There are so many things to love this week.


*Ezekiel and Atticus each got a new pair of shoes at the mall today. I can't believe how big their feet are.

Ezekiel: size 10.5
Atticus: size 8

Ezekiel asked for light up Spiderman shoes. Ugh. I didn't love that, but I also couldn't deny him the joy of having a pair of shoes that he loved. I remember when I was 5, having a pair of white Nikes with a red swoosh. I loved those shoes.

*Atticus went to his bible class today all by himself! I'm so pleased. I knew he could do it. I'm really looking forward to being in an adult bible class again!

*My mom came for a short visit this weekend. We took the boys to the Tualatin Pumpkin Regatta. Ezekiel's favorite thing was the balloon ghost he got. Atticus' favorite thing was playing on the tractor.

*I went to see Nathanael at Coffee Fest on Saturday. It felt really good to get away for a little while, after many days of "single parent" status. My mom timed her trip perfectly.

*Nathanael returned from Panama on Thursday night, and I'm rather pleased with our welcome home efforts. We picked him up at the airport in pajamas (the kids, not me), which is always fun.

*Barb came over last Monday morning to play with the boys so I could go grocery shopping by myself. One of the little joys in my life is opportunities to go grocery shopping by myself.

*Atticus played with play dough for the first time...for SO LONG. He loved it.

Here is something I did NOT love.

*Ezekiel is loving his new freedom of playing outside in the cul de sac with the other kids. Yesterday, one of the girls told him that he couldn't play with them. It broke my heart to see him sitting on the curb, wiping tears from his eyes, shouting, "Why can't I play with you?" to the girls across the street. The situation worked itself out very nicely in the end, but I was traumatized by it, much more than he was, I'm sure. Having your kids grow up hurts sometimes.

first time with play dough!

making welcome home notes for daddy

welcome home daddy efforts