Happy Birthday to Patrick

We had a low key family celebration.  I created a fabulous homemade Snickers themed cake (chocolate cake, layer of homemade caramel and chopped peanuts, peanut butter frosting, chocolate chips on top).  Noella decided that Snickers would probably be her favorite candy, if she was ever able to eat one.

A stroll through the Botanical Gardens last weekend...

 Instead of carving pumpkins, the kids decided that they wanted to paint pumpkins this year.  We anticipated that this might be pretty messy, so when the temperature hit 60 degrees late this afternoon we headed outside to begin work.

 Noella went with stripes and glitter.

 Mariel's started all black, but she later added a glitter heart.

 Holden just kept assuring me "I am really good at painting this, Mom."

The pumpkins are drying now.  I have been told that they have to be "finished" tomorrow, so I will see what additions that brings.

Enjoying the Fall

We have been enjoying the fall and trying to get outside.  The mosquitos are incredibly aggressive this year, so that has actually been a serious challenge in and of itself.  Some days it seems- still- as though everything in our house smells like bug spray.  

As part of the excitement, I got into a car accident.  It was, as accidents go, in the category of "not awful."  It was clearly my fault (I rear ended someone at a light), but the other driver and I were unhurt, he was very civil, and the insurance company has been doing a good job.  While the van is in the shop getting fixed, we take our family road trips in Patrick's car.  The kids are not always quite as content as in the shot below, but they are doing ok with the coziness.  My rental car, a Toyota Yaris, is also quite cozy... one of the smaller cars that I have ever been in.  The kids think it is cute, but I think they are ready to get the van and their own space back!

We have been getting in some good hiking, too.  The girls are becoming very comfortable in the woods, which is fun to see.  Mr. Holden has been holding his own and (so far) has not even injured himself trying to climb over things or up rocks!  

 For the first time since Mariel was a toddler, I have opted not to go pumpkin picking as an excursion.  Instead, we headed less than a mile down the road to our local fruit and vegetable wholesaler and picked up pumpkins there.  I was pleased and somewhat shocked to discover that apparently a 15 lb pumpkin only needs to cost about $4 or $5 (plus no gas money, no admission fee, no itchy hay rides...).  These may be my favorite pumpkins ever!

Wild Women

I took the girls camping on their first official camping trip this weekend.  We went to the very lovely Hawn State Park about an hour and a half south of us.  The girls loved the experience, and although it was a very hot and sticky weekend we were able to cool off in Pickle Creek several times.
Their favorite things (as reported by them):
splashing in the water
falling in the water and getting all wet
chasing bugs
collecting wood for (and tending) the fire
HOT CHOCOLATE FOR BREAKFAST!
hiking (depending on the moment, this is either a favorite thing or a thing to never do again)
wildflower picking
meeting new friends on the campground
S'mores
sleeping under the stars
learning how to poop in the woods on our hike (ok- this actually gets top billing from them, but it seemed hard to lead with when I was typing)

 As for me, I had a good time as well.  I did not sleep quite as well as the two sleep-wiggling creatures I was sandwiched between in the tent, but it was certainly worth it.
Even after a few years, I still remember how to set up a tent and cook over a camp stove.  I did apparently forget how baffling it is to many people that women and girls are capable of - and even interested in!- camping on their own.  I got several perplexed looks when parents of other kids on the playground realized that I was there with the kids and no one else.

It has been so many years since I was a 12 year old girl heading out on my first backpacking trip with the girl scouts and then on trips the following years.  I knew, even then, that we were learning independence, self - reliance, and outdoor skills.  I readily admit that I still look back on lessons learned during those many trips.  I guess I am just now learning to appreciate how special those experiences were in the context of most girls' growing up and coming of age.  So, along with learning how to poop in the woods and how to choose good kindling for a fire, I certainly hope my girls have learned that yes, in fact, girls can go camping...  And someday recognize all of the other lessons that can come with it...  And have a great time while they are out there!

Growing up!

Tuesday was the first day for many things- Mariel's first day of 2nd grade, and Holden and Noella had their first day at the new daycare/ preschool.  They are now attending the school district preschool, which puts them on the same calendar as Mariel and has a lot of advantages- local friends, lower tuition, closer to the house, fabulous outdoor play area, and more.

We should also note an important development: Holden is now free from baby jail and into a toddler bed.  The Firetruck bed has caused great excitement in our house, and some jealousy among our toddler friends.  It has not, however, caused Holden to sleep past 5:15 in the morning.