Recycling

I try really hard to recycle everything I possibly can. Many of my friends and family would attest to this fact. Just last week, in fact, I took a bag home full of empty boxes and french fry containers from McDonalds after having lunch there. (I wasn't going to confess this because it is, afterall, borderline crazy! But I already let the information slip out to a friend at work, so what the heck?!) After we finished our lunch there, I looked at all of those empty containers, knowing that they almost always end up in the trash can inside the restaurant. And it bothered me. I really hate to waste things, and so bringing them home and putting them into my commingled recycle bin was what I had to do.
But what I really want to mention, on the topic, is something said by my little boy last night. He came to me with two pieces of cardboard in his hand and said, "Mommy, is this garbage or recycle?" Now this might sound crazy, but I was so proud! :) He is only three years old, and this just goes to show you that I, like every other parent, have habits that rub off on my children. So glad that this good habit, (in my opinion), is rubbing off on him!

Now, here is a picture of the silly boy...

Preview of Summer

I love summertime. Sitting outside, drinking something cold, wearing shorts and a tank, watching the kids play... A couple of weeks ago, we enjoyed a very hot weekend. The kids played in the sprinklers, wore sunscreen, asked for "otter pops."
At the soccer game, we all looked for a shady spot to sit. And then, the weather turned gloomy again.

But I'm hopeful that the warm weekend was a preview of a beautifully sunny and warm summer to come...

Helping our feathered friends

Yesterday turned out to be a nice day weather-wise. We went to Corvallis to Martin Luther King Jr. Park for a picnic lunch and a short hike through the wooded area. When we got home I remembered this activity that I had read about. So, having an onion bag handy, I decided to put one together with my kids. We collected little sticks and dried plant stems and added it to some ribbon and raffia that we had, stuffed the bag and hung it in a tree in our backyard. It only took about 20 minutes, and it will be fun to see if it attracts any birds.

Prince Caspian

Last night Trevor and I finished reading Prince Caspian from the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. We decided to read this story before going to see the movie which is playing in theaters. So we read one or two chapters every night for about a week and a half. It was such a good story, written by a good author and we both really enjoyed it. Now we'll go see the movie, probably this weekend sometime and I'm so excited. I'm sure it won't compare to the book, as books are usually better than the movie, but I'm expecting it to be entertaining at least.

Table Restored

About five years ago, Larry and I were in Sisters, Oregon going through the sweet little antique shops. We found this table and I loved it. Someone had taken an old window and built the table around it. The window lifted up so things (magazines, books, decorative items...) could be stored inside. Since we have owned it, we have had to have a few of the window panes replaced due to obvious reasons having three children in the house. I started to think that maybe the table needed a facelift. Something more durable that would withstand several more years of use. I decided to take the window out and designed a new top for the table. Larry was nice enough to build the new top for me, (although I was a little disappointed as I would really like to learn how to use some power tools! :) Painted it black, attached a new handle and hinges, distressed it a little, and this is what I came up with...

I'm very pleased with the result. We plan to store board games and books inside the new table.

Saturday Soccer

I love Saturday soccer. Trevor and Hannah are both soccer players. In the fall and spring, we plan our Saturdays around the soccer games...or try to figure out how to fit both soccer games into the day, which can be tricky since I'm often the only parent available to do the "soccer run." But I don't mind it. I actually really enjoy it. Soccer is something they both do well and seem to really have fun with.

I left my camera at home today by accident for Hannah's game, so no shots of her this time. I did get some good photos of Trevor though. I just sat with my camera ready to shoot, which is what you have to do to get a good action shot.

He has been playing since he was five years old. We used to go to his games back then and giggle as the boys would all run together around the ball, hovering over it like a swarm of bees. The way he plays now is so different and I find myself sitting on the edge of my chair as it gets exciting. When he was younger and would score a goal, I would be so proud of him that it would bring me to tears. It's the same today, and whenever he makes a good pass or challenges another player and makes it around him with the ball, the lump stars forming in my throat. I guess it's just the mommy in me.

I'm proud beyond proud. But not just because he is good at soccer; he is successful at a multitude of things, but more simply because I have been entrusted this wonderful young man by God.