Sunrise - A Beautiful Way to Begin the Day

I looked out this morning and it was a beautiful beginning to another day.  

I love a gorgeous beginning or end to a day.  It really is a wonderful experience and I always point them out to Baylor.  I really hope he keeps the beauty of simple fleeting moments like a sunrise or sunset close to his heart as he grows up.  

Day 94

Today is the last day of Summer 2012.  Lori and I worked and Baylor played with the boys at the sitters.  After I picked him up we went to the local garden center to see the fish in their pond.  I forgot to grab the camera which is a shame because the fish were about crawling out of the water begging for food.  We loved it.  They had a little hay bale maze he ran through and really wanted to walk the bales instead.  We checked the clearance items in the bottom floor and walked through the Christmas trees.  I stopped at the Halloween displays and Baylor tried on an electric orange witch hat.  We did not buy anything, which is pretty shocking for me.  I may have to go back for one Halloween thing but we will see.  Then we stopped at a frozen custard shop, Maggie's, and Baylor got a chocolate with chocolate sprinkles in a dish.  He wanted to sit at the kid's picnic table which was way too small for me and quite a bit away for the adult seats.  I did not not like sitting so far away from him because I missed him all day and wanted to be closer to him.  He enjoyed his treat and we headed home. 

Last night we pulled the winter clothes out of the attic so a laundry mountain range has formed in my laundry room.

 

It looks pretty bad and then from a different angle a few more colored peaks appear.  And this is after one load done, one in the dryer, and one in the washer.  It will be a long weekend folding laundry.  But hopefully by Monday Baylor's large dresser will be done and we can start loading it up. 

 

The size threes will go in the attic until we get with some friends to see if they want any and then we will pass the rest on.  There is an equal dish mountain in the kitchen and I guess I will tackle that in the morning. I hate doing dishes at night. 

 

Not a very exciting end to summer but I think we did quite a lot in 94 days.  I am not sure how we will document fall but I think I have an idea.  If I can get it started tomorrow, it will be a miracle. 

Day 93

 

Wednesday Zakiya came over for dinner.  She moved down to our area a few months ago and we love her visits.  Baylor is always very shy at first and then takes over the show.  She picked Pesto Chicken stuffed pasta shells and we all had a blast making them together.  We suited up in our aprons and mixed away.  She is not very experienced in the kitchen and they both enjoyed the process. 

 

 

While the shells were baking Baylor took her out to pick our tiny tomatoes.  They had to pick off the little green caps together at the table.  Dinner turned out great and having a dinner guest is a treat.  Of course Baylor still wants me to play and do stuff with him.  I did have to take a break from our visit to look for a stuffed kitty, that we still cannot find.  Zakiya works for Her*shey and brings over chocolate.  She leaves here with lots of cuddles from us, leftovers for lunch the next day, and toilet bowl clearer or Airwic*k (from where I work).  I still think I get the better deal! 

 

After she left Lori and I moved the dresser body inside.  I have to finish the bottom drawers and doors for the top but they should be done this weekend. 

 

This is the other dresser I am painting so the 'match'.  I painted the first row of drawers before taking a before photo but I wanted to paint all the drawers the same color at the same time.  The idea did not go over very well with Lori and I only have the first row done. 

 

Thursday Lori worked OT and was let out at noon.  She picked up little man and they stopped at a farm wagon full of pumpkins.  This beauty was $7.00 which is not too bad.  There was not stopping Baylor from wanting to cut the pumpkin, which to him is stabbing it with the tools.  Just like last year.  And he won't touch the guts.  Just like last year.

 

Lori called it an acupumpkin!  She can be pretty funny!!! 

 

 

Do you know tomorrow is the last day of summer? 

Day 91

The pool is now closed. 

 

 

 

 

Day 90

 

Even though Baylor and I spend the entire weekend together, I am usually busy with things needing to be done and while we do play, it is not enough for him.  Which I do understand, he is an only child after all.  Who else is he going to play with?  Mondays seem to be the night we reconnect through play.  Tonight we made a huge fort in the living room.  I suggested the king size sheet, which did not go over very well at first.  After the mood swing had past, he had a great idea to use the big sheet and low and behold, it worked.  The fort was big enough for all of us but Lori was not able to join Baylor, myself, and all his little friends. 

