Plum-TASTIC!

So my mom was here this past week (working on pics!!), and we went for a family walk on Sunday down to the little marsh that's near our house.  It was quite the hike, phew!  We must have walked close to 4 miles up and down rough hills.  Anyway, we took a different loop on the way back, and discovered a veritable GEM, wild plums.

We weren't sure what they were at first, they looked like cherries!  So we picked them apart and tasted them and concluded they were wild plums.  I filled up my hubby's cargo pockets, much to his chagrin, and we took them home.  Kristoffer actually offered to go back and pick some more for me, such a sweet hubby, love that man.

Here are a few of the plums before:

 Aren't they so pretty?!

 And last night as they were simmering away to become luscious, tangy jam.

 I filled up ten jars to store, and two jars for the fridge, and this jam is going quick!  It is SO good!!  My absolute favorite jam is still peach jam, but this is for SURE a very, very close second.

 My breakfast this morning, a toasted english muffing with jam and a scrambled egg.

I am so happy to have discovered these wild plum trees, and to put their fruit to good use.  PLUS, we also discovered a wild pear tree while we were down there, so I need to pop back down in a couple of weeks and see if they are ripe...

My First Kinder-Girl!

My sweet little Marin turned 5 last week (more on this later!), and Monday marked the beginning of Kindergarten for her!  I can't believe my big girl is doing the whole 5-day-a-week school thing!

She's ready though.  Last year we did preschool, two days a week.  It was a really great experience for her.  Considering I'm not one of those nutty parents who really wants to throw their kid into preschool at age two (I had no idea people did this!), I only wanted to start when she starting giving me signs she was ready.  And when you're 4, two days a week is plenty.  Besides, I don't get that time back.  And now, she is five (half) days a week.  Those two days a week of preschool really helped to prep her socially for this.  She was a little on the shy side, and it was such a great experience for her.  I'm totally ready for her to be in school, I'll have the mornings with just Owen, which not only makes it easier, but he deserves one-on-one time, too.

Her she is on her first day!

 My two crazy kids, boy do I love them.  They are the sweetest children, and I am one blessed mama.

 Owen has hamming it up, funny boy.

 This is usually how things are...

 They make me laugh, those two.  As different as they are, they are two peas in a pod.

 Daddy and his big girl!  Now that kinder has started, this train won't stop for another.....18 years!

 A quick shot inside her classroom.

So happy for my big girl.  She is moving on to new and exciting things, and as hard as it is to say goodbye to my little baby girl, it's wonderful to see her look forward to new things.  She is such a smart little girl, and has a million questions a day, seriously, this girl can rapid fire those questions!  And her mouth runs faster than her brain does, sometimes she'll stop and say "Wait....what was I talking about??", totally hilarious!  Can't wait to see what this year holds for her and for all of us!

When Marin Has the Camera...

This afternoon I was super tired and passed out on the couch for about half an hour, and Marin found my camera and somehow pulled up the camera...

 I love seeing her perspective on the world, it's so fascinating.

 Close-ups of the pillows.

 She's actually quite talented!

 I've got to say, I'm quite impressed.

 My basil plant.

Love my crazy 5 year old.

7 Year Niche

 Tomorrow is a special day.  Tomorrow is August 17th, and tomorrow Kristoffer and I celebrate 7 years of marriage.  I have to say, I am not feeling any of that "7 year itch" that people talk about, instead, after 7 years, I've found my niche...with this guy.  My Kristoffer.  I can honestly say I love this guy so much more than the day I married him, because seven years have given me a million more reasons to fall in love with him.  Reasons I never knew as a fresh faced 22 year jumping into marriage with both feet.

  Kristoffer is my other half, and when he's gone, I miss him...STILL, after all these years.  He is my best friend, my confidante,my eternal companion, my love.  He is a solid rock and just holds me close when I need him, and watches from afar when the storm clouds roll through my eyes.  He keeps me grounded.  He wipes away my tears.  He laughs with me and 'geeks around' with me.  He holds my hand and squeezes it twice to let me know he loves me, just like he did 7 years ago.

Kristoffer has stood side by side with me through the up's and down's of every minute of these past 7 years, and has worked hard, and played hard.  He has broken the rules of 'no-gift-buying' for special occasions....every time, and it makes me smile.  He selflessly gives so much of his time and energy and money to us as a couple and as a family.

Kristoffer has been with me for every moment of my pregnancies, and has coached me through childbirth as I've borne our children.  He has tenderly kissed their sweet newborn cheeks and looked at me with the softest, most caring eyes of adoration.  He has kissed my forehead and looked into my weary eyes and thanked me for his children.  He has sent me flowers both times.

My husband has seen the best and worst of me, and still chooses to be with me, every day.  He supports all of my personal goals and ambitions and does whatever he can to support me and help me achieve my goals.  He takes me out to dinner and spoils me when I think we have nothing left to spend...and it's because he's squirreled money away just for a date night with the wife he still loves.

Kristoffer has taken me to Europe, and has taken me to the emergency room.  He has taken me to 3 new states to live, and 6 different residences.  We've been here and there and everywhere, and yet, at the end of the day, if he's not with me, I'm sad.  Nothing is worth any of it unless I can share it with him.  I'm terrible at keeping secrets because I just want to tell him everything!

I've seen Kristoffer at his best, and I've seen him crumple in a heap on the floor when life is too much.  I've watched him succeed, and I've watched him try and try again he does.  He never gives up.

Our lives have intertwined so much, that I don't know who I would be without him....in a good way.  He knows my thoughts now, and we are on the same wavelength.  It's uncanny when we both realize we've been thinking about the same thing!

After 7 years, I think I for sure have found my niche, and it's with Kristoffer.  I'm not going anywhere, and I'm glad he still likes me, too.  I know 7 years may sound like a drop in the bucket for some, but I'm so proud of where we are.  We've accomplished so much and have grown and learned so much together.

We're raising our two beautiful children in our very first ever home...a home that we've been very patient waiting for.  A home that means more than just another house, it's been a prompting we followed, and a true blessing.  And we're happy, and that, to me is success.

I'm incredibly grateful for this man that God put into my life.  A man I never would have met, had it not been for my dad (of all people!) urging me to try E-Harmony over 8 years ago.  Who knew?!

So after 7 years, I've found my niche.  And I couldn't be happier.

 

Happy 7 years babe!  Can't wait to nosh on some sushi at The Naked Fish tomorrow and see what little surprise you picked up for me, you sly dog ;)