the day after

Sometimes the day after a birthday is hard, but today was a good day! This morning, Jude, Felix and I ran a few errands. They both brought their hand kites with them everywhere (yay!). We went to two post offices to get Christmas stamps (the first one was out), dropped of some library books that were long overdue, and got two more thyme plants at the local nursery, because I had used up the one we had. (I am still loving my front porch herb garden and use it all the time in my cooking!) While there, I saw some Christmas ornaments and got an idea of one I could make for Felix...

I have noticed just in the past week or two that we have turned a corner with independent play - meaning, I don't have to supervise the boys' play all the time anymore! This is a huge milestone for me. I can be in the kitchen while they play upstairs in their room...it is wonderful. This afternoon, all three of them were engaged for about an hour doing their own thing (well, I was helping Felix off and on a lot of that time, which is understandable). Felix was painting with glitter, Jude was building with Legos, and Henry was playing in his room. There were some thuds and bangs coming from upstairs that Felix and I were wondering about, and after a while, we went upstairs to check it out.

 Turns out he had turned their room into a restaurant! He loves this new kitchen - they all do!

Henry and Jude proceeded to serve me a number of delectable dishes.

I also completed a big project today - the Christmas cards! The past few years I have spent so many hours on these, and I decided to go simple this year and "mass produce" them - i.e. each one is the same design. I am really pleased with how they turned out.

 Cards are best addressed with a cupcake and a cup of tea. (Or a large glass of wine.)

In case you're wondering - yes, that is our address on the card. I send one to myself every year because I love to save them, and want to have the postmark on the card. I can't be the only one who does this, right?

I set out this little basket and paper tonight, hoping it will inspire some creativity tomorrow...we'll see!

overnight adventures

Last night, I got to do something I didn't dare put on The List, because I thought it couldn't happen: camping with Henry!

Over the summer, I signed Henry up for this wonderful program at Hard Bargain Farm. It meets once a month on Mondays during the school year (designed for homeschooled children), but the first and last meeting of the year include an optional "overnight adventure." I very much wanted to do this, but couldn't figure out how to make it work with the rest of the family. Finally on Sunday, I told Dan that's all I wanted for my birthday, and he agreed we would figure it out. It took until 10 pm that night for all the details to come together, but we did it!

I brought all three boys to the farm for the morning. Jude, Felix and I had fun exploring while Henry participated in the program. I left Henry there under the care of another very kind parent while I took the little ones home and settled them down for their naps. A friend came over to stay with them until Dan got home from work, and I headed back to the farm with all of our "camping" gear!

{Henry and some other early risers eagerly helped prepare breakfast}

{playing with sticks...what else do boys do outside?}

{learning about pollinators}

It was such a treat to spend that time with just Henry. It allowed me to observe him more than I'm ever able when I have all three, and I enjoyed seeing the way he made friends, interacted with the other kids, took initiative to be the first to sign up on the chores list, etc. I even had time for some kitting while the kids told stories around the campfire.

This morning we visited the Children's Garden and helped milk the cows:

{observing a monarch caterpillar}

{Farmer Anne instructing the kids how to pick green beans}

It was hard for both of us to leave! We look forward to the next session in October.

first canning of the season: apple & peach sauce

{Henry slicing apples; Jude was watching as well}

{the painting that ensued once they were bored of slicing apples}

{I am so glad I invested in this water-bath canner last year}

{as well as the utensil set - makes canning so much quicker, easier, and safer!}

{they finished painting just in time to help ladle the applesauce into the jars}

{after the boys were in bed, I decided to make a second batch}

{peaches and apples!}

{the end result...9 jars' worth!}

{my reward}

#1 on my Almost-Autumn to-do list

Last night, after a (rare) long day at work/away from the boys, I made my daily visit to SouleMama. I was inspired by her suggestion to make a summer FUN to-do list. But first, a caveat: given where I live, summer is my least favorite time of year because it's so hot and humid for 6-8 weeks on end that you really can't go outside - not with babies and toddlers, anyway. No matter what you do, they get dehydrated and overheated within 20 minutes.

But about two weeks ago, I felt IT. The Moment when the Wind Changed from summer to fall. It was another hot hot summer day, probably in the mid to upper 90's, but that's when it happened. Ever since then I've been noticing the subtle shift in the weather - it's getting less humid and a little cooler as the days go by. The past two days have been absolutely gorgeous - blue skies, fluffy clouds, slight breeze, windows open, and more time spent on the front porch than inside the house. I've begun my fall knitting.

We have now officially entered Kate's Most Favorite Time of the Year.

So, I guess I should call my list the "Now I can do all the things I've been wanting to do all summer but haven't been able to because it's been so f-ing hot" list.

#1: Pick fresh fruit at a local farm.

{setting off toward the apple orchard at Larriland Farm this morning to pick my favorite variety, Gala!}

{heading over to the peaches with 2 full bags of apples}

{blackberries!}

{we decided Breakfast for Dinner was in order so I made peach compote}

{which paired perfectly with the blackberries over the pancakes!}

{Felix's first experience with blackberries}

{he made this sour face every time, but kept eating them! It was hilerious.}

After dinner, the chinese checkers set arrived in the mail!

{Henry's first game of Chinese Checkers. He loves it, of course. Have I mentioned that the only thing he wants to do these days besides draw in his sketchbook is play games?}

It was such a perfect day. I almost forgot that there was an earthquake this afternoon! Ha!

#2: Day trip to the beach! (not tomorrow, but someday soon!)