This fall has been so good to us! We've had a fabulous start to pre-K and are enjoying our new schedule and weekly routines. Here are five things I'm thankful for as I reflect on this season and the start of our school year.
1. Ordinary joysWith school pick up at 2:00/2:30, we are often home by 3pm with an open 3+ hours before dinner and the bedtime routine begins. A snapshot of any given afternoon might show EDW at the craft table coloring, CCW playing a board game, and NLW reading on the couch. While the weather was still nice, I'd open up the French doors off the playroom and spread a blanket for al fresco fun. My children loved it!
We've opted for zero extracurriculars other than a weekly family swim on Tuesday afternoons which helps us prioritize down time and play dates the rest of the week. Somehow our eldest child bamboozled us into a new Friday ritual of walking to PCC to purchase something small so the kids can each get a free piece of fruit. Does three weeks in a row count as a ritual?
As for weekends, most were spent at a birthday party (or two!) but when we weren't enjoying pizza and cake at 11am, we stuck to our tried-and-true staples: parks and playgrounds. Some people sign up for fall soccer, our family signed up for driftwood :)
There's also been a flurry of unexpected "firsts"--
- CCW losing his first tooth!
- Painting my children's nails for the first time (I've been able to outsource this in the past haha!)
- Cheering on NLW at his first move-a-thon at school
- NLW's enthusiasm for using the Merlin app and listening/watching for neighborhood birds
- TFW's new hobby—Wing SUPing with the hope to one day wing foil in Puget Sound
"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." - George Eliot
- SJW
We've opted for zero extracurriculars other than a weekly family swim on Tuesday afternoons which helps us prioritize down time and play dates the rest of the week. Somehow our eldest child bamboozled us into a new Friday ritual of walking to PCC to purchase something small so the kids can each get a free piece of fruit. Does three weeks in a row count as a ritual?
As for weekends, most were spent at a birthday party (or two!) but when we weren't enjoying pizza and cake at 11am, we stuck to our tried-and-true staples: parks and playgrounds. Some people sign up for fall soccer, our family signed up for driftwood :)
2. Full pom pom jars and special activities
Transitions to and from school have been tough, so I've made good use of M&Ms and our pom pom jar to help provide positive reinforcement. Ideally we're filling up that jar once a week and I simply earmark Wednesday for the celebration since our elementary school has early release each Wednesday. We've enjoyed adventuring to see a movie in theaters, experiencing the State Fair, and indulging in a weekday Molly Moon's.
There's also been a flurry of unexpected "firsts"--
- CCW losing his first tooth!
- Painting my children's nails for the first time (I've been able to outsource this in the past haha!)
- Cheering on NLW at his first move-a-thon at school
- NLW's enthusiasm for using the Merlin app and listening/watching for neighborhood birds
- TFW's new hobby—Wing SUPing with the hope to one day wing foil in Puget Sound
3. The magic of October
October is a full and fabulous month for our crew. With four birthdays, a family weekend getaway, plus annual pumpkin patch and Halloween fun, there's a lot to celebrate! Every year the changing leaves surprise me and I'm reminded how fortunate we are to live in a region with vibrant autumnal vibes! We had splendid weather for the majority of the month with a grand finale of a wet and rainy Halloween. That didn't stop us from trick-or-treating and we still ended the night with a pillowcase full of candy!
4. The spice of life
By which I mean time with friends :)
- Seeing Benson Boone in concert at Climate Pledge Arena with my friend RC
By which I mean time with friends :)
- Seeing Benson Boone in concert at Climate Pledge Arena with my friend RC
- Attending a listening party for TS12 "The Life of a Showgirl" and making friendship bracelets <3
- Cheering on my friend CL as she inches closer to becoming a family of five—welcoming twins!!!
- Celebrating my friend LW's wedding in Texas, gabbing with KO, and visiting old UT haunts
- My read-along with bookish companions :)
- Cheering on my friend CL as she inches closer to becoming a family of five—welcoming twins!!!
- Celebrating my friend LW's wedding in Texas, gabbing with KO, and visiting old UT haunts
- My read-along with bookish companions :)
5. All that lies ahead
We have our lineup of traditions this week. On Thanksgiving Day we'll celebrate with our friends A&M for the third year in a row. I'm already craving their delicious air fryer turkey and butternut squash soup! We have Friday to recover before we attend Saturday brunch, cut down a Christmas Tree, and drive to our friend's cabin to attend "Misfit Thanksgiving"! Good thing that’s sandwiched between another weekend day to rest, recoup, and regroup :).
We have our lineup of traditions this week. On Thanksgiving Day we'll celebrate with our friends A&M for the third year in a row. I'm already craving their delicious air fryer turkey and butternut squash soup! We have Friday to recover before we attend Saturday brunch, cut down a Christmas Tree, and drive to our friend's cabin to attend "Misfit Thanksgiving"! Good thing that’s sandwiched between another weekend day to rest, recoup, and regroup :).
I'm hoping we'll continue to have a few more blue sky days in December, but I suppose the good news is, if it's raining here, that probably means it's snowing in the mountains. We're attempting to tackle skiing this winter. Wish us all the luck!
When we're not working our way down the bunny slopes, I hope to check out some of these holiday festivities around town:
- 12/13 Pathway of Lights
When we're not working our way down the bunny slopes, I hope to check out some of these holiday festivities around town:
- 12/13 Pathway of Lights
- 12/13-12/21 Free Ice Skating
- 11/20-12/31 Sheraton Gingerbread Village
- 11/20-12/31 Sheraton Gingerbread Village
"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." - George Eliot
- SJW
