The New Guy.

After the recent passing of our dear friend Kona, we acquired a new member of the family. Although we were going to wait a while for financial reasons, we don't believe in coincidences. This boy is sweet, loving, great with the kids, and ridiculously smart. And he's big. Like, 85 pounds big. Like, big enough that any burgler or idiot coming to the door had better think twice. His bark is scary, but he's a total teddy bear. Half shepherd, half lab, he possesses the best qualities (so far) of both breeds, and we are thrilled that he's here! When asked what we should name him, Beck replied "Crusoe", after a mythical sea creature in a movie he had just watched. It stuck.

The last days of Summer

What a beautiful summer it has been! We are sad to see it go, but I feel as if we have crammed as much fun in to these past few months as humanly possible while trying to maintain balance with naptimes and schedules. There are so many new things happening, and thankfully good things at that. Cora now has her two top teeth in, Beck begins a Waldorf-based preschool in a few weeks, and there are many many career possibilities in the works for both Doug and I right now, which are both exciting and nerve-wracking.

I am having a hard time this year with the approach of the cooler weather. While I adore fall, I have a small pit in my stomach about the coming winter. We are trying to hit up the beach as much as we can between now and when we can see our breath, and hiking just about every day. Beck has begun saying on a daily basis upon waking: "I am all rested and ready for my next adventure!"

Yesterday, Beck had his first dentist appointment, I went for a bike ride, and then the kids and I spent the afternoon hiking in on our old stomping grounds in Bowdoin in search of blackberries. 4.5 miles later, Beck had hiked the whole way on his own, Cora was happy in the backpack most of the day, and we ended up with enough blackberries for a pie or cake or something delicious. It was pretty much the perfect end-of-summer day, and I hope I am able to take that memory with me into the darkest past of winter!

These photos are from a few weeks ago, but I haven't had time to post them yet. One rare day off for Lulu, we decided to head to Cedar beach in Harpswell.

And so it begins.

It happens every year. We wait for it. Usually towards the end of July, there will be a shift in the wind. The temps may still be in the eighties, and it is by no means the end of the heat waves, but the wind has changed. It blows from a different direction and carries on it the scent of a new season. Although we always look forward to fall, I can't help but become nostalgic about the end of another summer. It is such a time of change, wildness, and growth, that when we finally have the time to take a step back and look, we realize the children have sprouted right along with the garden.

We will soon enter a time of quiet, so to speak. Putting things to rest, such as the garden, is important for me to feel closure to such a time of change. However, before that, there is a sort of frantic rush to fit in every last possible summer experience...to soak up a bit more sun, get a little dirtier outside, and have a few more picnics, head to the beach as much as we can. We just returned from visiting Judy in upstate New York (where the weather were hot and humid and just plain terrible for sleeping at night in an old farmhouse!) and we did manage to pack the days with things like the beach, ice cream, farm visits, antique fairs, and garden transplanting. Here's to the last few weeks of wild abandon before the structure of pre-school begins for Beck, the nights become crisp and cool, gardening turns to canning and baking, and we can relax into a routine based on fewer bugs and more comfortable weather!

A moment of sweetness and love with Grandma, Cora, Beck and Maddie

The lady loves to eat.

And we love to take photographs of her eating. It just never gets old. By the way, the alternate title for this post was "can they get any bigger" (her eyes, that is).

Garden Days

Where we spend most of our days, or at least some part of just about every day. Usually at some point Beck ends up naked because, well, who wouldn't want to be if nobody was around and it was hot outside.

This Moment.

I have decided that every so often, I am going to post a photo, or a series of photos, by themselves, with the title "This Moment". I don't think photos need explanations all the time, and can be even more poignant when viewed without words. The photos will just be moments out of our day. Unposed and unplanned, as they happen. Here is the first.

Boothbay Harbor Botanical Gardens

First off, we didn't know this place existed until last summer, when I was ridiculously pregnant in record heat, therefor, I actually didn't visit the gardens until this year. But, Doug had already been several times (once with my dad, who actually loved it, if that tells you anything), and couldn't say enough about it. So, when I finally got to see it with Judy, Cora, Beck, Doug and myself, I was pretty taken. Especially their magical children's garden...it's something directly out of a storybook. Unreal.

Yes, that building is supposed to be leaning.

Gnome Depot. Which genius thought of that? I love it.

Yes. That sign says "Chocolate Garden". I thought I was in heaven for a second, but then I realized it was just herbs...

My happy place.

The bear from Blueberries for Sal

The Fourth

We spent an amazing fourth of July climbing Tumbledown with Beck and Cora. The weather was hot and humid and sticky, which made the dip in the lake at the top even more awesome. And the really incredible part was, Beck climbed the whole thing by himself! We were so proud!! These pics were taken with my iphone, so they aren't too impressive, but how could we let such a momentous occasion pass without recognition?

Homecoming

Well, Matt and Sofi made the big move back to the lower 48 recently, and given that none of us attended their "wedding", we decided that a party was in order. Here are a few from the day!

The beautiful couple.

Cora and Great Grammie

These shoes were made for it.

Cora loves to stand and walk. She can't crawl, or even roll herself over, let alone pull herself up to a standing position. Like Beck, she has skipped right over all that. Although at least he could roll himself over. She actually HATES being on her stomach because she doesn't know how to do anything once she's there. We were kind of scolded by the stand-in pediatrician at her last appointment for the fact that she can't even balance on her hands and knees on all fours. (Well, okay, we weren't scolded, but it felt like it. She actually took Cora herself and tried putting her on all fours with a toy out front to see what she'd do. Cora promptly flattened herself out on her stomach and began screaming when she couldn't reach the toy. I wanted to say "told you so!" but I refrained.) Anyhow, Cora is also on the tiny side. Where Beck is still in the 95th percentile, Cora is in the 30th. The Pediatrician actually told me she'd like to see her gain some weight. Really? Is this a child of mine?

Anyhow, she scoots herself around Beck's train table, and even is cruising to and from a couple of larger objects, as long as she is within an arm's reach. But roll over or crawl? Nope.