toy tragic

I'm starting to think about Reuben's first birthday and Christmas gifts (first big gift-giving occasions right in a row), and feeling a mite tragic that he is past being satisfied with the grab-and-stare toys. So I couldn't quite justify buying him this (so beautiful!). Or...

That store (The Wooden Wagon) literally makes me salivate. Must quell the covetous beast!

Any ideas on the best toys for a one-year-old boy? I'm looking for just the right ball pounder, which I remember as a much-fought-over toy from Audrey's church nursery days. The Wooden Wagon does, in fact, have one, but I want one with ramps.

gathering

We have been spoiled with visitors this month. Tomorrow I take Nathan's brother, Eldon, to the airport after a warm visit, and my brother Devn and his wife Abby were here for most of the week before that with their delicious children, Ellee and Will. Devn is my doctor brother, and the oldest of the Frandsen boys; he started a residency in Arkansas this summer and we scored their first vacation. I loved every second we had with them, and appreciated their help during the 3 days of it Reuben and I had to spend a'hospitaling (chemo). We've been aching for a chance to have Reuben and Will (4 months older) together.
Ellee's every move is part of a theatrical production titled "Meet this darling 3-year-old." She came down the stairs each morning with a head tilt and smile worthy of a seasoned stage actress--Here I Am, World!, filling our house with too-perfectly-adorable-child chatter--what might be scripted for her to develop a perfect small character. I was fascinated with how she filled in the gaps of her still-developing vocabulary with strings of prepositional phrases that clearly expressed her requests and spot-on observations. Her bright-eyed blondeness was so reminiscent of Audrey as a toddler that I was particularly susceptible to her charms, and certainly her willingness to buy into my drama won my continual favor: Ellee was all about the acorn hunting.

Hunt #1: our neighborhoodDevn and Abby are champion people, so of course they hunted, too.

tiny girl and mighty oak!

The babies were, um, less excited. And the autumn sun so bright...luckily Uncle D was even willing to walk backwards to help.Some of those very acorns will be in the giveaway batch. I know, it's almost too good. But you deserve it.

acorns: GIVEAWAY!

I might go so far as to say that my biggest delight with living EAST, among these great deciduous woods, is the abundance of oak trees. Which means acorns. I am crazy nuts about these little beauties (and the nuts came out through my typing fingers before I even realized what an awesome punny phrase that was). If you, like the former Western me, have the misfortune (acorn speaking, that is) to live where a walk around the block doesn't fill your pockets with autumnal decorating and crafting possibilities of the acorn sort, I am feeling generous this week.

It's an acorn giveaway. I will walk around my personal acorn mecca of a neighborhood and fill a small flat-rate USPS Priority mailing box with a nice all-sizes variety of acorns and send them to a lucky one-of-you. Comment that you, too, love acorns, and on SATURDAY NIGHT (let's say 7 pm ET) I will chose one (in a properly random fashion) and mail it off on Monday, so you can get it in time for some good seasonal crafting and tactile joy.

This giveaway will become even more valuable after you read the great acorn crafting and gathering posts that are soon to come. Good times, my friends.

displaying kids' art: part 1

My girls are art prolific.
I am a saver.
We're drowning.

One wall upstairs in the wide hall that will (soon!) be their very cool creative space is devoted to displaying their art. I have clips and a long ledge, but I'd like a couple of these:
Clear and excellent instructions here at Bloesem Kids.

And maybe one downstairs. A very clever idea--the sort that seems obvious in its clear brilliance.

How do you manage the mass of art projects? Save? Archive? Record? Display?

trophies

Reuben'sMama's
(how perfect is that acorn?!)

For most of the summer, our local roads and deserted lots were lined with chicory and Queen Anne's lace--such a lovely natural combination. I loved climbing a few hundred feet (that part in my car) and finding them again.
Ah, and such good acorn hunting this week! I love all of the colors and shapes and sizes individual oak species drop in our neighborhood.
And the terrarium is thriving. The ferns died, but something new is unfurling...

babe in the woods

Today baby and I walked on the Appalachian trail. He had been especially observant all morning, waking in a solemn mood, and watching so closely. It felt very important, today, to be in the woods with him, to touch their texture, and witness the first week of autumn.

Plans
Ignored
Ready?
Set...
Go!
(I couldn't help it)

Once Reuben figured out I wanted him to touch, I think he loved it.
Guesses what this photo shows?Reuben is section hiking. A scootin' on the AT.

(Hmm...at a rate of 2 feet per day...that would make...)

Clarity

Audrey is, so far, having a great middle school experience.

But. But! Sending your own out into the savage world of pre-teens is very frightening. Especially your own who are so like you...

(junior high V: walking home for lunch every day because I was too scared to find someone to sit with).

I read this: Dark Glass, Energy of Heart tonight and loved it so.

Clarity.

I'm giving a lesson on friendship tomorrow night at church for a sweet group of 8-11 year olds and have thoughts a'swirling.
(does that mean I was supposed to stay up until 2 am blogging?)