Dear Goose

My dearest little Lucy Goose,

Turning two has turned you into a fun--but sometimes crazy--maniac. You love to run faster toward trouble when we say, "stop, please!" The word "no" has become one of your favorites, and almost everything has to be done by yourself. I wouldn't expect anything less from a two year old Vieira--Dot taught us well.

But sometimes there are such utterly sweet moments in this phase of life that it makes me want to stay here forever. The other day we had one of those. You quietly found the box of crayons and your cherry notebook on the occasional table and took them, one-by-one, out to the back porch.

The next twenty minutes or so, you peacefully colored in the sunshine, the wind in your wild hair. I loved it. I watched you from the window until I was afraid something would burn on the stove.

Oh how I love you, my second born.

All my love,

Mama

Big Boy

Someone turned 6 months old and is starting to try solid foods!

Bananas and sweet potatoes have both been thoroughly enjoyed. I can't believe we're already to this phase! Too fast.

the great debate.

At breakfast this morning the girls were arguing about whether Chewbacca the Wookie is a bear or a lion. I silently sat back, just grinning. I love this phase of life.

They have not actually watched Star Wars, but they love watching this video that sparked the debate:

Happy Weekend, friends!

Endings and Beginnings

Summer vacation is rapidly coming to an end in these here parts. I have so enjoyed our relaxed pace of summer: watching Marty in the garden in the early morning, all three meals together as a family, spontaneous day trips, the reading of books books books!, and that satisfied feeling of completing projects. I feel blessed for these beautiful weeks we have had with our papa home, but I'm turning my sights to our favorite season of the year and the start of a new academic year. More so than New Year's, I feel a sense of renewal and desire to set new goals as the school year commences.

This year, as we get back into the routine of solo-mama days, piano afternoons, and much-needed family-centered nights, I just want to make a goal to enjoy it all more than ever. So much of my time as a wife and mother has been filled with morning sickness and the newborn crazy days (aka me not really feeling up to the tasks at hand) that I want to just stop and savor every part of life for what it is. As the summer approaches, we sit down as a family and create an ABCs of summer list of things we want to accomplish in that season--at least one thing for each letter of the alphabet. However, I'm feeling like that tradition should span the seasons! So, for the blogging world to see, I'm posting our ABC's of Fall 2012. I figure I'll give myself a few week head start to plan for everything:)

The ABCs of Fall 2012:

A--apple picking, apple cider, applesauce....you get the idea.
B--Back-to-school feast, books as a family
C--corn maze, Cemetery visit, Conference weekend, cranberries
D--decorating/finishing some inside projects
E--earlier bedtimes (for everyone!)
F--Fall Festival for the neighborhood, football
G--garlic planting for the spring
H--homemade Halloween costumes, hiking, hayride
I--Indoor camping trip
J--jump rope (Dot really wants to learn)
K--kites, knitting
L--leaf piles and leaf-peeping, library trips
M--mums, movies (Mona Lisa Smile, Rudy, etc..)
N--New York trip to see Kristi and Fam
O--organize closets
P--pumpkin pie, Plimoth Plantation, picnic
Q--quilting
R--roasted veggies
S--star-gazing, smores, soccer games
T--Trick-or-Treating, tea parties, Temple trip, Thanksgiving Feast
U--undies for Goose (another go at potty training--no pun intended)
V--Volunteer somewhere
W--Walden Pond walk
X--eXercise (a stretch, but I'll take it)
Y--Yard work
Z--Zoo


There. That should keep us busy for a while.

OSV Fam

We took a trip out to Old Sturbridge Village last week and loved it! We made it into a full out vacation, staying over night in a hotel so that we could get two days in at the village, and I was actually a little sad when it was time to come home. I'm a sucker for all that time period stuff anyway, but I loved seeing the girls get into it as well. I can't wait to take them back when they get a little older. I want to post more, but for now I'll leave ya'll with our Sturbridge family photos:)

Project Complete!

My husband has been rocking these summer hours. He still teaches summer school in the mornings, but his afternoons have been mainly about getting things DONE! His last few projects have included planting some trees around the yard (woo hoo!!!!), and today he finished our clothesline! I have always been in love with clotheslines, and now I have one of my very own! Now to show off his handiwork:

Oh, Martin, you melt my heart:)