Gone Fishin'

Steve and his dad just returned from a weekend of fly fishing in Errol, NH. Steve planned the trip in honor of his dad's 60th birthday, and both of the guys have been looking forward to it for months. We did have one sad little girl who was disappointed she couldn't go, too. Luckily Nana came along for the weekend to give me a hand with the kids. Here are some of the pictures from the weekend:

Caroline's Room

Let me start by saying I could not figure out how to make these pics look better on photoshop. Have I mentioned how hard it is when all of your friends are fantastic photographers and your BFF is a world-famous professional? Makes you a little insecure about your own pictures. Or it makes you wish one of them would come here and photograph your life for you. Moving on. . .

Here are some shots of Caroline's new big girl room.

The big girl bed. Caroline still hasn't figured out that she can just get out in the morning or after naps, even though she's been in it since January. I'm probably jinxing myself by putting that in writing.





Her dresser. Have I mentioned that Steve built all of her furniture? Isn't it gorgeous?





Her family garden from Liz:





Her book/toy shelf:




The light fixture I found at Target that I LOVE:

My plan was to take these pictures yesterday while Caroline was at school and William was napping. Before school as Caroline and I were tidying up her room and I told her I was going to take pictures, she informed me that she wanted to be in the pictures. This was shocking, as she runs screaming every time I bring the camera out these days. Here's my big girl being her silly almost-three-years-old self.

I took the next few right before nap time. William was hanging out on the rug as he usually does while I'm tucking her in. Right before I walked out, I threw him in bed with Caroline and told her they could take a nap together (I was not serious, to her disappointment). Utter cuteness ensued. I don't think I adequately captured the spirit of the moment, but watching my babies play together made my day more than complete. :)

Pickles: A Love Story

As you all know, Steve has been Mr. Green Thumb all summer long. We've loved eating fresh tomatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, carrots, and radishes right out of our own garden. But for Steve, the highlight of his garden has been growing pickles. Well, you don't actually grow pickles, you grow cucumbers and then pickle them, but whatever - he's talked endlessly all summer about pickles. At first he was dead-set on preserving them, but his mom talked him into doing easier, simpler refrigerator bread-and-butter pickles. So we've spent the summer watering the pickles, watching the pickles, waiting for the pickles. We've searched high and low for pickling supplies. And guess what? They are finally ready!

Here is Steve's pickle plant:

And a pickle growing on the vine:

Steve carefully preparing his pickles:

Caroline tasting the pickles at dinner last night - they are a lovely match for risotto with bitter greens and caramelized onions, let me tell you.

Caroline took one bite and pronounced them "not yummy" but then ate several more.

Our bumper crop:

I'm so proud of you, babe! It is wonderful to watch your dream come true. :)

P.S. Our kitchen might possibly be the worst spot ever to take pictures. Sorry for the horrible pics.

William's Nursery

Amy asked for pictures of the kids' rooms, and I am nothing if not obliging. William and I had a little photo shoot in his room while Caroline and Daddy were on their weekly Saturday morning date at McDonalds. William's room is quite small and I am certainly not a great photographer, but I think these shots will give you an idea of his space. As I was editing the pics I noticed a great big fingerprint on my lens, so excuse that, please!

The name banner I got from Etsy (idea stolen from Ephraim's nursery):



William's changing area, with the gorgeous family tree made especially for him by my dear friend Liz:



A close-up of the family tree:


William's crib:



William in his filthy, spit-up covered rocking chair. Notice the beautiful quilt hand-made by Melisa's mother-in-law:



My main man showing off his mad almost sitting up skills:

William's favorite part of the room: the fact that our cat, Ellie basically lives in there these days.

My favorite part of the room:

Every night before we go to bed when we go in to peek at our children, I am overcome by how sweet it is to have a peacefully sleeping baby in a crib. I just don't know how I'll stand it when I no longer have a baby in the house. Slow down, time.

Fashionista

Here's Caroline's outfit of choice for today: pajama top with a stretched out neck (from pulling it up over her legs - hey, at least she can dress herself!), swimsuit bottom, flannel pajama pants, mismatched socks, shoes on the wrong feet. She loves to play out in our front yard, watching for her friends, so when I told her she needed to get dressed before she could go out, she put together this lovely ensemble all by herself. "Mommy, I found everything in my laundry basket!" she told me. Nothing better than dirty, mismatched, inappropriate clothes, I say. And as she went outside to play, she flung open the door and yelled, "Hello, World!" Confidence is not our problem. :)

Solid

We started rice cereal this weekend! William is not too sure about it so far - mostly he likes chewing his bib. My big girl thought she needed to try the cereal, too. Her assessment: "FOUL!"

