TODAY
Out my window: Dark. It is unseasonably warm this past week and weekend. Looks like Autumn returns on Tuesday.
Clothing myself in: jammies.
Around the house: I finally put an art-line up for the kids. Fridge-door space just wasn't cutting it. Gemma has so many things from school, plus the things she makes at home, and now Kolbe likes to make projects plus his speech teacher will do little crafts with him. Even Clem painted a paper plate pumpkin today! So I got some twine from the dollar bin at Target and some clips and strung it across the fireplace on the two end-hooks where we hang our Christmas stockings. It is sweet. Definitely looks like children live in our house, but I like it.
The baby/toddler: He has this little swagger he does sometimes when he walks. Cracks me up. For whatever reason he hates having to go to the bathroom before his bath every night, so every night, without fail, I hear him tell Aaron, "but I ah-yeddy MAKE my pobbies!" Even if it's been hours. He is such a funny kid!
The kiddos: Lots of time outdoors lately. Everyone is happier when we are outdoors. Gemma has had a good week. Kolbe tried to sharpen his finger in the pencil sharpener. They have played together really well (mostly) this past week. I record these things so I can look back and actually believe they happen.
In the kitchen: Tostadas, Breakfast Casserole, Spaghetti and a big 'ole pot of Halloween chili on the menu this week.
Crafting: The kids made paper plate jack-o-lanterns today, so I'm claiming that along with aforementioned art line, thank you.
Learning: the usual.
Reading: I picked up The Mitchells series for Gemma and we started Clare's Costly Cookie tonight. I have ordered used copies of The Children of Noisy Village and its sequel. And I have The Family Under the Bridge from the library, but think we will wait on it until closer to Christmas. I also picked up a couple used hardcovers for our Advent/Christmas library at home and have requested our November books from the library (I thought we'd take a break from our [formal] Virtues and discuss gratitude, aptly).
Watching: The World Series, of course.
Bringing me joy: The kids. I love them. They make me nuts and test my patience in ways I never dreamed (or hoped) possible, but oh I love them. They are each so unique and special and delightful in their very own ways.
Thinking about: The Ebola outbreak. It didn't really have me too worried, until the few cases in Texas. Even then I knew I was being unreasonable worrying about it, a.) because it wasn't incredibly likely to spread, and b.) if it was going to spread, there wasn't a whole lot I could do about it anyways. But as I thought about it, it really hit home how many people, people...moms and dads, sons and daughters, sisters and brothers...are dying in Africa. And how scared, and sad, and lonely and horrifying that must be. I can't even imagine. It is hard for me to fathom, or even think about for too long. But it has made me pray more consciously for those directly affected, on my own and with the kids.
Pictures to share:
I like this little montage of Clem, at the park one day last week. He was so focused on balancing.
