Pumpkins

I love fall.  I love Halloween & Thanksgiving & the fall color palette & everything about fall.

But...

I friggin' hate carving pumpkins.  Words cannot express how much I loathe this task.  My version of hell would be uncarved pumpkins lined up and me having to carve them for eternity.  A little dramatic--- I know.  But, hands down, this is my least favorite task.  Ever.  Give me toilets with skid marks to scrub... but do not give me pumpkins to carve.

Every year, I look for ways to get out of it...

1.  Not bringing it up... which totally back fires every time.  Because then the day before Halloween, the boys are begging to carve pumpkins.  And then it is a last minute jumbled mess.  And I do not do well with last minute jumbled messes. 

2.  I usually try to pawn pumpkin carving off on anyone who shows a spark of interest.  But, unfortunately, because I put pumpkin carving off, the boys have the sudden realization of, "Hey its the night before Halloween and we haven't carved pumpkins yet!"  And then no one was available to pawn carving pumpkins off on.  This very situation happened this year.

3.  Not buying pumpkins never works.  Because Aaron's mom grows beautiful carving and baking pumpkins and squash (our pumpkins never turn out... I am not sure why I keep planting them.)

So, this year, I tried to suck it up--- not wine too much--- and dive into pumpkin art.

There we were.  Elbows deep in cold pumpkin guts (and I have actually held real people guts--- pumpkin guts are much worse.)  The boys had goofy, glorious smiles on their faces in the midst of this 'awesome pumpkin carving.'  I bit my tongue so hard it bled, and tried my hardest no to ruin this for them.  Your only young once, right?  Right.

This year it wasn't hard. Noah completely gutted and carved his pumpkin with no assistance from me.  And Abram needed very little assistance.  So, I guess it wasn't that bad after all. 

The best part of Halloween (besides hiding in the pantry and eating all of the boys' candy) is roasting pumpkin seeds.  They are my favorite... with a little butter, parsley, and garlic.  Delicious!

The holiday season has officially started.  And I love it!  Next up... Thanksgiving.

He Just Gets Me

A co-worker of mine was talking about how her son 'just gets [her].'  With a sparkle in her eye, she shared with me a homemade birthday card with a picture of a momma walrus and a baby walrus on it.  In her eyes, it was the absolute-most-perfect birthday card ever.

This little conversation got my thinker thinkin'...  I have a boy like that too.  One that just gets me. 

Don't get me wrong.  I hold no favoritism for my children.  This child can--- and he will--- press Every. Button. In. The. Book.  And then press them again. 

But, if I am having a bad day... he knows exactly what to say.  If I want to curl up in a corner, basking in peace-and-quiet... he will let me. If I just need some time... he gives it... no questions asked.  If I am cranky, he usually doesn't push 'it'--- whatever 'it' may be.  When it is that time of the month--- even though he doesn't know exactly what that time is--- he knows to be a little more patient.

Most of the time, he and I are on the same wave length.  Thinking the same things.  He knows how my mind works... and I can predict him. 

We can talk about anything.  He shares things with me that I wonder if other ten-year-olds share with their moms.  Immediately, after coming home from school, he will tell me how it was.  Any drama going on... when his mouth gets him into trouble... classmates freaking out... and of course--- his love--- Candice.

I know sometimes I blog more about Abram.  Little brother is more animated... gets into more trouble... has unique needs that not every child has... and still thinks that I am the coolest mom/person ever.  Big brother, on the other hand, knows better.  He knows that I am human... I am a sinner... and I am not perfect.

I know Aaron and I were young when we had Noah.  Ever since the day he was born, we have tried to do the best for him.  And when little brother was added, we tried to do the best for them.  We are so lucky to have them!

"I live for my sons. I would be lost without them." ~ Princess Diana

And We Hiked

As I sit here typing feverishly on the computer... smelling the coffee brewing in the kitchen... listening to the pitter patter of rain on our roof... I can't help but smile.  When was the last time it rained?  Sometime in August?  I love the rain.

