The Perfect Autumn Day... Well Except for the Rain!

Auntie Nersey-Fers flew in yesterday (boy are her arms tired... hardy har har...) She took the Red Eye in from Utah and instead of being hospitable and taking her back to our place to rest and freshen up, we hit the ground running. After re-fueling at Panera, we were off to Minute Man State Park for some leaf peeping and a little American History. We retraced some of the British's footsteps and Ners crossed the Old North Bridge where the, "Shot heard 'round the world" was fired (I'm sorry, who took the first shot?). Then a fly-by Sleepy Hollow cemetary, The Alcott Sisters' House, Emerson's House, Hawthorn's House and Walden Pond and Thoreau's cabin. And yes... they were fly-bys because we had business to take care of... we had APPLES to pick!

And Tractors Drive!



And Pumpkins to Smuggle!



And Hay to Ride!


And Apples to Eat!




And Nersy-Fers to Freshen Up!
We'll spare you the pics (he he he)

FHE Gone Wrong

Tonight Pops gave a compelling lesson on being cheerful for Family Home Evening. He had the kids act out ways they could make eachother happy. In one scenario Superkid fell and hurt his knee. Abizella came to his aid and kissed the knee better (of course Superkid had to correct her and tell her she kissed the wrong knee). Later, after FHE had dissinigrated and the kids were runniong around like maniacs, Superkid tripped and hurt his elbow. Siezing upon a moment of lesson application, Pops encouraged Abizella to help Superkid up and kiss him better. She kissed his right elbow, he said, "No, the Other elbow!" She kissed that elbow. He said (while pulling down his pants), "Now kiss my bum." Abizella was going in for it when Pops and I composed ourselves enough to break it up.

Superkid was in charge of treats. He made pumpkin-fish-cracker-pie, pictured below. As long as dessert is made in our bathroom sink I am going to have no problems taking off the pounds.

Conference With the Toads

CINNAMON ROLLS!!!! And...


CONFERENCE NAPS!!!


This is how you eat a cinnamon roll without getting sticky fingers...




Good thing Abizella was around to remind us how to be reverent. Whenever she would catch a glance of the computer moniter she would fold her arms and say, "I SEE TEMPLE!" "I SAY PRAYER!"

Sandy Bottoms

This trip to the beach wins the "Sandiest Trip of the Summer" award. It was actually an impromptu trip. S.K. was spending the day hunting online for an apartment in Texas so we decided to spring A.K. for the day. On the way back from A.K.'s home to our's the kids and I decided that it was too nice of a day to sit inside and that we better go to the beach. I did a quick mental search of who I might know who could meet us there that would #1 drop everything for a quick trip to the beach #2 help me keep an eye on the kids #3 have someone for Superkid to play with (most of his pals are in kindergarten or pre-sechool) #4 (and most importantly) entertain me ... and I thought of my good pal D.P. She is a kindred spirit. I got her on the horn and without a nano-second of hesitation she agreed to meet us at the beach (of course this is without knowing my secret requirements). She brought her free-spirited daughter and their new Labradoodle puppy for us to play with. We found that while this puppy is hypoallergenic, she is still a sand-magnet. The kids had a great time feeding her Tummy Yummies.



Because this was an impromptu trip, and because Pops had cleaned out the car the day before, I had zero beach equipment on hand. I did manage to find a stick of roll on sunscreen while riffling through my purse. I buttered myself and the kids up with it. I thought I was so clever. I left the kids tethered in their car seats, only releasing them to the beach after I got a good thick coat on their exposed skin. Of course the first thing Abizella did when she hit the sand was to pick up two hand fulls of sand and throw it on A.K., a trick she never tires of. But this time it was like throwing glitter onto glue. The sand stuck, and it stuck for good. Note to self: stick sunscreen, while good for the pool, is not good for the beach. By the time we left the beach we all looked and felt like sand paper.

Maybe it was because Pops scoured the purple minivan the day before (even completly removing the seats from the van to vacuum), maybe it was the stick sunscreen, maybe it was my ill-preparation (no spare outfits or even diapers), maybe it was because I wanted to get home before Tadpole woke up and thus didn't even give the kids a pat down before tying them down, but I don't think I have EVER seen so much beach in the van before. These little sand mounds were marched straight from the van into the tub where, after dumping much water over them, erroded into the children I know.

For some reason I was shocked to find what this diaper concealed after pulling one of the sand mounds out of her car seat.



