Sentimental Mother

This afternoon I've come to a strong, heavy realization. It's this: I don't want for my babies to grow any more.  Well, of course, in a real sense, I do because I can't even think of the alternative. But if there was any way I could keep them this way for a while longer, I would. It's definitely hard having two young ones but I don't care. I suddenly had this strong desire to look at Clara's baby pictures from last year at this time and, of course, I'm now a weepy mess.  Maybe because Clara is my youngest and last baby (more Alain's hesitation than mine!), it's hard on me. Maybe it's because Clara is FIERCELY independent and won't let you baby her at all. I want to take those baby clothes out of the Rubbermaid container in the attic and just bury my face in them.  Alain is ready to get rid of them but I know that I cannot.  My heart would break if they had to leave my house.  I just can't.  What in the world is wrong with me????  So, without further ado......and because in about ten minutes I'll be writing about how I would NEVER consider having another child and you'll think I'm completely insane.....

LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME:

PRESENT DAY:

Okay, see, I feel better already.  Guess I just needed a moment!

Iggy Pop

Alain and I got married in Jamaica. Afterwards, we flew to Switzerland where Alain's mother threw a big wedding party for us. Of course, Ygal was there. I'm so happy he was there to share in such a special and important moment with us. I'd already known Ygal for several years by then but he still made sure to welcome me into the family with open arms.  I'm just glad he was my brother-in-law.....I was so lucky! 

For those who don't know, Ygal is on the far right in the above photo.

Hello, 1970's!!!!

I've been wanting and meaning to post this picture for a long time. My Dad sent it to me sometime last year. I've always loved this photo. #1, because it is SO 1970's.  #2, because my parents look SO young (they were!). #3, Dad's hair is just FABULOUS! #4, and best of all, is because I think this photo of me truly shows the type of child I was. Tomboyish, adventurous, free-spirited, scrappy. I remember giving my parents a really hard time whenever they tried to make me wear a dress.  It just wasn't me.  Still isn't.  In my youth, I was most comfortable in a worn out pair of cowboy boots. A neighbor and, I believe, a friend of my dads, came over and took this series of photos on this day. I love them all. There's one of me on a swingset, with my feet high up in the air.  If you concentrate, you can see my undies. Because there was nothing girly about me and I wasn't used to wearing a dress. How on EARTH can you PLAY, really play, if you're wearing a dress. You can't. It's for this reason, and many others, that my girls don't wear dresses much.  It puts you at a serious disadvantage.  And where is the fun in having other people seeing your undies constantly?  Yuck.  Anyway, I digress.  

Here it is....

Mom & Dad, does this take you back or what???

Smile.

Fall Festivities

I mistakenly thought that life would get a little easier once Soph started Kindergarten and Clara started her Mother's Morning Out program.  WRONG.  It is crazy how busy we've been. Both schools constantly have something going on ~ picture days, book fairs, FallFests, field trips, volunteering, craft projects, etc.  I only have about 8 hours to myself during the week and that time is spent doing laundry, cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, getting gas, taking care of our pets and (occasionally) exercising. (Yeah, I know, First World Problems!) The good part? It's FALL and it's beautiful......

The following pictures were taken at FallFest at Clara's school last weekend.

Clara runs to her teacher for a hug!  We are so lucky ~ Clara LOVES going to school and adores her teacher.

Sophie was very excited to attend the FallFest at Clara's school!  She's always game for a good BounceHouse.

This adorable child is Harrison (aka Harry). He and Clara have struck up quite a little friendship. Harry, especially, LIGHTS UP when Clara walks into the room. He's in a different class because he's two years old but they visit the playground at the same time. I'm told that when they're on the playground together he follows her around and puts his arm around her to help her. He is ADORABLE and they're very sweet together!

The Assistant Director of Clara's school took this picture of all of us and I was so thankful. We hardly ever get pictures of our entire family!  This is how we look early on a weekend morning!

Iggy Pop

I've always really loved this picture. We downloaded it from Facebook so I imagine photo credit should go to Bianca.  This one simple moment in Ygal's life ~ I know it was a dream come true for him. I'm sure that this photo will mean the world to Yaron one day. He looks so loved. Yaroncito. I want to write a post about my dear nephew but it's too painful. Maybe one day. In the meantime, I am posting this picture. Sometimes one image can say more than a billion words, yes?  I think so.

Signs Of Love Are Everywhere!

You just have to know where to look.

Smitten With Fall

Notes: We recently discovered a small nature preserve about a mile or two from our house. What makes this one different are the MASSIVE granite formations (translation: REALLY BIG rocks!). Archeological digs in this area show Native American habitation going back thousands of years . In this dramatically overdeveloped area, this preserve is a small sanctuary of nature. We've already been there several times. The above photos were taken during a small walk last weekend. As usual, anytime I walk in the woods, I take many pictures of fungi. You know I am a BIG FAN of the fungi, especially those flowery ones that grow at the base of tree trunks. They are SO BEAUTIFUL!  Sophie is amazingly good at finding nests and she finds many like the one in the bottom picture. I somehow got the idea that these are squirrel nests and I'm wondering if that's indeed true or if I just made that up in an attempt to sound like a smart mother.  Feel free to pipe in!

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Sometimes, because I am the family photographer, I get upset when I upload our photos because I am  rarely in any of the pictures. Due to that and due to this article (a serious MUST READ for mothers with young ones), I am posting the below picture. It's the only one I could find that was taken within the last couple of weeks. No, I don't like how I look. But who cares. I still look happy and it's obvious I love my baby.