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Votes for Women, and Voting for Women

Posted by Carolyn on November 4, 2016 Leave a Comment

I am a woman and I just voted.  I voted for a woman to become the President of the United States.  One hundred years ago, that would have been laughable.  Not only would a woman never be on a ballot, but women couldn’t even cast ballots.  There is something so important about all this.  It is imperative that we look at this and acknowledge the enormity of the situation.

I’ve always known the history of Oswald West and women’s suffrage in Oregon.  I’ve always known that he was able to grant the vote to women during his term as governor.  I’ve always known about Abigail Scott Duniway, and known that she was a suffragette.  But I haven’t always known the full story of women’s suffrage in Oregon, and I wonder how much you, my curious reader, know.  I did some research and I want to share it with you.

When Oregon’s constitution was written in 1857, it included this statement, “every white, male citizen of the United States of the age of twenty-one and upwards, who shall have resided in the State during the six months immediately preceding such election…. shall be entitled to vote at all elections authorized by law.”  One man, David Logan, moved to omit the word ‘male’ before ‘citizen,’ but his request wasn’t even discussed.  When the 14th and 15th amendments were passed in the federal constitution, the Oregon constitution was amended to include all males as electors, but not women.

Women still didn’t count, despite efforts by equal suffrage supporters to claim voting rights for women, along with the newly emancipated black men.

In 1872, four Oregonian women took a stand and went to the polls to vote.  They gave their votes to the judge, who put them under the ballot box – not in it.  Their votes weren’t counted, but their act of voting was an important one, nonetheless.

The next year, 1873, Abigail Scott Duniway , one of those four brave women, founded the Oregon State Equalization Society, and my great-grandfather, Oswald West was born.

Portrait of Abigail Scott Duniway, painted by Sydney Bell, on display at Gerlinger Hall (originally proposed as Duniway Hall) on the University of Oregon Campus
Portrait of Abigail Scott Duniway, painted by Sydney Bell, on display at Gerlinger Hall (originally proposed as Duniway Hall) on the University of Oregon Campus

Abigail Scott Duniway wrote and published a newspaper, New Northwest, which was a widely circulated pro-suffrage publication.  She also led the way for suffrage supporters in Oregon and followed the “still hunt” strategy for gaining support for suffrage.  Instead of throwing parades and huge protests, Duniway and her supporters tried to influence the men in power in a more personal, quiet way.  They would write letters, hand out pamphlets, and wait until the end of the campaign to make public displays for their cause.

As the family story goes, ten years later, in 1883, young Oswald West was able to hear Abigail Scott Duniway speak on women’s suffrage near his home in Salem.  He remembered her looking right at him and asking, “Don’t you feel like your mother is as good, if not better, than the ordinary saloon bums in Salem?”  Os, being a staunch prohibitionist from an early age, whole-heartedly answered that – yes, he did feel that way.  From that moment on, his political opinions were ignited and he worked to help women win the battle for the vote.

Oregon has the distinction of having put this matter to the voters more than any other state.  Oregon male voters voted on suffrage in 1884, 1900, 1908, 1910, and finally passed the amendment on November 5th, 1912 with 52% of the votes – 67,625 votes in favor, and 57,104 votes against.

Os West Campaigning for Governor. I love seeing women in the crowd.
Os West Campaigning for Governor. I love seeing women in the crowd.

On November 30th, 1912, when Oswald West was Oregon’s governor, he asked Abigail Scott Duniway to write and sign the Women’s Suffrage Proclamation. (photo of this can be see here)  She drafted the proclamation and Os West, along with Ben W. Olcott, as Secretary of State, signed it.

This is a history I’ve always known.  I have always been proud of this family history.  I’ve always been proud to carry on the legacy of the great men who were there when Abigail Scott Duniway made her lifelong dream a reality.  I’m so proud of this history that I gave my daughters middle names that honor and remember West and Olcott for the foresight and respect they showed to Oregon’s women.

Today, we get to cast a ballot that Abigail Scott Duniway, along with Os West and Ben Olcott, would be so incredibly happy to know exists.  We get to vote for a woman to hold the highest office in our nation.  Not only that, but we get to vote for a woman who deserves that office more than anyone before her.

One hundred and four year ago, tomorrow, Oregon’s men decided that women were worthy of the incredible right to vote.  Next Tuesday, we all get to decide who will be our next president and it very well could be a woman.

