Walking to school

I honestly don't understand people sometimes.  We try to walk to and from school whenever possible.  Granted, it takes us 20 minutes with everyone, sometimes longer when Jacob rides his trike.  We try to use the crosswalk (we only have to cross one street) and I don't think we're asking too much for cars to STOP for us in the crosswalk!!!  Yesterday, we were on our way home from school (we are quite the parade with the stroller, trike and bike).  We start into the crosswalk and I see a car starting around the corner down the street, going fast enough that I wasn't sure he was even going to stop.  But he slowed down a little.  We were basically across the street, in the area that a parked car would have been (just barely) and this guy floors it to go past us!!  James was closest to the sidewalk, Julia and I were next and Jacob was still hanging out in the street on his trike!!  I was a little upset by this, particularly because it was my teenage neighbor!!!!!

Now, I know that we can all get a little worked up when we think we've had a close call with our children, but there were several other people in the intersection at the time, one of whom commented on how close that was.  Well, we started the trek home from there (I was still fuming a little when we got home).  We were in our driveway, when I heard a loud truck at the corner (my neighbor again coming home).  He sees that we are still outside, backs up and goes the other direction.  Five minutes later he came home and I stopped by to chat with his mother.

Don't pedestrians always have the right of way?  Why are teenagers allowed to drive???

Good times in McCall

playing the pumper organ at the cabin

We went up to McCall over the weekend.  The weather was gorgeous!!!!  I love September in McCall--the tourists are all gone and it's mostly just the locals.  Saturday, there were a few folks on the beach, but Sunday, the beach was completely deserted!!!  It was so quiet and warm (at least it was warm in the afternoon).  My kids ended up being beach bums.



beach bum Julia!

Saturday morning, I made oatmeal for breakfast.  Unfortunately, the pot I used was a nonstick pot and the coating was flaking off everywhere, including into our oatmeal.  Consequently, both the pot and the oatmeal went in the trash.  I made a quick run to Paul's for cereal and all was good again.  After a long bike ride and some fun on the beach, we had dinner.  The TV reception was less than desirable (no cable and no HD converter box), but we did get ABC.  So we got to watch the Bronco game on Saturday night.  

Working hard on the beach!!

The good, the bad and the not so ugly!!

Yesterday was just one of those days.  You know the kind I'm talking about.  The kind that starts really, really ugly and you feel like it's just going to get worse.  In our case, however, it got so much better as the day went on (thank goodness!!).  Jacob goes to preschool on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  Thankfully, he loves going, but that's beside the point.  We drop Jacob off at preschool at 8:45 and take James to school (the bell rings at 9:10).  Sometimes, it is a bit of race, particularly if the traffic lights are not working in our favor.

If there is anything I know about Jacob, I know that you cannot force him to do anything.  Everything he does has to be HIS idea or he just won't do it, end of story.  Well, I tried a little too hard to get him out of bed (in order for us to be out the door on time on preschool days, we have to eat breakfast no later than 7:30) and he resisted, threw a mild fit.  Fine.  I left him alone, then he wandered downstairs for breakfast.  Well, something was just not right with breakfast.  Another fit.  Three fits later, he ate his breakfast.  Then he didn't want to get dressed, then he wouldn't brush his teeth.  By the time we were ready to leave the house, we were 15 minutes later than we should be. 

Well, there was no time to take Jacob to school first, so I had to change plans and take James to school first.  Now keep in mind that when we take James to school, he hardly even says goodbye to me before running off to play.  When the bell rings, we doesn't see me to collect his backpack or even wave.  So I thought taking James to school first wouldn't be a problem and he would be just fine when we said goodbye.  I was wrong . . .  Perhaps it was because he was one of the first kids on the playground, perhaps he was just feeling needy yesterday perhaps it was something else.  We got James out of the car and said goodbye, started pulling away and James is just standing there, staring at me ready to cry.  As he watched us, he started to cry and still stared, as if he were saying goodbye forever.  Well, of course, we stopped again and got out of the car.  He was crying and would not move from his spot on the curb.  Fortunately, one of the playground supervisors saw what had transpired and took him under her wing.  She convinced him to take his backpack to his line and stay with her until some of his friends came.  Thank goodness she was there.  He was fine the rest of the day.

From that point, we continued our morning by taking Jacob to school.  Jacob, of course,  wanted me to stay with him at school and would not let go of my hand.  Soon, though, he got busy painting and couldn't wait for me to leave.  Julia and I continued on to the grocery store and went about our day until it was time to pick Jacob up from school.

We live a blessed life.  Sometimes, the day to day stuff is trying, but we are truly blessed with our children, our lives, and our home.