Last weekend Aaron had a race.  It seems to be a recurrent theme.  He ran an 8k and his brothers ran a 5k.  They all did awesome!  We returned home after a 3 hour car ride, dumped our bags in the kitchen from our overnight stay at Ryan's... and then we ran to the blonde bloggers house for an impromptu bonfire.  It was a beautiful weekend.

Sunday, we hiked.

And hiked.

Until we reached the top.

It was beautiful.  And quiet.  And wonderful--- to just be with my boys.

And They Ran

"Run Forest Run!" was a mantra I chanted in my sleep.  Why was I chanting this?  Because I worked nights and was sleeping while my boys ran a race.

A big race.

Since I was unable to attend, gramma stood in as the picture taker/ cheer section.

Big brother leaving people in the dust!  Ca-chow!

Big brother got third place out of 30 or 40 kids (& my niece got second--- but we don't bring that up.)

My big brother got first in his age division.

We won't point out what age division he won:)

And, Abram finished in the middle of the same race that Noah and Annika ran.  I wish I could've been there to see him run.  Aaron ran along side of him and they ran the entire race.  Amazing!  Especially considering less than four years ago, he could only walk with a walker and AFO's.  And now he is running a race!

They all did awesome!  I wish I could have seen it.

Just the Two of Us

With the sounds of combines and tractors all around us... I know that fall is definitely underway. 

We only have carrots left in our main garden and popcorn left to pick.  It feels like I just sowed the seeds yesterday.  The image of my husband and the boys carefully sowing seeds is still fresh in my mind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sundays are always busy.  Getting everyone ready for church, Sunday school, and then whatever else the hubby has planned. 

Last Sunday,  Aaron wanted to head to Inspiration Peak.  I could tell how important this was for him.  His grandpa used to take him and his siblings there when they were younger (and I have never ventured there.)  So, we planned a short trip with the boys.

There was only one problem... the boys wanted to do their own thing... go their own way. 

I found myself torn.  Do we force this on them??? Or do we allow them to go to a cousins home and a grandmas home. 

We ultimately--- and reluctantly--- let them do what they wanted.  Noah went to a cousins and Abram went to grandmas.

Aaron and I returned home after church, alone.  "We could work on landscaping," I said.

"It can wait.  Let's go... just the two of us," Aaron responded.  When is the last time I went anywhere with him---- alone?

So we made the road trip, just him and I.  And I am so glad we did.  It allowed us to reconnect... after weeks of just seeing each other in passing.  We needed this.

We hiked together and played like teenagers.

I see you:)

He waited patiently while I messed around with my camera.  Climbing in brush where no climbing was allowed to get some fall photos.

After a few hours, we were to back to real life.  But, I am so glad we took a break.

Trouble... With a Captial T

There is only one thing that comes to mind when I look at these photos....

Trouble (with a capital "T" of course.)  No other words come to mind.

The First Day of School

I bounded into the boys room, feeling like Nemo saying, "It's the first day of school- the first day of school!"

The only response was a few weak groans from the bottom of the bunk bed (yes- they still sleep together, in a twin bed... their choice.)

So then I lapsed into Donkey's song from one of the Shrek's, "Good morning, good morning, hey there sun is shining through... good morning, good morning to you and you and you."

That at least got the response, "Stop mom--- your annoying."  There is only one brother who would mutter those words.

Finally, they peeled themselves out of bed and drug themselves downstairs. 

A first day of school is never complete without a few minor fights, the smoke alarms going off- over burnt toast, and cat puke on the steps. 

 

 

 

 

But after walking them to their classrooms and helping them put their stuff in their desks, I realized that I actually have a good feeling about this school year. Usually I do not look forward to parent meetings and IEP's and meetings about meetings.  For the first time ever, I can actually say 'bring it on!'

After Abram came home from school, we snuggled up on the couch and muttled through a little homework.  He whispered, "I wish I was still in school... I love my teacher."  There was no struggling to get his back brace on, he just did it.  Noah is sharing a locker with his best friend.  What more could we ask for?