It was a fight to achieve equal suffrage.  It has been a fight to give women the rights that men have taken for granted for centuries.  It has been a fight to get women in any office.  It has been a fight to get Hillary to November (a long, hard fight that just proves her strength and resilience).  It will be a fight to get her elected.  When she’s elected the fight won’t stop.  It is clear that we still live in a nation wrapped up in sexism.  Hillary has crashed through the glass ceiling, but there are still shards of sexism laying everywhere.

As a child, I remember looking at the poster of all our presidents that was in my first grade classroom.  It didn’t even occur to me that it was strange that all the presidents were white men.  It was just the reality that I knew.  I so much love that that isn’t the reality that my daughters were born into.  They were both born while we’ve had a black president, and, hopefully, the next one will be a woman.  The world is changing.

Here are some websites that I consulted as I wrote this post:
Oregon Blue Book
Woman Suffrage in Oregon
I also was able to look at some amazing historical documents at the University of Oregon Knight Library’s Special Collections.

Also, I came across this lovely coincidence:  There was a suffragette who was very active during the 1912 campaign who was named Harriet, but called Hattie, just like my Harriet.  She was a brave African American woman “in a state that had codified black exclusion laws in its constitution. Redmond’s work for voting rights helped lay the groundwork for the Black Civil Rights movement of the mid-twentieth century.”  I can’t think of a better woman with whom Harriet should share a name.  Read more about Harriet Redmond here.

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Posted in: gave thanks., gratitude, learned., story telling, STRONG | Tagged: ben w. olcott, my daughters, Oswald West, voting, women's suffrage

35 Things to do Before 35 – How Did I Do?

Posted by Carolyn on February 24, 2016 1 Comment

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Last year, on my birthday, I made a list of 35 things that I wanted to do before I turned 35.  Tomorrow I turn 35, and I wanted to look back at my 35th year and the things I accomplished.

  1. Read a book a month.  I didn’t really keep track, but I’m sure I read more than twelve books.
  2. Sign up for life insurance.  Didn’t do this, but we do get life insurance through Jesse’s job.  I’m not sure if we should pay for supplemental insurance.
  3. Try a Barre3 class.  I didn’t do this, but I took some yoga classes, and started going to the Rec Center on campus.
  4. Get a monthly massage.  Sadly, I didn’t even get one massage.
  5. Try acupuncture.  I still want to try this.
  6. Get a haircut.  I’ve gotten a couple, and even cut my own bangs recently.  Now I’m wanting a long, choppy bob to go with the new bangs.
  7. Try 5 recipes from my new cookbook!  I’ve made lots of things from this book.
  8. Spend a weekend at the beach.  I just missed this one – I’m going to the beach for the weekend next month.
  9. Spend a weekend in the mountains.  I did this a few times – camping and in Sunriver and Bend.
  10. Can something.  Peaces, barbeque sauce, sweet and sour sauce, spettighetti sauce, Uncle Chet’s dill pickles.
  11. Get our garden going again.  Still getting there…
  12. Focus on getting my Etsy shop going.  Note:  It has a new name and address – CaroMade!  Still getting there…
  13. Post one new listing on CaroMade every month.  Not quite…
  14. Do a creative retreat – either an organized one, or organize my own!  We almost have this scheduled.  It will probably have to wait until late spring or summer since we’re planning it in the mountains and none of the people going like to drive in the snow.
  15. Get more chickens.  We now have 9, and some are even laying again!
  16. Get back on my daily chore schedule!  Still in process…
  17. Go to Disneyland.  We took Alma last spring and it was magic.
  18. Go to a Broadway musical.  We saw Book of Mormon and it was incredible.
  19. Hike 35 miles.  Nope.
  20. Get the trailer set up and go on bike rides with the girls.  We did this a few times.
  21. Rent a limo.  Nope.
  22. Make and sew a huge cushion for our hearth.  I didn’t do this, but I did paint the fireplace white and I love it.
  23. Get chairs recovered.  They seriously need this, but we haven’t done it yet.
  24. Get estimates to get our house painted.  This summer.
  25. Set up some good seasonal capsule wardrobes.  I ended up Kon-Mari-ing everything and don’t really have enough for this.  I want to try it again, though.
  26. 5 Days of Christmas crafts on the blog.  So much fun.  I loved it.
  27. Get going on a creative, relaxing morning routine.  I’m not sure this is for me.  Maybe I’ll try again this summer when the sun rises earlier.
  28. More author interviews on the blog.  I want to get back to this.
  29. Plant a tree.  A pear tree.
  30. Take a class.  I’ve done things to renew my license, but I haven’t taken a creative class.
  31. Sew some clothing for me.  A couple Beatrix shirts.
  32. Make art for Alma’s and Harriet’s rooms.  Harriet’s name in felt.
  33. Go to the Country Fair.  So much fun.
  34. Go camping.  We went up the McKenzie and it was lovely.
  35. Build a sandcastle or a snowman.  Both.  Sand in Coronado, snow in Sunriver.

