to be done before the end of summer.  I am calling it "The Diner"

 

 The other was for the train excursion on the Mount Hood Railroad that was a really fun double date.

    

There was dancing in a very unstable car

 The fellows refused to take a serious photo

 and our conductor was named Roman.

Tomatoes are being harvested and the sunny days are at an end.  Soccer season is in full swing and I am getting ready to do the Boutique at the Barn again.

My sweet friend lost her husband to cancer this month and we have loved her, served her and held our husbands extra close with a prayer of gratitude for them on our lips.

The Gnoming

The Gnoming happened this morning. 
As I had planned, Boba Fett was blissfully sleeping while the gnome watched over him, it was strategically placed so he would see it when he awoke.

He came down to me (asleep) to ask me why a "idiodic dememted dwarf" was in room.  I asked him what he was talking about.  As he headed back through the house he saw that there were gnomes everywhere. For example this guy was having a bowl of cereal on the table.

The pictures had been replaced with pictures of gnomes.

And all of his photos had been replaced with gnomes.

As well as other small gnomes in other places.

I told him I heard someone at the door and when he went to it he saw this terrible act of flamingocide.

Fleeing from this terrible scene he saw the Starlings' Chalkboard had been tampered with

.

In the back yard he was confronted with an army

 Whilst other kept watch from the foliage

There were also a dozen parachuting gnomes which were genius but were tangled in knots within 30 second of landing.

Which was too bad because they were really good parachutes.

 

There were also a bunch of gnome tattoos that doubled as stickers.

 

It was a sucessful gnoming and I think a cure for Gardengnomeaphobia.

Not What We Had Planned

It started out so well.  Boba Fett's birthday was on a Sunday this year so we spread out some of the fun stuff to Saturday.  I was the Boba Fett wrangler while Moose took the other kids to their 3 scheduled soccer games.  

First, we went to a friend's bowling birthday party, then Boba Fett and I headed to The House of Reptiles so he could pick out his gift from my parents. He was really excited.

He chose a baby crested gecko and we headed home to get his habitat set up.

His name is Glacier.

As he has been planning for more than a year, he and I went to Sushi Town to get his free birthday sushi plate.

After dinner we went to catch the end of Commander C's second game of the day. It was a long walk from the parking lot to the field but it was a nice day and we were all healthy at the time. Moose and I were watching the game while the kids played by the stream and berry bushes. 

They were trying to get to a cattail when suddenly  they BOTH came running and screaming.  I thought some one had been killed, there certainly had to be blood and lots of it from the way they were screaming but it turns out Nutmeg disturbed a wasps' nest and Boba Fett went in gallantly to save her.  Boba Fett really freaked out, he ran franticly to the car where my first aid kit was wailing all the way.  Parents on several fields were alarmed to see a freaking out, running boy trailed by a sobbing, crying girl and 2 bewildered parents.

We got to the car pulled out stingers, counted bites, distributed apis and headed home where more remdies were applied. Once we were in the car Boba Fett seemed fine, certainly better off than Nutmeg.  He had only 2 bites to her 3 and he was acting fine like a regular boy.

By morning on his actual birthday his ankle was all swollen and he was acting very subdued for a birthday boy.  He stayed home from church and watched movie, I made him dutch puff, lego cakes and we opened the gifts.  He was barely even pleased.  He was just not himself yesterday.  He couldn't even ride his new bike and he doesn't spend every waking minute looking at his gecko.  This is not normal.

Today he is much the same, swollen and melancholy.  

The gnoming didn't happen because my package of parachuting gnomes didn't arrive in time so we are going to have to do it another time.  It is probably just as well since he wasn't feeling very well and I think that all parties need to be in a good mood for a successful gnoming.

I just feel so bad for him.  This kid looks forward to his birthday more than any kid I have ever known.  He is so animated and seeing him like this is so sad.  I can't help but wonder along with him why he with 2 bites in different places is doing so poorly while Nutmeg with 3 bites on the same arm is doing just fine.

