Trying out the video link! Hope this works. Very cute little short of Norah (encouraged by Julia) singing "Twinkle, Twinkle."

Late Fall Happenings

We've been losing more than our minds around the Dressing Household lately. We lost a good two weeks from colds and flu that nearly wiped out the grownups in the house and even took down a couple little people for a few days.

Ian lost his two front teeth (both at his friend Sam's house, whom we now refer to as "the Toothinator." We like to encourage Ian to say words like "thistle" or "this and that." Good times.

We've had some absolutely amazing weather lately which made feeling sick even that much worse. I did manage to get out and play in some leaves in spite of my cold. Some highlights of the fall have included:

Roller skating with Ian, building huge leaf piles at the bottom of the slide, playing tomato schmear (taking rounds at bat with the leftover tomatoes on the vine), collecting leaves for rubbings, hiking in French park, the Halloween piano recital, double tooth fairy visits in November, and visiting cousins in Indy in October for apples and corn maizes. I've included a few shots of my growing crew-not fair that they are getting so big....

Falling Into October, really...October?

What happened to summer? Is it me or did the summer just zoom past at lightening speed? I think I kept waiting for it to get warm, to feel like summer before I would embrace the precious months. But hot never really happened around my neck of the woods so summer just kind of slowly faded into fall and now, by God, it's cold! I don't remember a summer in year's past when we hardly ever ran our air conditioner.

Our spring and summer were full of firsts. Ian played t-ball and seemed to like hitting the ball, running the bases(first base is the other way!), and especially the snack after the game. In fact, I think the snack was really the highlight of the season. Of course, did I remember the snack when it was our day to bring it? No, I did not. Nothing worse than some 5-6 year olds looking around for the guilty party. Ian also tackled riding his bike on two wheels-he's officially part of the Valley View Bike Club now.
We traveled to the lake a lot this spring and summer, making the trip for Memorial Day, Dad's birthday, a lake wedding shower, 4th of July, my birthday and Labor Day. Julia even spent her first week of overnight camp on Lake Tippy at the fabulous Camp Crosley. Lucky girl.

Our lake weekends are a wonderful respite from the busyness of everyday life. At the lake, time slows down exponentially. We sleep in, we cook, we eat, we get on the boats, we fill up the baby pool, we eat, we go for walks, we look for other people's good trash, we eat, we pick cherries, we get ice cream, we watch our kids grow up and learn to be each other's keeper. At the lake, all kids are friends from age 2 to age 15. Big kids watch out for little kids, little kids try to keep up with the big ones. As adults, we intervene as little as necessary. They make up their own games (golf ball races, quidditch matches, the quest for the Papa Cup given to the child who can most annoy Papa).

The older kids and I wrapped up the summer by taking a whirlwind trip to North Carolina with Rachael, Shelley and Robin. We spent 3 glorious days on the beach near Wilmington building sandcastles and taking long walks and collecting shells. I was so proud of how well my kids did on the long car ride and hanging with adults for 4 days. They just loved the ocean!

But summer came too quickly to an end, and school is back in full swing. Julia has started 4th grade with a tremendous amount of confidence. I certainly don't remember school being so challenging at this age, but she just tackles each new project with her Julia sense of calmness. And first grade, well Ian put it best when he said, "Nobody told me 1st grade was so much fun!" He started Cub Scouts and absolutely loves wearing his uniform. He gets to take part in his first campout with John next weekend.

So now we're heavy into fall with jackets and sweaters to boot. Norah is talking like a three year old, and Julia and Ian are just egging her on. I'm enjoying my fall teaching schedule and I'm just about to wrap up a composition class at NKU. I'm still working part time at Cincinnati State and I love it. John has been traveling a lot over the past summer and into the fall; his company is hanging on in spite of the economy. We're trying as always to tackle all the issues that come with owning a 125 year old home.
Life is full and busy. We are making it work every day, and every day reminding ourselves of what's most important: family, having fun, and trying to make the world a little better.

Spring Has Sprung

You wouldn't know it from the weather this week, but the garden is waking up with all the daffodils in full bloom and the star magnolia is just beginning to shed its bright white petals. The 60 and 70 degree days we had during mid-March really kick started things on Valley View Avenue. We've been digging for worms and helping neighbors plant grass(see photo of giant dirt pile), and trying to figure out just where we'll plant our "pizza garden" this spring. Already it's April and that manic feeling that spring brings with it is upon me; preparing flower beds, cleaning basements, signing up kids for camp, putting down the grass seed, everything happens now for the big splash. Gardening with a toddler brings a whole new perspective to the notion of actually accomplishing anything. I'll be lucky to put mulch down, throw some tomatoes and herbs in the ground and turn on the hose now and again. If Norah isn't chasing the neighborhood cat down the street, she's making it to the top of the swing set ready to plunge to her death. Not that being inside is any safer; during the month of March she managed to get out the front door twice (once making it all the way down the porch steps, fall down the basement steps on her head, and eat the better part of a tube of toothpaste. What was wrong with two kids.....

We survivied Spring Break-I wanted to have "I survived Spring Break 09" shirts made. Mostly I cleaned up puke and other body fluids and put ice packs on people's heads. I made a silent promise (okay, I really actually screamed it) that we were going somewhere, anywhere next year. The highlight was definitely seeing Monsters V. Aliens in 3D and getting my toenails painted with Julia. Let's just say I was glad when Monday rolled around.

My job is going really well. I love the people I work with, and I am really enjoying getting to know my students. This is an exciting time to be working in a college with all of the challenges in the economy. I'm seeing how rapidly education is trying to switch gears to meet the needs of a changing work force. I love the energy of expanding ideas and programs and helping people reach their goals and learn new skills.

Here are some shots of the troops. I love the one of Norah with the cereal bowl. She has watched the kids tip theirs back to capture the milk, and she's taken it to a new extreme.

Father-Daughter Dance

Here's a shot of John and Julia on their way to the annual Father-Daughter dance at Nativity. Julia looked so cute. John took her to pick out a dress. They both had a lot of fun at the dance. John even did the limbo! I think there must have been alcohol involved. February is flying by. We've got just a few volleyball games left. Julia is making great improvements and our whole team is playing a lot better (o.k., that's code language for "we haven't won a game", but who cares!) We're all very excited for Valentine's Day. The kids are both having big class parties, plus Grandma is coming over to babysit while John and I have a real date. Maybe I can get him to do the limbo....

The End of an "Eror"

Look what happens when I don't write for a month:

• Norah turns "1" (now 13 months!)
• A New Year has begun--goodbye 2008
• I have a fabulous new job working 15 hours per week with no grading
• Norah is walking
• We have a new President and a new chance for our country to do great things, to have hope, determinination, and a willingness to change--Yes, we can. Yes, we did.
• Julia is playing volleyball (3 successful serves in one game last Sunday--a season first)
• I am coaching volleyball-'nuff said
• Ian is reading--big ole words, like "earth" and "surprise"

Life is so full. I love the opportunity to work with students and the chance to contribute to the world outside my home. Our family life is so busy with school activities and learning opportunities at home and in our community. We've had some brutally cold days in the past two weeks so we were glad to see the sunshine and warmer temperatures today. Will catch up with stories and photos soon.