October bucket list

So maybe I'm not the worlds biggest fan of all things Autumn but seriously you'd have to be dead inside not to appreciate these colors.

Not that they sparkle in the just-right light as much as these two...

But I digress...
When my beauty quest turns screenward I can't help but make some mental notes.  Sometimes inspiration is better than vitamin d (the bottle kind not the sunshine kind.)

I really want to find $1500 in last Fall's jean pocket and crash a party at this place.  Crafting, cooking, eating, and dreaming about God's big plans.  Yes please.

From bon appetit's throw-a-party-like-our-parents-did, to Brad and Angie's new movie in Malta, the 70's are rockin it right now.  Maybe this will remind us to keep some things in the past.

How good does this look for dinner?

And then I'll take this for dessert.

Foster care has been burning a hole in my heart lately and this book cracked open the door a little.  It painted huge swaths of grey into my black and white ideas about poverty and social work and the "system."  I'm left unsettled in the best kind of way.

This blog is my go to for new sensory table ideas in the classroom but they have so many amazing Reggio inspired ideas that it's hard to pick a favorite.  The one thing I absolutely LOVE is that instead of complaining of all the sit-down, be quiet and do your worksheet attitude when her son started kindergarten, she did something amazing.  Um, hello Mrs. Kindergarten Teacher, would you mind if I donated a sensory bin for your class and changed out the materials bi-monthly?  Who's going to say no to that?!  Please hold me to it when Ian starts next year.

Three current book recommendations from the littles...
one

two

and three

After my last blog post I stumbled upon this and even though I'm not a new mom it just felt serendipitous.  I'm actually going to forward it to a new mom that we brought a meal to today.  Man did she look exhausted and desperate for answers.  I really wanted to take her out for cheesecake.

Speaking of cheesecake....just kidding.

I know the amazing Jen Hatmaker started a thang with this book.

and I'm not going to pretend I was anywhere close to staging a mutiny, except for those few years there really wasn't any choice in the matter.  But now it seems to have seeped into the cracks of our psyche and I kind of like it.  The capsule wardrobe is the new it girl of your closet.  If I manage to snag an afternoon with zero responsibility I am definitely on board.  I spend way too many mornings staring at my bulging closet wondering what to wear.  This just seems practical.

My hilarious Amy O. shared this on facebook and I could not stop laughing.  Genius.

And into another week we go.  Wide eyed at this beautiful season.
Ok maybe peeking though my fingers.

ordinary days

Tuesday morning as I turned the corner out of our street and came to an abrupt halt for a school bus stop sign I locked eyes with a woman dropping off her kids.  It was almost pitch black out but she couldn't have been clearer standing under the street lamp.  I immediately felt a twinge of jealousy over her bed head, flannel jammies, and large snoopy mug as she shuttled her two littles up those dirty bus steps and headed back inside.  For all I know she had a sleeping baby and a fast food job waiting for her that day but for just a moment I wished it was me standing there.  I imagined coming home to an empty house and hunkering down in front of the fire with my stack of books and the perfect nap blanket.  I thought of recipes I wanted to make and life I was desperate to record.
As I neared the interstate with Ian singing "I am holding on to you," in the backseat I considered something new.  I started to wonder what she thought when she saw me.  Did she wish she had a reason to curl her hair at 7am and put on a cute necklace?  Did she wish she had a set of keys around her neck?  Did she wish she could trade her cozy mug for Starbucks?  Probably not I thought.  But maybe.

I'm not sure if it's just women who play this comparing game but I do know that if self pity were a currency I would be very, very rich.  

As I drove I was reminded of how many days I longed for answers about how my gifts and passions would play out.  How many days I wondered if there would ever be extra money to go out to dinner and splurge on a bag of pecans at Costco. (seriously they're like $20!)  And now that I get to walk into a classroom with outstretched arms and the 3 year old chant of "Teacher Rebekah is here!  I was waiting for you." and splurge on not only pecans but travel hummus, I still resort to discontentment and jealousy.  

I remembered that quote from the office about wishing there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.  I know this but sometimes, ok a lot of times, I forget.  These messy days of teaching and mentoring families and not remembering where I'm picking up my daughter and coordinating schedules and falling asleep before 8pm and Safeway lasagna and showing up at soccer games in the wrong colored jersey and 5am quiet times and tear stained cheeks while sitting in traffic, these are the good days for our family.  Honestly, I wish I wasn't still having to process these changes. Yet every sunrise brings a new plea.  A prayer that I would have eyes to see that this is where He wants me.  This is where I will flourish because I have committed these ordinary days to Him and He promises to set the pavers in front of me.  And just in case I forget, a nightly reminder from my 4 year old to be ever thankful for the small gifts.

list love

September and I are not the best of friends.  She's a sneaky thief who comes disguised in pumpkin spice lattes and flaming trees.  But as much as I would like to wish her and all her back to school tricks away she simply cannot be tamed.  So instead of wallowing in the loss of long family days I am entertaining the possibility that the next 9 months will not be a slow death of season or spirit.  Maybe that doesn't sound like much of an anthem but baby steps I tell you.  There are still a few more sunshiny highlights to share but also a lot of randomness that made me smile this week.

