Cleaned by John, Coop & Dunc

Punched by Uncle Richard

Carved by Me

Enjoyed by all that drive by

What's been going on around here...

Cooper was Meeting Leader at school yesterday. He told me I was NOT allowed to take pictures. But a mom's promises...what are they worth? I told myself that one day he would be happy that I recorded his life; happy that I was proud enough to sneak my camera in.

He is absolutely loving school and soaking it all in. He is slowly learning to read...nothing big, but definitely mastering the "sound it out" process. Last week after his tubby I found him writing in a little journal book that I keep by my bed. He showed me what he was writing... Let me help you. Ignore the first line (it basically says "10" which refers to the number of letters in his "sentence"). Now on to his "sentence"... DINT (translation - do not) TOC (touch) A (a) CBR (cobra). "Do not touch a cobra". I love love love this!! It's the beginning; it's thinking about letters and sounds and putting them together. I am so exciting to see him making these connections.

Gifts

My adorable son Duncan has been bringing me these beautiful fresh (yes it's October in Pennsylvania and I use the term "fresh" loosely) bouquets home from Ma Jane & Pop's house. Are they not the CUTEST?!

How absolutely beautiful

This is a series of photos taken by Duncan yesterday. I love when my kids pick up the camera and just snap away. Sometimes they are trying to capture someone/something (me above) and sometimes they are just clicking away (the shoe and sky). Either way the results always amaze me. I remember taking a photography class in college and one of our assignments was to not look through the lens but rather put the camera at our hip (or anywhere) and just shoot away. Well let me tell you, to a perfectionist control freak virgo such as myself this was all but IMPOSSIBLE...because...well...what if it was a BAD picture, what if I WASTED film, what if it was blurry, what if I get 23 photos of the SAME thing, what if something wasn't centered, or what if something (or worse SOMEONE) was cut off, what if, what if?? Well, I'm 39 now...and I'm learning...I'm learning "so what"? So what if my head is cut off...I actually really like the photograph. It's my hands, it's my coat, it's a sunny fall day, it's relaxed...it's a lot of beautiful things in an imperfect photo.

Some of my "so what" comes from just getting older, living life, learning to let stuff go...but some of it my children teach me...and this I love

Hands

Ah the wonderful, simple hands of my children. Even the dirty hands...I love. I love the motion, the play, the discovery.

7 weeks

Okay so a little more progress...

We have a roof and some windows starting to go in...

And again...looking out the kitchen windows.

'Tis Autumn

'Tis pumpkins 'Tis sweaters 'Tis orange and red and yellow and purple 'Tis falling leaves 'Tis cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger 'Tis chilly 'Tis cider 'Tis perfect

How cool

Really and truly I am not sure who is more excited about this...him or me? Cooper has been DYING to learn how to read so this weekend we picked up a really neat book set called "Bob Books" that teach reading. There are 5 packs, 12 books in each pack. Coop made it through the first two books in pack 1 this weekend. And might I add...he is BEAMING. Me? I am just a mom who is in love with her son. Seeing him so happy and impressed with himself just puts me over the edge.