Snakes and Frogs

                                                                    A first lost tooth.

  Salad made by my nine year old from our garden. This marked his first time doing anything in the kitchen.

                                                           Forts in the living room.

            If he was outside in the back yard this summer I often found him in the garden. He loved it.

               This little guy is up to all sorts of adventures every single minute he isn't asleep.

                                                        He really likes helmets and hats

                               I am thankful for grandma and the moments she brings quiet to our home.

We got to use our canoe this summer a couple times. The baby was enthralled and never wanted to get out of it. They went on some manly adventures together.

She has not varied from wanting to be a cow boy when she grows up for quite a while. Often she will ask if something she is doing is something a cow boy would do. I am not sure where this dream will take her but I've bought her overalls, boots, she's got the kerchief and hat....I just have not been able to procure a horse.

She was excited for school to start but I keep telling her...there is something wrong with this picture...it is the color orange.

He was trying to use my world map as a slip and slide off the mini trampoline. I would have never ever thought of that use for a world map...

 This summer his big sister taught him how to fry eggs. This meant he makes breakfasts quite cheerfully for the whole family if need be...as long as it is fried eggs.

  These are pictures I have taken on my little camera this summer. I was just looking through and enjoying the little moments captured. Children are so full of life. They hum and buzz and vibrate with creativity, passion, and so much energy. Our summer was simple but full. Autumn is here now and we are enjoying it to the fullest. The other day we went to the wetlands we love. The leaves are starting to turn colors on the mountains. The call of Canada Geese fill the air. The air is a bit crisper. The water looked cold and dark.

  There was a field trip group when we got there and we got to see them catch a frog and the biggest tadpole I had ever seen. The sun had gone behind the clouds when we got there but my oldest son had really wanted to catch a frog. He hauled this big white bucket around the whole time and the only one we saw was the one caught by the group. He was getting really discouraged and I could see his anxiety rising. We tried to catch grasshoppers with no luck. He was getting so sad  and wanted to leave filled with dejection but the sun came out so I thought maybe if we tried one more trail we'd at least see snakes. We walked along and I was looking and looking. I saw the tail end of one and he didn't see it...all of a sudden there were snakes all over the place just coming out for the sun. He caught one and got it in the bucket but it jumped right out, he caught two more and he was glowing with happiness and pride. All thoughts of frogs were vanished and the glory of the biggest snake he had ever caught prevailed. I felt that the afternoon was saved. We went home and it has been raining ever since. I am thankful for sunny Autumn days and snakes of all things.