The Long Awaited

Moccasins that is.  Joshua has been wanting to make a pair of moccasins for a good long while.  He reminded me that once I did make him some out of a paper bag.  Today we finally made some "real" ones out of an old leather jacket.  He was SO pleased!  (He said, "Boo-yah!" -one of his current favorite expressions)  THEN, after running around on the pavement a bit he discovered the soles were already disintegrating!  Apparently this leather (suede, really)  wasn't sturdy enough to hold up to the rigors of boyhood.  So,it is back to the drawing board.  Tonight I promised to patch them with something- maybe a trusty wool sweater- but am going to seek out something more permanent and Indian like.  

And from yesterday, the rocket launch!

Read to sleep

(My) Birthday Post!

Woke up early to rain.  I was so happy to see the sun a few hours later!  We went for an easy sunny walk in a field just down the road.  I have been wanting to walk here for a long time, but it just hadn't happened, so I was really happy to be there!  Little peoples were very concerned about all the No Trespassing signs. In fact, at first they didn't want to walk there they were so afraid.  One little guy refused to move without carrying the cinnamon buns along (I think that's why he is not in picture above).  Needless to say we got off to a bit of a rocky start, but in the end the fact that we were "trespassing" (on Miller School property) just added to the sense of adventure I think.  We did bring the cinnamon buns along to eat in the cemetery.

The afternoon was filled with dinner preparations, busy cake baking and pasta rolling for fall squash raviolis, all of which I was only allowed to peep in at as I was on strict orders to relax.

 Ready for dinner!  Happy Hannah at the head of the table.

 Bringing in the cake!  What a cake it was!  Chocolate with malted chocolate frosting and coconut pastry cream!!!!

Topped with rose petals of course.  Thank you to all who made my birthday so special!

Happy Leafiness

Our beautiful Fall queen dancing a leaf jig.  These pictures were taken four days ago at the field where Joshua practices.  Today there was not a leaf left on these maples!  This season is so glorious yet so fleeting~ I'm trying to savor every minute!  Happy Fall to Ya'll!

Rowing on the Rivanna

...and Hannah is now 20 months!  And such the big girl!

 Gabriel and Hannah and I went on a short hike and played on the playground while Ella and Joshua were rowing

 Coming in on the home stretch

 I love this picture~ after two hours of rowing, Ella was plum tuckered

Hannah is always so happy to see her big sister!

Today's Adventures with the Green Adventure Project

Ella:  It was fun because we got to go canoeing and learn how the lake got dammed up by a hill.  We saw lots of lily pads and they had lots of slime on the bottom of them to protect them from fish eating them.  Part of the time we went into a little creek to try to look for animals and it was freeeezing!

Joshua: I got to go canoeing by myself and the boat almost tipped over, but then I leaned towards the other side!  We came in second place in the canoeing race!  Next time we're going to go with all ten boats for two hours!

Gabriel:  I went canoeing out a little bit far.  We went to a playground with a car that honked, played music, and made a vroom sound.

Out Among the Lotus