Tales from the McWade

12.13.2008

Hannah turns THREE!

I can hardly believe, Hannah is three years old! We celebrated with some friends and family for a Wild West theme party. Hannah got many great gifts and several horses, whom you know are her ABSOLUTE favorite. Many earned the name Dan and her spring-horse is now "Nick".

Uncle Jeremy, the rockstar of our lives.

Pin the 'stash on Cowboy Keyes!

BFF Kylie

Auntie Kristin and Cousin Ezra

Dad with Buddy

Hannah & Sara

Hannah's new horse 'Nick'

Seth's Holiday Sweater Party

Many of these pics need no explanation, or at least are open to your own captions...

12.11.2008

Walk this way!

So our little man is taking his first steps and he isn't wasting any time. I think Hannah and her toys are a pretty effective form of motivation! Check out this vid. He is walking like this more than a dozen times/day in the past several days.

12.09.2008

Santa Claus is coming to town...

We got to see Santa! The kids were very excited and not a single tear.

11.30.2008

Happy Holidays!

Christmas is around the corner...the tree is up, the kids are looking for reindeer and lights are twinkling in the yard.

Farm Fresh Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving on the farm north of Spokane. The weather was so cold, not getting any warmer than about 36 and dipping into 25 at night. We spent Thanksgiving dinner with Ryan's family and enjoyed an amazing feast. The kids had a blast in Friday's snow and Hannah didn't want to leave. She got to ride Dan twice during the week and named him the "bestest horse ever!". Cousin Stacy even put Dan's jingle bells on for us. Grandma Chris asked her what she would name a horse if she got one, and Hannah said, "Dan, of course!"

Swim Lessons for Jack!

Jack and Ezra are taking swim lessons together in Federal Way. Hannah and Ryan joined the party during public swim that ran before the lessons. Hannah didn't want to quit and ended up waist deep in her pants... The kids absolutely love the water and it makes it that much more fun! The Federal Way Community Pool is pretty cool with a water slide and rapids you can float.

11.23.2008

Mr Fix-it

Ryan was trying to fix our gas fireplace pilot generator, and Jack had to get in on the action. It was so adorable to see Jack crawl up behind Ryan and then start peering around him to see if he could help...haha! I couldn't resist snapping these pics. Lately Jack is all about tools, particularily metal wrenches and pliers. He also is really enjoying his Black & Decker toy tool set from Aunt Kristin. He seems to have some tool in his hands at all times. Needless to say, Ryan is stoked about it.

11.06.2008

What a busy time of year!

October has been incredibly busy! Ryan turned 30, the kids looked forward to Halloween with a trip to the pumpkin patch and costumes, and I took a vacation to Mexico! As the weather changes and the holidays approach, it's only getting busier. In the next 8 weeks, we will celebrate 4 childrens birthdays (including Ezra's FIRST birthday), Thanksgiving and Christmas. Both Jack and Ezra will be new to the holiday extravaganza that awaits them with plentiful eats, Christmas trees, and gifts galore. Here are some pics from the most current events...enjoy! (Vacation pics to follow...)

Ryan turned 30 and to celebrate, we had back-to-back birthday parties. First, a poker night with some close friends and firemen. Second, a family party with members from both sides.

The kids trick-or-treated with the Lamoureaux family. Kylie was a clown, Hannah an elephant, and Jack a baby pirate.

Hanging out at the pumpkin patch, Hannah had her sights on a 'baby' pumpkin. Note: Ryan and Hannah still held out hope for the Seahawks season, why, I don't know...

10.15.2008

So many cute shots, so little blog space!

I have really been enjoying seeing the kids grow and change. I've been taking a load of pics, and although can't possibly get them all here, here are some of my current faves!

Just kickin' back!

Pillow time!

Easy wrestling match...

...turned into hugs.

Just out of the tub -- happy and clean!

Jack hams for the camera...

...and says Dada too!

Jack's Army Crawling

Check out Jack's new moves! He just started this on Monday!

That's Domestic Director...

Originally posted on my smidgegreener.blogspot, I needed a pep-talk. I have been recently applying for some part-time work and wonder why I didn't add this to my resume? I thought I would post here in case anyone else needed the same pat on the back. You mom's do good work!

As you may or may not be aware, I stay at home and care for my kids, the household and food. Along with those not-so-simple responsibilities, I also facilitate art projects, home-made cookies and accessibility to clean clothing -- to name ONLY a few.

I manage not only my time, but that of at least 2 others(sometimes 3...) and keep all schedules as insync as I know how. I coordinate meetings with grandparents and inlaws. Set-up play dates and social interactions for my kids. Fearing a 2pm meltdown, I consolidate outings and events into neat little chunks of time, taking into consideration naps, snacks and quiet time. I brainstorm new meal options to avoid the snack traps of goldfish crackers and string cheese as well as break through the tediousness of chicken for dinner, again. I ensure that little minds are being challenged and enlightened. I attempt to teach and try to slow down enough to play. So much more than changing diapers and running bubble baths!

Through the course of this often thankless and constantly demanding and needy position I hold, I find myself missing the work world, all shiny and sharp. Downtown traffic, high heels and always a few minutes late. Morning coffee, office meetings and real-world chit chat. I miss the competance I once possessed for jobs I excelled in. I miss the adult comraderie and conversations over current events, music and what's for lunch.It's always easy to see the grass as greener on the other side. And nothing quite says 'boring' like "stay-at-home mom". I shrink a little anytime someone asks me what I do. Answers like "mom" and "I'm not working" seem to immediately end the conversation. No one seems to find interest in a job such as this. Someone would much rather talk about driving a UPS truck than the ins and outs of raising children and managing a home.

A good friend of mine was speaking to me about the importance of having a title as she is embarking on the beginning of a family and no longer plans to work. She is embracing the notion that we aren't "just moms" and we don't "just stay home with our kids". I really like her way of thinking and it's been making me wonder about a title for myself. So no longer will I be a "stay-at-home mom", I will now be Domestic Director. Afterall, doesn't that much better sum up the myriad of roles we play? Though we may be at home, I would hardly call it 'just staying at home'.

So to all those moms out there looking to reclaim a little bit of their former 'working' self: grab a thesaurus and make a title.

Then own it.