This spider web is the sign that Fall is almost upon us and Winter is just around the corner. What you can't tell by this photo is that the little spider in the middle of the shot is about the size of a dime, he had created this amazing web right outside our livingroom window! They appear every late Summer to late Fall, making webs everywhere. I can't tell you how many webs we've walked into from their overnight work regime.
Ugh, I admit, I really do hate them.
With that said, I thought I would give you a instant replay of the Summer and all it's glory. (Or should I say, my missed -
and not missed - opportunities to post adventures.) through a series of snapshots, diptychs and 3-up collages [that is inspired by the photos at
Six One Way created by
Vintage Chica and
Blue Yonder - 2 blogs I enjoy visiting].
As fun as Summer was, we had our share of challenges too. Harrison decided that he didn't want to take naps anymore (many battles lost, but the war isn't over yet.)
He also decided that he was done with that high chair (good - he was too big)
and the Jr. chair (bad - he's too small for the regular chair and REFUSES booster seats).
Potty training came to a screeching halt. We're still working on it. He's starting to really notice when he has to potty - but he doesn't want to sit on the potty. College is a little ways off so we still have time!
We started playing games together, Candy Land and Cherry Ho.
When we stay around the house, we play music, read books and,
well, make messes.
We tried to get out to a few places - the "dinosaur museum", Disneyland, the Aquarium, the beach. you name it. (Although we missed quite a
few places.)
After the Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits, Harrison wanted to head the local library to get books and a movie about dinosaurs. That led to a book about space and astronauts, which led us to building a rocket out of paper towel tubes and papermache. I love that Harrison
ASKS to go to the library!
At camp he made binoculars out of toliet paper tubes and at Vacation bible School he made gak (slime). He watched Star Wars Episode V for the first time with his Daddy and acted out freezing Han Solo with the gak for several days (only we don't have Han Solo so CP3O had to step up to the call of duty).
Luckily the guy I dig knows the Star Wars series pretty well and skipped any scary and dark parts.
He also took over big Brother's scooter and the other day we even went and got a new, better fitting bike helmet.
The most bitter-sweet moment of the summer was my annual pass for Disneyland expiring. What a blessing it has been to get in our car and go to Disneyland on a whim! We have so many wonderful memories. I know the next time we go, he will be potty-trained and tall enough to ride on Star Tours. After all, he's a "
big-boy" now.
Where does the time go?
So long sweet summer
I stumbled upon you and gratefully basked in your rays
So long sweet summer
I fell into you
Now you're gracefully falling away...
This is one of my favorite images from childhood. It's a poem from a version of A Child's Garden of Verses that my mother gave me as a young reader. It's illustrated by Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone. I have four books illustrated by them from my mother that now sit on Harrison's bookshelf. I can't even begin to tell you how much I LOVE their art. The light, wispy pictures have always enamored me. I wanted to be these children. When I looked at the pictures, they took me to far away places and a feeling of lightness. Where for a moment my world was perfect.
The stories and images lit a fire in my imagination. I would scour the house for everyday things that I could use to create my own little world like I saw in the books. I even made my own ship on our basement stairs that my mom worked around for weeks.
I would go outside and build Indian tee-pees, and line my friends and neighbors up for a musical march, I would sit on the top of hay stacks and sing songs at the top of my lungs to the farm animals - and they always listened.
It's hard in today's world for some families to not get caught up in television and consumerism. It's everywhere, for us, I chose books that are not "branded" with the exception of library books that Harrison picks out. Clifford the Big Red Dog often visits our house for a few weeks; but Harrison has only a handful of books that are based on a television show. An Elmo [I spy-type of] book, a few Baby Einstein board books and a reprint of the Disney classic, Pinocchio.
Harrison was very excited to find a worm in the back yard, he played with the little thing until, well, it's unfortunate demise. Even giving it gentle kisses (yes, kisses. What? Some people eat worms.) More to this story later...
Seriously, some days in the kitchen with Harrison can be a challenge, so when he told me it was "time to make pumpkin muffins!" the other evening, I immediately thought I have a mix! And there is still the opportunity to break eggs and measure oil and water - and, of course, turn on the mixer.
Meet the Super-Duper Pumpkin Muffin Maker.
He's getting geared up and feeling the egg-love!
When all ingredients are added, it's time to turn it on.
And make sure all is mixing smoothly.
Off to the oven!
Mmm, nice and warm to eat!
He gives them his approval.
Trader Joe's had a GREAT pumpkin mix that tastes great and makes it easy to bake with Harrison; but we're not done! We'll be baking from scratch soon!
Wrap up in the Big Blue Blanket to drink a smoothie...
And take a break.
Well, last week I decided to turn it around and try it out. I haven't had it plugged in for a couple years and he is able to exercise self-control in areas of what is his to touch and what is not.
Once he saw what happens,
he wanted to pick out the records,
Put them on the turntable, watch them drop,
Listen to the music coming out...
And then dance!
He also went to the guestroom closet and requested that we get the "bigger boy" bed out; so I set it up for him to try.
There was much rejoicing and jumping.
And more jumping!
And then some rest...
Then we just relaxed and hung out on his mattress and played with toys for a couple of hours.
He loves the barrel of monkeys that I still had from my childhood.
He's been sleeping on the mattress the last couple of nights (and days), I think I see a big bed being fully set up in the near future here!
With that said, I thought I would give you a instant replay of the Summer and all it's glory. (Or should I say, my missed - and not missed - opportunities to post adventures.) through a series of snapshots, diptychs and 3-up collages [that is inspired by the photos at Six One Way created by Vintage Chica and Blue Yonder - 2 blogs I enjoy visiting].
As fun as Summer was, we had our share of challenges too. Harrison decided that he didn't want to take naps anymore (many battles lost, but the war isn't over yet.)
Potty training came to a screeching halt. We're still working on it. He's starting to really notice when he has to potty - but he doesn't want to sit on the potty. College is a little ways off so we still have time!
When we stay around the house, we play music, read books and, well, make messes.
We tried to get out to a few places - the "dinosaur museum", Disneyland, the Aquarium, the beach. you name it. (Although we missed quite a few places.)
After the Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits, Harrison wanted to head the local library to get books and a movie about dinosaurs. That led to a book about space and astronauts, which led us to building a rocket out of paper towel tubes and papermache. I love that Harrison ASKS to go to the library!
He also took over big Brother's scooter and the other day we even went and got a new, better fitting bike helmet.
The most bitter-sweet moment of the summer was my annual pass for Disneyland expiring. What a blessing it has been to get in our car and go to Disneyland on a whim! We have so many wonderful memories. I know the next time we go, he will be potty-trained and tall enough to ride on Star Tours. After all, he's a "big-boy" now.
Where does the time go?
We saw it in the shallow water where the boats are docked at the pier. It doesn't loo like any Stingray I've ever seen.
I could fill a book with the looks of wonder Harrison has produced over his short, little life. Summer is such a magical time to go on Grand Adventures.
(Later we went to our home group and Harrison ran right up to my friend and demonstrated that face.)
Peek-a-boo!