 

 

We had a picnic in the fort and dessert in there as well. 

 

Then he amazed me with his balloon blowing skill.  He could not do that yesterday so it is a new skill for him. 

 

He wanted me to catch him letting go of the balloon and it blowing away but that happens very fast.  I never knew when he was going to let go.  We got this one. 

 

And he caught this one that I blew up and let go. 

 

 

Eddy even came in to join us after we spilled out half of Baylor's dinner on the blanket. 

 

We cleaned up the yard of the pool toys, started the pool closing process, and I did a few drawer fronts in paint or sealer coat. 

 

And I have been working on these little beauties for the last day.  I picked up a silicone ice mold at Home Goods on Saturday and used candy melts to fill them.  They will look great for the Halloween party! 

Day 89

 

We have been busy this week but my laptop is acting up ( I wonder if in all my web surfing for Pinterest finds I picked up something that is eating away at the system).  The other two computers in the house are working so we know it is something with that one.  I just found the CD to put the camera stuff on this computer so now I can catch up.  Last Sunday we did some work outside.  The weather has been very cool, more like fall than end of summer.  I love fall weather but when it is summer I want it to be summer weather.  While I painted dresser parts in the garage, Baylor made an obstacle course in the driveway.  Once we had both mastered the course, he asked if the could paint the driveway. 

 

 

We headed inside to make the paints (dollar store shampoo, cornstarch, water, and coloring)  I had five bowls and he picked the five colors he wanted and went to town. 

 

When he started throwing the enamelware bowls around the driveway, they were cleaned out and put inside.  But it was just as much fun washing away the paints as it was putting them on there. 

 

Because it has been so cool, Baylor has been asking for footie jammies.  I pulled some out and he was so excited to wear them and has worn them almost all week.  One night he picked out a pair of 3s and they were a bit too short on him but he insisted on wearing them.  Around 11:15 he woke up because he was pulling on his neck when he stretched out.  We changed into a 4 and went back to bed.  The 3s have been bagged up and passed on the Lucas to enjoy. 

 

Mom and Dad were here on Thursday and Friday to watch Baylor.  The sitter was off for three days and Lori had to work on Thursday.  Lori usually gives Eddy her morning lovins, belly rubs, while they are both waking up during the week.  On a work day, she does not get them and look how sad she gets.  She cannot even hold up her own head she was so sad.  I made sure she got lots of lovins and she perked up enough to have breakfast. 

 

While she was eating breakfast, Baylor and Buddy moved in on the couch and Baylor piled up all he friends next to Buddy. 

 

Not quite like E.T., but close enough. 

 

Saturday, Lori was off because the plant was closed and got to see Baylor at swim class.  He protested all morning until we left and in the car.  Once he was there he ran right in and was the only one who did not need coaxed to do anything.  If he had been in the first position instead of the third, I think he would have been even more excited and apt do do the lessons.  He was third and saw the other two protest and not want to do anything the teacher was asking them.  But in the end he did great.  I am sure next Saturday he will protest all morning also. 

 

After swim class, we headed to VA to visit Tara, Julie, and Lucas.  Tara summed up the day very well and I had a blast.  But, for some reason I never took out my camera.  Tara again saved the day and took quite a few nice shots of the boys and one of me with a giant cracker.  We are definitely cut out of the same fabric when it comes to shopping.  We were very lucky that Julie and Lori were more than happy to take the boys back to their tree house and we were able to shop the way we like to; slowly, one aisle at a time, covering as much shelf space as possible, picking up, checking out, making jokes along the way.  It was a great time to get to know each other better and build our friendship.  The girls had a quite time, Julie took a nap on the couch, LOL!  Lucas napped too and Baylor played and watched some shows with the girls.  They played well together and Baylor was very gentle and sweet with their cat Charlotte.  She is a sweet cat and a great addition to the family. 

