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.