Pumpkins, a Flying Carrot, and a Baby in a Monkey Suit

I LOVE Fall. I love the colors, I love the weather, I love the smells, I love the food, I love apple cider and pumpkin lattes, I love Halloween, and pumpkin carving, and pumpkin everything. I LOVE Fall. It has been a bit of an adjustment to love Fall here in California in the 80 degree weather the way I do in Oregon, in the rain, and cold, but I am adjusting, and learning to embrace the fact that my kids rarely even need a coat when we play outside at the end of October.

So to celebrate my favorite season of the year, please bare with me while I share a bazillion of some of my favorite Fall photos so far.  But don't worry, there will be even more when I finally upload the ones I've taken on the actual camera and not just my phone!

At Webb Ranch Farms Pumpkin Patch

Cooking with daddy

Elena has decided she only likes to eat dinner on daddy's lap, oye!  

"Flying Carrot" for the 2nd year in a row! 

Oh, and the new addition to his costume is his "Healing Arrow"  He says if he points it at someone who is sick they will feel all better!  Ahhhhh!!

My monkey and my carrot

Our attempt at a family photo...the kids were not so sure  

However, their brother-sister photos were just to die for...

We Can Do It!

I should probably just change the name of my blog to "Stop Beating Your Self Up.”  As I sit down to write this entry I realize I basically write about this topic only every other time I write.  That is, the topic of realizing that you as a mother, you as a person, are enough.  Should we always strive to be better?  Sure, of course we should.  I am a huge promoter of growth, and stretching, and expanding out of your comfort zone.  But do I also think it is just as important to be content, to give yourself credit for everything you are doing right now? Absolutely.  Today I came across this list of the "10 Greatest Ways to Be An Unhappy Mother".  I LOVE this list.  Here are the main points I received from reading this:

1.  STOP COMPARING!  Comparing the outside of other people's lives with the inside of yours is dangerous, and just inaccurate.  

2.  While having goals is important, so is being content.  It would be fabulous to be one of those women who have endless amounts of energy and accomplish like 20 things before their children are even awake, but I am not.  I need coffee before I am friendly, and I need to focus on one thing at a time.  This is something HUGE I have learned to be ok with this year.  More on that in another entry. 

3.  DON’T DO IT ALONE!!!  I cannot stress how important this one is.  I fell guilty to #8 on the list in a big way when Franklin was born.  However, by the time Elena came around I got smart and got out.  Ok, so I know not everyone is as lucky as I am to share a backyard with a community of parents who are living my same "spouse in graduate school" life and are available to lend a helping hand without ever even being asked.  Nevertheless, for the sake of your sanity (and the sanity of your partner and children) find your community.  Find a playgroup, find a friend to swap childcare with once a week, invite other parents over, go to the park with people, and just BE with other people.  

It can be difficult to love and accept ourselves.  Especially, when we are investing so much of our time and effort to the well being of others.  However, what I am trying to learn is that unless I am nice to myself, how can I teach my children to be nice to themselves?  To be confident, capable little beings?  The answer is I cannot.  

While cruising Pintrest for a Halloween costume for myself (yes, I still like dressing up), I ran across this picture.  

How awesome is that?!  I am totally going to be Rosie the Riveter! So here is my final thought.  Already, as we are, we are this awesome.  Mamas just by being you, you too are this bad ass.  

Preschool! When did this whole growing up thing happen?!?!

Franklin is now in his 3rd week of preschool!  I am so proud of my little man, it has not been an easy transition, but he keeps going.  There are usually some tears,  but by the time we pick him up he has dozens of stories of caterpillars, painting, stories, songs, bunnies and even some friends.  Frank has never EVER been in any kind of childcare (excluding staying a couple of hours with neighbors or family members) so this has been huge for us all.  My sweet boy has such an observant sensitive heart, which is my favorite thing about him; it just needs a little extra gentleness and care.  I have to remember that.  To be gentle with his fragile heart.  I need to remember to embrace it.  No, I do not need him to "toughen up.”  Being tough is over rated.  Being sensitive, in tune, courageous, hopeful, observant, and expressive; now that is the kind of person that makes this world a better place.  And my dear sweet sensitive son, is in fact already doing just that.  

