Monday morning lake walk

I love getting outside to exercise with the boys, and especially when we can be near water. We hadn't been to Lake Junaluska in a while (which is really a reservoir; no swimming but there is a trail all the way around); even though it is 25 minutes away, that's far enough that we hadn't ventured there yet with baby Hawk - until this week! It was a bit cloudy, breezy, and mid-70s - the perfect temperature for late summer. The boys were great on their bikes with no complaints; I had to jog quite a bit to keep up with them (with breaks to look at ducks or dogs or kayaks)!

Here we go, around the lake - 

39th Birthday

Jim's 29th, oops 39th, birthday was on a Saturday this year! So we got to stretch out the celebrations and food over the weekend. On Saturday morning, he took the older boys out for a walk on campus and then to the library. In the afternoon we had cake and played with the new Lego bricks.  (When I asked Timo what we should buy/make for Daddy's birthday, he said, "Legos!") There was also endless chicken dancing thanks to the musical birthday card from Mom G. Yes, mom, thank you so, so much for that card.

Notice some presents on the table, including a huge red cast iron pot (from Mom H)!!!

Devil's food chocolate cake, with decorations by T&M

Sunday was church in the morning, and then bike riding in the afternoon followed by birthday supper - new recipes, of course, according to our tradition: riced cauliflower and almond butter teriyaki stir fry with tofu and green beans. Both dishes were very easy and fast to make (key in our lives right now) and were really yummy. After the meal, Mattias asked, "What kind of rice is this? ... Cauliflower rice. I like it! Do you like it?" So I'd say that I will be making this again regularly in the supper routine! We do like cauliflower but I've only ever roasted it or put it in curry. I'm glad to know a new, easy way to prepare it.

Pre-Kindergarten for Timo

Look who is getting to start pre-kindergarten two mornings a week! We were very excited to get a phone call two weeks before school started and find out that an opening had become available at the nearby Methodist pre-school (it is hard to get a spot). Timo is VERY ready to learn and make friends and learn from teachers - and to get to experience something on his own, away from us. On the "describe your child" sheet that listed various adjectives, I circled: cheerful; inquisitive; friendly; and tentative (sometimes, when trying something new, but that is quickly changing. I think that aspect has more to do with him wanting to do things properly and well). Already after the first week Timo has established himself in those ways. He runs and hugs his teacher when he arrives, and joins in at the table to do his notebook work right away. He loves talking to the other children, asking them questions, and answering questions that the teachers ask. Before his 2nd day of school last week, he looked at me with such a happy grin and exclaimed, "I love pre-school!"

After 2 miles on the Greenway, on his pedal bike

One of the best parts about the school is that it is just a few blocks from our house, so we can walk there - or ride bikes. Truly these boys seem insatiable with their bikes right now, and ride them on walks and in circles on the driveway whenever they can. Typically every afternoon while waiting for Jim to get home from work, they ride them around the driveway - Timo makes up songs while riding; and Mattias squeals and sings, either pretending to be a police car or a marching band.

And meanwhile Mattias likes getting the whole morning to have all the cars and Legos to himself... Although on the first day he insisted on wearing a backpack like Timo and was quite distraught that he wasn't going to pre-school as well.

A sample of Timo's name/artwork

Pizza!

It's not a weekly tradition yet but boy did we have fun! And I'm excited to have found a dairy-free mozzarella cheese that actually tastes good, and veggie sausages (Trader Joe's brand).

In my dreams we have an outdoor wood-burning brick oven for pizza and bread - but in the meantime I guess we'll content ourselves with the electric oven...

First ever Grandparents Week

At the beginning of the month Timo and Mattias had their first ever Grandparents Week, where they traveled to Durham and stayed for four days on their own with Grandpa and Jaja. (Mom had been here during Hawk's surgery, and then she drove with them back to Durham; on the weekend Jim drove to pick them up)

Naturally we don't have any photos of their time except for a couple that Jim took when he picked them up - but they had a great time!!! They love it there and feel so comfortable and safe and happy with Grandpa and Jaja. And Miss Lisa (Ncaca) who graciously took them to the children's science museum one morning, even though Lithemba and Mila were in school. They rode bikes on the trail and on campus with Grandpa; played at the neighborhood parks; spent hours doing Legos and Playmobil in the basement; and of course slept well!!

Meanwhile Jim was working his normal schedule and I took the chance of a quiet, calmer house to get a bit sick and thus take a nap every day and generally enjoy the quiet and not having to go anywhere. But between us we even found time to have some adult conversation that lasted longer than 5 minutes, shockers. Jim has been reading a lot lately about the Enneagram types, so I took the tests too and we discussed two books we have about them.

one photo to prove they really were there!

