ohhhhhhhhh, a lovely new tool!

This week I was lucky enough to get a new lens for my camera and tonight I finally had a moment to try it out.  It is the Canon 50mm f/1.4 and it is a beauty.  Yesterday we ran into the camera store before picking up Adam for dinner and the concert (Sufjan Stevens at the Schnitz-totally amazing!) to get a filter.  I'd been putting off using the new lens until getting a filter, too afraid of taking my new baby to the muddy pumpkin patch without a bit of protection.  We left the camera store with a regular UV filter and a polarizing filter.  So if the sun ever comes back out, that should be lots of fun to experiment with too!

Can't wait to use this lens in natural light, but I will say these are some of the best bathtub shots I've ever gotten (even with boys covered in tomato soup, rashy chin, bruised forehead and all).  Usually the bathroom pics just look ghastly!  Another non-camera equipment related bonus, the boys will actually pose together now!

{this moment}

{this moment} - Joining Soulemama's Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  

Anxiety and calloused fingers

Our sweet Fritzi is struggling with separation anxiety quite frequently these days.  Neither of the boys went through that stage as babies, but he is in the thick of it now.  Drop off for preschool, moms' group, etc. usually involve a lot of clinging and a few tears to boot.  I know it only lasts a minute and then all is well, but I hate to have him feeling this way.  Fritz had cut way back on the finger sucking, but it is in full force these days.  He usually has red tooth marks and even callouses on these two, poor, water logged fingers.  Lovey boy.  

preschool Halloween party, a.k.a. a very late night for mommy.

Well, Wally's costume was still missing a bit of trim on the belly, but I did essentially finish the costumes for the preschool party on Thursday morning.  Amazingly, both boys happily wore their costumes and even left on the hats, feet, and gloves.  It was quite the sugar laden kick off to celebrating Halloween.

This one cracks me up.  Here is the 2 year old class, post party, on the verge of complete meltdown.

pumpkin patch field trip

It was a MUDDY day at the pumpkin patch.  I'd say 75% of the pumpkins had rotten sides caved in to reveal mushy pumpkin soup.  Not too pretty!  I can sympathize with the farmer, our garden pumpkins didn't get enough sun or heat and never turned orange.  We managed to find two good pumpkins and had a great time with the other families and teachers.  You can tell from the pictures that Walter is totally in love with his teachers.  He practically swoons!  

Trike-a-thon

This post is a bit belated, the preschool trike-a-thon was quite a few weeks ago.  The pictures were taken on my phone (not great) and forgotten about.  The boys' trike-a-thon was so much fun, especially since they were the biking stars of their classes!  Fritz lapped the other two year olds being pushed by parents on their solo lap.  He flew by, unassisted of course, and kept riding ten minutes after everyone else had quit.  There were a few other boys in Wally's class who were strong bikers, but Walter was flying!  He was the only kid on a balance bike and all of the parents just thought it was hilarious.  I don't know what the other kids' lap totals were, but Wally did 19 laps.  His favorite part?  The marshmallows in the trail mix snack.  He was so busy eating them up, he didn't even notice the chocolate chips at the bottom of the baggie!

oh that Tana!

Ready for our daily bike ride!

Pik-i-nik at the park

We have been trying to spend as much time outside as possible to enjoy this string of sunny October days.  Yesterday we had a fun morning at the park, including a "pik-i-nik", as Wally calls picnics.  The bright midday sun is not so great for the photos, oh well.  

girls' weekend at las entradas 64

A few weeks ago I spent a beautiful and relaxing long weekend with my friend Jennifer at the house in Cabo.  We had a great time, enjoyed the quiet, slept in, and barely lifted a finger.  Jen is the mother of TWO sets of twins, so she was certainly the most deserving girl friend and I was so happy she could join me.   

Our Marine.

Uncle Jonny is Matt's youngest brother.  I still sometimes refer to him and Uncle Adam as "the little boys", which usually confuses people.  But when I was first hanging around at their house, Jonathan was only 8 years old.  So I still think of him as that little boy who loved to collect stuffed monkeys.  Now he is an officer in the Marines and deploying to Afghanistan in just a few weeks.  While he was in Iraq, I liked to think that it was if he was just over there teaching Vacation Bible School, like back in the day.  I sent him a care package full of little trinkets to give to kids on the street.  It is a little deception I like to let my mind play.  But Afghanistan is quite a bit more frightful than Iraq was at that point and it makes us all very nervous.  Now Wally, Fritz and I must resume our addition of Uncle Jonny to our nightly prayers.  Safety, peace, and a quick return.  Amen and Amen.

Not such a tough guy.

Cousin Ryan turns 1!

Well, he was practically just born and now look what happened!  We aren't really going to be able to call him "Baby Ryan" much longer.  Ali and Steve hosted the best party to celebrate Ryan's birthday; the cutest  Ali-sewn buntings, amazing Greek food, and Grandmere's serious design skills on everything from invites to cupcake flags.  They had a "real" photographer there to catch each detail and I cannot wait to see those pictures.  In the mean time, a few of my own.

A toast to friends and family from a grateful mother.  Beautiful.  

I am so proud of this girl and who she has become this year.  She is one of my very, very best friends.  

Auntie Ali is a ridiculous cook.  Did the boys eat her homemade stuffed grape leaves, orzo, hummus...no.  They had cake and lemonade for dinner.  Oh, and gummy candy lobsters.  

I really have great in-laws and that is quite a blessing.  

Happy Birthday, Ryan!  We love you so!

can't resist a few more wedding pics

Wally with his cranberry tonic and crab cake as if he does cocktail hour every day.  Ha!

a "blog worthy" wedding, indeed.

Bridget and Michael tied the knot last weekend in our dear, beautiful Sunriver, Oregon.  It has been so much fun helping with the planning and emailing ideas with my sister these past months.  Now that it is over and she is off on her honeymoon, my mom and I are kind of sad and missing it already!  It is lovely to see each new picture as they come trickling in from friends and family.  I was seriously negligent on the photography, my hands were too tied up with fancy hair and nails, bouquets, and keeping my two ring bearers in order.  Good thing Bridget was so gorgeous, or the boys would have completely stolen the show.  The whole congregation gasped as they walked down the aisle, it was priceless.  I kinda had to look away so as not to start bawling.  That was true when Bridget and my dad came down the aisle too.  I love, love, love that girl and I'm so happy that she has found LOVE.

Boys of Summer 2010

{this moment}

{this moment} - Joining Soulemama's Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  

the office

The boys have been learning lots at preschool already.  This morning they did about 45 minutes of "project" work, cutting little bits of paper into a pile in the laundry room.  Now Fritz is driving trucks in to pick up cargo of paper bits and taking it through out the house.  Here is their latest dialog from down the hall:

Fritz: "I'm ready for more paper, Wally."
Wally: "What do you say, Fritz?"
Fritz: "Please, Wally."
Wally: "Ok.  Here you go.  Now get out of my office."

(Fritz on janitorial service.)