*I NEED to talk about this book.  Apparently to someone other than my honey who thinks I need to move on.  The first half took me almost a month to read.  It felt like poetry and I wanted to savor it.  I loved the connection between his life and growing up in a pastors family.  I would also bet money that Ms. Robinson has read my other favorite Middlemarch as she shadows so much of the beauty in a quiet faithful life well lived.  Then all of the sudden I couldn't put the book down and finished the last half in four hours.  To say that I was rocked would be an understatement.  It was full on ugly cry.  But it came out of nowhere.  I had no idea that I was so emotionally invested.  I could talk about it all day but according to B I already have so now I'll move on.

*These donuts.  I can't get them out of my brain.  So I talked my let's-drop-the-kids-off-at -school-and-do-something-naughty friend Anne into a trip to the east side for "research."  I'm not going to lie.  I ate four donuts.  Blueberry bourbon basil and the hard apple cider fritters were my favorite.  And dang it I will get the fried chicken on a buttermilk donut if they're not sold out next time.  Seriously who eats that much fried chicken before 9 in the morning?

*And while I'm on the subject of critical world events, I'm thinking of leaning outside my comfort zone and purchasing a green vest.  It feels a little Talbots circa 1992 but I like to keep people guessing.

*Oh Anthropologie, you know you had it coming.  I've always kind of imagined that Anthropologie is secretly funded by some wealthy businessman.  He doesn't really care if it is profitable and only uses it for his amusement to see who will buy something this ridiculous.  P.S.  I still love you.  Be forewarned about the F-bombs.  Mom - I'm talking to you.  And F-Bomb means they're going to say the f-word.

*Before you run to the bathroom to change your underwear go ahead and read this one.  I'm hanging my head in shame over the number 2 pancakes I made on the first day.  But patting myself on the back for not going this far.

*These cookies are mind blowing.  I also did a version with mini chocolate chips and toasted pecans to get an almond joy vibe.  Your welcome.

*My new polka dot cuties.  They actually made me want to get out of bed at 5:30 to exercise.  Ok, only for one day.  Now I just wear them so I look like I run.

*This book if you have a superhero lover in your family.  My students thought it was hilarious and made me read it a bajillion times.  We also love everything by Adam Rubin, especially this and this.  As a work hazard, I've got a children's book list 100 plus long.  One of these days I'll post our favorites.

Here's to the little things that can still force a grin even as the sky darkens and the leaves start to fall.  

  

There and back again

As much as I would like to hit the pause button on these long days of peach picking and late afternoon napping, time simply refuses to cooperate.  With only weeks to go until reality officially rears its unwelcomed head I need to record all the ins and outs of the past few months.  June went by in a blur and Ben's family filled up many of our July weeks.  Here's the long and short of it.
When they arrived the first order of business was to acquire proper transportation.

Hello Megavan

Then we decided to tour some of the natural wonders of Portland such as Mount Hood and Ben and Jerry's

 Once we felt we had sufficiently maxed out on beauty and calories we made a beeline for Redding where the important business of making it to In-N-Out prevailed over all rational decisions and posted speed limits.

 After picking up the rest of our brood we spent the remainder of our vacation arguing over why every minute couldn't be spent at the pool.  Not that I blame them.  Especially with a rockin daddy who picks up the slack while mama naps poolside.

 Choices...choices.  After weeks in hotels I think my kids were a little confused over how to open a box of cereal and why once opened it looked nothing like the rainbow of artificial coloring they had consumed for the past 18 mornings.  I simply opened my eyes, realized there were not well dressed staff tending to my every need and went back to bed.  

The conditions were pretty rough

 Life with all girl cousins

 The ferry to San Francisco was definitely a highlight.  I just wish that after eight visits to such an amazing city that I could manage to get beyond the touristy strip.  Someday San Francisco!  Cool restaurants, Golden Gate park, exploratorium, Heath pottery classes...I am coming for you.

 Man that boy can make you smile  He is joy on two skinny legs.

 We didn't actually ride the trolley but we faked it really well

 My two live for these reunited moments all year

 Fancied up and ready to party

 Celebrating 102 years with her great grandkids...so glad great is naturally in the title since they spent the rest of the afternoon nailing the sweet chinese church kids at an impromptu game of dodgeball...
in the sanctuary.

