Back and ready to share!

3d ultra sound of Autumn

Always cute in blue (her favorite color now that she can tell us)

Her Daddy has always been her hero

Kisses from Littles with BLUE lips!

her favorite place to be when she was a baby, Daddy's arms

She is an amazing sister to her amazing brother

my littlest man that I adore

our blue eyed babe

these moments I want to bottle up and save forever!

Family Vacation to Deadwood South Dakota

Goodan vacation to Lake Wallowa Oregon

Goodan cousins

one month old

Four. Knows it, states it (all the time) and owns it!

An amazing day with the Meis/Graef/Goodan family, sister taking the photo

My friends who have been through so much with me have become "our friends".

can you guess where we are?

This is almost my favorite picture of all time for many reasons



Always a Daddy's girl

Dominic almost 3, Autumn 4 this summer and knows it all!

Today is Oct. 1st 2013.

Autumn has been going to Preschool for one month and I have decided to ask her perspective of things. So this is a bit of an interview with Littles. I will ask her question and will try to type exactly as she speaks so that you can try to imagine her telling her side of life:) Enjoy!

 

 

Autumn, thank you for spending time with me today. "You're Welcome, Mom, do you know I love you? Hey, look that earth has an arrow in it. Mom, did you know that smurfs have boobs?" they really do, check out the next smurf figurine you see. You can usually find one in the random play areas around the country in coffee shops, dentist offices and chiropractors. Here we go.

 

1. Autumn, how old are you?

"I'm 4, 4.

2. How do you like school?

"I love it very much, I like the toys there. And uh, William and uh, Quinn like um, the toy trucks. William and um Quinn LIKE the toy trucks. Quinn starts with a Q. Quaa! William starts with a W.

3. Who is your teacher?

Miss Amy. Cuz Miss Bacon went away because she is done being our teacher because Miss Amy came back to our school because she was done with her Mother in law.

(Autumn's class had their first substitute last week, I don't know that Miss Amy spent time with her Mother in law but on that day we heard that the teacher's name was Miss Bacon, "she loves pork bacon".

4. Autumn did you go on a trip with your family this summer?

"yes, like with my Mom, brother and Dad. My brother is 2. My brother starts with abc D. My brother starts with D, after c. I start with A. Who do you start with Mom? (I sound it out for her). "S, you start with an S.

5.What do you want to tell our family about you?

"Um, that I love them. Um, I wish I should get a baby cat". For Christmas? "NO! A baby cat toy for Christmas. I really want to do the animal sounds Mom. (toys at the coffee shop).

 

 

I think that I chose a poor time to interview Miss Autumn. She is usually tired after pre-school and they have very cool toys here that she would rather play with than sit and visit with me. She has moved to the couch in front of me and now I feel silly sitting at the lap top on my day with her.

 

She does love school, she won't talk about it much when she is in the car on the way home. In fact she doesn't share with me and Dana much but the second Grammie, Lala or one of the Papa's ask her she is talking a hundred miles a minute. I will have to finish this at home, in a closet, with all the lights turned off and after Autumn goes to bed.

 

Now, December 9th, just two short months from my last draft and just 8 short months from the last real blog. Whoah. Where o' where does the time fly away to and at the end do I get it all back to remember forever. Unfortunately I haven't been writing in the kids journals either. I keep saying to myself "don't forget this moment, it's a great one". We have so many great moments that alas I forget more than I remember. Initially I wanted to make the October blog about Autumn. Her time to shine to all of you in all the progress that she is making. I wanted to then have a blog just for Dominic. He is such a sweet little man. So, new goal. I will update you on all of us this go around with a big focus on Miss Autumn and in January give you the nitty gritty of Mister Dominic whom is turning 3! No way?! Yes way!

