Chef Mateo

Nona bought Mateo this really cute Guatemalan chef outfit from Catholic Relief Services for Christmas last year. He is really enjoying hanging out with anyone in the kitchen.

It came with the apron, the hat, and a wooden spoon. The spoon is much more fun to use as a sword in the air!

Montessori preschool has encouraged Mateo to do everything he is able...so he really enjoys stirring in a big bowl, just like Mommy does!

Sous Chef now, but just wait....he'll be a gourmet chef in the future, I'm certain of that!

Love from the Miller Kitchen

Has it really been a month?? Where does the time go????

There have been a few blessed days of sunshine in the past month. Mateo and I took opportunity to hang out on the deck--which we still love! Mama needs all the Vitamin D deposits she can get...and Mateo just loves to play!

Thanks to Cole & Ellie who gave Mateo bug tattoos for a present lately...he has been wearing them with much pride!

Bug tattoos everywhere...good thing the kid only gets a bath like twice a week...they last longer that way!! :)

The crocuses have come up. It is always such a nice surprise for me. About the time that I think winter will go on forever and then one day, I look at the base of the lilac garden, and the crocuses are in full bloom.

Such a glorious burst of color which means the weather is getting better. Yeah for spring!!!

Love from Oregon, Sarah & the boys!!

Mateo at Bluebird Montessori

So Mateo started Bluebird Montessori Preschool this January once he turned three...for those of you who are keeping track, this is DIFFERENT than Community Roots School which is the public school that Matt and I have been working to open in the local school district. Mateo won't be old enough to attend for at least three years, so we have committed to sending him to this Montessori preschool until then. We thought you would enjoy a glimpse at what the Montessori world looks like...

Mateo with his teacher Terri, getting a lesson about a snap frame. Everything in the classroom is kid sized...

Mateo working on planting some seeds in the Bluebird garden. He is able to narrate that they planted seeds, then it rains, then flowers grow...

Mateo eating lunch with Grace Traeger...yes, everything in the classroom is real, just kid sized. Those are glass glasses, and he is using a REAL apple slicer...I am constantly amazed at how capable he is at age three...beyond my imagination!

Mateo playing with the cylinder blocks...you match the tubes by size to the holes...

Mateo doing a continent puzzle...again, not something I ever imagined a three year old could do...but he is beginning to get the hang of it.

I think the thing that Matt and I feel most strongly about is how Montessori allows Mateo the freedom to learn as he needs and wants to...not as the system requires him to. This weekend, my book club friends were constantly saying how amazed they were at his thought process...I wish I could take even a little credit for that, but in truth it belongs first to Matt and then second to this wonderful place for him to learn.

Thanks to those of you who have sent donations in support of the Community Roots School effort...if other of you are interested, just let me know and I'll get you the information. In the meantime, we are taking all the prayers we can get.

Hugs from Silverton, Sarah

Book Club at the Beach...

So book club came to Oregon to see Kristi Rose who is doing her intern year at SUNY in Long Island, NY and she has only two weeks of vacation for the entire year, and she is choosing to spend a few of those days with us...Teresa, Patty, Marnie, and her daughter Ellie made the trek from Boise to spend time with us. This is Patty conferring with Matt feet from the ocean...which is feet from our front door...

Eagle Scout Matt packed everything for us to make the trek...and remembered everything but a jacket...so after an emergency stop at Eddie Bauer and found a jacket...but didn't remove the tag...his wistful look.

This is Kristi and Matt trying to fly a kite...a perfect beach activity...but no wind...normally not a complaint-as it was actually quite nice temperature on the sand...the downside is it is difficult to fly a kite with no wind...so Harry Potter was beach bound.

Matt the Eagle Scout packed all these sand toys for Mateo and Ellie to play with...

This is us all dressed up at the fundraiser for AC Gilbert House...one of Mateo's favorite places. We went with our friends with Greg and Angela Murphy...Angela works as the book keeper at AC Gilbert House. The fundraiser was out at the Willamette Valley Vineyards...so there was even good pinot to be had.

Love you all and especially grateful for time with good friends...Sarah

The month of celebration begins...

Yeah!!! What a magnificent day...I slept in today because of a bad head cold (not so fun)...but by the time I got up, I already had a text from my dad and four voice mails wishing me a happy birthday. Throughout the day, people I know and love showered me with affection. A guy who works for me got me flowers...Matt brought Mateo to work carrying a Happy Birthday Frog Balloon Bouquet and some yellow tulips...and I connected with my old boss Barry. Then, Nona hosted a fabulous feast for dinner...Alaskan King Crab topped off with Lemon Chiffon Pie. There were presents to be had, and cards from friends.

But the best part of today, the thing that makes me smile the most? It begins twenty days of celebration in our family...we go from my birthday (Feb 5) to Valentine's Day to our wedding anniversay (Feb 15--6 years this year) to the first day we met Mateo (February 18) to Matt's Birthday (Feb 25)...this month is for celebrating life, and love, and family.

Here's hoping the joy spills from this day to the next, and the next, and the next...

Love from Silverton, Sarah & Matt & Mateo