Darla has discovered books!

Up until now, books have been like most other toys, something to chew on. But in the last week, Ms Darla has discovered the story inside. She loves to turn the pages and will point to the pictures, waiting for us to respond in some way. Currently, her favorites seem to be farm books. Anything with animals keeps her interest. She likes to hear the sounds we make when she points to an animal on the page. Some days, she can be quite obsessive about them. There are only so many times mommy can go through, "The Big Red Barn" before tiring of it. But, I do my best to appease her because I want her desire to read to continue to grow. Bring on the books!

Field Trip to Kelsey Creek Farm

Last Thursday, we went with Derick on his first field trip with his preschool, Pied Piper. The class got to visit Kelsey Creek Farm, in Bellevue. It was a beautiful day and Daddy took the day off from work to join us. It was nice to have all of us together for the fun. Derick was surprisingly a little shy and cautious on the trip. He was too scared to pet the pony and rooster, but got into helping Farmer Jayne make clean beds for the animals in the barn. Leave it to my kid to enjoy the tools! We had fun exploring a little after the program and found a pile of leaves to play in. Derick got to pick out his own pumpkin to bring home. He's quite proud and ready to carve it tomorrow night with the family.




Our friend, Clarissa, was taking our family photo after the farm visit. Derick was not in the mood for any more photos, but Darla was showing her emerging fun personality. Check out this sequence of photos and the HUGE grin on her adorable face!

Lighthouse

I am a lighthouse. Strong, sturdy, standing the tests of wind and sea. I stand as a beacon, a welcome sight for travelers. Warm shelter awaits my shores. I also stand as a warning, danger lurks in the waters nearby. Rocks, surf, and sand.

Today I weather the storms with calmness. I am a pillar of strength and might. But, there have been recent storms that are taking their toll. Chipping away at the weak spots in my tower. Finding those loose stones and casting them away from me. I can feel the slow eking of my energy through the cracks.

It is time for some repairs. Patch jobs will not hold the coming onslaught. The winter will be a long, slow climb from shabby run-down to beauty, strength, and light. I am built to last.

Camping in the Olympic National Park

Jeremy and I LOVE the fall. It's one of our favorite seasons. And after getting married, we decided to go on an annual camping trip around the Columbus Day holiday. In years past, we've explored the Oregon Coast and Sandlake/Honeyman ATV parks; Long beach and Cape Disappointment; and Lake Quinault & Kalaloch.

This year, we decided to go to Sequim and Port Angeles. We camped in the Olympic National Park; at the base of the road to Hurricane Ridge. The camp ground was called Heart O' the Hills, and it was aptly named. We drove about 5 miles up into the hills from the Visitors Center to get there. It was BEAUTIFUL!! The fall colors along the road were glowing with pretty sunlight. The mossy trees were full of green. The campsites were a little smaller than we are used to in the State parks. But, we were able to find one that was close to the bathrooms and had plenty of room for us. Behind our campsite was a glorious natural playground. There were lots of downed trees and old growth forest for us to explore. It was perfect.

We spent 3 nights and 4 days in the area, cutting our trip short by just one night. We visited Hurricane Ridge, Sol Duc Hot springs, and the Dungeness/Sequim area. We cooked great meals, roasted marshmallows, and cuddled up under the covers at night. The only big blemish on the weekend was Jeremy's lumberjack accident. He was trying to split a branch from a fallen tree, when it snapped and sprang back up into his face. It hit him just above his eye, scraping and cutting the skin open. It also hit his nose and gave him a black eye. It was a scary moment for us, as we assessed the damage. The good news: his eye is fine and the rest of it will heal. No stitches needed. It was a good lesson for the whole family about safety.

I knew going out there, that it would be cold, especially at night. So, I packed lots of warm clothes and blankets for the family. However, it turned out to be A LOT colder than we expected. Clear nights in the mountain hills makes for some COLD sleeping experiences. Jeremy and I could handle it, but keeping the kids warm and happy proved to be more challenging. Derick was most affected, and was more verbal about it than Darla. After two freezing nights, and lots of whining, we stopped at a sporting goods store and purchased a portable heater. It took the brittle chill out of the air, which helped.

Overall, it was a fun trip. We got to see some amazing scenery. The views from Hurricane Ridge reminded us of Paradise on Mount Rainier. Beautiful. The Sol Duc hot springs was interesting, and it gave us a chance to shower and clean up-mid trip. We didn't spend alot of time at Dungeness, but decided we'd come back another time to explore it when our children were better hikers. Derick enjoyed our visit to the Olympic Game Farm alot. He kept asking to see more animals.




We look forward to making more camping memories and hopefully teaching our children about the beautiful area we get to call our home.

The new, old me

Today I had my second counseling appointment. What an amazing experience. It's so helpful to me, to sit with someone who knows nothing of who I am, and share. I had two big AH HA! moments today. I am gaining insights into what may have contributed to my depression. Over the last week, I've been noticing myself coming alive again. It's almost like an awaking. It's like the depression was this thick fog, and I was lost in it. Now, I have energy to do things that I want; like gardening and swimming. I'm wanting to connect with my husband and my friends again, and I'm thinking about old loves like massage, energy work, and using oils in my everyday life. After marriage and kids, I've changed. Yet, the heart that beats within, is still me. I have to learn how to enjoy my interests and be a mom and wife. So, it's about balance, and finding the right balance for me and my family. I'm excited. Giddy almost. It's a little like going on a first date with myself. What will I learn next?