21/35 isn’t bad!  Here’s to next year… More on my plans for 36 coming tomorrow!

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Posted in: 35 Until 35, gave thanks. | Tagged: 35, 35 until 35, birthday, to do list

Dear Daddy,

Posted by Carolyn on February 8, 2016 1 Comment

Dear Daddy,

Yesterday was your birthday and I’ve been wanting to tell you something.  I write to the girls on their birthdays, but I think it’s important to write to you, too.

I have always admired you, daddy.  You always worked hard to give all of us a wonderful life.  You worked hard, but you were always home for dinner and present in our lives.  On Sunday mornings, I would wait to see you get up, then I’d follow you to the living room so you could read the comics to me.  You were always up to play in the backyard, or play a game of Pente.  You came to my recitals even when it meant missing a track meet.  You taught me how to ride my bike on two wheels.

One of my favorite memories of us is from a bike ride.  I can remember exactly where this conversation took place, right around the corner from where I live today.  We were riding ‘around the block’ and you told me that you hope I will always call you Daddy.  I remember thinking that was absurd that you would even ask.  Of course you’ll always be my daddy.

You have another name now.  You are also Papa, and I am so glad that my girls get to have a Papa like you.  They light up when they see you, and honestly, you light up, too.  You are such a great grandfather.  You get down to their level to play with them.  You spoil them just the right amount.  I know that I can count on you to take wonderful care of them.

Happy birthday, Daddy.  I hope you know how important you are to me, and how much I love you as my Daddy, and as Alma and Harriet’s Papa.

Love,
Carolyn

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Posted in: CHOOSE, gave thanks., learned., parented., story telling, STRONG, writing | Tagged: birthday, Dear Dad, gratitude, letter, Memories, Parenting, writing

The Age of the Bully

Posted by Carolyn on January 20, 2016 2 Comments

I’m going to get political here and I’m going to say it.  Donald Trump is a bully.  He’s a jerk.  He’s sexist.  He’s racist. He’s a liar.  But somehow people love him.

I have an idea about why.

You should know that this is based on my observations in middle schools.  That shouldn’t surprise you since Donald Trump acts even less mature than most middle school aged boys I know.  Much less mature, in fact.

We all remember the bully, don’t we?  That one person who would make fun of other kids for a laugh.  That one person who would systematically target a weaker kid and turn the other kids against him.  When we were kids and saw this situation, we had to make a choice – stand up for the weaker kid, or join the bully.  It’s usually a safer bet to join the bully because then you don’t risk becoming the next target.  We have all done this – it’s part of growing up, figuring out who we are, learning what’s really important.

Fast forward through high school, college and into adulthood.  We are all rational adults, right?  We know who we are and we would all stand up for what we believe in, right?  I’m not so sure.

Our culture is fixated on the anti-hero.  A list of the top TV shows of the past few years reveals something that we all should think about.  Some of these characters are evil, others are simply unlikeable – Don Draper, Walter White, Dexter Morgan, most of the casts in Game of Thrones, Girls, Orange is the New Black, VEEP, House of Cards… I could go on.  Why do we continue to watch these shows?  Why do we care?

We watch these shows for entertainment value, right?  But, what if it has gone further?  What if by watching so many horrible decisions we have become immune to it?

What I’m trying to say is that we’re still that kid in middle school who chooses to side with the bully instead of standing up for the victim.  We have become so desensitized to the fact that bad people actually are bad.  We now look at a bad person and have to question whether or not they are bad, funny, misunderstood, or something else.

I imagine that many of the people who support Trump do so because of this dynamic.  He’s saying horrible things, and people need to make the choice to either laugh with him or fight him.  He’s reckless with his words, and people are eating them up.

Will he become the Republican candidate?  Quite possibly.  Will he become our next president?  I quite hope not.  I have faith that those Republicans who lean more to the left will help prevent that from happening.

I’m not sure our country could survive a Trump presidency.  Other countries will shun us.  Money will be wasted on wars and walls.  We, as a country, will solidify our role as a powerful global bully.

Let’s all work together to not let that happen.

