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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