Tummy Time

I put Bleu down for tummy time and a second later Buby is on his belly, too. He wants to be connected to her at all times. Someday he'll realize that he already is... even if not literally at the hip.

Field Trip

He talked about it all last week. The Bubs was over the moon about his first preschool off-site to a farm and orchard. He told me he would pick apples and pumpkins in "the apple patch" with his friends. Well the big day was yesterday and it rained cats + dogs all morning where we are. Buby didn't like this at all but reluctantly put on his froggy rain boots and headed out to the car. He looked so grim on route to the orchard. When I asked what was the matter {knowing full well}, he told me he didn't want it to rain all over his pumpkins and apples and his picnic lunch. He was just about crying.

That's when I remembered my mom asking her mom {in heaven} to hold back the rain the morning of my wedding. It was a day just like yesterday and poured for hours leading up to the outdoor ceremony. Then suddenly it all stopped, just long enough for us to say our vows, snap some photos and take cover. Buby said "Amen" from the backseat and 10 minutes later I handed him off to Miss Cathy and the sun was shining bright. Moms were running back to their cars for sunglasses. It was awesome. I couldn't be an official chaperon because I have another babes, but it was too far to drive home for just 2 hours. So Bleu and I hung out in the car, snapped the photo above, delighted in my old-fashioned caramel stick and iced decaff, and tried to stay out of sight. I kept thinking to myself, "Did I pack him enough food? Too much? Is he listening to that other mom? Is he having the best time ever? I think so.

New Best Book

This is the book we read over and over to psych up Buby for his first field trip yesterday. Grandma DJ and I snagged Apples and Pumpkins at B&N last week while Buby was in class. I like author Anne Rockwell and I always crave books that celebrate the season we're in. Anne's daughter Lizzy illustrated this one for her, which I think adds an extra layer of sweetness to it.

Delicious

Sunday was like a big ole sundae with all the gooey toppings. My Sweets + I took the kids apple picking in the morning. It was a bit sprinkly, but the air outside was amazing. The afternoon brought warm cider donuts, fresh cherry crumb pie, a cool breeze over mud puddles, butternut squash soup, Jonagolds + Red Delicious, homemade applesauce {a la moi}, a long walk just the 4 of us, the smell of onions simmering on the stove top, some laughter + scheming, all-natural flatiron steaks from a local cattle farm... grilled to perfection, the return of Brothers + Sisters, mini moments spent marveling at our little ones, a couple of hours of deep sleep before light.

Click on a photo to enlarge.

Apple Names 101

Click to enlarge



This apple guide is a brochure from our local farmer's market that I scanned in and posted last year. It's incredibly helpful when we go apple picking, so thought I'd share. Again.

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

I use my macro function because I want to remember their wonderful little features in detail. The precise shade of Buby's blues. His red lips + baby nose. Bleu's auburn brows + deep, dark, solid espresso bean eyes. I couldn't get a clear shot of her if my life depended on it... she's just always in motion that one!!

Look, No Hands

Shadow Squash

Mommy, Buby, Grandma DJ, and Bleu {in stroller}




Me + Buby


Tuesday after swim class and lunch at Ruby Tuesday {Buby picked the place}, we took Grandma DJ down to the park and river near our house. There was an abandoned basketball on the court just calling Buby's name. It was bright + sunny + just perfectly cool out. We had some good laughs jumping up and trying to squash each other's shadows on the pavement.

Harvest Rocks

I dig Thursdays. And not just because Grey's Anatomy is back. But because it's our only day of the week without any classes or play dates or appointments {usually}. Buby, Bleu + I don't HAVE to get bathed + dressed by 7:30AM if we don't want. We don't HAVE to leave the house at all if we don't want. We can snuggle in Mommy & Daddy's bed a bit longer. Eat breakfast slower. Play more trains. Read that other stack of books. Dance + build a fort. Stroll at our own pace. Hit the library on our way home. Do a more involved craft. Thursdays rule.

Yesterday's craft was going to be rock pumpkins. I'd seen them somewhere and thought how cute. We collected rocks at the park with Grandma DJ on Tuesday and had all the rest of our supplies. But when it came time Buby said he wanted to use "lots and lots of colors, Mama!" So who am I to restrict him to orange. He took 5 tubes of acrylic paint out front and painted what I will now call our harvest rocks. They are dry enough today to fill a short glass vase and use as a pretty centerpiece on our Fall table. We will put Buby's name and year on the largest rock and place it on the front porch with our hay bales and other Halloween decorations {when the time comes}. I see a new annual tradition here.

Oldie But Goodie

Buby discovered Kerplunk on the top shelf of his spare closet yesterday. That's the closet he's not supposed to know about. But now he knows about it, so I guess I won't be hiding things in there anymore. He asked me to lift him up so he could take a closer look. We dusted off this game and ended up playing it at least a dozen times. Bleu was snoozing, so it was the ideal time to introduce Buby to skinny sticks and marbles.

Old Photo Friday

1977. My dad has always called me Jaybird.

Tired Bleu

We'll be in the middle of playing and this is how I know she's done. She goes looking for her right thumb. We walk upstairs to her room and she's out within a minute or two.

To Be Young

Really young. To hitch a ride on someones back--just for fun. Swing as high as the sky. Climb UP the slide + think you're getting away with something so fantastic. Spin around and around until you dizzy yourself out. Share a giggle with another child you've just met. Cuddle up with a favorite person reading a favorite book... to you. Fall asleep to stories about your day. Your wonderful itty bitty day where everything was a very big deal.

The Tree

A new work of art a la Buby. He's into deeper autumn colors this week--reds, oranges, browns, blues and mustards. What I fancy most about the Fall tree painting above is that it feels natural and alive. I sense movement and emotion in it. Since starting preschool, Buby gets a kick out of mixing two colors to make a third. He's always wanted to keep them separate, a new brush for every color. So our budding artiste has {so to speak} turned over a new leaf.

Gallery: Park with Grandma

Pure Affection

Buby and his friend Gillian on Sunday. Such pure affection. At this age they are so full of life and love and energy and everything we want them to embrace in this world. I capture it. I wish I could bottle it.

Parade of Wheels

Before the harvest festival on Sunday we hit an antique tractor event in a pretty small town. Buby's really into tractors, as is his friend Gilly. The two ran into each other and immediately jumped aboard this tiny train taking laps around the property. What a spectacle! They waved like happy lil' celebrities.

Hello, Sunday

A drive through some real rural-ness. Nice.

The Jeep with the top off. My head in the clouds.

Mums for sale at a mountain harvest festival.

First hayride of the season. First of many.

A family affair. Click on each photo to enlarge.

Buby + galpal Gillian usher in a fresh season.

Our friend Baby Natalie smiling as always.

Many moments to just chill.