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Posted in: CHOOSE, STRONG, writing | Tagged: CHOOSE, one little word, politics

When to Apologize?

Posted by Carolyn on January 13, 2016 4 Comments

Apologize: to offer an apology or excuse for some fault, insult, failure, or injury

Lately Alma has been doing something that concerns me.  She will say something silly, or do something goofy, and immediately say, “Sorry ’bout dat,” with a shrug and a self-depreciating eye roll.  For example, she will pronounce a word wrong, or mix up her words, or stumble a little bit.  Something about which she absolutely doesn’t need to feel sorry.

It reminds me of those studies that show that women, in group meetings or classes, will say, “I’m sorry…” then ask their question or make their comment.  I’m pretty sure I read about this in Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, but I’ve been thinking about it for a long time.

It’s a hedge, something we say to fill space or make excuses.  How many times have you said your opinion and finished up with, “…but that’s just what I think,” in order to avoid a confrontation.  That’s a hedge.  So is saying you’re sorry, oftentimes.

And this phenomenon is certainly more common with women than with men.  I have been around groups of women who constantly apologize to each other, for every little thing.  Even if it’s the other person’s fault.  Even if it’s nobody’s fault.  How many times have you asked someone who was blocking your way to move by first saying sorry?  Why do we apologize to someone who is standing in the doorway, or blocking the thing we need, when it’s obvious that they’re in the wrong?

The act of saying you’re sorry when you’ve done nothing wrong makes us look weak.  It is admitting that we have no power in our situation.  It is admitting that we feel that what we have to say, or do, is less important than others.

I don’t want my daughters to believe this about themselves.  I want them to own their opinions, their actions, and their questions.  They are strong, and their voices are important.  I want them to know that they can ask their question, or make a correction, or add an opinion without being perceived as aggressive.  Moreover, I want them to know that it’s okay to be aggressive.  If they make a mistake, they can own it without apologizing, especially if it doesn’t affect anyone else, like when Alma mispronounces a word.

Raising daughters, this goes even further.  I don’t want my girls to ever apologize for not wanting to hug or kiss someone. I’ve written before about how I never make them hug or kiss anyone if they don’t want to. I want them to be strong and feel like they don’t ever have to apologize for this.  When they’re teenagers and young adults, I want them to be confident that they can turn down sexual advances without an apology.  They don’t have to do anything they don’t want to do, and they don’t have to apologize for it.

This all isn’t to say that I never want my kids to apologize.  I certainly want them to say they’re sorry when they’ve hurt someone.  I’ve started saying, “Only apologize when you’ve done something wrong” whenever Alma does this.  I want to break the habit.  There is a line in Sarah Kay’s poem “Point B” that says “always apologize when you’ve done something wrong but don’t you ever apologize for the way your eyes refuse to stop shining.”  And that’s really it, isn’t it?  I just want my girls to shine and not have to apologize about it.

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Posted in: a little moment, learned., letters for my daughters, parented., parenting tips and tricks, STRONG, writing | Tagged: alma, children, Daughters, family, harriet, I'm sorry, Life, Parenting, strong, writing

Strong – One Little Word – 2015

Posted by Carolyn on December 31, 2015 1 Comment

My word for 2015 was STRONG.  I wanted to increase my strength in many ways.  I wanted to show my girls what a strong woman looks like.  I wanted to strengthen my body, my mind, and my relationships.

I had plans of getting my wrist party everyday.  I wanted to do a sun salutation everyday.  I wanted to floss more often.  I didn’t do all of these things.  I didn’t increase my physical strength much at all.

The thing about STRONG as my word was that it was hard to find tangible ways to incorporate it into my daily life.  Not like GRATITUDE in 2014.

When I started thinking about this post, I thought it would be a post about how I failed my word this year.

Then I kept thinking… I thought about this past year.  Let me tell you, this past year was a doozy.

We started the year with Jesse in a new job.  A new job that, from the start, wasn’t a good fit for our family.  He was working long hours – going to work before the girls were awake, coming home for dinner, and going back to work after the girls were in bed.

The company had some internal problems, and Jesse’s position ended up being eliminated.  I have never been more relieved to hear about someone being laid off.  I knew that a period of unemployment would be hard on our family, but I also knew that it wouldn’t be long, and that Jesse needed a rest.

I worked as much as possible during that month, but also took some days off so we could be together as a family.

After only about a month of unemployment, Jesse was offered an amazing job at the University.

