Any Similar Revival

So yesterday I'm at the Clotworthy's, and I'm asking Aiden to pick up the game he has strewn all over the living room floor. At first he ignores me. Then he just gives me mournful looks. Finally, he pulls out the biggest weapon (he thinks) in his arsenal: "I feel sick!"

Remembering all my "Scream-Free Parenting" tips, I calmly ask him again. He refuses. Finally, I tell him that if he doesn't start picking up before I count to three, he is losing his noisy, new fire truck that awesome Grandpa John gave him for Christmas this past weekend. He stares me down. I count to three. "Fine." I say. "You've lost your truck. Sorry."

Commence hands-over-eyes, scrunchy face weeping. I am impassive.

Emma, who has watched the whole thing, solemnly looks at me with her enormous brown eyes and says in her deadpan delivery : "You are a good mothuh."

And if a seven-year-old can validate my parenting skills, maybe I should have a little more confidence in them myself. Thanks, Emma. You've been a good "daughter" to practice on.

These sweet babies turned 7 last week. SEVEN! I love them a million-billion.

Something very fun to do is to reread one's blog from a few years ago and just marvel at the richness of it all. What a wonderful life! What abounding blessings! It is almost overwhelming to see it all at once like that, and I regret not blogging more this past year. Life is still rich. Life is still wonderful. We abound with blessings. I'm just not as faithful to record it all as I used to be. No matter, I will do what I can and enjoy what is here.

November Loveliness:

Lately, Aiden has been all about building. He builds train tracks. He builds trains. He builds houses for the three little pigs, Tidmouth Sheds for his Thomas, and tall towers for no other purpose than knocking over.

Here are a few of his recent creations:

(Humpty Dumpty, from pattern blocks, of his own volition)

We started off practicing at home. Heidi was happy to hand out to this adorable if ferocious dinosaur.

Then we had to test the candy, to make sure this whole weird venture was going to be worth it.

It was.

And then we struck out into the neighborhood.

We stopped at the neighbor's house first.

Our cute neighbor, Heather, was pleased to report that we were HER first trick-or-treaters of the year!

I stayed home with Frank, Heidi, and Baby L while Chad took Aiden around the block. He came back with quite a haul for such a short distance! Then he helped to pass out candy, and I think he liked that better than trick-or-treating! It was a good night.

Last night, we went to Boo at the Zoo in Akron. We had a dinosaur and a banana with us.

At first, I typed "Octorber Blue," which I think is a more interesting title. It fits my theme too, which is how my brain is kind of mushy and the days are all blending together. Last week, I left $11 of pork chops in the trunk for three days, spilled two cups of tea under the microwave, and knocked one bottle over to spill under the toaster oven. I have to remind myself to take pictures, and once I do, they sit on my memory card for weeks. Do you get how strange this all is for me? Anyways, October is almost over already, and I just noticed that it is here. Cue Halloween, then hold on for the holiday crazies!

Some Blue Octorber pictures:

These days, he is obsessed with the three little pigs. He is forever building their houses and then huffing and puffing and knocking them down.

completely unedited, straight out of camera, we have our smiling baby L, who is the cutest thing on the planet. His long-term status is still to be determined, but we are fast in love.

I turned old two weeks ago!

And the leaves turned yellow and gold.

A favorite pastime these days!

She is just my favorite some days! So annoyed at me and Aiden for disturbing her little nap.

At the Clotworthy's annual pumpkin carving party. I love my pumpkin moonshine.

So, maybe in another three weeks, I'll post again! Until then, Happy Octorber!

Have you noticed yet that I have a thing for picking my own fruit? Well, I do. And the last thing to pick this year is apples. They are probably the easiest to pick, with the nicest weather, and they last the longest. We joined forces with the Fodors and went to Scenic Ridge Fruit Farm for our apple orchard fun.

This is my favorite pic from the day, the Super-Hero Apple-Pickers. Imagine theme music.

Aiden was all about eating apples.

Cousin Aidan liked them too.

It's starting to look like October around here!

Also, I bought a bag of gummi pumpkins the other day, and I am working my way steadily through them. Now, I don't really like candy, except gummis. Weird, huh? So happy The Oak Cupboard always has seasonal gummis for me . . .

Yesterday was a good day for pumpkin-patching. I love pumpkins with a deep and abiding love. I love seeing them in the fields. I LOVE that I am actually in these photos! Thank you Heidi, for taking these with my camera!

We had our cutest little pumpkin with us too.

Pumpkins apparently make Baby L sleepy.

Our friend Leah comes over every Tuesday to hang out with us. We had just come in from a wet, blustery walk around the block, picking up pretty leaves. So of course, we had to have tea. We had toast cut into leaves, cheese, and apples. And tea. Aiden is already a tea-drinker, but Leah announced, "I don't like tea." "Ok," I said, "You don't have to have any."

But then she saw the little tea cup I had out for her. And she watched the relish with which Aiden slurped down his brew. "Ok," she said, "I want some!"

Guess what? Leah likes tea!

Two days in a row. Don't get used to it.

It has finally cooled down here in Ohio. Our sweet foster baby finally slept through the night last night. And he smiled at me yesterday. This morning, we awoke (at 5 AM) to the sound of rain. It's been wonderful.

How are you staying cozy these first lovely days of autumn?

Heidi says I have to put up something new here. "Just a picture."

Ok.

Saturday, we celebrated Hannah's 30th birthday with an awesome 80's themed party. We all dressed up.

And we had theme snacks, like Totino's pizza rolls and Orange Crush. It was pretty much a junk food fest. Aiden walked around the second half of the night bent over, clutching his tummy. And then he wanted cupcakes. We said no.

When he saw me, though, he said, "Mom, you look cool!"

Joe and Sarabeth totally rocked their 80s looks, though they were like 5 at the time.

And he was pretty rockin too.

Luke wins the award for 80's creep factor.

Happy Birthday, Hannah!

We've been busy with that baby. I'm so tired. I've not taken many photos, and I'm just barely functioning. But this is what I do have.

Playing in the rain:

Baby L

So I don't know if it's sleep-deprivation, or just having a new baby around, or jumping back into the fostering system with both feet and no water wings, but I've been feeling a little bit out of sorts today. I feel too needed, too tired, and a little bit too temporary. All of my plans have had to be post-poned or canceled. My house is a wreck. My three-year-old is three times as whiny and clingy and difficult. And I'm frustrated with myself, because this is what I've always wanted, and I'm too tired to appreciate it.

So yeah. I'm not feeling like myself. That's ok, right?