Kids '09

Meeting Max

Last month a friend told me they were giving their kids a yorkie for Christmas. I thought it was the perfect gift for Mom. I called to see what she thought of the idea. She was interested. So we scheduled a time to meet the dogs. She found one that matched her criteria: mellow and sweet.

Since it was a Christmas gift, we all felt it important that she wait until Christmas (afterall, SHE taught us that principle.) And to my shock (and disappointment) she was completely OK with that. I wondered if this was an indication of her true interest, or, lack of it.

But I didn't have to wait long before she broke down and started using all the tricks we'd tried for years to get our gifts early. Logic, necessisty, the "benefit" for us, etc. She wanted her gift early and the anticipation of waiting was beginning to do her in. Yipee! THAT's what I wanted to see. (heehee)

She had different conversations with us each individually trying to weaken our resolve. Some kids holding much firmer than others.

But last Saturday an early faction (Jenni) took the majority and convinced us all to relent to an early delivery. We all parked a block away and caroled up to her door.

She'd been leaked a clue about our arrival a couple hours early and wasn't quite surprised. But that did not lessen the thrill of her Christmas gift.

Welcome to the family, Max! (After the Grinch's dog.)

Decorations

About 8 years into our marriage, our original wedding gifts were looking hammered. That's what life (and kids!) will do to things. We're fine with that, we recognize reality. But there are a few things that I wasn't OK being "broken in". One of those items was a beautiful lace cloth handmade by Slade's grandmother. Although special and significant, I opted to enjoy it in the LONG run by packing it away for a few years. It deserved this delicate treatment.

One day last week, in passing, I saw it out but still folded up. I know I didn't unpack it and figured I was imagining things. If I don't acknowledge it, it will magically return to it's safety zone, right!? I know, wishful thinking.

Later this is where I found it:

I LOVE that someone recognized it's charm AND took the initiative to beautify our home. And in such a unique way. Never did I think a telephone needed such pampering.

The Sport Handoff Part II

Friday Slade & Joel took the girls skiing. But both girls were excited to try their hand at snowboarding. On Kennah's second fall, she sprained her wrist. They spent the morning in the medical center and came home early.

She's a trooper and is still excited to try again. This time, we'll try it with braces.

Not all was a loss. They refunded all the tickets (since it was so early in the day.) BUT they refunded the girls' tickets as ADULT tickets so Slade is pretty excited. Are all skiers this hard core?

The Sport Handoff

Before soccer was officially over, the skiing commenced.

Slade and Kennah enjoyed Meadow's season opener during last week's mid-week holiday.

Can't wait for Friday nights in January--high school ski bus up the mountain!

B-lated B-day

September always sneaks up and seems SO busy with back to school (Slade and kids), soccer practices, soccer games, etc. Each year I devise a plan to manage it all better. It's working, but not perfect yet. Kennah's birthday celebration is one of those events that we CAN do around her actual day but it is so much easier just a few weeks later.

This year the kids went on a Haunted Tour of downtown Oregon City. Rocky Smith - an art teacher at this high school, city commissioner and life-long OC resident - took the kids on their own spook walk. (He takes tours all month.) It was fabulous to walk a few blocks and hear about how different life was a couple hundred years ago. It was a lot of fun to see the kids warm up and ask lots of questions. Rocky did a great job telling things that have been reported but letting the kids decide how to process the info.


I drive by this mural almost daily. I guess I knew it was the beginning days of OC, but never thought about where things are in relation to today.

More stories . . .

the OTHER Watts Family

Halloween rolls around and our family disappears and then reappears slightly altered:

Sawyer, how many years can reuse the same costume? I think this is the 4th year. After all, he is the kid that doesn't like change. His first choice was to go as an alien dressed up as an Earth kid. Although an original idea, Slade wouldn't let him trick or treat in that costume.

Kennah made such a cute Joker.

The Queen of Hearts tried hard to wear her new Sunday shoes so they would match her dress, but something about that idea seemed to spark memories from the past. Halloween is just close enough to the time we pack away sandals and summer clothes that the kids have brand new church shoes. But I've fallen for that logic before and by the time the night was over the shoes look like they are last years' remains.

Long gone are my Octobers by the sewing machine making costumes. Or even better, the glue gun creations.

Why I LOVE my job!

A True Disguise

This is how I finished Kennah's silhouette. Every time I look at it I am thrown for a loop. Kennah is so NOT a dressed-up-formal-type of girl. It's quite a stretch when you think the real model was actually wearing a ski hat.