 

The only photos we took were on the way home.  I looked to the left and found a rainbow 'spot' almost level with the sun.  Lori tried to catch it but it did not come out very well.  It was very odd, because it really was a spot of rainbow. It was also odd because when we drove down in June we saw a rainbow in around the same area.   Baylor was asleep within 10 minutes and woke up at 6 am on Sunday.

 

We found some spots in the spare room where it looks like Eddy got sick and we had to clean it up.  Baylor is still a willing helper when cleaning tools are involved.  He ran the vacuum.

 

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And the Resolve stick thing.  He loves that thing and whenever he sees a spot of any kind he drags it out of the closet to clean things up.  (Tara, notice he slept in his clothes to bed and wore them for half of Sunday also)

 

After the morning clean up, we went outside. Baylor swamped while I painted. 

 

But we also cleaned a rug from the car that had a coffee stain on it.  Again, my little helper took over and was on the job. 

 

He also helped with the sanding.  And I can use the help. 

 

 I have to get this done soon and it is dragging on. Paint, dry, sand, paint, dry, paint, dry, paint, dry, sand, paint, dry, sand, paint. Every piece, every drawer. 

 

We did go to the pool store to get the stuff we need to close the pool.  We will do that tomorrow night as I have to let the choline vapors dissipate for 24 hours.  It is too cold to swim anymore and fall is right around the corner!  We stopped at the fabric store to find some Halloween prints to make bean bags for our up coming Halloween party.  I am so excited about this party and as soon as I am done with these dressers I be getting ready for the party.  I am so excited!!! 

Day 81

Saturday was Baylor's first swim lesson at Messiah Collage.  Of course he did not want to go and protested until it was time to get dressed and then he was ready to go.  Willing and yapping and running to the car ready to go.  We arrived a bit early so he could get used to the surroundings.  After roll call parents were asked to leave the pool and watch from the hallway.  I walked him over to the teacher, asked him to say hello, and told him I had to watch from outside and I would be back soon.

 

 

Which is a good thing.  And I was quite pleased that Baylor was not the kid who would not leave Mom's lap or the kid who would not get in the water. The mom with the kid on her lap had some serious separation issues herself.  Helicopter parent came to mind. 

 

He has come a long way this year in his independence.  (he is in the white shirt and blue and yellow trunks)

 

 

They had to paddle out with a noodle under their arms and he is a pro at that from our time in our pool.

 

And the practiced jumping in and crawling out of the pool. 

 

The teacher waved us in and I was ready with the towel.  He was excited and still willing to take the other lessons. 

Day 74 and 75

Friday night we went to Steph's house for dinner and a visit.  She made Cherokee tacos with Indian Fry bread they picked up on vacation.  They were really good because who does not like some fried bread covered in chili, lettuce, cheese and sour cream.  Lori stopped by on her way home and when Baylor saw her he asked her to take him home.  I visited for while and had to stop at Nana Heidi's, Steph's mom, on the way home.  The moral of the story is at did not get home until after 8 and it was late.  Baylor wanted to water color and I did not want to that late and told him we could in the morning.  He was not up long before he remember and true to my word, we watercolored.  I bought pipets to use in our art and he discovered the fun of dripping water and water colors on his blocks. 

 

 

 

We played outside and I worked on my painting projects in the garage while he played in the mud, in the bounce house and on the four wheeler.  He had a popsicle break sitting on the doors to the basement.  I have to close the one side because while I don't usually worry about him falling down the hurricane doors, I do imagine him falling down the stairwell. 

 

We watched Madison for several hours while her daddy and his girlfriend, my friend Tamela, went to Hershey Spa for an afternoon of body scrubs and deep tissue massages.  We went swimming right away and Madison who is the same age as Baylor proved to be Mermaid Madison.  She had no fears of the water and can swim under water with ease. She was leaping from the ladder shouting Surfs Up!  All without any float vest which Baylor is not allowed out of.  He does start swimming lessons next Saturday at a local college so hopefully he will be swimming soon.  He is doing better at moving around and nearly doggy paddling to get across the pool.  After swimming, they shared a bath and had a snack.  They played all afternoon, both inside the house and outside.  Amazingly there were no fights or issues.  It was great!   

