September scenes

Are not September evenings among the most glorious of the year?

And oh blessed season do I love when blackbirds fill the neighboring cornfield and then take to the skies... and the trees... and the roofs... It just makes me feel all Alfred-Hitchcock like. And it smacks of Fall. And "bird" is one of the few words Mason says.

It's been great watching Lucas get his soccer feet under him. And pose for pictures. And get a turn tending the goal.

And when a child grabs a sibling in a loving embrace and instructs me to snap a picture, I oblige.

Mason the model

Mason did some modeling recently for my friend Kristie for her photography business and Etsy site, where she is selling adorable crocheted hats, including this fun cupcake hat. She was obviously going for a first birthday theme. Love these fun pictures of my handsome little model!

The Belle of the Ball

Last month Brian and I attended a Gone With the Wind party with a bunch of friends. We had a lovely evening, and I appreciate all the details that went into planning and hostessing the party (hors d-oeuvres on the lawn, a southern-themed dinner and desserts, GWTW quotes at each table, coordinating music, darling Young Women as servers in B&W damask aprons and kerchiefs in their hair).

We were asked to dress formal or period formal; I opted for the latter and rented a southern-type gown. Brian went present day. It worked.

We drove to the "plantation" with our friends Eric and Teresa. Teresa was stunning as she channeled Carol Burnett wearing a curtain.

All the belles of the ball. Unfortunately we didn't think to do pictures until after the sun went down-

After dinner and dessert there was dancing. Oh yes, there was dancing. And I had a marvelous time. Although it must be said that dancing in a hoop skirt was a new challenge. Thanks to all for giving us a lovely evening!

Artwork

My kids spend a good deal of time taking crayon/marker/pencil/pen to paper, and I'd like to record a sampling of their drawings.

Connor: a firetruck putting out a fire. Connor loves vehicles, especially rescue vehicles; this has been true since he was very young. He has amazing attention to details and knows so much about them.

Isabel: self portrait with pretty and sweet things. Pretty much sums it up. All things lovely are her favorite subjects (butterflies, birds, sweet treats, flowers, happy people, little animals). She recently drew a picture of herself and wrote next to it "I. Love. Me." And she's all over the swirly letters. Wouldn't you like to live in her happy world?

Lucas: this is a crocodile with blood on the inside. I love the jaw/teeth. He's working to improve his drawing of people, and also enjoys drawing tough things and good things vs. bad things (ghosts, robots, pirates, good guys, etc)-

Lucas' new adventures

Lucas started preschool this week (he missed last week b/c he was so sick). He was so excited!

His teacher is the fabulous Ms. Wendy, whom we have heard amazing things about; and she lives only 5 minutes from us - even better! Most of her students are reading by kindergarten. And she is fun, energetic and passionate about teaching.

Lucas is excited about field trips, making new friends, learning new things, carrying a backpack, having snack and bringing home a folder, as he's been watching his siblings do. I cannot -CANNOT! - believe he starts kindergarten next year. This child has a very special place in my heart. I am so proud of him, and excited for him to have these new adventures that are all his. He was so excited on his first day to come home and practice writing "B" and "b" that he learned that morning...
... which apparently is very serious work!

Lucas also started soccer last week! He's been asking for two years when he can start playing soccer. They don't do games for his age, just practice and scrimmages, which is perfect. He's happy with it. Go Lucas!

Busted

Lucas was supposed to start preschool last week. But guess what? He came down with the virus that Isabel and Connor had... 7 days of a fever, horrendous cough, lethargic, no appetite, stomach aches... so I brought him in, and he too had pneumonia AND a double ear infection. Poor guy! He missed both days of school last week, so his first week of preschool was a bust. He is doing much better now and should be ready to go this week.

Then Mason came down with the virus, really nothing more than a runny nose but then it went straight to his lungs and caused a severe asthmatic reaction (he's never had asthma symptoms before). He woke up Thursday morning with extreme wheezing and was visibly struggling to get air in, so I rushed him in to the pediatrician. When the ped heard us coming down the hall (or rather, heard Mason's breathing) he scrambled and started yelling for epinephrine. He thought Mason was having stridor caused by croup, in which his throat was closing. Then upon listening to him closer he determined it was asthma, not stridor. His oxygen was down to 91/92 percent (not good), so he had a nebulizer treatment, and responded fairly well to that. We are now proud owners of a shiny new nebulizer, and Mason had to have frequent treatments for a couple of days as well as take oral steroids. He too is doing much better, just has a lingering cough. We have NOT had good lung situations as of late. Hoping this improves. Like his fish mask neb?

Mason's hair has gotten so long, so after his bath one morning I got impatiently impulsive and decided to give it a trim. It didn't go well. I got a bit carried away on the top and the sides, but didn't want to cut off the curly locks in the back, so he ended up with a mullet. A MULLET! My redneck baby! And I don't know where to go with it from here, so I am bringing him to my uber talented hairstylist friend Erica for help. Which I should have done in the first place. So I would call my attempt at cutting his hair this time a complete bust.

Here is his hair journey. It was so shaggy that after naps/in the morning if often looked like this:

When combed it was better, but still getting pretty shaggy, although some might kind it trendy-

And after the damage was done. Where I grew up we called this Hockey Hair. No matter what you call it, it's awful. I can't believe I did this. But of course I have to document it. Call him Billy Ray Cyrus, ask me if he knows the Achy Breaky Heart dance, tell me he needs a ripped tank top and Confederate Flag on his truck - I've heard it all. Ha. Ha.
A neighbor gave Brian a sugar pumpkin and suggested we make pumpkin soup with it. So I pureed the pumpkin myself (cut it into pieces, roasted it, then pureed it), and found a recipe. I did not like it. It was so pretty, and had a taste of fall, but overall I did not care for the flavor of the soup. Neither did the kids. So all that work was a bust. But it really did look pretty, esp. in my Anthropologie bowls, which fill me with joy.

One thing that was not a bust last week: my favorite new project, felt dahlias. I saw them on Pinterest, and fell hard for them. I have made a bunch of them, some as gifts. They are a bit time consuming, but are so fabulous on a cardigan or wool coat or a bag - they add such a great fall texture and pop of color. I'm talking serious project love here.