small-town pace

Just when Fall erupted like a bang and we were flung in far too many directions, we skittered away to one of our favorite places to enjoy one last taste of carefree days.  This time it was just my middle, my mother and I.  We visited beloved family, drank up the cooler weather of autumn, picked lots of apples and vegetables from my aunt's garden, visited lots of outdoor markets, hiked in the woods in search of woodsy treasures, spent long mornings at the local coffee shop, played cards and just enjoyed the slow, small-town pace along the North Shore.

Each time we go, I hope for this different, slower pace to rub off on my children.  I want them to remember the delights nature offers, the joyous feeling of picking something out of the garden to fill our dinner plates, the pleasures of simple card games played at the long salvaged wood table at the coffee shop with family, the coziness of an imperfect little cabin on the lake and taking time to breathe the fresh air of autumn.

woodsy treasures, a crown of ferns, pink dahlias at the market, hot cocoa mornings

time for knitting, picking up lots of beach glass, throwing the stick for the dog, pine cones and birch bark to make a fairy house

apple picking, apples fill her shirt, donning a new hat for cooler weather

"This is my favorite spot in the world, Momma."  "Do you want to know why?...because I can see all the way right and all the way left."

Sweet September

September is the gateway to lovely autumn. It signals the start of a new season marked with cool mornings and beautiful clear blue afternoons.  While these changes aren't nearly as drastic as other portions of the country, they offer hope of a reprieve from the summer heat.  The feel of a cooler north wind, darker mornings, and shorter evenings create a sense of eagerness in my soul for a gradual seasonal change.  Young children run wild with untamed excitement when the breezes turn cooler and outside play is more inviting.  

Yes, sweet September offers us such lovely gifts.  Happy first day of Autumn!

Soup

Roasted Tomato Soup with croutons and shredded Parmesan cheese

I could eat soup all year but I especially like the cozy meal in the Fall. Warm soups of all kinds are easy to prepare in large batches and freeze for a quick lunch or a busy weeknight dinner. I am particularly fond of roasted tomato soup with croutons and shredded Parmesan cheese sprinkler over the top. My kids love it too and use Goldfish to garnish their bowls. We play fishing games with our spoons in hopes of catching those pesky Goldfish.

Here are a few of our favorite fall soup recipes for some easy weeknight or cooler evening meals.

via

Roasted Vegetable Soup

{Herbs de Provence is the magic in this recipe--I roast any vegetables I have according to this recipe, then puree them and add them to vegetable stock to make a wonderful soup.}

Taco Soup with tortilla chips and fresh cilantro

{we add a packet of Ranch dressing mix to ours in addition to what is in this recipe}

purple cast and a dragon mask

Growing up, my mom always greeted lots of unfortunate experiences with the old saying, "when it rains, it pours."  It was definitely pouring here last week with too many serious hiccups in our week.

As we awaited our return flight home, she found a little ride-on car in the children's play area of the airport.  The little car was actually a school bus and she decided she wanted me to take her photograph so that she could pretend she was getting on the bus for school.  Just as she stepped up, her foot slipped and she fell onto the hard commercial carpeted floor of the airport.  Her cry was different with a shrill scream embedded in the sobs that lasted far longer than a normal cry.  It was the end of our trip and I thought she was overly tired.  I didn't think much of the fall and just assumed her dramatic display was due to lack of normal sleep for 5 days.  She held her elbow and wouldn't use that arm the whole way home.  When we got off the plane, I absent-mindedly handed her the booster seat to hold while I gathered our other bags.  When the booster seat fell to the floor with a loud thud and she looked up at me with big tears in her eyes, I knew something was wrong.  I felt terrible that I just dismissed the whole incident.  What was I thinking?  

After a trip to the pediatrician and the orthopedic surgeon, we found out it was fractured and she would need 6 weeks with absolutely no activity to heal.  We cancelled everything and are getting really good at card games, Legos and reading books.

Her big sister wrapped her arm in an ACE bandage for an arm signing party we had at the dinner-table one night.  She said she didn't want her little sis to feel alone so she would need her arm signed too.  

Just as I thought we had everything settled at school and home for our middle girl, the little one came down with a cold.  We attributed it to being at school for the first time and simply catching a little runny nose.  The runny nose quickly turned into a cough and then a terrible wheeze.  When I took her to the pediatrician we found out that she had walking pneumonia and was wheezing.  Thankfully, she is much better and has gotten used to holding the mask in place while the breathing treatment clears up her lungs. 

Whew!  What a week!

This is the one part of fall I dread...sickness!  With little ones, it is so hard to have them sick.

Hopefully we are just getting our illnesses and injuries out of the way early this year!  

A beautiful view...

There is something about a beautiful but familiar view that seems to open up my soul like a cool breeze off the lake.  It blows in, restores and renews every part of me.  Each year, I yearn to see this view--to remember the things we did the year prior and dream of new memories we will make.  I love to watch the view change throughout the day as the light and weather constantly fluctuate. Sometimes, the view is crisp and clear like the apples fresh from the autumn trees and other times it is hazy and dewy with the morning sun.  Either way, it brings peace and calm to us in the midst of the hectic pace of Fall.  Beautiful summer moments on the North Shore are the highlight of our year.

rare moments

As I scurried around to be sure everyone was ready for school this morning, I walked into the front entryway and was stopped by this rare shared moment between 3 sisters.  My three sitting peacefully on the front step before school forced me to dash for my camera.  Each morning, we sit together on the front doorstep before school.  We read books, eat breakfast, talk about the day ahead and enjoy some quiet time together before the busyness of the day takes over.  It is my favorite part of the day during the week.  I am glad to see that my girls seem to enjoy this peaceful time too.

sending her off

This year I broke my keep-my-babies-at-home-until-they-are-three mantra and sent our youngest off to preschool.  I questioned myself for months leading up to her first day of preschool.  Being the youngest, we decided that she needed a little more, a little earlier than her siblings.  

Off she went with a backpack filled to the brim with diapers, spare clothing, a water bottle and her lunch tote.  She stayed with no tears as I jetted out of a packed room with anxious parents and crying children.  As I left, I wondered if they knew her name and who she was.  Did they know she was mine and not some younger sibling that had gotten lost roaming the halls?  She doesn't even say her name yet.  I almost turned back but decided that it was best if I just left.  Turing back might complicate things for the both of us.  

Before we left for school, I reminded her to be kind to all the other children.  She immediately pointed to her hair and I said, "Yes, please don't pull anyone's hair.  That hurts."  She nodded and seemed to understand everything I said to her.  As I turned out of the parking lot this morning, I said a little no hair-pulling prayer about my girl and hoped all her good traits would shine today.

Well, when I arrived to pick her up,  I could tell by the look on the assistant teacher's face that my dear child had been pulling hair.  I was very embarrassed and concerned that she didn't mind hair-pulling outside the confines of our home.  Despite my being upset about her hair-pulling report, she was eager to tell me about "sliding down" and "sand."  Underneath her little fingernails were filthy when I got her.  She had definitely been digging in the sand and dirt.

She arrived home and wanted to eat and play.  There is something calming about just playing at home for this child.  As she wound down from her first day at preschool, we read books and sang songs before nap-time.

Overall, it was a successful first day for both of us with no tears.  Whew!  Now, we just have to work on this nasty hair-pulling habit!