welcoming fall

When you live in a place where seasons are four different kinds of HOT, this is one of the most anticipated times of the year.

welcoming 80 degree days
not-so-lazy fall afternoons


outdoor theatre


outdoor naps


and all sorts of outdoor smells.
Blessings of autumn to all!

this will have to do

I wanted to talk about something else today, I really do, but blogger has a mind of its own and would not allow me to upload photos at the moment.
Here is something I put together from the photos I had on file. I have two working titles -- Big Sister or A History of Maku's Hair. You decide ^.^
Have a great weekend everyone!

rather delighted

We were all looking forward to an early morning visit to our downtown farmers' market last Saturday. Coffee for mom and dad, fresh orange juice for the girls, and maybe some kind of milky drink for Maku. I love farmers' markets and I always have an unrealistic expectation when visiting one.

Our stroll through the market was somewhat disappointing -- nothing was fresh, none was too tempting to bring home. It was still a festive environment and the children had lots of fun. We purchased a nasty tasting pear and one equally nasty tasting plum.
It was too early for lunch so we trotted off to the toy store. I handed the camera to Dave while I delighted to the familiar ooohhhhs and aaahhhhs of little ones looking through a toy store window.

We've done this so many times yet I never thought to take a glimpse of their beautiful faces. Just like their little voices, their little faces were filled with awe and wonder.
(Thanks for this shot, honey. And thank you for a wonderful day.)

self portrait project

me and my flirt

simple maku

Not too simple Snow. With two left hands and two right feet, oh and paws too.

Snow as a rockstar. 5.6 is her rockstar name. Her current singles are Love is my Destiny and My Tooth is Wiggling.

My tooth is wiggling oh yes it is...oh...oh...mmmm...yes....pony
Oh love! Is my destiny! mmmmmm...sssssss...oh love! Is my time!......mmmm......ssssss

a double milestone

What a day Saturday turned out to be!

Maku finally figured out how to swim.

And Snow lost her first tooth!

It happened around 8pm and she still managed to whip up a pouch for the tooth fairy ;)

As for Maku, well, he managed not to pee in the pool.

bones

Like most 3 year olds, Maku loves repetition and has a deep love for memorization. He knows his favorite poems by heart and can identify almost all 50 states on the United States map.

He recently developed a fascination with the human skeleton and is now getting acquainted with all of his major bones.

Yesterday he excitedly came running to me and said, "Look, I have a bone in here! Which bone is this? It feels just like my ulna."
Tugging on his new found bone, he added, "I think my book forgot this bone that is right in the middle of the pelvis!"

And Daddy is just so proud that Maku compared that bone to his ulna (forearm) and not his phalanges (fingers or toes).

making neighbors

Look who just moved into the neighborhood: The Dollies, fresh from Jin's sewing table.
Little Johnny Merkur is most delighted to welcome the new family.

oh how they amuse me

Snow's assorted way of dressing amuses me to no end. "This all matches, mom. All the colors on my socks are on my dress too except for green so I'm wearing my green shoes."
See the white pot in the background? One morning it had some rabbit poo, I flipped it over, sprayed it and after that it wasn't just a pot anymore.

It has been an essential part of ninja training and a prop for many circus performances.


Mismatched outfits and upside down pots. What a thrill to capture a little slice of their budding personalities!