Erik is taking a new class called Hands on Art History. Last week they learned to make masks, and Erik came home and made this one. I thought it turned out pretty cool.

New baby

Last week I went to Utah to stay with my sister, Kelli. She has just had a new baby and it worked out where I could go and stay with her to help out.
I got a great view of Mt. Raineer on my way out.

Landing in Salt Lake:

This is the view from Kelli's front door. These mountains always amaze me. They are so overwhelming and just right there in your face. It's beautiful.

We did get out a couple of times. One was to this great hike that my neice, Jessica, took us to. The leaves are just changing there and it was really cool to see.

New mom

Felix is a really good baby. He's pretty mellow and usually only cries when he's hungry. It was nice to get to know him a little more personally. I don't usually get that opportunity with my family.

I really enjoyed the extended conversation with my sister. I loved being in their home, I felt relaxed and welcomed. It was nice for me to get to help someone out in a significant way, and I felt really appreciated for it. I often get wrapped up in my own world and problems, and don't extend myself out. I could really identify with what Kelli is going through and so many things brought be back to when Taryn was born.
It was also a nice break for me. It's different caring for someone else's child. You are more in the moment and just doing the best you can, rather than all the pressure and worry of doing it perfectly and trying to give them all you want to.

It was nice to not have to care for my own kids for a little while and to remind Vic of why he keeps me around.

Coming home:

Down on the Farm

Vic took the kids last weekend down to Baron Farms to get our beef. We bought an 1/8 of a grass fed cow. They were having a farm party that day and the kids had lots of fun. There was a big corn maze, music, and they got to feed the pigs (and Vic got to eat the roasted pig). It looked like a great time, I was sorry I missed it but enjoyed having a day alone!

I thought the expression in this pictures was amusing:

Erik's first day

Today was Erik's first day at the Russell Ridge Center. He is taking 3 classes: hands on science, beginning computers, and medieval history. He was really excited to go, especially to pack his lunch this morning. Today was science and computers. His science class went really well. He enjoyed it and liked his teacher. Computers was a little more chaotic. There are 13 boys in the class and the noise and chaos overwhelmed him a bit. But he stuck it out and did his best. I'm really proud of Erik and the changes he's made this year. He has matured a great deal. He has learned to read and really loves it. He also is more willing to do things. Our lessons at home are going smoother and he interested in doing more. He also is taking more responsibility at home and more for himself. He's definitely a different boy this year.

From the Back Door

Always makes me feel so grateful.

Erik and I went to Goodwill today and on our way in we were talking about how we could create darth vader for his halloween costume. Then when we looked at their costumes, darth vader was the first one we saw, and they only had one. So we just had to buy it. He's beside himself with joy over this outfit, and had to do a little dance about it. Turn your volume up so you can hear his tune.

boy's adventures

Erik spent yesterday morning building this fort. It's one of his best yet. This is him looking through the "peeper". It has a secret entrance like the old pyramids so that bad guys can't get in, and then he made a better entrance so that grown ups could enter.
He got lonely so he invited his friends (stuffed animals) to join him. He spent most of the afternoon yesterday and the morning today reading to them. You can see he has a shelf full of books to read and next to the shelf is a compartment where he has gifts for anyone who visits.

He also has a radio in there to listen to audio books, and a lamp. I love my creative boy.