I just wonder why he always has such a hard time with everything; his eyes, his speech, bug bites, reading, chores, sports, anything involving coordination.

An Oregon Summerlet

 While most of the country is sweltering, we here in Oregon are enjoying 60 degree temperatures!  Occasionally we get a sunny day and a couple of times we have had 2 in a row but for the most part still cloudy, still chilly, still rainy.

I really truly believed that after last year's disappointing summer we were in line to get a nice one this year.  This just goes to show that no one asks me when planning the weather.

We have had a busy month none the less.

On the 4th we went to the ward pancake breakfast, the Oak Hills Parade and the Oak Hills fireworks display.  Springville ward had it's own mini fireworks show while we waited.

On the 9th we traveled to Salem to visit our dear friends (who moved in May) for a birthday celebration.

I promise, she really has 2 perfect eyes.

 On the 14th my niece Aurora was born, she didn't want to nurse so there were 5 anxious days but now she has the knack.  We were to visit the weekend after she arrived but Moose is busy doing the work of 3+ men at work and so we postponed our Montana vacation and baby snuggling.

On the 16th we went to the Portland Highland Games and it was awesome. I love kilts!!  All of the mooselings participated but Boba Fett was particularly excited about tossing the caber.

On the 17th our ward was split and a new ward formed in our stake.  We were sad to lose some very dear ones including our entire Relief Society presidency to the "Tomahawk Ward."

Monday the 18th is the day I became mentally ill and began taking yoga classes and seriously considered joining a gym.  The gym illness has passed but I will be continuing with the yoga classes.

 

Last weekend we celebrated Pioneer Day at Fallbrooks Farm, and on Sunday La Keira was called as Relief Society President.

I'll just let that sink in for a few moments.....

Being the "besty" of the Relief Society President is weird, really weird.  We are still trying to figure out how it is going to work.  I can't imagine how she managed to keep it a secret for a week!  It is just surreal and it will take time to sink in.

And all month long I have been preparing for the 5 night, 50 mile hike that Commander C, La Keira, Jonah, myself and assorted members of the Hanna family are taking next week.  I have been planning meals, shopping for gear, borrowing gear, breaking in boots, and training.

I just have one thing to say: I am going to DIE.

Starlings Day!

Happy Anniversary!  Starlings has belonged to us for 1 year today.  That was a very happy day, we have been so blessed and I have been grateful every single day.

Starlings, May 10, 2010 in the a.m.

I spent the mid-day moving mis-placed tulips and weeding in preparation for the great bark dust dump scheduled for this weekend. The azaleas are the only thing in bloom just now but they are brilliant, there are a few last tulips that haven't died yet and the poppies and iris are taunting me.   I can't wait to eat from the gardens.
Last night  I  made a very small rhubarb crisp, it was the first rhubarb harvest at Starlings and the first harvest of the year from the gardens. Happily, (considering my sketchy history with crisps) it was a success.

Starlings, May 10, 2011, 3 pm.  With 3 bickering children.

The sun has come out, the birds are singing and I am typing this on my porch.  The kids are running and laughing and swinging.

   Life is Great! 

God is Good!

Farewell September

Dear September,

We had a rough start and I have now been sick for an entire month but I would like to thank you for ending with a glorious sunny week that reminded me why I love September a lot but not as much as October.

Turning 32 wasn't nearly as horrible as becoming 31 and Boba Fett's birthday party was a smashing success.   Soccer season has been almost bearable so far.

 Knitting season has had a so-so beginning but I am hoping for a productive run.

The Family Celebration started out strong and then waned as my spirits spiraled, for which I am sorry because I was enjoying it so much.

Until next year September.
Love,
-Samurai Mom

Thank You Note

Dear Boba Fett,

Thank you for having a glorious sunny day for your birthday and for letting me throw the best Harry Potter birthday party (so much better than a Super Mario party) ever for you. Potions class was amazing, and making the robes, wands and broomsticks was so much fun. I think we should play quidditch more often. I did not really care for the butter beer.