 

September was a bit difficult for me and I think for Dana too. We talked about it late at night under the cover of darkness I feel so that we wouldn't see each other get tears in our eyes and cry every Tuesday and Thursday night, Autumn's school days. Autumn took the experience like a champ and if she had any difficulty adjusting she didn't let us know. The first day that we dropped her off I waited until I was alone to cry. I thought that I would be excited for the time alone with Dominic and I thought I would get a million things done. 3 hours is not that long and it's a short drive to get her so I leave the house half hour before she gets out. Weird. So, we adjusted, we asked her questions, she rarely gave us details. We know her teacher, Miss Amy, from church and a local chiropractor's office and I occasionally work out with her. She was a great source for "been where you are", "it's going to be fine" and "I started volunteering out here when my boys started". A ha!!! I had in my mind that I would stay in Moore (about 12 miles from Lewistown), get to know the staff and all the kids would call me Miss Summer and know Dominic and I would never be more than a building away from our first born. Well, Dominic wants to be IN the classroom, not in the building where Autumn might be, he wants to "go to school with sister", and since he is two years from that it wouldn't work. If I bribe him in the car on the rare days that he has to go with me to drop her off, he only pouts but if I forget to mention "we don't cry in school", he shouts he wants to stay and it is quite loud and there are 12 other grades working while the Pre-school kiddos leave. The very neat thing about this school? I mean the part that tears me up every time I witness it, the older kids know and respect the youngest kids in the school. One day I was following Autumn to her class. She stops at her locker and puts her show and tell away after she hangs her pack and coat on her "bery" own hooks. She points out that she is here and "Autumn Gerber is right there". Two Autumns in a class of 7. Yep, there is another couple as cool as me and Dana;-) So, on this day I am following a piece of my heart with pig tails. There are 3 boys looking at a bulletin board and chatting. They have to be tall because they were all taller than me. One of the three looks over his shoulder and down, he sees Autumn before he sees me, taps the boy closest to him on the shoulder and says "look out", the other two look over and step back, all three boys look as if they are standing at attention as Autumn walks between them and the wall, they are still looking at her and they are smiling as one says "sorry about that", to Autumn, not to me. I had a lump the size of Texas in my throat. I did a quick departure that day after she let me give one of our last public kiss, hug, eskimo, nice to meet you's. These days we do our ritual departing dance in the car or as close to the lockers before any one can see. I left that day with so much happiness that I didn't really know how to share. I don't know who those boys are, I don't think I would recognize them but they made my heart so happy and gave this very new to this Mom thing almost 5 years into it that I owe them a hug.

Autumn also has a friend, Keeley. I don't know what grade she is in and I don't know if she was "assigned" to Autumn but this girl meets Autumn every day that Autumn is there. If it is too early to go to class they sit in the cafeteria together or they go outside together. She makes sure her coat is zipped, her hands are warm and if she is still having breakfast when we show she always offers to share. Autumn talks about Keeley as much as she talks about Miss Amy. Keeley is a sweetheart as is her friend that is sometimes with her while she hangs out with the two Autumns. I watched them have races in the playground on a gorgeous fall morning. Autumn Goodan took a face plant that made her bounce, my head screamed "get out! get to her! run! don't make a scene! Sit tight! She's fine! Don't embarrass her! Quick go! STAY PUT." I stayed put, I clenched my hands over my ears, for some reason if I'm really nervous or scared I cover my ears. Like I can take on the world if I can't hear it coming. Weirdo. By the time I caught my breath from the crazy town in my mind, the two older girls were helping Autumn up and the other Autumn (blonde blue eyes and tall) was leaning over her. Autumn came up with a smile on her face and the three girls helped wipe the leaves off her and off they went.  A little tiny bit of the leash was lengthened.

I cry a lot when I drive home away from her school. I am grateful for the drive because I would feel like a fool walking home crying the whole 3 blocks. Autumn is doing great out there and I know that the decision of keeping her out there or bringing her to Lewistown is going to be a very very difficult one for me.

