Every day they're shovelin'

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We got 3-4 inches of snow, so we had to put the boys to work before school to dig our way out.  The upside was that both Chris and Sam wanted desperately to suit up and help shovel... on a school day.   So we let them.  Mom W. got them shovels a while back, and they love to break them out.   But I think this year is the first year, they actually were able to be Helpful.

Both the boys couldn't wait to get out and help Daddy do the driveway.  

Bless their sweet souls. 

They started to get a little chilly, and I made them some Trader Joe's pumpkin chai, very light on the chai, because that blend is really full of sediment.  And they loved it, they called it their 'Special pumpkin cocoa'.  They earned it for helping Daddy out with the snow.  Such good boys. 

But the back stoop looks great!  

Yeah, I have no problems putting them to work before school! 

Fall playing Winter

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Sam took one look at the weather and declared, "Fall is pretending to be winter."  How true.

How dare we get snow in mid-November! 

Then a friend of mine Tim wrote, "I'm dreaming of a White Mid-November is not a song."  I loved that. It feels like not only do all the stores bring Christmas a bit early, the weather has decreed it so also.  Still, I love our home in the winter, it's nice and cozy, and I'm happy to be inside when it's snowing.  And we spent the whole day in because Sam had the pukies in the morning...though I think it was just because he didn't eat.  Still, I'm content to watch it snow while drinking a little somesing.  

The Raindrop

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On Saturday, I went to This Class. 

I got to learn the Raindrop Technique. 

What is Raindrop you ask?  It's a massage technique using Essential Oils.  

And Young Living has put together a fabulous kit for these oils.  It uses 10 different oils, and is Fabulous. This class I attended was in a hotel conference room downtown, and was divided up into a couple dozen massage tables.  Each table had 3 guests, I got to sit with my friend Cindi.  Then we learned about the Technique. We all watched as someone received a Raindrop Massage.  Then we broke into our groups, and I got to be the first recipient.  Woohoo!  

Then I got to Give a Raindrop, then I got to Observe and open bottles and hand them on.  As it turns out, having someone around to do this is really great.  Now that I've given another, it was a bit messier doing the bottles myself.  Anyway, it's a lot of oil, and it made me feel so relaxed, and light. I could feel them working still the next morning.  I still smelled of spices, and trees, and wintergreen.  And so did all my clothing.  :)  

This was all the goodies I received from going to the class. 

My mother in law sent me, so that I'd be able to go and give her Raindrops massages.  Brilliant idea really.  And while I was there, they had the kits for sale 10% off, no shipping.  So we got one, and then after the class, we split up what was left of the one we'd used.  I got a bunch of half bottles of these oils.  And my friend Cindi was experimenting with making clay diffuser necklaces, and she gave me a few to try out with the boys and I.  I love them, the work wonderfully.  I stink so good now! 

Sunday, I set all this up, and was able to give Eric a Raindrop Massage, which was good since he has this monster deadline he's working up to, and he was all stressing out.  Now he feels good and smells good, but we learned that of all the middle names we could have given Jacob, we didn't give him the middle name Buzzkill, which seemed most appropriate.

Go for a Ride

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Jacob keeps trying to ride this toy.  

I was in a class all day on Saturday, and missed this little crazy boy.  So this was the only picture that I took all day.  It was nice to get out, fresh air, and all that, but it felt quite surreal to be away from Jacob for so long by myself.  Refreshing though. 

I've heard it said to take an evening a week, a day a month, and a weekend a year away from the kids, just to let them miss me a bit.  I don't do that.  But as Jacob ages, I'm better at stepping away.  This was my first long day away from him by myself. Eric and I got away for our anniversary in October, but I don't get away for 9 hours alone.  Madness.   I do get touched out sometimes.  And it was long enough for me to miss my boyz.  However, I do think it did some good for me to get away, to talk to other grownups.  I've forgotten what it's like to just talk about Me, though I can't help myself but brag about my boys, even when it is just me.  And it was good for Daddy to take a day shift.  The boys played all day, and cleaned their rooms, and had a fine time.  The only problem I had was that Sam got a hold of a sharpie - yipes.   But Jacob was Good and Exhausted by the end of the day.  In fact, he might have been a little punchy by the end of the day, which is why I think he was trying to get on this little toy and ride it. It was pretty funny, yes, getting away for a day was enough for me to miss him too.  

Game Night

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So, I've been getting caught up this morning, it was a wild and busy weekend, that went by way too quickly.  Friday night, we got to have a fun date at the boys' school.  Brown was holding it's First Official Game Night.  So of course, we had to go, and support the cause. ;)

I  volunteered to 'work' the event.  I'm so glad I did.  I got to go help set up the games.  We took over the cafeteria, and each table had a game set up.  Originally we thought we'd need an adult per table, but it ended up being fine to have adults floating around.   The boys arrived after I did, and they camped out at the game Clue.  I hung out near Uno and Phase 10. I circled a bit to help kids get started.  It was so fun.  What was even more fun was seeing how much fun the kids had.  We had easily 50 people there!    

Chris and Jake really loved Connect Four.  At one point, Chris and Jake were playing together.  Then Chris discovered Jenga.  Of course, Jake doesn't use strategy when playing.  He just likes to put them in the slot, and go Oh Wow!  I'm not sure which he liked better, putting them in the slot, or sliding it so the discs would go flying.  He had a good time, over and over and over again.  What a great evening!  They had a bake sale, and popcorn.  Turns out Jacob really loves carmel corn.  And they had an author John Graham, author of No Sweets for Santa (where he gets pizza), whose boy also attends the school, and we got an autographed copy for only 5$! 

 What an adorable book!  We all Loved Game Night, and I can't wait for it again next year! 

Goofus

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It's impossible to take this baby seriously. 

This is a tired crazy wee beastie at the end of the night, using his popper as a vacuum. 

By the redwood

 Our Dawn Redwood's leaves (needles) are beginning to turn and fall.  This is what Fall is all about for me.

Not the best pic, but since it was right before the boys were headed to school, and they were all a little crazy, that's ok.  In fact, it may become a new annual thing.