But as always, we all agree it was worth it. Even Pops, who said he would happily re-vacuum the car seats. Even the Sand Mounds, who all had to endure MANY buckets of water over their heads. I was going to say EVEN D.P. but she actually took home more sand than me on that frisky little pooch of hers!

First Smiles

Tadpole brightened my week by flashing me some gummy grins. The first came on Monday. I know he has been working on it for a few days, I could see it in his eyes. After filling his belly he looked at me and gave me a big grateful grin. I was flattered, but not wholly convinced that it was a purposeful smile until he flashed me 2 more. He has continued to pepper the week with smiles; even Pops has gotten some grins. I haven't been able to get one on film yet.

But I was grinning at the performance of this cute outfit he wore today. It is now my fav. I felt a warm puddle on my leg today during Sunday school. I was bummed because #1 he was wearing this fabulous outfit and #2 I didn't pack a back up outfit. I got to the Mother's room to discover a miracle, His outfit was spared... the pee had just run down his leg onto me! While I didn't particularly like having pee on my skirt, I was happy not to have dress him in one of the back up dresses that either S.K. or M.J. packed for their little princesses (they were both in the mother's room with well packed diaper bags). Thanks for offering your back-ups ladies! ... and thanks for the chat too!

Superkid Quotes of the Week

After hugging and kissing Superkid after he was released from a timeout, Superkid hugged and kissed me too and said, "Thanks Mama, ...and as he was walking away... I'm not even going to wipe your kiss off."

I was looking for my wallet to make an internet purchase. Superkid offered his wallet saying, "Here Mama, use my wallet. It has more money than yours."

Endless Summer... (I Hope!)

With 90°+ weather on Wednesday there was no way these Toads could be kept from the beach! Andie packed up Boo and met us to swing by "The Sev" to pick up some Pepsi and some Slurpees for the beach. This could very well be our last Hot (but not last) day at the beach, so we were going to do it right! Now if you have ever have gone to 7-11 with 2 toddlers and a new born you must be nuts or addicted to caffeine. I have not. I probably would be addicted to Coke Slurpees if I could convince my self that hauling 3 kids out of their car seats, into "The Sev", up to the sticky fountain (where Abz and Superkid immediately would start pawing at the cups, lids and straws), to the register (where all of those yummy candies are lined up at kid eye level), back into the car (AND car seats!) with 3 sticky wet Slurpees was worth it. And maybe I just want a Coke Slurpee because I can't have it...or won't put the effort to it. But with Andie there to stand between our cars in the parking lot with her watchful eye, the kids could remain tethered to their seats while I dashed into "The Sev" and get 4 Slurpees and a Pepsi for the beach. And even though I came out sticky, at least I wasn't left to pull a howling newborn from his seat while trying to reason with the toddler set why they should remain strapped in.

So off we went like a herd of turtles. When we got to the beach I was trying to unload kids and gear from the van while balancing my cell phone on my shoulder and give directions to a friend. That is when Superkid informed me his pants were wet. I naturally assumed they were soaked with urine (I later figured out after trying to sniff out a puddle that they were wet from his Slurpee) and freaked out because I knew he would freak out about being wet and make us all miserable. Somehow I got us all to the sidewalk without being hit by a car to realize I had locked my keys in the car! After a few desperate moments we realized Andie had AAA and we resumed our carefree day on the beach. But the true tragedy was I LOCKED MY SLURPEE IN THE VAN!!!!

But after a summer of sitting on the beach catching the fabulous aroma of the beachside seafood restaurant and wondering if they serve take-out, we salvaged the day by ordering some fish and chips!


We were also VERY happy to squeeze in a trip to the beach with P.J. (S.K.'s little baby girl!). When they got to the beach, Abz jumped up and down with joy and when she saw S.K. carrying a baby she said, "Yeah! (Tadpole)!" then she looked back at me remembering that we came with Tadpole and I was actually holding him. She confusidly said, "Two (Tadpoles)?". She is not used to A. K. being a big sister too!



We had a great day! I am SOOOO happy about how the day turned out, and I did end up getting a Slurpee. The next day I loaded Superkid and Abizella into to doublewide stroller and strapped Tadpole onto my chest and walked the half mile down to 7-11. When the kids started their usual poking and jabbing of eachother I threatened my usual, "Don't make me turn this stroller around!" All the time thinking, "Seriously!!!! Don't make me turn this stroller around, I NEED this Slurpee!" And I must have NEEDED it to push and carry 100 lbs. of kids 1 mile roundtrip for a Slurpee, but it WAS worth it!!!!