For a while now, Grammie has been taking Dominic on Tuesdays. This means that I have free reign to do what I want while Autumn is at school. The first Tuesday I had I worked out. I didn't know what to do to get my mind off the fact neither of my babies were with me. Now, our church has a women's Bible study on Tuesday mornings. I don't get to stay for the whole thing but I get a large part and I have met some amazing women. Like AMAZING. Most of the women in there have been praying for my crazy ass as long as I can remember. Some of them are new to my life and I love every single one of them. When I don't have Bible study I feel a bit off. I have missed the ladies the last two weeks and I have to go without them for one more. On Wednesday the kiddos and I have the whole morning to do as we wish. Play dates, movie dates, cars, polly pockets, nothing, everything. What ever our hearts desire. We usually start to calm down and get ready to take a rest just in time for Autumn to go to dance at 3. Her entire class has moved up together so they will have tap added to their coolness. Dom tried dance for about a month, or 4 classes. Miss Janet does not charge the boys and was spending a lot of time talking Dom out of corners or teaching over him because he spent the first half of the class crying. We decided to try again in January when he is 3 and see if he is a little more ready for dance. There are a lot of other boys in there so it might just work out this time. Dana is not going to be Mother Ginger this year as Autumn is not in that class anymore and the verdict is it would be easier for a "taller gentleman" to handle the costume. You think? A big ol skirt that can hold 10-12 toddlers and Miss Janet, yes, I think they need a taller dude.

Dominic is more into cars, trucks, trains and "Rescue Bots" than he is into dance. He loves to dance at home and he can shake it! but he is quite happy to just watch sister from the door of the dance studio. Dom has kept the baby blues. He is the most handsome little man I know. I am very biased. At night when I am telling him stories (on the nights he requests me to lay with him) I sneak in "I love you Dominic", my heart explodes when I hear "I love you too Mom". I get that dang lump and then he finishes the thought with "what if I didn't say I love you". Well, my feelings would hurt buddy. He is curious of all things. "What if I drop this", "What if I touch this hot thing", What happens if I jump off here", What happens if the sun goes to bed", "where does Dad go when he goes to werk", "what happens if I pinch sister", and his favorite thing to say, "Watch me peewel this!" Peewel is Dom's word for an explosion, a lazer, a sling shot, an arrow, bad guy going down anything that means two things going together hard and fast. He is our Peewer.

Friday (yes, fast forward to this last weekend, the coffee shop is going to close and I miss my family), Dana and I drove to Kalispel to pick up our newest addition to the family. Her name is Piprah Bean, Autumn gave her her middle name, Dana and I chose Piprah (Peep for short) because it means "Pepper" and her legs were pepper looking when she chose us. She is a pure bred German Shepherd. She is my first pure bred and our first puppy as a family. Dana loved Gemini and Bean as if they were always his and we have missed them both so much. Molly has been such a terrific addition to our family but we decided that we want a puppy that is a blank canvas and our responsibility as a family. Molly is adjusting great and she is being patient with our little ball of curiosity. Piprah is a character. We are working on telling the kids "stand your ground, don't run from her, you are her boss, tell her no bite and sit!" Dominic was so upset this morning when Peep had his toes in her radar. She was nipping and he was running, he was so angry he yelled "Stupid dog!" In the Dana Goodan house you just don't say "stupid", ever, if you do one or both of the babies will chew you out. I have no idea how that became the queen mother of bad words and others go unnoticed. Anyway, I had to take this one since Dana was about to pass out from holding his breath so he wouldn't laugh at Dom. "Dominic, she is not a bad dog, she is a puppy. Do not call her stupid, don't run, say loud NO BITING!"  He was already half way up the wall behind the couch so we had to give his heart a chance to calm down. Peep was giving him the look of "get down here little boy, I want to taste your pigs".  I don't honestly know what we were thinking when we decided to go ahead and get here the first week of December. It has been very, very, cold here in Montana. Gorgeous, but cold. I love the snow, I always will but -24 on a road trip with a puppy that needs out every two hours was pushing the "I love our pup" limits. We have shared getting up with her the last two nights and I think we secretly curse each other while we stand in the cold knowing the spouse is curled up in bed. I benefit from the trips out because it is a drive by stop to the fridge. Dana benefits because he probably sleep walks and he is back asleep before he hits the pillow. It was a wonderful 24 hours with my husband, my bestie. We talked about the kids, ate great food, and watched a UFC fight before watching Dreamer and I Robot. Yep, totally weirdos. So, here we go. Here we go on another adventure with Peep joining the mix. Autumn E, Dommie, Molly, Dana Albert, and "MOM!" I love my life. I love every second of it even when I don't know that second that I love it.  Cheers my friends and family. More in January;-)

Piprah Bean Goodan