I'm putting together the slideshow of baby/little kid pictures of all the 8th graders. I'm left deciding which to include of my own baby. These two picture captured right before and right as he is losing his baby teeth. I don't know how to choose. I don't know how to let this kid grow up. He is one of the very last boys who hasn't hit that growth spirt quite yet. Most of his friends are a full head taller than he is. He is a tiny bit taller than me and Izzy, but not so tall.

Oh 8th grade. I'm so happy you are OVER! What an emotional roller coaster. But I am also very sad to see my baby leave middle school. I've loved all the music concerts. I love watching Henry play any instrument he picks up. The kid seems to know how to create a tune out of anything. I worry that he will lose interest in music with the vast number of kids in high school band or orchestra. He's been ridiculously lucky to be in a small public middle school with a music teacher who just loves music and loves the kids. The last concert we went to, my last at this beloved school, Judson invited us to stay and listen to the musical story that each of these children has to tell.

I wish that for every child on this planet. That the world or someone will pause and listen to the musical story they have to tell.

As for this slideshow and the story of how this little boy has become a middle school graduate, I think I'm going with the pancake one. Mostly to remind Henry that he knows how to make them himself!

European Adventures

This summer we had an amazing adventure in Europe. It was a whirlwind trip, we visited eleven countries in 6 weeks. It was absolutely the trip of a lifetime. I blogged about that trip on tumblr. Here is the link to that blog.

r8chelb on tumblr

I just found this journal entry from where I left off on our month-long adventure on the West Coast last summer, dated exactly one year ago today.  

The Redwoods are amazing. Driving through forests, absolutely spectacular. A cool foggy, late July day that didn't break 65 degrees,unbelievable. The short drive from Crescent City to Eureka allowed us the time to do all sorts of touristy things. Even the dog rode the Gondola!

We rolled into Eureka around 5. Pleasantly surprised at our hotel room that has THREE queen beds. I still don't get one to myself, but Izzy & Juniper have a private room which certainly means a more peaceful sleep for everyone!We were just getting settled when the frantic search for Henry's laptop began. It was a short lived search because I knew we had left it on the bed in crescent city.I would let Henry take the blame for this if I hadn't been enabling him this entire trip ("i need to watch a movie on my laptop, get me some ketchup, fix my...") I cant even limit it to this trip. His entire life I've been trying to keep him happy. I even had the nerve to say angrily "I can not keep track of everyone's stuff any more!" With a few colorful adjectives thrown in. Just to have Colin say, "I've been taking care of all of my stuff" and Izzy didn't say it, but we both know that she is keeping track of her and Juniper's things. The reality is that this is a thing between me and my youngest, and it is time to change. 

Right after I get back from picking up the lost laptop in Crescent City. 

As a side note, I saw the most amazing sunset on my 3rd trip through North Humboldt County today.

Happy New Year!

Today is my Forty-Fifth Birthday! Wow, 45?! When did that happen? I guess it happened, and I wasn't ignoring or not paying attention, maybe more like a really fast river that I've been watching, I've been knocked over by, I've ridden, and now all of a sudden I'm standing on the sand and the river isn't as fast and I'm wondering how on earth I got here.

My 45th birthday came in like a lamb, stayed like a lamb and left like a lamb. 

Izzy got me a dirty diet coke, flowers and a GREAT book - MAPS! absolutely perfect.

Dinner where the boys ate. I hate to even write about how absolutely average this meal was, everyone just ordered and ate and talked and no one refused to eat or threw a fit. What a gift!

This year has been a gift. I've loved/struggled watching the kids grow and change. I've had the chance to slow down, pay attention, listen. I've spent a lot of time in California. Oh how I love California. I've started to be creative again and play.

My hopes for the next year include more laughing, less judging, more reading, less frustration, more creativity, more wholeheartedness, more play, more cursive!!!

Happy March Sixth World!!!

Lets Go

A random series of events led us to driving to Antelope Island Sunday morning for the Antelope Island Stampede and Kite Festival.

It turned out being amazingly fun! And true to Davis County Sunday events, not at all crowded.

My favorite moment was when I first heard the term "Professional Kite Flyers"

Wait, what? Did someone just say "Professional Kite Flyers"? I can totally see myself doing this. The announcer just said that this group has been TRAVELING THE GLOBE FOR EIGHT YEARS FLYING KITES!!! What have I been doing for the past 8 years? NOT THAT!

So, now I need to learn how to fly a kite, find a sponsor and hit the road.

Also, I forgot how cool Antelope Island is and I can't believe none of my children have been swimming in the Great Salt Lake.

I can't believe we have to leave the farm. I will miss this so much.

Not quite ripe, but almost. Maybe we should stay for another couple of weeks.

What great fortune to be able to see The Indigo Girls perform at the Oregon Zoo. I've always wanted to sway with the elephants, and what better concert that my all time favorite band. Colin thought that The Indigo Girls were shouting out "Rachel" as appreciation for my long time fan status. (They were actually saying "Thanks Y'all")

This was my favorite Indigo Girls concert ever. The crowd was wonderful and the sing along was so lovely. Amy and Emily seemed so happy to be there, it really felt like we were all friends just enjoying music and singing along. I think that is a Portland thing.

Oh the turkeys. How perfect that they are sitting on the car just when we are packing up to leave. I am having trouble actually leaving, it has been another wonderful, magical visit. Suzanne and David have created such a wonderful nest.

The only problem with Suzanne and David's bed is that there are always children in it. Mattress is a bit firm for my liking, a heel to the rib usually has me flying to Zoe's perfectly soft mattress and cool breezes room. And I rest there peacefully until a discontent and fearful child comes seeking comfort, and once comfort is given proceeds to kick and turn and steal covers until once again I go searching for a solitary bed. And where on earth do you go searching a third time and a third time find a wonderfully comfortable bed with no one inside? And so it is that I sleep peacefully in Sam's bed until morning. No, I cannot begin the next night in Sam's bed, because then everyone will start there. Oh this dance we dance, at once so exhausting and so endearing. The clock is ticking and these boys are not going to need me to be this present for very much longer, but I cannot move forward I until I start getting a few nights of good sleep.

Our Farm Life

This farm is a gift. We are how I image the best versions of ourselves when we are here. We have nestled in here so tightly it will take rubbing alcohol and tweezers to get us out. 

Something about being on the farm, and maybe because of Powell's, but everyone is reading. It would be absolutely absurd to find someone curled up with a book at home in Salt Lake, not here at the farm. The farm is where you find a quiet corner and read.

Everyone pitches in to take care of the birds, to fix meals, to clean. "Let's go pick berries!" and kids put their shoes on and grab bowls. Colin gets excited to make pie!

I'm exhausted. In a good, purposful way. My children find purpose here. Maybe farm life is the life for us. I love city life, minutes from everything I need, annoyed if I have to drive 5, 10 minutes to pick up delicious food prepared for us in containers I don't have to wash. Everything here is planned and thought out and executed, there cannot be too much spontaneity and that is just great. No one has told me that they are bored.

The more you pick, the more they grow.

This duck has a story. Always a treat to find him back in the yard.

Thinking about the fleeting years I have with the boys,  I can't help but wonder (actively wonder) if this unplugged farm life would be better than our ultra plugged in city life. But who can make these decisions in late July in Oregon? I'm not moving anywhere until I've spent a February here.

Here are some Farm Girl things I have done this week:

• captured 4 ducks who unwittingly escaped their yard and got them back safely
• picked up 3 goslings who found themselves trapped in the duck yard and gave them back to their worried parents
• carried pounds and pounds of water to waiting chickens and turkeys.
• plucked two ducks from the water tub when they got stuck.