Bath time was a three ring circus for us, yesterday. I had just pulled Austin out of the bath, Alaina had jumped in and Ethan was just out of the shower. The kids were all laughing and having three separate conversations with me when Austin reached out and put his hand on my shoulder. In a very serious voice he asked, "Mama. Is Santa real?" I sputtered and tried to think of some funny way to answer him. Ethan and Alaina immediately started chattering about how they actually saw Santa and they went out to feed the reindeer. Their story became more and more elaborate as they talked over each other. But Austin wasn't fazed. He moved his hands to my cheeks and kept complete eye contact, 'No, mama. I'm serious. (pause for affect) Is Santa a real person?" There was something about his clean little body and slicked back hair that made me pay more attention. And I was taken in by his bright blue-eyed steady gaze. Time slowed down for a second and I could hardly even hear Ethan and Alaina in the background. This child of mine wanted the truth and I couldn't look away from him. He was as intense as I've ever seen him. I pulled his brown towel around him closer and heard myself say, "No. He's not a real person. It is fun to imagine he is, though." Still looking straight into my eyes, he asked, "Then who buys us the presents." I was under his power. I didn't want to say anymore. I didn't want to say as much as I already had. He'll only turn 6 next month. That's too early not to believe in Santa. I hated myself for ending this innocent time of his life...I just couldn't lie to him. "We do." I whispered. Ah, the shame. I saw it all work through that little brain of his. I vaguely heard the kids in the background going on, "Well, I believe in him. I saw him." "Me too, I heard his voice saying, 'Ho ho ho.'" Austin, however, knew the truth. Finally he broke eye contact and mumbled, "Well, I wish he was a real person." Freed from his hypnotic stare I pulled him into a sweet, shampoo-smelling hug and sighed, "Me too."

Just wondering what ever happened to my sweet, tiny, itsy bitsy babies? I MISS them!

Welcome to Lewisville State Park., a six minute drive from my front door to the park entrance. This is where I go running in the morning. Well, I use the the phrase 'go running,' as loosely as possible because, let's face it, I've only been there 3 times now. And I only went running once. Even then, it was more of an odd lurching run/walk disaster as my body reminded me just how long it has been since I've exercised.

I decided that I had better wait until I have built up enough stamina to keep up with a 1st grader (specifically, MY 1st grader) before I try anything as foolhardy as running again. Until then, I'm going to continue with my silly-looking fast walk.
I've heard that walking really fast is just as good for you as running. I don't know where I heard that but since it works for me, I'll just go with it.
The first two mornings I came here it was misty and the mossy trees sparkled with dew. Birds singing. River gurgling. Ahhhh. Perfection.
It takes about 50 min. to walk around the park...half by the river and half up and over a hill. This morning was a (very) brisk 41 degrees but for the first time there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I think that I might actually like exercising here.
Gorgeous.

And when I got home today, I had a clear view of St. Helens.
Our apple tree is in full bloom and I can just feel Spring about to burst through all the dreary weather we've had for so long. I haven't even made it through half of a Washington winter, and already I'm antsy for warm weather.



However, I guess if all that rain keeps this place so beautiful, it is worth the wait.

Happy Easter. Uh..well, Happy Easter last week. We boiled the eggs. We colored the eggs. We hid the eggs. We ate the eggs.

It was a pretty standard Easter here. The kids had a good time and ever since our big Easter basket unveiling, I've been trying to get Rob to take the rest of the candy to work. It is never a good thing once the kids start to expect some Easter treat after breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. It is definitely time to purge our house of all candy!





We also had the kids play twister. This was too silly not to take a picture of it.

Last week was Spring Break. I spent the majority of it unpacking. The weather blessed us with an abundance of rain. The kids went stir-crazy. Oh...and did I mention that we decided not to hook up the TV? That's right, my couch potatoes have now been two weeks without any TV or movies.

By Thursday I overheard Ethan saying, "I can't wait to go back to school! Spring Break is taking FOREVER!!!!" So, I decided that we'd have a whole day dedicated to nuthin' but fun. I was printing out maps of cool places to go when the kids started playing around with packing boxes. It seemed like a much better idea than forging out in the current rainstorm and so we made forts and magic boxes all day instead.

"Fort"

"Science/Invention Box"

"Fort...again"
"Super-cool car"

Alaina made a magic box and had all the kids performing her trick. I should only put one video on, since it is the same skit every time but I just got super-fast internet service yesterday and so it will only take me a minute to up load all three. Lucky you.

Ethan has been waiting, very impatiently, for Mom and Dad to visit. Yes. He missed them. Mostly, though, he knew that once G-ma and G-pa Scribner came, he was going to have his birthday party. He started telling kids in his class about his party about his second day of school. The main draw, he'd tell them, was G-ma's 'famous Birthday cake!'
By Wednesday we had a pretty good handle on the kitchen and living room and so we wrote out 7 invitations to the friends that Ethan wanted to come. By Saturday, the main rooms were decorated with crepe paper and balloons and all the other doors were tightly closed on rooms full of packing box chaos.
We had, unbelievably, a warmish, sunny day. We all went out and started playing games until Ethan's friends arrived. We played Bocce,
We flew a kite and played this fun ball throwing game...no idea what it is called.
We also let out the homing pigeons that our landlord keeps behind our garage. The couple we rent from want us to let them out as much as we can and the kids love watching them all fly out and around.
We were all having a wonderful time but after about a half an hour, it was becoming clear that no one was coming. Ethan kept asking where all of his friends were and my heart hurt knowing what I was going to have to tell him. Finally I brought him in and tried to explain why no one showed up. I told him how new he was and that his friends parents didn't know who he was yet. I told him how late we got the invites out and how all the kids' Spring Break had start the day before and so most of his friends' families were probably on their own family trips. It really didn't matter because, in the end, Ethan was crushed.
Just when I ran out of things to say, Mom called him into the kitchen. She pulled him over and excitedly told him that she was about to pull out his very own bread. No one was allowed to eat a bite of it unless he allowed them to. She then pulled him over and brought out an electric knife (I didn't even know I owned) and helped him use it cut the fresh bread into thick, steaming pieces.

After we wolfed down an entire loaf of bread, Mom waltzed us into the living room for Mom-style games. Anyone who knows Mom, knows what I'm talking about. We played 'Who stole the cookie.' The shoe game, 'Savez vous passer' (do you know how to pass) or as we knew it growing up as 'Sorry to pass-A.' And of course, the family favorite. The flour game.



Before you knew it. All thoughts of tears were far behind us and Ethan was having the time of his life. And of course, we did have grandma's famous Birthday cake.