What they said, vol 3

Kateri: It is so nice out! I want to go on a walk. It is so nice outside.

Seabstian (in a contrary mood, not getting his opposite quite right): No it is NOT. It's MEAN outside. It is MEAN. 

Me: Do you hear that?
Kateri: (listening)
Me: That is the sound of geese flying overhead.
Kateri: Actually, that is my friend, Charlotte the goose.

Do you think this would work in my house?

Me: (finally giving up on naptime) Kateri, you may come out from quiet time. Do you want to read a book with me?
K: No, thank you.
Me: Okay. Just be sure to be extra quiet because Sebastian and Kia are still sleeping.
K: (in a soft gentle voice with a sweet albeit mischievous smile) No, thank you.

Kateri took all of my tea towels to fold and organize over here. 

(While making a turn in the car, my precariously placed coffee spilled all over the console)
Me: Grrrrr
Kateri: Offer it up to Jesus!
Me: (silence)
Kateri: and Jesus will say, "What on Heck!"

Kateri helping Pat DJ Anatole and Keturah's wedding

Sebastian (as we go around a bend in the road on our way to Mass): We're going FAST, like Lightning McQueen!

Evidence of blackberries gone wild. If you want some, let me know. Shockingly there is even more to prune. And a full sized sofa came in that box, so there is no strange perspective!

Kateri: (showing Pat a doll) Her is growing really fast. Mama gave me a new outfit because she is SOOOOO big, an INCH. and fifty, fifty, fifty pounds
(she clearly has a grasp on measurement units!!)

Sebastian (running up to me growling): This is the nice lion. He is coming to EAT YOU. But he can lick me on my face!

Clark's winter finery

Which he just started shedding all over and is driving me nuts. 

Add caption

Me: See? Doesn't this look cute with the duckling?

Sebastian: HERE! Here is the lion.

Kateri: That does NOT look cute. It looks ANGRY

Kateri (talking on her doctor phone): This summer?? Well, we can't come this summer because Kia is still coughing at night.
(pausing to listen)
Kateri: You didn't see Kia in SOOOO long! She is CRAWLING!
(pausing)
Kateri: Yes, she is crawling, not walking.
(Pause)
Kateri: No, I can't stay at your house because you don't have two beds.
(Pause)
Kateri: No, no, no. I just . . .
(pause)
Kateri: OK!! (Puts phone down) MOM! Claire said we can go to her house this evening so we better hurry! I talked to her on the phone.

(Playing with the doctor kit)
Kateri: Do you want to call Dr Mimi or Dr Jeanne?
Sebastian: Dr Mimi
Kateri: OK. First, you push the six, see it?
Sebastian: (pushes the six)
Kateri: Now, you push all the numbers. See? That is how to call.
(yep, that is all there is to it!)

Kateri: (to Sebastian): Come on, Pat!
Kateri: (whispering to me as if sharing a great secret) I call him Pat because he is the Daddy.

Rails to Trails

Pat discovered this beautiful hike during his commute to work. There are a whole bunch of trails that were once train tracks and have been converted into hiking paths.

This particular one is in Lexington and is maintained by the cadets from VMI. It follows a river and goes through farmland, you even pass through gates and have to be sure to close them behind you so that livestock can't escape! We were all excited to see what it would be like, and at least one of us (Ahem, Sebastian) had his heart set on seeing horses and cows.

Pat packed us a picnic lunch and we headed down after Mass on Sunday.

Oh my goodness, was it lovely or what! 75 degrees and sunny! Just gorgeous. 

We enjoyed our picnic near the river and then headed out for the hike.

Kia rode in the stroller rather than the carrier, and it was SUCH A LUXURY for me!

Especially since Pat pushed the stroller pretty much the whole way!

Bashy's version of a smile

Who needs a triple stroller when you can improvise with a double?

It was so gorgeous. Many flowers were starting to bloom, and one area had a bunch of daffodils that were just about to blossom.