Looking back at the first half of the year, I remember the stress, the tensity, the long hours, the time spent missing Jesse, and know that I was strong.  I was strong to be able to support Jesse during those months.  Strong to support the girls.  Strong to keep my shit together.  Those months seem like forever ago, the feel like a dream.

Actually, now it feels like we’re in the dream.  Jesse loves his job.  He loves where he works.  I love visiting him there.  I’m so proud to tell people what he does and where he works.  His job is making a difference in the world.  He’s part of something important and worthwhile.

This year, Jesse and I also celebrated being married for a whole decade.  We took the time to renew our vows in front of our daughters, our friends, and family.  The past ten years haven’t been easy, but they have been fun.  I feel the strength of our marriage, and the strength of our commitment to each other and to our family.

Anyhow, all this just to say that I have surprised myself with the strength I’ve shown this past year.  My strength didn’t show itself in the ways that I expected, but it has shown itself in ways that were necessary.  We have come through a tough time, and we’ve come our ahead.  If that isn’t strong, I don’t know what is.

Photos by Katrina Henry, Edited by Me

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Posted in: gave thanks., gratitude, learned., one little word, STRONG | Tagged: 2015, marriage, one little word, strong

Winter To Do List, 2016

Posted by Carolyn on December 30, 2015 Leave a Comment

Here’s my list of things to do this winter.  Many of the things on this list are from my 35 Things To Do Before 35 list, since there are still a lot of things on that list that aren’t checked off.

Anyone want to play along?

Here are some photos from last winter to get you in the mood!

  1. Go to the gym at least 30 times.
  2. Create a New Years signature cocktail.
  3. Sew new spring dresses for the girls.
  4. Go to an art opening.
  5. Work on my Tula Pink quilt.
  6. See The Last Five Years with Evynne in the lead role.
  7. See The Book of Mormon on tour.  Already have tickets!
  8. Get a massage.
  9. Do another Whole30.
  10. Try acupuncture.
  11. Try some new recipes from my Azerbaijani cookbook.
  12. Have a creative retreat.
  13. Get back on my daily chore schedule.
  14. Go on some hikes.
  15. Sew cushion for the hearth.
  16. Get paint estimates.
  17. Take a class.
  18. Finish at least one of my classes to renew my teaching license.
  19. Plant an amazing garden.
  20. Create some concrete, tangible ways to interact with my One Little Word for 2016 (to be announced soon!).

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Posted in: 35 Until 35, created., gave thanks., learned., to do lists | Tagged: 2016, to do, to do list, winter, winter to do 2016

Autumn To Do List, Wrap-up

Posted by Carolyn on December 29, 2015 Leave a Comment

Here’s our updated list from Autumn.  I have to say I’m surprise at how many of these items we got checked off.  Autumn was a fun season full of family, friends, holidays, pumpkins, apples, and gratitude.

Look for our Winter To Do List tomorrow!

  1. Drink hot cider.
  2. Drink pumpkin beer. We did this, and compared and rated all the best (and worst) of 2015! 
  3. Go to the pumpkin patch. Yes, we did this, for sure.  Many times, in fact.
  4. Make art. Hmmm… did I do this?  I don’t really think so.  Unless you count the December Daily album.
  5. Make Halloween costumes. Little Red Riding Hood and her Big Bad Wolf. 
  6. Go trick or treating. Yes, we braved the rain (and still have candy leftover!)
  7. Make new Beatrix top. Yep, this time in plaid flannel.
  8. Christmas gifts.
  9. Make apple crisp.
  10. Jump in puddles.
  11. Go on a date.
  12. #30daysof thanksgiving on Instagram.
  13. Go on a hay ride.
  14. Go to a Halloween party.
  15. Find some snow. Thanksgiving at Sun River was full of snow!
  16. Put the garden to bed for the winter.
  17. Decorate for Autumn. Done!
  18. Make Christmas banner for CaroMade. It’s up on my Etsy shop! But I did forget to put it up for Christmas…
  19. Prep the December Daily album.
  20. Get some Advent things ready like:
    1. The Goodness Gnomes (or whatever they will end up being.. I bought some little fairy things at the Country Fair this year).
    2. Other traditions for Christmastime/ Advent.
  21. Drink tea. Done!  That one was easy!
  22. Do a puzzle.  Oh how I tried.  Puzzles and toddlers don’t mix.
  23. Eat some cheese.
  24. Plan our 10th Anniversary Party.
  25. Go to the library.

