Happy Twelfth Birthday Isaac!

Somebody turned 12 today!

Isaac J...what a gift you are. 💖 You have grown so much this last year (quite literally in the last 6 months!) and I am constantly amazed at your compassion and sense of humor and wicked observation skills, your desire to be just like your peers...and probably smoke'm on the basketball court and soccer fields!  You love Jesus only slightly more than you love to annoy your sister, but you are also the first to defend and console her if she is in distress (to the poor flu shot nurse who nearly received the Rath of Isaac for making his sister cry...sorry/not sorry about that).  You find yourself in situations that I can't even begin to describe, although I try desperately to relay to my text friends to hysterical responses. And have handled some really big battles at school this year with every ounce of grace that a nearly 12 year can muster.    I love your hugs and creativity and adventures and questions.  

The communication gap is growing between those of us in your inner circle and those who infrequent your world.  I teeter between feeling sad & frustrated for those who cannot see the beautiful way you interact with the world and secretly blessed that I am one of the chosen few that get to fully understand & delight in you. I'm in the VIP section of Club Isaac and I love it!  

Isaac is officially the big little brother, surpassing his 17 year old sister in height, which means we are officially a booster seat-free home!

My little traveler has been BEGGING for a get-away in a hotel, so we packed up for the night and enjoyed pool time and fed my boy's pizza loving heart & belly.  

Happy Birthday, Isaac.  You are a treasure. Thank you for letting me be your mom (and sometimes leaving your sister alone when I ask).  You are loved <3 

Little Choir Girl

My karaoke song bird had her first choir performance at the high school Veteran's Day assembly today.  She was SO EXCITED.  She practiced her song to and from school every day for weeks. We talked about the difference between choir robes and bath robes (clothes stay ON). And her teacher helped her practice walking up and down the risers.  It was an event she worked hard for...and she was deservingly PROUD.   I was particularly proud too <3 

What makes this day extra special is the victory of Mila and her friend Trey being the first students with special needs included in her high school choir.  While I could pontificate on what an embarrassing fact that should be for her high school, it is indeed a battle won.  For two years I've been fighting behind the scenes, with as much grace as I could muster, the importance of inclusion at her high school.  There is no blasted reason why any student cannot participate in choir should they choose to.  As simple as that statement seems to be, it has been a ragingly difficult concept for many in our school district to grasp.  (I think my exact words were "I'm not asking for AP Calc, it's flipping choir people!")   That tiny little Albanian on the right lower side of the choir is passionate, engaged, participating and learning from her time in the choir room.  I'm frustrated that parents have to fight to have their children included, but I'm also thankful that we are in a country that allows parents like me to fight for kids like mine.  I am fully aware that right has not been available in the countries that my children came from.  So while we thank our honored Veterans for blessing us with that privilege, the battle continues.   

Fall Funness 2022

It wasn't my intention to stack our fall with so many activities, but we indeed did a lot in the last two months and I think it was good for all of us.  The start of the school year included A LOT of battles with the school district to keep both my kids safe and give them access to basic academics.  It was a gift to be able to escape those weekday battles to the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the fellowship of friends. 

Looking for Fall, Mt. Rainier: We were a little bit early this year (rather fall was a little late), but we enjoyed the stellar views and had a great picnic. 

2nd Annual Hope Harvest Hootenanny: We love our church family and the fun ways we find to fellowship with and minister to each other. (A firepit with smores in 76 degree weather was a first!)

Annual visit to the Pun'kin Patch: I love getting our annual Spooner Farm photo <3 

A bushel of apples: Turns out I didn't know how many apples are in a bushel of apples.  For the record, it's 50lbs...and a gazillion freezer bags of homemade applesauce, cheddar apple soup, apple squash soup, baked apples, apple cake and sliced apples with ever meal.  SO. MANY. APPLES.

Down syndrome Halloween Dance:  Our first costume party with our friends in the Down syndrome community.  We had a blast and Isaac took a few ladies around the dance floor, with gentlemanly bows included. <3

Carving pun'kins:  A princess castle and Mike Wazowski pumpkin

Third Annual Pun'kin Party: This family party is a gift of COVID.  I threw together an at home celebration in lieu of a church Harvest party in 2020 and we had such a great time we've made it an annual tradition. 

Minnie Mouse & Beast (beauty & the beast)

Pumpkin bowling

Pin the pumpkin game

Dancing glow party

The real treat of our party was watching Mila dance.  Last year, the pain of her yet to be diagnosed juvenile arthritis kept her sidelined on the couch.  Now, three months into her autoimmune regimen she is up and dancing for several hours!

The harvest has been collected and this fall season has come to an end. We'll look forward into the holidays & winter for the growth and life that comes in ways we do not get to see with our human eyes.  Also, sweaters...and warm drinks...and new holiday memories.