We also passed a dam, which was in disrepair. This was on one side of the dam, maybe used as a lock? 

As we kept walking, it became windier and windier. We heard the branches creaking and groaning above us. 

And soon, dark storm clouds came tumbling in!

We did NOT want to be caught in a cold front with the kids out in the middle of nowhere! So, sadly, we turned around (we hadn't even gotten to a SINGLE farm gate yet!) and started to RUN!

It was soon raining, and so we yelled at Sebastian (who was riding on the front of the stroller by this point) to HOLD TIGHT! and we ran even faster. 

Kateri must have noticed that her parents needed some serious motivation, because she started yelling

"RUN, guys, RUN!"

"Whoever runs FASTEST, gets a TREAT"

"Go, Daddy, GO, you are going to get some CANDY!"

Thankfully, we made it back. . . 

Just in time for the sun to come out again!

And I have to share this pic of Sebastian on the way home.

Something about it looks just like an old man smoking a cigar and reading a newspaper.

No one slept on the way home, but they did have fun!

All in all, it was a lovely hike and we are hoping to go back soon so that we can open and shut at least one farm gate.

And, totally unrelated, sometimes I turn around and wonder why oh why I ever even attempt to prevent the spread of germs around here!

Inspiration, wreaths, and dates

Don't you just love this magnolia wreath? 

I love the natural colors and the faded green shades. 

But what is not to love is the price! It is $95.00, a little steep for a wreath, don't you think? 

So what could be easier than DIY a wreath like this? 

After reading Lisa's post , I was inspired to kidnap Kateri and take her along to scout it out.

These were the closest leaves that would work at Michael's, and as you can see, they are really mehhhh and almost downright ugly.

So, what other place has nice silk flowers? 

Of course, fresh in my mind was mom's post describing a fun trip to Merrifield. I had to return something at a store in Gainesville, and, we all know, the Gainesville Merrifield has the most lovely silk flowers around. So off we went! 

Now, this was a lot more fun! Honestly, this place is absolutely perfect for a date with a little person (as opposed to a date with little personS,)

Kateri got to pick out one little thing to buy, and she picked a little duckling statue.

Free popcorn is all it takes to elevate this to a grand experience!

And, they had magnolia leaves! Very realistic looking and feeling! Score!

Aaannnnd, they cost $13.00 for about 8 leaves . . .

And, after quickly guestimating the amount of leaves needed for the wreath, I figured it would cost me about $130 just for the leaf portion of the wreath. No can do! 

But we didn't let that deter us, and enjoyed the rest of the trip. 

We figured that Pat's favorite miniature garden would be this one:

And Kateri felt sure that this little angel was Sebastian. 

For the life of me, I can't keep indoor plants (other than orchids) alive, but I AM tempted to try one of these. 

(Too big of a risk considering my indoor black thumb?)

As we kept walking, 

we saw some party preparations!

And found what happened to all that sand Mom described in her post.

A lovely indoor beach! 

Kateri was exceptionally behaved, and only touched the sand once.

There was even a beach-fire.

Kateri's favorite part of Merrifield Nursery is the koi.

Which we studied for a long time. It was such a treat to have just Kateri because we had the leisure to go at her pace and not chase after any eager explorers who are off on the next adventure every moment (cough*Sebastian*cough).

Were these up for grabs?

I almost took one, but resisted the urge!

Kateri climbed up on a stool for this shot . . .

And I should have climbed on one for this one! 

The shot I wish that I had was Kateri taking the picture! She looked so darling and was so happy. 

All in all, it was such a lovely trip. On the way home, Kateri was quiet, and then she said, "Next time, I want you to kidnap Daddy, Bashy and Kia, too."

And then a few minutes later, she said, "I am going kidnap Sebastian when we get home and give him my duckling."

And, thanks to aunt Betty's post, I made some of her delicious bread. I didn't double the recipe so *only* ended up with 4 loaves. No after pics, but it is delicious and the perfect whole wheat/white combo. Thank you aunt Betty!