Ryan's Feast

 Ryan is in preschool this year at a great little pre-school here in town.  And I volunteered to help in his classroom for their Thanksgiving party- or their FEAST!  It was so much fun- I went a little early because I wanted to watch him in his classroom for a little bit before everything else got started.  I peeked in his classroom and he was singing his little heart out.  I walked into the room and he burst into tears.  Oops.  He's such a funny little kid- I still haven't figured him out- but he's cute enough I think I'll keep on trying to. 

30

I turned 30 this year.  Apparently it's a bad thing.  30 is a number to be feared.  But I have to admit- it's not so bad.  It's all about perspective.  Something that must be an important lesson for me to learn- since the Lord keeps insisting that I understand it.  So often I get bogged down in the enormity of all the little things that I forget about the big picture and why we are here. 

I'm looking at this picture of Shaun and I as I type this post and I have to admit- there are a few wrinkles, and I'm not the weight I want to be and I need lessons in how to do my hair...  But each of those things paint more than just a picture of what I look like physically- they each give testament to where I am today and how I got there.  Those lines around my eyes are there because I smile and laugh... a lot.  Even with three little kids that drive me nutso- I laugh a lot.  The wrinkle in my forehead is from giving my husband "the look" too many times.  The weight is a result of three beautiful babies and evidence that I have never gone hungry. 

I am so blessed and I am happy to be 30, because of everything that has come with it.  Thanks everyone for being a part of my journey- I look forward to many more birthdays to come!

Beethoven's 6th

Shaun and Jess at the Symphony

One of my favorite things about being back in the city are the opportunities that are more readily available to us.  I have missed being able to go to the symphony and the ballet while living in Montpelier, and we took the chance to rectify that last weekend and went to Beethoven's 6th with my mom and dad for my birthday. 

It really was so nice- and even Shaun, who had never been to a symphony before said that it was "alright."  Which- if you know Shaun- this is counted as a WIN.  The fact that he didn't fall asleep or say outright that he hated it was such a relief to me.  I LOVE classical music and hearing it live is such an awesome experience- I get really caught up in it and it was kind of nice to be able to share that with Shaun.  

Fall Days

The boys are constantly playing ball at our house.  In the house.  Out of the house.  Around the house.  If they could figure out a way to play it on TOP of the house, I'm sure they'd do that too.  They love to play catch.  They are both better at catching a football than a baseball right now- so most afternoons you will find the two of them in the front yard playing a brotherly game of football.  I'm not saying that either of them play fair or that the rules don't change from time to time- but at least they are having a good time. 

 

Of course- with a yard full of leaves- they tend to get sidetracked from time to time and get into a leaf fight instead of a football game- but really- that's just good fun.  

 Kate tries to play both football and the leaf-fight, which leaves her brothers with an interesting challenge.  They want to play with her too- but don't want to hurt her.  They try to play so nice and soft- and she usually turns around and whops them both.  And she's not afraid of tackling either.  She's probably the roughest of the bunch. 

 

 Dad came out to play with the kids the other day and started throwing Kate in the air- this was her face on the way back down... She LOVES it!  And her dad... 

A Monkey

 We live with a little monkey.  I have never had a climber before- so this is NEW to me.  But Kate climbs on EVERYTHING!  She's driving me nuts.  It seems like everytime I turn around she's climbing on something new.  Yesterday I found her on the table.  The day before that it was the bookshelf in the living room.  I may have to tape her to the wall just to get her to stop climbing it!!

I also bought Kate an apron to wear around the house- besides being a climber- she is a total slob and spills anything and everything all over herself.  Instead of a bib- which only covers the top half- I bought her an apron that covers most of her body.  Pretty ingenious I thought.  And she likes it too- so it stays on.  It's pink and covered in cupcakes and it looks so cute on her.

 I also gave piggytails a try the other day- just on the side of her head instead of on top- and they worked!  And then I braided them to be silly and she looked just that.  Silly.  Shaun thought the braids were fake because of how they stuck straight out of her head.  I think we'll wait a little longer to do the braids again- maybe give her hair a chance to get thicker!!!