Yay for fall, and Wes and Morgan

I love love fall.  The evenings bring  an ever so slight breeze that seem to wake up my senses to beautiful new changes.  There's such an amazing orchestra of color, sounds, feelings and freshness.  For me it's a feeling of completion, a harvest, an anticipation of get-togethers,  and snowy days on the slopes.   It is like the golden hour of a day, the last glow of light most enjoyed and savored before the sun takes its rest.  Fall rejuvinates my whole being. I love love fall.

 Both boys are in preschool now, Morgan on second year.  Both are enjoying their new 'independent lifestyles.'  I have thought alot about charter schools, so if anyone has any input about those I would greatly appreciate it.

Wes did the mountain xterra triathlon, although he was not excited about it, having done little training and falling sick the day of the race.  This season had been shot for both of us, Wes started the summer out by stepping on a nail, and I had the fortune of a stone vase falling on my foot while I was wiping little Carson's bum and didn't see it fall. (I know, random, the tiny bones took months to heal.)    

The best part of the race was when Morgan, (who had gotton up at the crack of dawn to get his running clothes on) ran alongside Wes on the run.  It was such a neat moment, Wes slowed down just enough so Morgan could keep up before it got too steep for little legs to continue.  Even the runners behind him slowed a bit instead of passing.   One lady came up to me and said, "seeing him run with his father made my entire day, that is what this is all about!"  I thought about the truth of that short statement, how the finish line and the focus of getting ahead can sometimes deter from that which brings most beloved joy.  My children have taught me so much in the way of simple happiness: enjoy the little things, play together often, and believe we are superheroes.

Wes has his triathlons and I have mine.  From Morgan to Carson to Malia, changing, feeding, cleaning, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

The other day at the state fair, there was a baby alligator.  Since these are one of Carson's favorites, I thought he'd want to hold it.  Surprisingly he said, "No way!   He'll slap me and pee on me."  I couldn't stop thinking of a baby alligator slapping carson across the face in fast motion like on the little rascals. Next year Morgan wants to enter his corn in the state fair and Carson wants to enter his plastic sting ray.

Malia's first word.

Let it be written that Malia said her very first word today!

Dadda. 

I have no further comments. :)

I am Iron man and Five years Old

In case you didn't know, Morgan is Iron Man.  He has a little mole positioned directly in the middle of his chest, where he says his 'light' will be one day. He has determined that in order to make his suit, he is going to need metal, really hot fire, and careful hands.   So for his birthday he really wanted to make his iron man suit.  So with a few cardboard boxes, red spray paint, neon glow circles, and some beads, we were in business.    

After  completing their suits, the kids tested them out by knocking down huge walls, and throwing water balloon bombs at the chalk monsters drawn on the side of the garage.   We did "Pin the spark on Stark" and a pinata.   Pizza and a well designed cake followed, thanks gramma juwie for even putting a real light in his chest!  Iron Man even showed up.  Cousin gabe thrilled him by showing up in his Iron Man costume.

I enjoy throwing fun little parties for the kiddos, if not just to watch them run into each other wearing funny little boxes.

Now that he's five, Morgan is such a sweetie. He didn't ever have the terrible twos, it was more like terrible fours.  (and that wasn't even that bad) He also learned to ride his bike just before turning five as well.  He is a little straight arrow and Malia's favorite.  He is positive and sensitive.  When he's not having a good day he'll say, "All I have to do is look at that little Luci Malia and I am happy again!"   

He is an example to me in such a simple, beautiful way. The other day he said, "My heart hurts because I told a lie today."

Like Iron man he indeed has a light inside him, yet his glow can permeate even the darkest of days.

Malia is 6 months!

Malia turns 6 months today and is the sunshine of our lives! 

Here a a few of my favorites pics.  I still haven't 

managed to get some decent professional pictures of her though.  Morgan has come up with a few more names for her.  Some include: little statue of liberty, tasty little pina colada baby, and combining the words delicious with Malia forming Malicious.  

Her laughter is my favorite, hearing a belly laugh out of an infant cures all ailments!

Faith of a corn seed.

Sometime after planting a garden Morgan  got the idea of taking Orville Redenbacher kernals out of the cabinet and planting them in the front yard.  I told him it wasn't too likely that they will grow but he planted them anyway.  Sure enough, a few weeks later, little corn stalks began to grow.  I said, "Wow Morgan, how did that happen?"  He said, "I prayed for them to grow."  Once again I was put in my place by one who's faith comes before logic.  He knows anything is possible. The other day he was trying to squeeze through the fence, and I said it's too small.  His reply?  "I can do it, I have faith!"  Sure enough, a few minutes later he was free.  

Oh me of little faith!

lovely day at the spa.

yes, and I am lucky to say this is a typical day for me.

First, a new hair-do.

I awoke to my fantastic three year old twisting my hair in knots, it is a habit and he does it while he's half awake, sneaking in my bed as not to wake me...needless to say I had 3 good knots to untangle.

Next, the milk bath.  I was holding Malia above my head. need I say more.

Following that, Morgan and Carson proceeded to play doctor, I, the patient. "At least I can lay down for a few minutes," I thought.  Morgan took the blood pressure toy and said he needed to do CTR on me.  So he took out his toy chainsaw and proceeded to cut my leg off.  Luckily he had to rush to the potty and left Carson in charge.  He yelled from the potty, "Carson!  I need you to giver her the electric shock while I'm gone!" So Carson did, and I pretended to cry out in pain.  Morgan came back and said, "did you give her the shock?"  Carson said,  "yes but it hurt."  Morgan said, "well you forgot to put it on the no pain level!"

Then they were nice enough to give me a back massage.  This is where they walk up and down on my back. 

Then Morgan made lunch while I was nursing and was so proud of his PB and honey sandwich.  (Which also showed up on 18 different spots on the kitchen floor.) He had also managed to make chocolate milk using chocolate syrup and pouring it into the gallon of milk. Also, being the kind brother he is, poured a whole bowl of the syrup for Carson who, of course, had it all over his face.  How else do you eat chocolate syrup from a bowl? 

I even got to stay in my jammies the whole day.

How JULY rolled.