The Birthday Boy

He came barreling downstairs this morning, full steam ahead. He was grinning from ear to ear when he raced over to the big brown chair where I was drinking my coffee. He jumped up beside me and started chattering. He's three! He is a big boy now, and he is so proud of it. His laughter is contagious. He talks about how the trees are praising God when they blow in the breeze. He picks up earthworms for fun. He tells me that his toy airplane could fly "extremely fast" if he took it out in the breeze.


He hides in his closet or under his bed when he knows he's in trouble. He tells us that he does things "for my own glory." He is a daredevil. He tells me that he really wants to climb to the top of the towering pine trees at the end of the road. He loves sticks. He still needs me to kiss him goodnight. He cries for just a minute when he gets a boo-boo, and then he's okay. He is "the chipmunk." He is a climber and a jumper and a runner. He likes to sing the blessing. His favorite praise songs are "Lord I Lift Your Name On High" and "Our God is So Big." He wants to go so high I can't even see him on the swing. He grabs stuff from the counter. He colors on his face sometimes. He is proud of the WWJD bracelet he won at the fall festival last weekend. He still sleeps with his blue blanket and honey dog. He's Mark.

Fall Gardening

We're trying our hand at a little flower gardening around here. Over Labor Day, Greg planted three knockout rose bushes for me in the front yard.


I don't know much about roses at all, but these have been very easy so far. They even smell pretty! I like having them around.

Late last week, the boys and I discovered a local nursery, King's Greenhouse, and picked out a bunch of pansies. This week's project has been finding inexpensive planters and getting the flowers established in their new homes on the deck. We cleaned out Wal-Mart's summer inventory on Monday. Little by little, we've gotten it done during these sunny afternoons.

Nathan with one of the finished containers


The kids have helped some and played some. Mark is figuring out how to pump his legs on the swing.


I like the way Nathan blends in with the yard here.


Mark showing off a "boo-boo"


The pumpkins have found a home on the front porch steps.


The kids have made friends with our neighbors, whose children are grown and live away from home now. These ladies regularly stop by to deliver lollipops in the afternoon on their way out to run errands. Yesterday's treat was tootsie-roll pops.


Today, Nathan asked if he could plant a few flowers in a hole that he, Mark and some friends dug in their "digging area." He took great pride in preparing the spot.

I imagine he'll also find great joy in tending to them.

Fall Happenings

I always get sentimental this time of year because it's the season in which I became a mother to both of these boys.

I love spending as much time as possible outdoors with them in the fall. This weekend has been like that.

We took a trip to a pumpkin patch yesterday afternoon. Nanny, PopPop, Aunt Melanie and Uncle Rick met us there. The boys dove right in and were in almost perpetual motion from the time we arrived until the time we left the farm.

The first thing they found was the row of hay bales for climbing and running atop, in our case. I don't have any good photos of that experience because they were moving so quickly and I was just enjoying watching their faces as they flew across the stacks.

We moved to the pond next. Greg and the boys led the way. Look at their arms swinging by their sides! They were in a hurry to see it all.


Then, we entered the corn maze. Nathan and Aunt Melanie analyzed our exit strategy and helped us find the way out. It was neat to be among the cornstalks and hear the wind blowing them around. We have a cornfield close to our neighborhood, and the boys were always curious about it when we'd take walks in the stroller, so I figured they would enjoy this.


The farm animal area was next. Nathan was in a hugging and smiling mood.



Mark liked looking at the sleepy goats that were way up high on top of their tower.


The hayride was much different from the dramatic event we had last year when Nathan was a bit terrified by the ride. This time, both kids were smiling and happy. Mark even had his arm around my back. The kids are growing up.


After the hayride, we explored an old train car and then ate some popcorn and an ice cream sandwich.




Then we found the "kiddie corral," where both boys figured out how much fun it was to jump from haystack to haystack.


Nice action shot, Greg!

They also had a special fondness for the trench between the stacks. On the way out, we walked through the pumpkin patch and chose two for the front porch.


Nathan really liked the pumpkins that were still on or near to the vine. He enjoys a good garden.

As I watched the boys take it all in with such big smiles on their faces, I felt so happy and proud to be the mother of these two. And I was aware, once again, that they are BOYS through and through.

Upcoming fun fall things: carving the pumpkins and celebrating the boys' birthdays!

OKLAHOMA, OK!

I loved visiting my sister Kate and brother-in-law J.W. in Tulsa, OK this weekend. They know how to chill out! Kate and I spent Friday afternoon catching up and snacking on chips and salsa. We all went out for a late dinner at The Local Table - I completely enjoyed the food and the experience!

J.W. is a chef in his own right. Seriously, he can cook! He pretty much did just that the whole weekend. Below, he's posing with the "armadillo eggs" he was cooking for a church event. He also made crepes, shrimp and grits, and biscuits and gravy - all from scratch. He gave me a biscuit cooking lesson Sunday morning, and I've already tried my hand at them for our family. They are DELICIOUS!


The happy couple in their cozy kitchen - Kate made a very tasty gingerbread & apple trifle that I could have eaten for a meal! It was moist, just the right blend of sweet spices, with a cookie topping that gave it a delicious crunch.


Kate is a natural cat person. She was always the one who could charm our little kittens so quickly. Her kitty Linus is a real lovey. Lucy, his sister, is too - just a little more reserved with new people. Both cats let me hold and pet them all weekend!


Kate and I got to have a "girl's night" at the Philbrook Museum of Art Saturday evening. After a pleasant jog around the neighborhood, we dressed up for the opening night of Magnificent Vision exhibit. It was so relaxing to wander through the gallery, enjoying the art together. One painting in particular captured my attention - it was a portrait of a mother and daughter - and we had to go back and look at it again after we'd finished our walk through the exhibit.


The weather was sunny, breezy, and dry - they need rain, but it sure was gorgeous for a weekend visit! Kate and J.W., I felt so relaxed and happy at your house - it was refreshing to have those days with you guys. December, come quickly!

Before...

We had beautiful weather last week before my trip to Oklahoma to visit Kate and J.W. We spent a lot of time outside, and here's a photo dump of the boys enjoying the sunshine and cooler temps.

Mark checking out the slugs under a brick in the front yard


Looking at an airplane and "parking the trucks"


Mark in motion


Mark took this picture of Nathan


In the playhouse