Thank you for being the MVP in your first soccer game of the season. Thank you for being so cute and ecstatic each time you made a goal.

Thank you for loving all of your gifts especially the one I sewed for you.

Thank you for insisting on lobster for dinner. It was so delicious and expensive and worth it.

It was a perfect day. Thank you for being born on September 11th.

Love,
Mom

P. S. I am really sad that the broken camera took an accidental trip to Montana and I couldn't take any pictures of your perfect day.

You Have Been Accepted to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Boba Fett reminded me that this year it was his turn to have a birthday party. After much deliberation we decided on a Harry Potter party. Since that decision we have been eating, drinking and breathing Harry Potter. I made some wicked cool invitations and am about 1/2 way done making 13 brooms. Why did I invite 13 kids?

Things to do:
- Decide on potions for potions class
- Find potions bottles
- Charms Class
- finish quidditch preparations
- Make the wands pretty
- Print out Butter Beer labels
- Find some every flavor beans
- Come up with 11 more robes
- and much, much more...

Motherhood, Don't Miss It for the World

I remember so clearly, were walking out of a store, Camrock was just 3 days old snuggled up in my sling and I turned to my mother and said "Mom, I just love him SO much!" I didn't know how much a person could love another person until he came into my life. I mean you think you love your husband, really, really love him and then this little one shows up and you KNOW that what you felt before was nothing compared to this. That all you have or ever could accomplish means nothing without those little spirits in your care.

I always feel so sorry for those women who consciously choose NOT to become a mother. How sad to miss out on this.

To Camrock, Happy Birthday, thank you for a decade of motherhood, I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Tea Time for 9

This was going to be a post about Nutmeg's Birthday Tea Party held last weekend, but I think it will turn into a post about how awesome my friend Sarah from Smiling Eyes Photography is and how photography is a talent that I do not have. I mean I try, I really do. On average I take 4-5 pictures of a subject to every one that I post here on the blog. I work hard to get my middling to average photos. But not in this post. Behold the wonder of Sarah and her camera. Her pictures almost make the party look better than it was. Almost because the party was a little piece of heaven.
We invited 9 little girls. You know, they say to invite twice as many as you would like because half will not come. I usually hold to that because the year Camrock turned 4 he had one friend show up to his party, one. I was so glad he was only 4 and probably wouldn't remember it. So I aim big now, and this time everyone accepted,I mean what 3 year old would say no to a fancy tea party? That was fine except I didn't have seating for 10 little girls and assorted mommies.
Kristen had the brilliant idea to have the kids sit on pillows on the floor around ottomans as tables. It went over marvelously.

As I was bustling about frosting cupcakes and making tea sandwiches I left myself 30 minutes to dress. I kept thinking in my head that the party started at 1:30 until the first guest arrived at 1 o'clock and then I remembered. So I dashed upstairs with hardly anytime to be fancy and things were not quite as perfect as I would have liked.
Everyone dressed "fancy."I think the girls were all enchanted. They were so quiet and concentrated on their tea. It was adorable. It was almost as if they were trying to be little ladies.

The Menu:
Cucumber Sandwiches
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
Ham and Cream Cheese Pinwheels
Cheese and Crackers
Lemon Poppy Seed Scones
Jam Filled Shortbread Cookies
Chocolate Spice and Vanilla Cupcakes with
Pink 7 Minute Frosting or Chocolate Ganache

We served herbal peppermint tea, hot cocoa, and juice.
The party favors were little vintage looking pendants hung on black ribbon with a piece of candy, a "Thank You" note and a strip of butterfly stickers in a box made from a paper cup decorated with a monogram and a butterfly. Total cost per fantastic favor approximately $1.50.
"The best tea party evuh." -Nutmeg