Getting ready to leave for the first day of school!

My sweet heart

Silly goose of a moose!

 

With an apprehensive mama

My two favorite guys on the planet!

Painting his "house" at school

 Working hard

 Showing off his school sign 

LOVES riding his bike to school like a big kid 

Ice cream celebration after first day of school at Rick's.  

It's no Prince Pucklers, but it does the job.

Sharing with Dede

WARNING: Sappy Post Ahead!

This post is a little sappy, ok a lot sappy.  But hey,  cut me some slack, I miss my hubby and our anniversary is coming up.  Nick is gone on a research trip for 3 1/2 weeks. We really miss having daddy around, and not only because I can't make him change the poopy diapers.  This situation, him being gone, is kind of funny.  I mean in one way, I can't help but feel a little confident.  Like, wow I am actually doing this, taking care of these kiddos, being without my Nicholas. I am my own person, and I am strong enough to be my own person.  However, at the exact same time I can't stop feeling and thinking about how happy I am that I get to do this, our family, my life's journey WITH Nick.  Everything, is better with him.  I am my own capable person, but he, helps make me better.  I can be a good mom on my own, but with him, I have the ability to be a great mom.  I am strong on my own, but with him, I am capable of not only surviving but thriving through the tough stuff. I want to teach my children that who they want to be and what they can do, does not need to be completely dependent on their partner, but that if they find one that supports, enriches, and helps make their journeys that much richer, than to love that person.  Respect that person.  Give to that person, in a way that reflects their love. 

I checked my myspace for the first time in like 3 years and found some great old pictures.  Here are a few gems I found of our young love :-) 

Playing with photoshop 

New York 2008

Nerds

Gosh this must have been around 2002! 

Newlyweds

We're babies! 

Furniture shopping...pre kids, when shopping didn't end in tears, for all four of us! 

Apparently we like to take pictures of our selves sharing drinks

On our honeymoon

I'm still here!

I've realized anytime we are in Oregon I become a very lazy blogger.  Ok, maybe just lazy.  The days go quickly filled with family and buisiness, and not to mention "sleeping in" (thanks mama-in-law!)  I do miss my house.  Having things organized in the way I'm used to, my wonderful neighbors, who make the tough days of parenting a little easier, and the fact that our place is within walking distance of the grocery store, farmers market, campus and the library.  However, there is something rejuvenating about being "home" in Oregon.  We come here, recharge our batteries, pick fresh berries, play with cousins, grandparents, and friends, enjoy a life that is well, a little simpler.  By the end we are ready to be in our own place again, a little more rested to take on the adventures we have set out to accomplish.   We still have a little over another month left here in Oregon, unfortunately Nick will be gone doing research for most of it.  Perhaps I can convince that wonderful mother-in-law I mentioned earlier to come back to Stanford with us to rejuvenate from Nick being gone (*wink *wink).

I will work on uploading pictures of our amazing summer soon, I promise.  It's funny how something as simple as my computer-camera chord not hanging right next to the computer like it is at home would prevent me from uploading the pictures this entire time, but it does.  See?  Lazy.  

Here are a couple of pictures to wet your whistle while you are waiting on the edge of your seats, as I am sure you are doing.

tee-lalh

Happy 1st Birthday Baby Girl!

Happy 1st birthday to my darling Elenita.  You love trains and babies equally.  Roar like a lion and blow endless kisses.  You lipsync to Glee and dance with your brother to Beck. You're not afraid to be you and that is wonderful news since I wouldn't want you to be anyone else.  May you always keep this freedom to be yourself, while loving and caring for others in the process.  And above all, may I always support you in doing this. 

Happy birthday baby girl!