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Posted in: 35 Until 35, gave thanks., learned. | Tagged: 2015, autumn, autumn to do, to do, to do list

Creating a Morning Routine

Posted by Carolyn on October 6, 2015 2 Comments

unnamedI’ve been trying to create a new morning routine for a few months now.  My intent is to give myself some quiet time in the morning, before everyone else is awake, to get focused and settled. I couldn’t do this earlier because Harriet was waking up so early, but luckily she’s been sleeping in a little bit more and now I have time in the morning.

One thing I bought to help me do this is the book Savor. It’s a book of devotionals that was recommended by Ali Edwards. I bought it, but I couldn’t really get into it, so I suggested to my best friend, Katrina, that she get a copy too.

We’ve been trying to keep up and messaging back and forth about the readings everyday, that’s been harder than I thought it would be. I know that I need some time, set aside, just for this devotional.

One thing I realized about my friendship with Katrina, while I do consider her my best friend, we don’t have much time anymore to really talk and delve into deeper issues. I’ve already noticed that this book has helped us become closer and I’m looking forward to having more time to focus on it and to focus on our friendship.

So, when I had the idea to start getting up earlier, and create a morning routine I was thinking that I would get up at 5:50. I started setting my alarm and every morning I would just turn it off. My new idea is to wake up at 6:30, which is only 15 minutes earlier than Jesse gets up. I think this 15 minutes will be enough time to start making some tea or coffee then read the daily devotional in Savor, and to send my response to Katrina.

Today was the first day I’ve done this, and it seems to work out pretty well. I’m going to check in on my blog later this month to let you know how long I’ve been doing with this, and hopefully I’ll have all sorts of successes to share. I might even have expanded it to more time so I have time to do some sewing or creating along with the Savor.

Here’s a great line from yesterday’s entry in Savor.  Doesn’t get much better than that!

Right now all the leaves are falling, and there’s no reason that they have to turn electric bright red before they fall, but they do and I want to live like that.

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Posted in: a little moment, gave thanks., learned., one little word, STRONG | Tagged: morning, one little word, savor, strong

Playgroup Pumpkins

Posted by Carolyn on October 5, 2015 6 Comments

Our Fourth Annual Pumpkin Patch Playgroup.  I could write a lot about this, but I’d basically just say the same thing I’ve said before (here, and here, and here, and here, and here, and here).  I won’t put you, the reader, through that again.  I’ll just say that I love raising my kids with these people.

Before I post the photos from this year, let’s take a little trip down memory lane, shall we?

2012:  So many Ergos, so few people.  This was one of our first organized outings.  We have grown in families and children.  Most kids weren’t walking yet.  Leia and I were almost pregnant, but this was it!  Seven kids in this photo!

andthenthey pumpkin 2012 2013:  Quite a bit bigger.  A few pregnant moms, two new babies, eleven kids.  andthenthey pumpkin 20132014:  Even more!  More families, more babies, more pregnant moms!  Just more! Fifteen kids (I think!) andthenthey pumpkin 20142015:  Wow!  So many kids!  So many people!  No pregnant women (as far as I know!) Nineteen kids! andthenthey pumpkin playgroup2Today was one for the books.  We were planning on going to our usual, traditional farm.  Someone (Jane I think) checked their website and saw that they didn’t open until noon.  We were all on Facebook discussing what to do.  My family was already in the car, ready to go, so I suggested a change of venue (after changes of time and other ideas had been thrown out there).  Everyone agreed and spread the word.  It might not sound impressive, but it was quite amazing to watch 10 moms discuss and agree and mobilize all within about three minutes.  I told you this playgroup was special.  I love these people.

andthenthey pumpkin playgroup1 andthenthey pumpkin playgroup3 andthenthey pumpkin playgroup6 andthenthey pumpkin playgroup5 andthenthey pumpkin playgroup4 andthenthey pumpkin playgroup7 andthenthey pumpkin playgroup8 andthenthey pumpkin playgroup9 andthenthey pumpkin playgroup9a andthenthey pumpkin playgroup9bHayride, pumpkin picking, corn mazing, fun, fun, fun.  It was an oddly beautiful day.  I love these sunny, crisp days, but I have to admit, I’m getting anxious for the rain to come (and stay for a while).  Call me crazy!

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Posted in: a little moment, gave thanks., gratitude, holidays, parented., playgroup, story telling, STRONG | Tagged: autumn, children, gratitude, kids, Oregon, Parenting, photography, playgroup, pumpkin patch
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If God said, ‘Rumi pay homage to everything that has helped you enter my arms,’ there would not be one experience of my life, not one thought, not one feeling, nor any act, I would not bow to. -Rumi

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