Weekend Wrap-Up

This week: This week my mom moved into her own apartment. She had been living with us since the end of August and on a whim we checked out a really nice complex down the street from our house and it was perfect. She applied and two weeks later we were helping her pack and move a short drive away. Bean asked if she was going back to "New Nork" (so cute) but I assured them that no, Nana is only down the road now. We feel very lucky and spoiled. We had a friend over and her three little ones and we made apple pie. I love the fall. It means baking and sharing goods with friends and family, it makes my heart full. The husband and I went to an independent school fair to look at school options for Bean and Reid next fall. It kind of makes my head spin just thinking about the logistics and finances of private schools 40+ minutes away from where we currently live, but hopefully we'll find a way. 

Snapshots of the week: Bean scored her fist soccer goal this weekend! It was a huge deal for all of us and she got a run around the yard on Daddy's shoulders when we returned home with the news. She felt like a super star.

Follow along @omgmegg on Instagram 

To-dos and goals for the week:
 - create a month long learning plan for Reid
 - work on the big kids' Halloween costumes
 - earlier bed time for me
 - drink more water
 - try not to obsessively check my baby registry
 - spend time alone with Reid
 - organize the garage 


A few facts:

• I've given up all hope of making homemade granola, it always tastes like crap.
• I found an amazing all wood coffee table for the living room for $14.99 at the Goodwill, waiting definitely paid off.

September Apple Picking

Apple picking in Central New York is so great.

There is a farm that we visit every year. The same country store that sells the same snacks and baked goods. The same orchard, the apple trees knotted and twisted but still neatly in a row. We watch the kids take bites out of apples as we pick, fill the bags that are then given to Daddy so that our arms don't fall off, and after we order three hotdogs, one hamburger, and gorge ourselves on apple cider donuts that stick to the roof of our mouths and leave our shirts sparkling with cinnamon and sugar.

We love it and I will miss it.

We've decided that we aren't giving up our September tradition and even though we are skeptical, we figure how can the number one apple producing state let us down, right? Right.

So off we went on a Sunday afternoon, apple picking for the first time in Washington State:

The place was huge, a real attraction with a lot of things to look at. We didn't really explore those areas too much, we wanted to pick our apples and eat lunch so we got on a wagon hitched to the back of a tractor and rode it out to the apple orchard. There we picked Jonagold apples larger than my fists. Sweet and tart the kids did more eating than picking but I didn't mind, I enjoyed twisting them off and placing them in our bag.

We picked a little under 20lbs of apples that I happily took home, peeled, and put in a crockpot to make apple sauce. The rest of them are waiting on more jars so that I can make apple pie filling.

Right Now

Right Now I am...

1. Picking apples with my family
2. Loving how cozy our home feels this season
3. Dreaming of all things apple
4. Taking it slow and enjoying the changing of the trees
5. Feeling itty bitty kicks
6. Finding new ways to show my kids that I love them
7. Reading a book
8. Trying to be in bed by 9:30pm
9. Making myself drink tea
10. Just...really..really..enjoying my life right now

Right Now

Right Now I am...

1. Trying to figure out how to supplement Bean's public school education at home.
2. Rejoicing in the connections I've made with friends
3. Preparing for out youngest 2nd birthday tomorrow (September 14th!)- where has the time gone?
4. Trying to remember to take my prenatal vitamins
5. Enjoying the big kids (Bean and Reid) being in soccer
6. Trying to add to my essential oils collection without going into abject poverty
7. Realizing that its finally too cold to wear sandals anymore, bummer.
8. Welcoming the Seattle rain
9. Making sure all my fall spices are fully stocked to kick off my Fall Baking Season
10. Just...really..really..enjoying my life right now.

Day 1 of Kindergarten

Today my little Bean went to her first day of Kindergarten. She practically escorted us out of the room. Um..okay..so..bye? Was what I said and then she gave me a half assed side hug and said "Bye Mommy!" Ok..so..this is see ya later..Oh, okay.

It wasn't as dramatic for me as I think it is for other people. Doesn't mean that I don't care or Im not deeply affected, I think people just process and react to information differently. And that's okay. Instead of crying at the school I kind of wandered around the house all day, noticing how quiet it was, feeling a little sad when Reid would say "Bean! Look at this..Oh wait..I forgot." - yeah, that kind of stunk.

The good news is that she had a great time. We are all happy about that. So this is our new.

I have a Best Friend

Recently I was asked if I had a Best Friend. I replied that other than my husband, no I do not have a Best Friend.

But I was mistaken.

At first I thought so narrowly about that term and who that person should be. They had to be around my age or maybe a few years older, maybe in the same phase of life that Im in..Maybe someone I went to school with.

This morning I am reflecting back on that question and I realized that my best friend is getting on a plane tomorrow to come live with my family. She left her job and sold her home to be with us. She loves me more than life itself, adores my children and husband, and I've been through so much with her. We fight, laugh, and cry together. She knows most everything about me and still tolerates my moods, my need to be controlling, and sometimes when I climb up on my high horse.

My mom is my best friend.

For a second I thought, "How lame." But then I realized that its actually the coolest thing in the entire world. There are some people who really want a better relationship with their mom and so it's not lame. Its awesome.

My best friend is coming to live with us (for a short while, she insists that she must have her own life and cute apartment..for what, I'm not sure!) and it will be the first time in my adult life that my mom will live in the same city as me. Im dreaming of traditions like bi weekly dinners, popping over to go on a shopping trip, rolling deep at sporting events, calling in reinforcements when I feel like Im fuckin' up as a mom, and finally having a reliable support in the same city that doesn't require a 'get to know you' phase.

I'm super happy. She is the Rhoda to my Mary.