I'm looking forward to making his fruits and veggies in a few weeks when he's ready. But I'm also really, really going to miss baby food cooking parties with Erin, Colleen, and Krista. It is so weird to be raising this baby "by himself!"

P.S. Thank goodness Erin chronicled my whole life before I started a blog, right?

My Girls

Shortly after we moved to Colorado in the summer of '04, my friend Liz invited a group of casual friends and acquaintances to her house to start a book club. I was still in the stage of mourning my Ohio friends, so I was pretty excited to get out of the house and meet some new people. The night was one of those magical evenings where you can just tell something special is happening - the entire group just clicked. During the three years that we lived in Colorado, those 9 girls became such a treasured part of my life. We supported each other through 12 pregnancies, family drama, job changes and and loss of loved ones. We ate increasingly lavish feasts, drank too much wine, and read a lot of books we barely talked about. Nearly all of my memories of Caroline's pregnancy and infanthood are tied up with them - the love they gave me as I waited each month for that positive pregnancy test, the total joy when I shared my big news, the visits, gifts, and meals when we brought my sweet baby girl home from the hospital, the advice and support as I learned how to be a mom. We are now scattered in 8 states, busy mothering, working, making new friends and embracing new challenges, but I still love my girls and am so greatful to have them in my life.

My girls, or most of them, anyway, are descending upon Charlottesville for Book Club Reunion 2008. I'm home, not ready or able to leave my nursing babe. I'm wiping away tears as I think about Erin giddily flying for the first time by herself post-kids, Jodi hopping on a train, Jennifer and Susie packing their cars, and Liz preparing for them all. I'm commiserating with Amy, Brandy, and Gina, who, like me, can't make it this year. Last year, just 11 weeks pregnant with William and horribly nauseaous the whole weekend, I knew I'd miss this year. Next year, I won't. I love you, girls - drink a glass of Arbor Mist's finest for me!

1st Day of Preschool!

My big girl on her first day.



Showing off her new backpack:



Getting a love note from Daddy before heading inside:



Hanging up her backpack:


Thrilled to see the package that arrived from Grandma, Aunt Melisa, Uncle Jay, and Quentin when she got home from school:



What can I say? It was a big day. We've all been looking forward to this for so long. I didn't expect to feel sad because she is so ready and I am so ready but there were definitely a few tears (mine and Steve's) when we left her. William and I took a long walk while she was at school, and it was just so quiet with no one talking to me and asking a million crazy questions. The time went remarkably slowly, and I was sooo ready to go get her when school was over. All the kids were lined up playing on the swing set when I got there, and it was very sweet how they all ran over and hugged their mommies when they saw us. Every kid had a huge smile, so I think they had a blast. My baby girl is growing up more quickly than I planned.

Caroline wouldn't tell me much about her day, but I do think school wore her out. She asked for her nap and told me she was tired twice. She's upstairs jumping on her bed now, though, so she's obviously not too exhausted. :)

Fun Daddy

Everybody in our house is most happy when Daddy is around. Daddy is always full of fun ideas and never gets tired of playing. Here a few of his fun activities from the last week:

"camping" in the backyard:

making angel wings and a halo:

building a princess castle in Caroline's room:

My two kiddos are pretty lucky to have such a wonderful daddy.

Caroline Clark, P.I.

Here's a funny story that I just have to share. . . I just snuck into the kitchen to eat a piece of chocolate while Caroline is watching her show on t.v. I thought I had done a pretty good job of being discreet - she didn't even look up while I was in the kitchen. I sat back down to watch with her, and she turned to me and said, "what did you just eat? Why does it smell so chocolaty?" BUSTED. Isn't it supposed to be the kids hiding their candy-eating from the parents?

Dear Daddy,

Here I am getting ready for my preschool open house. I know you were sad to miss it today, and I missed you, too. I know you check your blackberry all day long to see what we are up to when you are gone, so this picture is just for you! I had a lot of fun and met all my new friends. I was shy at first, but then I played and played and played. I love you and and can't wait to see you when you get home.

Love,

Caroline

P.S. Not very many daddies were there, so don't feel too bad. :)

Shh - The Babies Are Sleeping

A couple of weeks ago, we were having major problems when I was putting William down for naps. He's finally reached that stage where it needs to be quiet and calm to go to sleep, and Caroline was having a really hard time entertaining herself while I was getting him settled. The last few days, however, she has been quietly playing in her room. When I go to find her after William is in his crib, she has a line of dollies laying on pillows or in her doll crib, and she's usually cradling one in her arms and saying "sh sh sh." When she sees me she'll whisper that I need to be quiet so her babies can sleep, and then she comes out of her room, says "have a happy nappy," and closes the door. It's pretty cute. Isn't it amazing how kids can drive you crazy one week, and then completely melt your heart the next? Two-year-olds. Gotta love 'em.