Favorite Things: Day 9

I know you're not supposed to have favorites, and I don't. Not really. But I have to say that the stage Jasper is at is one of my favorites developmentally. He's (somewhat tragically) left that true baby stage and is well on his way to being a full-blown toddling boy. He can stand on his own, but is still more interested in crawling. He loves rumpusing at night with us and in fact, if you ask him if he wants to rumpus, his eyes light up, he stands up and catapults himself fearlessly atop the nearest prostrate person on the floor. He is adored by all in this household and the boys recently said to me "oh Mama, we wish we could make Jasper stay like this always...he's just so cute!"

When we put music on, he immediately begins to boogie-woogie in his seat or wherever he is. It's the funniest thing and I wish I knew how to post video here because it'd be a special treat to watch in a few years when this age will be a distant and somewhat hazy memory.

Jasper still is quite a chill little baby, with a dimpled smile that would melt the hardest of hearts. I know it's quite the best thing to wake up to...this darling little boy standing up in his crib, looking expectantly over the bars with a huge grin on his face, ready to start the day!

Things That Make The Heart Beat Faster:Day 5

I adore these boys. I adore hanging out with them, listening to their discoveries ("we found duck eggs when we were at Uncle Dan's!"), laughing at their jokes ("it's called a dwarf planet because it's short and has a white beard- get it?"), hearing their confidences, everything that involves being their Mama. That's not to say it's always a walk in the park, but the walks in the park, or even the hanging-out-on-a-blanket-in-our-not-quite-a-park-backyard like the past few afternoons make any hardship and frustration more than completely bearable. It's such a privilege and a joy to share in their little lives, to get to know each unique boy and what makes him tick (and maybe more importantly, explode!) and to help guide and foster their interests, their passions and their character, all the while holding them in my heart as delicately as one would a butterfly. I love how my sister-n-law phrases it with her own wee ones "you are not mine, but the Lord's so seek to honor him in all that you do"...I feel that best sums up my parenting approach- attempting to honor God in how Ryan and I raise them and above all being so thankful for the simple joy of days like this.

Dawn Treader

After bravely sailing the seas around Narnia for what seems like an eternity, the Dawn Treader is in dry-dock, awaiting decommissioning ceremonies later this week. No ship sailed more true, sustaining fearsome storms and enemy attack. The brave children on-board reported that her stained glass windows cheered them on many a tempestuous night, when lightening threatened to break her in two and send her inhabitants to the shadowlands. Her flag waved gaily on gentle winds and helped sail them towards exciting destinations. We salute her noble stern, replete with dragon ship mast- pointing ever toward the bright horizon and a hopeful tomorrow, and thank her for countless hours of adventure on distant shores.

Catching Up

I just found these pictures from Jeremiah and Emily's trip here the first week of September and want to post them for posterity. We took a day trip down to Chicago to see the pirate ship exhibit at the Field Museum and Sam wanted to find Art. Above, the boys are hiding from a huge dinosaur that escaped from the Field...good thing he turned out to be a vegetarian.
Catching the last free night of the summer at the Art Institute.My darling Sam. Where has the time gone?

Jasper and I taken by one of my favorite Van Gogh paintings.
Jasper meets Jasper.

And an evening meal on one of the last gorgeous Summer nights that wasn't as blurry as the photos would have you believe.
I want to start writing again soon...something actually worth reading. But there is a lot going on right now, like Jasper beginning to crawl, which means there just isn't much time between sunup and sundown to put thought to paper, or fingers to keyboard or much of anything save the odd dip of spoon into the jar of homemade caramel sauce on the top shelf of the fridge when I desperately need a pick-me-up.

Choo-Choo-Chaboogie

Ryan's former bosses from Ancora very sweetly gifted our family with a gift certificate to the Mid-Continent Train Museum in North Freedom, WI.

My brother Noel was in LaCrosse for military training and brought his friend Joe to our house the weekend they had leave. I tried to feed them as well as possible, especially since I thought poor Joe may have got more than he bargained for when he agreed to come.
Saturday dawned gorgeous and warm so after a huge country breakfast, we decided to take in the country side by vintage Wisconsin train.
The boys were wowed by all the amazing trains in the yard.
Felix thought this water tower looked just like the one at home.
Inside the train shed were all sorts of trains, some of which had been set up with scenes of rail road journeys in the past (Victorian coach, 1920's Dining Car, etc.).
After looking around, we waited in the lovely station house.
"All ABOARD!"

The horn made Felix very upset, so he spent most of the ride safely encircled in Uncle Noel's arms.
Enjoying our 50 minute round trip ride on a 7 mile stretch of the former branch line of the Chicago & Western Railroad.Sam and Oliver had fun watching the car ahead of us swaying to and fro down the line.

Devil's Lake was 25 minutes away, so we finished the day with a beautiful hike to our favorite look out.
Thank you George and Sue!

Last Weekend in Redux

(Warning: Ridiculous amount of family photos to follow.)

We had a very full and lovely weekend last week:
Saturday found Jasper and I at the Maple Bluff Neighborhood Garage Sales, and despite (or maybe because of) the soft drizzle coming down, we had a great time together.
(happy even though I woke him up early)

Maple Bluff is the richie rich neighborhood that sits on the north side of Lake Mendota and houses the Governor's Mansion, so everyone comes out in droves hoping to land the deal of the century. My anthro buddy found practically new Frye boots for $15 (which she promptly resold on ebay for a killing) and a Marc Jacobs coat for next to nothing at last year's sales, so my expectations were high. Whether it was the rain or miserliness, no one can say, but I didn't find any designer deals. I did, however, score a pair of Saucony's for Sam (nice alliteration, right?) for $1:
a great set of vintage enamelware, all with lids, for about $20,


a new compost bucket (the compost was free),
and a gorgeous vintage LBD for $5! The woman I purchased it from used to work on Broadway and said she wore it frequently to events in NYC back in the day. Just lovely!
When Jasper and I arrived home, we found that a sandbox had been built by Ryan:

(which in all honesty, I'm secretly regretting. the sand. gets. everywhere. but the kids LOVE it.)

Some soccer was played





as was some freeze tag:

followed by some dreaming under the trees and clear blue sky.
(photo by Sam)

A good ol' Wisconsin meal of brats and dogs and homemade sparkling lemonade was eaten,
followed by raspberry creme fraiche tart,
finished off with a long draught of baby gazing:

Life is immeasurably full for us right now. My cup, indeed, runneth over.