Just stuff

What is in the air? I wanna go shopping!! It's a lesson in patience for me, I'm sure, because shopping with Lindsey and Claire just isn't that fun. Yes, I can manage a few gallons of milk into the cart or peruse the racks at Macy's but where's the joy when I can scarely maneuver the stroller through tight spots much less look at stuff?! I usually "wear" Claire in the baby bjorn but forget about trying on clothes! Oh, well. Tis'nt the season for me. Unless I go at night when Dad's on duty! But that's when I'd rather be in a book (ha!) or more likely in front of the tube. Rather is the key word. What I'm really doing is directing traffic in the hallway as baths and showers are taken and homework is completed. So, I will learn patience.

I neglected to give an update on Claire's growth.... She had her four month check up recently and weighed in at 15 pounds 6 ounces. Probably a little more now. And she's 25 inches long. She had three shots this time. OUCH! She was brave and cried just a little. She's now rolling over and is a little drool faucet!

It's been fun keeping track of our favorite college football team this year. As I was grocery shopping today I found this great ice cream. The dairy is local so it's not surprising that they do this and their ice cream is truly the best. Beaver tracks and Duck feet ice creams. I didn't waste my money on the Duck stuff. For those of you who are not from Oregon these are the two opposing college teams. Oregon State Univ. Beavers (of which I am an alumnus) and U of O Ducks. I now live in Duck territory but am still loyal to the Beavers. Anyway, I thought it'd be fun to have. Go Beavs!

It's Finally Fall!

It's officially here! Yay! I love this season. Our maple tree is starting to turn a deep reddish brown on the tips and there's definitely a bite in the air. The kids had a day off yesterday so we spent it at the park with friends. The sky was bright blue and completely cloudless. We had a nice time.
We are now harvesting tomatoes from the garden. We have three plants and they just keep on giving. I've canned 18 quarts of tomatoes since we do not eat them raw. What a messy undertaking that is! Unfortunately, they don't all ripen at the same time so that I can do the canning just once and be done. Oh, well. I'm not exactly sure how cost effective it is to can rather than just buy them from the store. Flavor? Hm. I do like to make Italian and Mexican dishes using tomatoes so we'll see.
Well, I've enjoyed keeping up on distant friends by reading their blogs. It's amazing that when I started this several people told me that they have blogs too. I didn't realize how popular it is. So fun to see pictures of your kids!
Has this happened to any of you? Your baby was sleeping through the night and one day it all changed?? YAWN! Claire has been waking once or twice a night lately and I don't like it! Now she has a cold so it's even worse. AND she thinks that she must eat when she wakes at one a.m. UGH! She's been a great sleeper since birth until now!
Someone needs a nap around here and it's not Claire....
Happy Fall!

Such is Life

Ah, Indian Summer! It's been hot lately (according to our standards.) I'm sure that once Fall decides to arrive it will come in full force.
Life with school kids always includes a bit of excitement does it not? Well, if you can call it excitement, Everett has recently lost three molars. The first one came out in Primary when his teacher gave them some candy. He didn't even realize he had lost the tooth until he bit down on the candy again. The second, he lost while eating salt water taffy on the way home from the coast. The third he lost at school. Needless to say, the tooth fairy is going BROKE! Whew!
Camille started choir rehearsals. She had such a great time. Funny thing is that one of the songs they sang to start with is about losing teeth! Ode to Everett.

September

It's a beautiful fall day in Western Oregon. Okay, so it's still officially summer but there's definitely a chill in the breeze that wasn't there last week. I am so excited to see the maple trees start to turn red and orange. I will miss the glowing aspens in Colorado. Fall is my favorite season for many reasons not the least of them that I was born in fall.

Well, we now have only 12 pumpkins thriving in the garden. We tried to grow pumpkins in Colorado. We had about five that grew but only a couple lived long enough to turn orange, but those were turned into a smorgasbord for the neighborhood squirrels. The kids are looking forward to carving some of their pumpkins this year. I hope that I can figure out how to make a little fall display with dried corn stalks and a few pumpkins. We'll see.

I am so glad that some of you are posting comments! I love to keep in touch with family and friends but it seems that it gets harder as we all get busier. Keep 'em coming!

Welcome!

It's the first edition of the Nash News online! I am hoping to keep this spot up to date on the latest adventures of our family.

Summer has come to an end and school has finally begun. Everett has started fifth grade (!) and Camille is a big second grader! Wow!

Lindsey is a home body with mom and Claire this year. She was, however, dressed and ready for school on the first day that the others went back. She was even up with the sun like they were! Our goal for her is to learn the alphabet and be able to count past 15 by the end of the year.

We enjoyed a beautiful Willamette Valley summer. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous with temps in the 70s-80s for the most part. We've loved being back in Oregon. We even had a garden with corn, basil, carrots, and pumpkins (13 to be exact). We even have tomatoes which is funny for two people who don't like tomatoes.

Camille auditioned for the Oregon Children's Choir and was accepted. She will begin rehearsals next week. The OCC consists of several smaller choirs divided by age. She is in the Prelude Choir which is made up of 2nd and 3rd grade girls.

Everett earned his Bear Badge along with a gold and a silver arrow point in scouts this summer. He is now in Webelos.

Last week our family took a day trip to the coast for the first time in four years. We had a great time playing on the beach. The kids wasted no time getting soaked in the surf. They played in the sand building a sand castle and even flew our kite. We got to see the Heceta Head lighthouse and collected lots of shells. Even if they were mostly broken.

A trip to Eastern Oregon to see Grandma and Papa Oliva in July was the highlight of the summer. Everett and Camille enjoyed fishing, swimming, and yard sale-ing finding bargains wherever they went.

Now we are in back-to-school mode. Homework...more homework.....ugh!

Please feel free to contribute here by posting comments!