Quick Takes vol #24

1. Went peach picking yesterday with a good friend. Great fun was had by all, along with gratitude from the adults in the crowd for the ability to get farm fresh produce so close to home.
2. Ever adding to her vocabulary the word "pull" was added yesterday. Upon picking her first peach we told Elisabeth to pull hard. She then proceeds to repeat the process by walking up to every new peach and saying "PULL"

3. Every good picker must sample the bounty of her work. This worker approved!

4. Headed to Maine for vacation. Still a lot to do, lot to pack though I do notice a general lessening in the level of stress as compared to last year almost a if traveling with a child has become something I feel I know how to do, almost.

5. What a difference a year makes. Miss Elisabeth on the beach last year:

6. I have always loved pictures and photo albums, baffling my grandmother on vacations at their place by looking at the same photo albums over and over again. But now that I have a daughter and nieces and nephews that insist on continuously growing and changing my gratitude to capture time just a little increases even more.

7. Remembering last year's trip and hoping for warm days, good food shared with excellent company...and many photos to remember it by.

Enjoy all the excellent Quick takes at Conversion Diary hosted by Jen

Small Successes: July 30th

1. Our new screen door is installed.  Most of the credit goes to Charlie who endured thru two weekends of door frames off square and rotten support boards..but I did help and did manage to pre-occupy a curious toddler while all the very interesting and sharp tools were out.
2. Completed two more scrapbooking pages.
3. Have (nearly) completed all the shopping and laundry in anticipation of our upcoming vacation.

Giving thanks for: 

• hardworking husbands who are stubborn and handy
• good friends who are willing to make the drive to come visit 
• a chance to go pick fruit together with friends

                             

Praying for Stellan: July

This photo is from MckMama's Twitter account.

Praying Stellan is able to rest and recovery, SVT breaks

Quick Takes vol #23

1. Enjoyed celebrating Jour de Belgie this week.  July is always fun in my family, good food and pride of heritage on July 4th and the 21st!  Elisabeth enjoyed sharing the frites, maybe next year she will try a mussel.
2. Charlie was away on a business trip this week and while we certainly missed him, am happy to report that all went smoothly.  And enjoyed the brief return to the phone conversations of  early infatuation which ends with the tug-of-love regarding who is hanging up first.
3. If Elisabeth's calm welcome did not quite convey to Daddy how much he was missed, this morning when she followed him everywhere and pitched a fit when he went out of sight definitely did.
4. Playground antics increase as slides and merry-go-rounds are added to the list of musts.  Her willingness to walk up to kids much bigger and strike up a conversation (granted in her own language) continues to surprise me.
5. Sesame Street is now a regular part of my day (again).  And I'm having a blast getting to know new friends like Zoe and Elmo, and getting back in sync with Big Bird and Grover
6. If anyone has tips to ward off the pickiness of the second year please pass them on because I'm loving sharing my eggplant, mushrooms, and avocado with her.  Though by far the best is the faces she makes after drink seltzer out of Charlie's glass...And then coming back for more!!
7. Looking forward to a visit from a good friend this weekend as we kick back and catch-up!

Enjoy the rest of this weeks Quick Takes with Jen at Conversion Diary

Wordless Wednesday: Cousins

Taking time and taking care

The gospel passage read at Mass yesterday spoke of Jesus and his apostles trying to get away for some time of quiet and reflection but to find upon arrival that they had been followed. 

This was a wonderful message for me to hear at this phase of my life and faith journey.  I need to remember to take time to be quiet and reflect, to get away from the noises and demands of my daily life and become still.  However when the quiet is disturbed by little voices, remember too that cares of the day are often the blessings.

As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.  Mark 6:34

 

Quick Takes vol #22

1. Our weekend traveling adventure went really well with my little traveling companion remaining quite cheerful despite traffic jams and more hours in a carseat then she would really prefer.  
2. Our swim classses paid off well with Elisabeth happily playing with her cousins at a local pool.  Bit of amusement to start however since she had never been in a 'baby' pool before I literally had to touch her feet to the bottom before she would relax her legs down and trust that she could stand and walk in the pool.
3. Monday brought her first trip to the zoo with two friends of about the same age.  Many of the animals did not warrant a reaction (not sure they could them well) however the bears, gorillas and lions got raves, and the sleeping tiger prompted some 'shhh'ing from the girls.  So cute!
4. Unfortunately the elephant enviroment is being renovated so you could only see them at a long distance.   Something to check out on a return trip!
5. Enjoyed a wonderful dinner last night with a friend about to move out of the country.  One of the great plus/minus of living close to a university, the chance to meet and build friendships with people from throughout this country and even some others balanced against the real possibility that they will move on to continue their education.
6. As a former childbirth educator and currently a clinical instructor of nursing students I am always on the look for good 'patient education'.  Found this site providing free handouts for pregnant woman.  Love it!   Healthy Birth: Mothers Advocates
7. The great challenge of summer weekends, always so much to do around the house but making time to play must play a role when Daddy gets a weekend off.

Enjoy the whole roundup hosted by Jen at Conversion Diary