Wonderfully patient and caring and involved grandparents!

On Sunday afternoon after Jim arrived, Pete and Rita and our newest niece/cousin, Caitlin, came for supper. Caitlin is a week older than Hawk - so cute, strong, and just a perfect mix of the looks of her parents. I'm jealous that I am the only auntie who has yet to meet her!!

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Getting stronger and faster!

Ever since Nonna and Granddad's visit in June, Timo has continued to ride his pedal bike around our driveway. He has no trouble balancing but learning to pedal is tricky, especially on our steep driveway and with the heavy weight of the bike. I mean, why do kids bikes have to weigh 3/4 the weight of the kid?!

This weekend he suddenly seemed to figure out the pedaling, so we took the boys down to a nearby church that has a flat parking lot. He was so excited and proud. Now to go out on the greenway (mostly flat paved trail) for a real challenge! Too bad the Hawkins cousins have just left...

Isn't he -

- the cutest?!

S'mores with cousins

Campfire pit is always a highlight for the Woody grandkids, and this time (even in the middle of summer!) Timo and Mattias and Jaja were able to join in, too. And our 'bonus cousins' were in town. That is, the cousins-of-our-cousins. I don't think there's a word in the dictionary for that... Thanks to Abi (bonus Aunt) for the photos!

Mattias's first time to roast a marshmallow!

 

Hawkins cousins, says cheeee-eese

Surgery - and 3 months old

This past Monday was Hawk's corrective surgery on his feet, after 10 weeks of Ponseti casts, changed every week. While it was daunting and gave us some anxiety to anticipate the surgery, it was the necessary next step in correcting his feet shape. We feel very confident in our orthopedic, and the surgery was pretty quick - just over an hour to insert a temporary pin through the top of his foot and into the talus bone, and then cutting the Achilles tendon and  positioning the foot at 90 degrees. Now he is in a final set of casts for 4-6 weeks. Afterwards Dr Raustol will remove the pins and Hawk will wear soft splints on his feet (to prevent regression), and later orthotics in his shoes.

The week of his final casts and 6 days before his surgery, I took his casts off at home in the morning before his appointment. It was great to see how his feet have changed so much and now you can see the arch!! It was hard to photograph, though. And you can see how he doesn't have much muscle in his legs yet. He'll certainly be adding that to his daily therapy routine once the casts are off!

Sunday afternoon before the surgery, Jim and I drove Hawk to Asheville, where we stayed overnight at the hospital guesthouse. It made the morning easier since we had to report for surgery at 5:30 am. It helped to settle our fears, too, to be close by and ready for the morning. We were also SO thankful that Mom drove from Durham to be with Timo and Mattias!!

Saying good bye; Timo just learned how to make silly faces

Such a sweetie

The front of the guesthouse

The hardest part of the surgery was waiting for it to begin! Hawk couldn't nurse or eat anything after 3 am so he was just crying and crying... At one point Jim was holding him and he slept briefly. Then, when the doctors and nurses arrived to take him back, he perked up and started looking around and smiling at everybody. Typical Hawk!

After the surgery he woke up just fine - and hungry! I fed him and held him about 2 hours until he was ready to get dressed, and then we headed home. He slept a lot the next 24 hours and was a bit sensitive about moving his feet, but by Wednesday he seemed his normal, content self. The casts this time are the 'regular' ones so they are thicker and heavier. We continue to be so thankful for the great medical care he is receiving!

Learning to snuggle with his hawk

On August 3rd he turned 3 months old! He is almost 9 1/2 lbs (about 4.2 kg). Current likes include: bring held facing out, sucking his fists, listening to his brothers playing, doing stretches on the floor or pad, walks in the stroller, listening to rain, nursing to sleep. Current dislike include: cold diaper wipes,  stretching his arms above his head, and being put in his crib to sleep when he just wants Mommy to hold him. (Actually he does great in his crib at nighttime, but it's the daytime naps that haven't leveled out yet.)

Blueberries, again and again

We LOVE blueberry picking! And yes, that's two Saturdays in a row that we have gone! The second week we went with the cousins, followed by lunch at the creek & picnic area on campus. The kids did great with picking, and it was so fun to just let them wander and explore and pick and yell at each other in excitement. Berries are certainly their most delicious when they are fresh off the bush! They're also very delicious in blueberry buckle.

Phillip, Timo and Adella

The kids had a great time exploring the little creek and shooting each other with water guns. It was a beautiful day, not too hot (a welcome reprieve after several weeks of hot days). I guess this is one of our go-to spots because we had a picnic lunch together here last summer, too!

Timo, Daniel & Samuel

The blueberry buckle, Timo's request