Apple Picking

A couple of weeks ago, Kateri, Sebastian and I headed out West for some apple picking. It was a gorgeous albeit chilly morning. We each grabbed a bag and headed out to look for some Granny Smith apples.

Kateri was very excited about the whole concept of apple-picking, but she was exceedingly happy when she discovered she could eat one while picking!

Sebastian enjoyed the whole process as well.

Wow! This apple came from way up there!

Deee-licious!

Kateri was quite the apple picker-upper, preferring to find the apples that had already grounded.

Sebastian was happy to put his feet up after some hard work!

After picking quit a load, we walked by the pumpkin patch, much to Kateri's delight. She immediately picked out her favorite in the field and requested it's immediate purchase.

They advertised "Pick your pumpkin straight off the vine!" and yet not one pumpkin was connected to a vine.

Kateri turned to me and said emphatically, "I'll be RIGHT BACK. I'll be RIGHT back, mama", and then she headed off:

All in all, we had a great time and did pick a bunch of apples, as you can see below:

However, a week later went to Hartland, which is much cheaper, absolutely gorgeous, and the apples are even more delicious! Needless to say, we have been eating many apple pies, crisps, cakes, sauce and fresh crunchy apples this fall!

Literature

Ever since she could crawl, Kateri has had a love for chapter books. I will never forget finding her when she was about 9 months old, carefully leafing through "Anna Karenina".

These days, she will sit quietly for a few minutes carefully looking at whichever chapter book she can find. The other day, I saw she chose one of my favorites:

2 year old master reader

However, don't let appearances fool you! Although she does love the written word, she cannot yet read it!

And, for good measure, here are a couple photos that I should have included in the best buds post, but completely forgot about!

They look like they're on a roller coaster!

(Really, sometimes I need to post these pics as a reminder to myself that they aren't fighting all the time ;) )

Poor little stinker

Poor little Sebastian has had a bunch of little viruses over the past few weeks. I knew he wasn't feeling his best when I found him like this:

 He loves the cow/John Deere blanket Mihi have him, so he brought it out to snuggle when he felt sick. 

The true test of how Sebastian feels is his willingness to watch tv. If he feels really poorly, he will sit still and watch, otherwise it holds no interest for him!!

Thankfully, he has been acting much better the last day or two, and I think he may finally be over these viruses! Thanks be to God!

Here is a picture of him after getting a mosquito bite on his forehead. He is like Grandpa Myers in his reactions to mosquitos!!

Best Buds

Kateri and Sebastian may occasionally drive each other nuts, but they are also dear friends. They have started this little habit which completely cracks me up because it reminds me of an old couple~ dragging two of the out-door kid chairs so they are just inside the house, then sitting down and watching the sun set.

They are such goofy, dear little souls!

A couple days ago, Kateri found some bubbles somewhere inside the house and begged to take them outside. It was a gorgeous sunny morning after a few days of rain, so I sent her right out!

Yes that is Sebastian with a Costco wine bottle. He has a very strong affinity for all recycling, which he carries all over the deck and yard, and occasionally throws in to the garden. His favorite thing to do is to pretend to drink out of any beet bottles, thank goodness our neighbors don't spend too much time on their decks!

After a little while, it was all quiet on the western front, and we all know that is the sign for the need of immediate investigation!!

But this was how I found them and so I had to snap a pic!

And I was even able to sneak a bit closer

Having a sibling around is twice the fun for these two, whether they are pushing each other like maniacs in the baby doll stroller . . .

Or getting into scrapes . . .

Or exploring the garden

And checking in on the rabbits

But the most wonderful thing they share is their humor! The gales of laughter following some little inside joke is just the best thing on this side of Heaven!

Toddler fashion

I showed Kateri the adorable pictures that Mormor recently posted of Zoe and Lia, and we both agreed that we just HAD to join the fun :)

(Also with a thrifted HA dress)



Thank you for the inspiration!!


The next Michaelangelo?

Yesterday, Sebastian and Kateri were quietly eating breakfast while I was straightening up the kitchen. I was very focused on the task at hand, and after a few moments realized Kateri was saying something over and over in a sing-song voice. And then, after several repetitions, I finally actually paid attention.

"Painting the wall! Painting the wall! Painting the wall!"

And that, my friends, is exactly what she was doing . . . with blueberry yogurt.

. . . .


I should have realized that graffiti is similar to cocaine, or mint oreos (in my case) in that it is highly addictive for the under-three crowd. But, no, I figured it was an isolated incidence and was ever so unlikely to happen again.

Little did I know . . .

Later that day, Kateri and Sebastian both desperately needed naps and seemed very tired once afternoon hit (they had a delightful visit with Nonie and Nano, Mormor, Mihi, aunt Lulu, aunt Gigi, AND their cousins earlier). However, neither of them seemed to fall asleep, so I just let them have a bit of quiet time in their room.

Then I had a slight inkling that Kateri needed to be checked on, Unfortunately that slight inkling was too late! This is the scene that met my eyes as I went in her room:

You can see how carefully she painted the "Owl's nose" as she later pointed out to me. And completely obliterated the squirrel behind that giant blob . . .

What this photo fails to capture is the thick coating of desitin on her arms, legs, feet, hands, face, and the copious amounts in her hair. Even this morning, after a nice long bath and many shampoos, I found the white remnants still lingering! I thought every vestige of diaper cream had been removed from reach, but sadly I missed a very full tube somewhere.

However, I have to say I am very VERY grateful that desitin, and not poop, was the paint of choice!!! Silver (white, perhaps?) lining!

We are alive!

Alternately titled:

Super quick, Lightning Post

or 

Phone Picture Roundup

And trying to get back in to blogging . . .

Zinnias are just so pretty and happy and cheerful! I have so enjoyed having them here by the sink, especially when there are ONLY CLEAN dishes in the vicinity!

On an entirely different note, Sebastian has been growing so much the past few weeks, finally starting to walk right around 14 months, just like Kateri. His vocabulary has been growing as well, but he is careful to use it very very sparingly.

The other day he fell asleep in the car, and kept sleeping as I carried him up the stairs.

I have been trying to drink in every moment like this because I know that he is growing so fast and soon will come the last time he sleeps in my arms.

He looks like he is dreaming about chocolate cake (or maybe he is just smiling because he is actually tricking me into believing he is sound asleep, but he is actually wide awake!).

The other day, I drove up to mom's house and this is the scene that met my eyes:

Really, Coke should be giving Peter a never-ending supply of Coca-cola for being such a color-coordinated, above and beyond, sponsor! After all, who carries a drink in one had while they push a lawn mower with the other?

Too cool for school

We went to the demolition derby at the PWC Fair last week. It was quite a wonderful evening and everyone enjoyed it to varying degrees. Pat was particularly impressed with the demolition derby, it was very intense and exciting. Sebastian watched in open mouthed awe at something so amazing

And within minutes he was smiling and laughing and clapping his hands!

Kateri, on the other hand, was rather concerned with such wanton destruction.

"Why on earth are they doing this?"

But she watched the entire thing, and DID enjoy the basket of French fries!

I recently re-read "That Hideous Strength" by CS Lewis. Such an incredible book, I highly recommend it if you haven't read it!