 Dreaming of one last hit

Goodbye San Francisco

 We opted out of Disneyland this year for a trip to the historic redwoods.  I've got to admit that I thought it might be a little lame.  I mean really, they're trees.  We've all seen the pictures of the 30 people wrapped around one.  But there are no words for the beauty there.  You just have to see it to believe it.  Every single one is like a story with all these ins and outs and surprises.  These five kids have seen some pretty impressive nature in their short lifetimes and they were awestruck.

 Then we shacked up at the fanciest beach motel we could find which also happened to be a casino.  It had a fantastic sunset view and a wonky shower complete with a two foot high shower head and a large plastic loveseat.  So we either got the room designed for the eighty or four year olds.  Either way the kids were thrilled.  I found it a little strange to have to sit on the floor to wash my hair but the gift shop was stocked with wolf shirts and indian whistles so I figured it was a win win.

we love tidepools

 And look who came home with us!
Amarie:  "Mommy dere's a human in my potet (pocket)!"
Jennie:  "Ok honey."
Amarie: "Is movin on me!"
Jennie:  "Ok, honey."
Amarie:  "Yook!  I call him Dorge (George)."
Turned out to be a hermit crab that had made the journey from the coast to our driveway.  We tried to keep him alive but apparently they don't like to live in plastic cups with no salt water.  I'm guessing the constant harassment didn't help either.

 And after a few days at Chez Hsieh we ventured north to Seattle for some sights and a little celebrating.

Somehow our 5 kids became 10 which necessitated each and every technological device to complete a meal

 I was happy to sneak off with my three to see the beautiful architecture at the Seattle public library.  We could have stayed there all day.  Happy place times four.

Gotta do it

Celebrating Jennie's 40th birthday with amazing Thai food.  So good.  I am still dreaming about this chicken dish that was wrapped up in some kind of husk.  I would drive up to Seattle just for that chicken.  Ok back to the birthday.  She was totally surprised and giggled like the 13 year old that she looks like she is.  Does that make sense?  It's late.  She is such an awesome bonus sister and I am thankful to have her in my corner, especially when it comes to the joys and woes of marrying Hsieh men.  Bears season anyone?

And finally one last shot of the littles who's preschool humor made us laugh every day of our wild journey.  

Another year of memorable travels.  Did I mention next summer we're going to China? 

Dun! Dun! Duuuun!

Rookies

We seem to be having a hard time finding our Independence Day rhythm these past few years.  Growing up our family went to New York for weeks on end and celebrated the 4th on the 3rd with fireworks, a beach full of cousins, s'mores, sparklers, half drunk cans of soda, angry grandparents swearing about said half drunk cans of soda, and a ring of fire around the lake.  It was just what we did.  No decisions had to be made or flags bought.  Now we wake up at home or in California or in Chicago and never seem to know what to do.  Neighborhood kids walk by with red, white and blue hair accessories and I'm like, "Man I thought we had a red ponytail holder in here somewhere!  Just wear something festive honey."
All we have are a few random strings of patriotism to our credit.  There was the year my Dad wrote out liturgy in five parts, the year we went to the parade and left halfway through because it was hot, the year we decided to fly back home and told the kids, "nobody gets to see fireworks from this far up!"....including us as it turned out, and lately the year where we buy fireworks at 4 pm and are in bed by 9.  Maybe I should come up with a theme and invite people over but dang it we need some good old fashioned traditions around here.  I don't care if its baking lasagna and singing the national anthem.  Just something.  Otherwise our kids are going to grow up saying, "I don't think my parents celebrate the 4th of July.  I kind of remember sitting on a lawn chair in our driveway....uhhhh."
Something has to be done.

She's totally on to our lameness.

 The entertainment

 He brought out his C.A. suit unprompted, making our neighbors believe we were at least a little prepared

 Even superheros need a snuggle

The big finale...

I'm not joking

volcano alley

One of our summer goals was to take advantage of some of the beautiful hikes near our house.  Our kiddos are finally getting old enough to log a few more miles on the trail and our expert in- house researcher knows how to navigate us to the lesser known destinations.  Read:  After entering the forest, drive two miles down an unmarked gravel road and park after the second pothole just past the tree with six branches pointing east.  

 We actually encountered neither salmon or huckleberrys but dang its a cute sign.

 The backpack was only necessary for about one mile.  We are sooooo close to having two independent hikers. 

 Tia is a trooper on our slow paced adventures...and she even found owl pellets!

Little man needed lots of encouragement (let's count to 100!, let's sing Down By The Bay (a thousand times), let's play I Spy!, etc. etc. etc., go see if you can catch up to Daddy!) 

 Sisters

 contemplating the beauty

 I could have photographed these two all day

 Gettin fancy with the bokeh

 Mountain warrier

 Mt. Jefferson

 and Helens peeked through the clouds

The pictures don't really capture the awe of climbing out of the woods and into the mountaintops but man, these views are my love language.  Like a fairy's door hinged to the King's grandest gate... a simple reminder that I am His.