I was even more surprised that she gave it her stamp of approval. (Maybe because she chose the green colors.) Or maybe the pearls remind her of Lisa Simpson.

Stumped

Well, my creative juices have taken a stroll this evening. I have 2 new seasonal decorations that I am going to hang on the wall with fake webbing over the top (they ended up WAY more colorful than I had envisioned, so the it's my easy version of muting the colors):

The catch is, I need 3. Someone is missing. And I don't quite know what to do for her . . .it can't be "girly" (which is too bad because a crown would be darn easy to add.) I thought about mummy, but that doesn't read in silhouette form too well. Any ideas? Anyone? Anyone?

Middle of the Night Call

Sunday evening/ EARLY Monday morning my cell phone rang. Since it was close to my bed I answered (had it been across the room I would have let it ring.)

"Hello?"

"Mom, this is Kennah."

"Yeah?" Realizing she must be calling from the land line in her room.

"Can Dad come get me? I'm scared."

Happily I passed the news on to Slade and returned to sleep. After all, he's the one that tried to show them a suspenseful show in honor of Halloween. Kennah may talk big, but she's still a little girl inside.

The next day Slade asked Kennah why she didn't just ask me to come get her. "Mom sounded tired." I sure do love that girl!

100% Correct

This afternoon as I sat working, Avy listened to books on cassette tape. One was a native American version of Cinderella. Avy asked for clarification of the moral, something along the lines of having a good heart is beautiful. I explained when a person is kind and nice, they have a special inner beauty just like being attractive on the outside.

She looked at me and said, "I have both."

I chuckled at her insight. She is both honest and accurate.

PLUCK

After several months of resumes going out with not so many interviews coming in (unemployment is pretty darn high these days), I am thrilled to expand my experience and take on a new and exciting venture! I feel very lucky to have found a place that appreciates all my hodge podge experiences and values them! I will be doing marketing and office coordination for a dental practice in Happy Valley. Here is the card they gave me on my first day of work--I love the line, "Her heart glowed with a degree of happy assurance."

I am not closing h. h. watts photography. No way! I just need to give myself a little more time to be with family. As much as I love every aspect of it, the boundaries were very vague from Slade's perspective. I will just be more specific (and limited) with my availability, but not stopping. I hope this will also give me a chance to really examine my strengths and commit to that direction. And I will continue to help community organizations and people that need services.

Live Long and Prosper, Bob

Kennah has officially entered double digits today. Her day started with bacon, egg and cheese bagels and ended with lasagna, cake and ice cream. Packed with school, Achievement Days and a soccer game in between.

10 great things about Kennah:

1. She can work hard! She likes the challenge of harder work in school and is equally motivated to run fast on the soccer field. Nice well rounded girl, she is.

2. Kennah has an infectious and sweet laugh.

3. She is so totally OK being herself. She'll carry around Blankie if she wants to. She'll wear a ski hat in 90 degrees if she wants to. She'll admit she loves Star Trek.

4. Kennah likes people! (And people like Kennah.)
5. Kennah is so cute. But DON'T tell her I said that. She can't stand anything cute.

6. Ken will try new things and has a sense of adventure about her.

7. Kennah is loyal.

8. Kennah has a "I want to help" streak in her. I love that streak!

9. She is the first one dressed in the morning. And the first one to fall asleep at night.

10. Kennah says things like she sees them.

She learned that from her dad:

momma said there'd be days like this . . .

... and I hope there are MORE!

The kids practically LEAPED out of bed this morning. They laughed all the way through breakfast. May the magic of the first day of school last!

a summertime riddle

While at a free warehouse "sale" this week, I found a fabulous old retro-y table. I loved the metal, wheels, and adjustable sides. And since I could carry it, it came home with me. (I also found some great storage cabinets, but they are NOT something I can carry alone--or as the second person, so they may find themselves at Goodwill.)

When describing the treasure to my mom, she immediately knew what it was. A typewriter table.

And then I felt very young. (Which is a rare thing these days as wrinkles keep deepening.) Although I am not so clueless as to not know about typewriters (those were around when I started college), I am young enough to not know where that item actually lived in it's prime in the real world.

Times, they are a changin'

Things are cooler.

6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. are dark.

Kids have their school supplies.

And new snazzy do's. (Pictures to come tomorrow.)

Sigh.

Is summer 2009 really coming to an end?!

I've never been one to dwell in the past or pine for the future. And September in Oregon is fabulous. But, I just can't quite bring myself to turn the page on this chapter. Maybe next week will feel more "official."

Tales from the Pool Side