Fun Photo Day

I have a boy who is almost 2 and a half. What this means is: when Mommy crouches down with camera ready and says smile, the boy runs screaming the other direction. Enjoy these couple of pics., they were not easy to get.

Bits also has a new Michael Jordan-esque move: tongue out, yelling while running. Real funny. His talking is improving, and when he got bored of running around the park, he said, "Let's go home Momma" and took my hand to head back.

I can't emphasize how much fun it is to have a playground right down the hill.

Swings, Slides, and Jungle Gyms

Every nice day should be a park day in Bit's book. Thursday was a park day. I try my best to take him down to the park on our little lake, every sunny day we get, but sometimes the time in a day gets eaten up with other silly things to do.

Bits is becoming skilled at the playground structures and could stay down there all day if I'd let him.

When was the last time you were on a swing? If you can't even remember, don't be shy, find a park and plant that behind down on a swing and feel your cares fly away.

Next Time I'll Leave a Note

Four o'clock in the afternoon, Tigers game won and done, Bits up from his nap, and spring break week nearing an end, we all decided to take a trip up to the Big Lake (which Bits is now calling the Little Lake) and visit Little Girl's Point.

It was brisk and beautiful and well worth the trip. The park was all our own and we walked along the beach, to the mouth of the river and then back to the Jeep along the road. I have a very patient husband, at times, and he didn't complain or show frustration of any sort as I walked along worse than a distracted 2 year old.

Pebbles, driftwood, and scenery, make for a fun adventure and collecting day. I literally hopped up and down when I found an agate (once dried in the lining of my pocket, it looks much less like an agate, but pretty nonetheless). Driftwood was a plenty and I weaved among the washed up line finding pieces that suited my preferred size and type for future driftwood assemblages. Two hoodies, two shoes, two arms, and two pockets are all that is required for a successful day of discovery.

Once we had reached the mouth of the river, I left my driftwood findings on a boulder, took a pic. of their beauty against stone, fully intending to pick them back up with the Jeep when we left. I felt I owed my dutiful husband, two free hands, in order to hold Bit's hand, while we walked on the street.

After getting back to the park, swinging, taking a trip down the slide, and a spin on the merry-go-round, piling into the Jeep, and returning to the before mentioned boulder, I found no driftwood and a young family enjoying a fire a few feet away on the beach. I smiled at the man, made my assumption, and found the comedy in it all. Honestly, what are the chances. Lesson learned, leave a note saying, "I'll be back for this driftwood, please don't burn."

Pumpkin Protector and Poo-Very Exciting Subjects

Ignore the fact that I haven't posted in a couple days, and I'll continue on as if I have. As I warned everyone, I'm much less interesting without a visitor around to go exploring with, but now you get more pics. of Bacon Bits which everyone loves anyhow. Let's update: the park has all the swings taken down now for the winter, frost and snow have just about put an end to my mums, and the geese have taken over the park.

We now have a pumpkin pirate (thanks to Nana). My hope is that it may serve more than decorative purposes and act as a scarecrow for deer, in a futile effort to save the last of the mums.

We bundled up and went to the park yesterday afternoon. The geese are now in control of that area and use a form of poo-warfare. Very gross and very effective. I don't back down easily and after Bacon made a valiant effort to "watch out for the poopy", I had to realize my defeat and face the fact that there were going to be two pairs of shoes to wash down when we returned home. Dirty shoes are one thing, but when your boy trips on his toddler feet and falls right on a couple pieces of poo, that's when the geese have gone too far. We will be playing in the backyard until the geese fly South (or North?-they are Canadian), you win this time geese and have made spot #1 of my animal enemy list.

The Pumpkins are Hibernating for the Winter

Snow is all over the ground this morning, about an inch. Our mission today: gear up and play at the park regardless of the snow. If I ignore the fact that it's only the 13th of October, the news of snow is no big deal, so I'll act as such. The trees are pretty with snow resting atop fall colored leaves.

Here's an environment conscientious idea that's easy to do: try purchasing and then using dye free/perfume free laundry detergent, dryer sheets, and dish soap. I'm not saying you have to go to your local co-op; you can find these products right next to other detergents in the appropriate isle at the supermarket. It's better for your skin if you have sensitivity issues, and it's better for the environment after it ventures into the unknown world down the drain.

*(side note) The pic. is from yesterday, there is more snow on the ground and pumpkins than pictured

I may be a Bad Mother but at Least It's not Raining Today

Stinky and I went to a MOPS meeting for the first time. They have childcare for the babes, so the moms can have an hour and a half break and conversate.

This is absolutely the first time I've never left the Babes alone with anyone beside a grandparent. He saw an Elmo table in the toddler playroom and went straight for it, not looking back. When I came to get him an hour and a half later he was saying "Momma? Momma? Momma?" to the lady child care worker and crusty from dried tears and a runny nose (apparently, he was a little apprehensive when the group went to walk on the Nature trail outside). I felt so guilty, but I know that it's good for him to play with other kids without his Momma around.

We went home and played in the park. The trees are beautiful and the air is crisp, just one degree shy of needing mittens and a hat.

Fall pic from the Park

This pic was taken the other week at the park down the hill from us. He loves it when Mommy rakes up leaves and piles them ontop of him. We did this game the other day where we hopped and said 0hhhh! every time we found a pretty leaf (mostly it was Mommy hopping around and saying ohhhhhh! and Nathan giggling). I made some leaf shaped sugar cookies the day after and did food coloring washes inspired by all the different leaves.