Last Hurrah

I will miss the tangle of scooters, bikes, shoes, helmets, towels and goggles on my front porch. Part of our crew is moving today and we will follow in a few months. I had good friends growing up but never a roving, multi age neighborhood gang like the one my children have enjoyed. The security and confidence that develops out of this kind of experience is indeed priceless. I know they will all keep this goodness in their hearts and share it with the new friends they meet.

summer porch & crew

Welcomed Downtime

If this beer were a woman I'd be out a husband.
Movie Night!

Thunder Storm

Almost there

We've had such a good time crafting the character of this house! More pictures coming soon on our house website/blog.

new paint and landscaping!

Mookie Jones RIP

Cancer got our boy. The joy and comfort he brought us was immeasurable.

big mooks

Dollies

On free play days at home it feels like Bridget and Ruby are additional members of our family. When Ella's girlfriends come over with their charges the dramatic play really heats up. Cyrus is in on the dolly action too. Often he describes his plans for Bridget and Ruby when Ella is not around to protect them. Other times he falls in with the casual chit chat about their general adorableness and clothing options. Precious.

ella & bridget

ella & ruby

girlhood rules

girlfriends too
for the dollies

Muffin Feet

Cyrus and I made up a song about baby S's feet because they are adorable and little and tan and pudgy. They are the kind of feet you want to nibble and so they reminded us of muffins. She and her mama came for a visit from Santa Cruz, CA over spring break.

Her muffin feet are often a blur in photographs due to her frequent and joyous leg and arm flapping. See Ella's baby doll in the picture too. Ella and her girlfriends are in a major baby phase right now and so our wee guest was an extra special treat.

Minneapolis Nuptials

Weddings are fewer and farther between in this season of our lives and so we were especially excited about C & K's glorious union. It gave us a chance to chum around with old friends, make new ones, walk cold city streets, lounge on high thread count hotel sheets, see a movie, try foie gras meatballs, meander around the Walker Art Center and Sculpture Garden and dance.

Thank you Grandma Roberta for caring for the chicklets so that we could enjoy this opportunity without a bit of worry.

guests with yam ceremony yam

The brides mother, a dear heart and late 18th and early 19th century American history scholar read this letter during the ceremony. Isn't it romantic?

Zadoc Long to Julia Davis

February 1, 1824

Dear Julia,

I would go ever so far on foot to see you, tonight. I feel sad when I don’t see you. Be married, why won’t you? And come to live with me. I will make you as happy as I can. You shall not be obliged to work hard; and when you are tired, you may lie in my lap, and I will sing you to rest with, “There’s Nothing True but Heaven.” I will play you a tune upon the violin as often as you ask and as well as I can; and leave off smoking, if you say so. I will supply as much molasses as you want to make candy, when Sister Persis Blanchard comes to see you. I would be always very kind to you, I think, because I love you so well. I will not make you bring in wood and water, or feed the pig, or milk the cow, or go to the neighbors to borrow milk. Will you be married? Little time is allotted to us in this world. Let us make the most of it while it holds out.

L O V E

There is nothing like sugar and love and giving to motivate children to create.

Snow Day

Puerto Rico

CJ and I adapted easily to Island life. Beach stroll or snorkel? Conch or lobster? Beer or blended rum sweetness? Nap on the sand or sheets? Ahh... decisions... decisions...

rincon sunset
rincon is for lovers
old city san german
grandma holds down the homestead

White Christmas

Boy did we have a good time over winter break!!!

let it snow, champaign illinois

new cousin!
canine cousins

sledding

scooting

chicago, chicago
lincoln park views
lincoln park zoo
millennium park

I developed a monster crush on the Midwest. I'm sure it had everything to do with the company I kept. Thank you, thank you to...

Bro & Sis Jones for everything !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grandp Joneses for the swanky digs and sleep ins.

Frago brood for the good time break from the road.

Kitzmiller for coming to visit and the head lamps.

Wooly sisters for their hospitality.

Hubby for the lovely city date.

J & P for keeping the kitties safe.

Five Years Old!

Our baby is not such a baby anymore.

birthday party grin

Just us chickens

Anticipating an extra extroverted holiday season ahead we opted for a supremely low-key Thanksgiving. Keeping things simple created more flexibility in our schedule and time to enjoy play and preparation.

The Thanksgiving menu discussions have been underway for weeks. Topics include the difference between chicken and turkey, the ingredients in stuffing, the merits of pumpkin vs pecan pie, and the utter brilliance of marshmallows on yams. Since Cyrus has always had a keen interest in poultry the turkey salt bath was very exciting.

post brine turkey and poultry enthusiast
I look forward to the pre feast snack of shrimp cocktail and bloody marys almost as much as the main event.

salty, crunchy, spicy, sweet

children set a cheery & rustic table
The afternoon unfolded with Cj in the kitchen working his magic and the rest of us noodling around outside. We played volleyball, kickball, chased falling leaves, watched butterflies mate and built a fairy house.The weather changed from sunny and warm to windy and cold in a matter of a few hours which felt exhilarating.

playing in the street
dinner jacket and wheelbarrow
fairy house
butterfly love
After a satisfying feed we retired to the backyard to enjoy a crackling fire.

stoked

Baby Girl

Good news!!!! Ella and Cyrus have a new cousin! Naturally, we are over the moon about this little peach.

j jones
In other news...

A long weekend in California was very, very good to me. JUST ME, sans offspring or kindergartners. Still feeling the love Mom, Sis y Amigos!!!

me as an impressionist masterpiece from the musée d’orsay at the de young, san francisco

Grandma R's visit over Halloween and Wurstfest in October felt like a tradition in the making.

wurstfest grandma
wurstfest coaster
Hubby's test kitchen and food reviews made for many memorable bites.

backyard fryer smorgasbord