 

 Sunday we had plans to go to Williams Grove flea market with Heather and Brigid.  Little did we know, or even know to check, it was also the annual Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association 54th Annual Summer Show.  It was little boy, and big boy, heaven.  

 

 

 

 As soon as we found each other, the skies opened up and the 30% chance of rain, turned in 100%.  At least where we were standing.  I had decided to not grab the umbrella and Heather did not have one either so we ducked under a pretzel stand to wait it out.  The owner was very nice about it and unfortunately did not have her pretzels yet or we would have enjoyed a snack while waiting for the rain to clear.  Brigid was the only dry one among us because she has a rain cover for the stroller.  The entire time we were there, she was all smiles, waving from her stroller to everyone. 

 

The rain slowed down enough to at least walk around and find something to eat.  By the time we were done, the rain was gone and the place had cleared out enough that it was not difficult to get around and see everything.  Baylor loved it all and was very interested the steam engines. 

 

The saw mill was running and we all enjoyed watching it work.  Baylor's great Grandpa Thatcher had a saw mill rather like this back in his day.  Today they were working on some good sized logs and making planks of about 2 x 8 or so.  The bark and odd pieces were being thrown off to the side.  Some of it was being cut down and used to run the engines on display like the one Baylor was standing next too.  I am sure some of it was sold for firewood.  I did not ask anyone what they did with the lumber but the trailer they were loading left full of wonderfully fresh smelling wood. 

 

 

They were working on this log and came across a nail buried deep in the tree. Many, many years ago someone drove that nail into a skinny tree and left it there.  Thankfully it did not damage the huge saw with its many teeth. 

 

This is the engine that was powering the mill.  We stood on this side of it after I mentioned to Heather how much damaged is caused when those belts slip.  I was not intended to imply we were not is a safe spot, I just remember stories being told about that happening.  Standing on this side made it feel a bit safer.

 

He saw us walking behind the engine and asked if Baylor wanted to stand in the step and see the fire.  He has a pretty good grasp of the steam engine process but seeing it first hand was a treat for all of us. 

 

Around the back of the sawmill was the thrashing machine.  At first we thought it may have been a hay baler, not related to Baylor which means horse trainer(not how he got his name either) but it was throwing out the chaff and straw on one side and the grain was going into a wagon. 

 

I am sure the older man on the thresher may be doing this for fun now had to do this for real when he was younger.  My parents were at our house when we got home (I was not planning on being there for over four hours) and I showed them the pictures we took.  Dad remembers a thresher and engine like this coming to the farm he grew up on during the harvest season.  And Dad is younger than this man.

 

 

The train was running and we took the kids for a ride.  Baylor did really well walking around or sitting on my shoulders and will tell you he liked the train ride, just not all that other stuff.  Except for the ice cream.

 

 

There used to be an amusement park at Williams Grove but it is no longer running.  The flea market used to wind around the buildings but I think some fool got hurt doing something he was not supposed to be doing so it is now all closed off. 

 

 

Baylor did not mind. 

 

There was this little train to see outside the train car.  He was quite interested in making up its story about why it is not working and what it could do. 

 

 

Brigid was finally out of the stroller and very happy to be out with us. 

 

  

Alone the way we 'raced' a tractor.

 

 

Saw fields full of all colors of tractors. 

 

It was a quick ride as the tracks do not go all the way around the fields and grounds as I thought they did.  But again Baylor did not mind.  Once we were back on soggy ground, we headed out with a few stops.  This engine was really revving up and the smoke was amazing.  We picked up some veggies and Heather bought an old toy cash register like one she had at her grandmother's when she was growing up. We did pick up some Halloween items that were a really good price.  Not too much shopping for all the walking around but it was a good Sunday.

 

We had to stop at the grocery store and headed home to see Grandma and Buddy for a visit. After they left Baylor wanted to watch Nemo and fell asleep in his recliner. That was about 5 PM.  It is 9:15 and he is still asleep so I guess I will be taking him to bed soon.  Only 20 days to fall!