Autumn, Colorado-style / Take Four

Everything changed here, as we got our first snow of the year.

It caught me somewhat unprepared; Noah's legs sticking 4 inches beyond the end of his snow pants. I removed the liner from his two-sizes-too-small boots so that they 'fit.' I gave him long mittens to cover his exposed wrists. And I placed a quick online order for a new snow outfit.

But then, it wasn't even that cold. We went inside from snowman making, carved a jack-o-latern, and took this photo on the front steps two hours later.

The trees were unprepared as well. If nothing else, a tree in full fall colors, covered in snow, makes an impression. Now, I'm hoping the trees don't shed their clothes like the boys.

5 PM: Happy Hour

Do you have days when you finally put the kids to bed and you stop to breathe and you think: I feel traumatized? Like you just survived a battle? Like your heart is still pounding in your chest? Because I feel like that sometimes. I have these little arguments with myself where I say to myself,

"Ann, you are NOT traumatized. YOU do not even know what trauma is. You live in a nice house, in a wealthy country.You have a very healthy, happy family.You get to spend your day with your family! You are lucky. Lucky, I say! NOT TRAUMATIZED. THINK GOOD THOUGHTS, POSITIVE THOUGHTS!"

And yet, I still close my eyes, bury my head, set my jaw firmly in place, and try to will the boys to sleep a little bit better and a little bit longer through the night. Please....

It's hard to remember the days when I used to look forward to 5pm. Grandma will think this video is funny.  Maybe I, too, will think it's funny - TEN YEARS FROM NOW. I advise anyone else, especially those with little kids, to JUST SURF ALONG to the next blog. Anything that I have to say today has already been said. Although joining the antics of these two might make me feel better, especially considering the potential snow day tomorrow.

This Past Week at the Wyse House

Green Ketchup: Mara helped me make and CAN on Wednesday morning. Fritz inexplicably ended up hanging around and telling her the Canning Horror Story. Didn't he have a job to be at or something?* Mara took it all in stride, unlike me. I was ready to call off the project and just stick the green ketchup in the fridge.

And Kristi's Green Zebra Ketchup? Awesome!! Except for the fact that Noah won't eat it. I believe his exact words were:

"That green ketchup is too sparkly! I'm never eating it again. Mommy, I need some milk RIGHT NOW." I think the "sparkle" was the pepper. But really, who knew ketchup could taste so good? I'm actually glad we don't have to share with the RED ketchup fiends in our house.

Thank you, Mara!

Blueberry Bushes: are turning a marvelous range of colors. The soil isn't very good for blueberries in Colorado. However, I read (somewhere online) that you can grow them in pots. We needed something for our naked, exposed deck, back before the planter and bamboo, so blueberries it was. They love our deck. I love the fall color. Mattias is all about the blueberries themselves.

Fence Staining: the never ending project. I'm a mere 7-one-sided-panels (out of 44) away from completion. Maybe this weekend. No photos, because I don't have it in me to look at any more fence than I absolutely have to.

Paper Making: Fritz was suddenly inspired to teach Noah about recycled paper. He called Oma (The Artist) to get her 'paper recipe.' Tearing the newspaper into itty bitty pieces? Way fun. The screen part? Fun, too. This artsy-crafty-get-dirty side of Noah is still so new to me. Mattias, as always, jumps right in. He's 100% his Oma's Enkelkind.

*Actually, I love it when Fritz 'works from home,' but I do like to have a little notice, because it's rare, and seems like it should be celebrated!