Ben's School Picture

I love fall. I think it must stem from childhood and all the back-to-school excitement. Of course, one of the quintessential back-to-school traditions is school pictures. I have fun memories of my Mom being a "picture lady," handing out those little plastic combs to all the kids as we waited in line for our turn in front of the camera. And it's so fun now to look back at all my school pictures and see how I changed from year to year. So, it's with a lot of nostalgia and a lot of "I can't believe Ben is already a pre-kindergartener, he's getting too big too quickly" sentiments that I present his '09 school picture ... Something about this time of year - all the change, I suppose - that brings both joy and heartbreak at watching these "babies" of ours grow up.

Apples, Pumpkins, and Parade

Fall is definitely in full swing, and we had our first crisp fall weather weekend here. A little too crisp for my liking, but it didn't stop us from enjoying some great outdoor activities that come with the season. Today we took the boys apple picking in the North Georgia mountains. My friend Marti (aka PictureMommy) came up and took some really fun family pictures. Here are just a few I took before she arrived.
Getting ready for the hayride.
Ben and Daddy in the orchard. You'll have to stay posted for Marti's fabulous pictures, coming soon ...

Yesterday morning we took the boys to the pumpkin patch to pick out some pumpkins. Because of the cooooold weather, the trip was short and sweet. The boys quickly picked their favorites, let me snap some pics, and we were on our way.

Later that day we went to the Little 5 Points Halloween Parade. L5P is a funky little neighborhood in Atlanta (we watched from across the street of my old apartment where I lived when Jess and I started dating - awwww), and the parade was, ummm ... colorful to say the least. Lots of crazy costumes, loud music, and unconventional floats ... and tons of fun!

This face says it all.

The boys actually had a ball. So much to take in, not to mention the gobs of candy that came our way.

There was a time this kind of parade would have scared Ben to pieces, but our big boy is growing up and becoming quite the adventurous little spirit. So FUN!

Hey, Good Lookin! Whatcha Got Cookin?

Ben has started taking cooking classes at Young Chefs Academy, and he LOVES it. Even though they provide aprons for the kids, Ben insists on bringing his own. We drop him off and then take Noah out for an excursion before picking him back up.

Poor Noah - the first time we dropped Ben off for his class, we got in the car with Noah and realized that he had never been on an outing alone with the both of us!

Noah riding solo in the backseat this morning - he enjoys his "only child" time.Ben showing off his cuisine du jour - black bean burgers and football biscuits - when we came back to pick him up.
He's always excited to share his dishes with us when we get there, and they're actually really tastey. Watch out, Emeril!

Big Man on Campus

For the past two weeks, every morning when Ben heads out the door Noah cries, "Baaaackpaaaack," wanting to head off to school like a big boy. Today, he finally got his chance. Sporting the ever-coveted backpack and ready to head out. Because I was bringing Ben to school, Daddy got Noah ready and brought him to school today (I will eventually get over that Mommy guilt, right?).

Running to Daddy's car.

In the school parking lot. "Come on, Daddy!" Looking a bit more hesitant as he nears the doors.

But he marched right in, with barely a look back. I remember being baffled by kids that did this when Ben first started school, because he was a little more, well, needy let's say.

This was when I picked him up - he had a fantastic first day!

I'll clarify that "school" for Noah is actually a Children's Morning Out program at a nearby church two days a week. My first taste of freedom in 4 years - "It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" indeed.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Sure, before having kids it may have been the holiday season, but back-to-school takes the honors now. Ben had his first day of Pre-K today. He was such a trooper.

Daddy walking him in to school.
He was all smiles when I came to pick him up, as was I for having had a chance to get the million little things done that have been waiting all summer - a success all around!

Beach Bums

We took our annual beach trip last week. Despite an unexpected tropical storm, we had a great time. It's fun to go back year after year and see how the boys' reactions to everything change over time. Ben LOVED the ocean this year. He wanted to jump big waves, build sand castles, and look for seashells. His favorite thing was going out one night after dark with Daddy to look for crabs. They took flashlights, his new crab net, and a bucket and caught 5 crabs. Ben reported back to me that they had run into some folks who had "only seen 2 all night. That means I'm 'specialer' than they are." He then realized that wasn't very nice and retracted by saying, "Actually, we're all special." Noah, for all his water-lovin' self, did NOT love the ocean. The sand was fun, but I think the loudness and vastness of the water was a bit overwhelming for him. He kept saying, "No like it, ocean. No like it, ocean." Hopefully next year he'll feel differently.
A relaxing lunch on the balcony.

We took the boys to play miniature golf one afternoon - Noah's first time.

He was in to it at first.

But soon found that playing around on the green was more fun than trying to get the ball into the hole.

And eventually resorted to all-out silliness.

Noah at 2

I thought I'd take some time to capture some thoughts about our "baby" boy at 2 years of age. The baby book has long been abandoned, so this has become my notebook for such memories.

Noah is a larger than life kid. He is, no doubt, a very spirited child. He can fill up the room with his laughter, and make the same room shudder with his piercing screams of anger (as in, any higher and it would be a dog whistle). He is an all-or-nothing kind of boy. Always has been.

His only mode of self transport is running - not sure he knows how to walk. He cannot get anywhere fast enough (trying to keep up with big brother, no doubt).

He is a true water baby. Loves to swim, splash, bathe, soak, you name it. It will be so fun to see him at the beach this year.

His language is growing, growing! He is like a little parrot, repeating the last two words of whatever sentence he hears. Some favorite phrases these days are, "day-go" (there you go), "duv-u" (love you), and (oh melt my heart!) "Ben," said with the UTMOST sweetness.

He could live on cheese. Enough said.

He remains a champion sleeper. Seriously, enough said.

Noah can be a crazy kid. He's the one in the grocery store grabbing everything off the shelves, the one in the airplane screaming to get down and run, the one in the restaurant clamoring for food ... and, honestly, we wouldn't have him any other way. That same gregarious energy is what makes him the best hug giver (when he hugs you, you know you've been hugged), what gives him that irresistably contagious giggle, and what simply makes him our "Nu-saur." You are so loved, dear boy.