Lady Bug Blakeley and Weensy Spider Woods

Good tinkle treat

Day with Woods

The photo of the bottom of the tiny Tom's shoes is to document a moment with smart, techy Woods Miller. We were heading outside, so I began working one of the shoes onto his foot while he held the other shoe. He studied the bottom, and holding it as if it was an iPhone, began to tap on the grid. When this yielded no results, he announced that it needed batteries. (Love this; he may enjoy it later, too, if you record it.)

In the swing, Woods enjoyed observing a monarch butterfly feed at length from the flowers nearby. Then, he pulled the wagon up and down the sidewalk, collecting acorns and caps for cargo. The Muhly grass in a nearby bed was a favorite discovery, with its waving, purplish tips. And, he like the velvety Salvia Leucantha, and ran his hand over any blossom within reach. A house down the street is undergoing major renovations, and we observed all the action. Woods asked about the green generator, humming away at the curb. That was a hard one to explain! Watching a man cut 2x4 lumber was interesting to him, as he listened to the rasp of a hand saw on wood and the clunk of a cut piece as it dropped to the driveway.

At lunch, Woods was laser focused on eating a Honeycrisp apple.

Before nap, I headed for the reading chair with Woods clutching his book of choice. It was the Haba brochure that came with the block sets, full of color photos of block configurations and children building. He loves it, and does not mind that it is written in German.

He is such a wonderful, mellow and smart baby. Thank you for today.

Forgot to add...

First; our little Houdini has kept me laughing since I returned home, as I have found myself locked out of the water dispenser in the fridge door, and I also remember that the dishes have been partially washed a few times in the dishwasher. He also loves unzipping one end of the crib sheet. This morning I erected the boys old Marble Run. Woods loved it, and watched the marble track the maze over and over again. His eyes really lit up when I yielded and let him hold the six marbles in his hand, so he could shoot them down in rapid succession.

I am sorry about the fit of the snuggly jackets I purchased for Woods. I think they are great quality and unique.

It was fun for me to get to show off you and the babies to Lynne today. She had not seen you in some time, and is a friend that I love and admire so much. She personifies goodness, and has much to teach others who marry into dynasty type families with the weight that carries.

Finally, at times today, I could see a bit of your handsome father in Woods’ face.

Adventure with Blakeley

While I packed our picnic lunch, Blakeley and pony took an extended ride through the living room pasture. Then, she used a ‘curry comb’ to brush out his coat, and inspected the hoofs for rocks. She covered him with a blanket and put him back in his stall. I offered a snack for both of them and she selected celery. She served the horse’s chunky stalks and her slender and trimmed pieces on the sterling, cut-glass wine coasters from the nearby table. Lovely.

The weather was (finally!) conducive to visit Mayfield Park and visit the peacocks. The males had lost all of the long tail feathers, and appeared smaller. We learned that two pea chicks had been born in 2011, and I was surprised the number was not greater. Blakeley’s balance is so good, and she loved testing her skills by walking on the narrow stones which connected ponds. Her peacock top was noticed by adults and children, and she was pleased to be gifted two wing feathers as we were leaving. We moved down to Laguna Gloria and she asked to visit ‘her studio’. Inside were two professional artists, working in acrylic and paper. They warmly welcomed Blakeley, and one pulled down completed canvases and stood them on the floor, encouraging Blakeley to run her hand over them. We walked down to the lagoon and ate on a bench by the cove. Two more artists were nearby, easels up, painting in plein air. It was such a wonderful, artistic environment, with nature as its setting.

The only improvement on the day would have been if you could have come, too. 

Coffee; Mommy

Daddyhungrybearcoming

Builders

It was a wonderful and fun day. Thank you for sharing them with us. Blakeley built and built, did a lot of art outside on the deck, and rode up and down the street on her trike with Grandad. Woods enjoyed swinging, and
did a lot of raking in the backyard. I meant to point out the bug bite on his arm. Especially fun for both was shooting the ball poppers in the yard. Woods used the blue balls and Blakeley, yellow, so each could see where
their shots landed. Woods supplied additional sound effects.

Woods

He made a bee line for bunny and said, "Kiss it."

Gameday playbysitting!

All in a Fairies day

Just when I thought today was planned out, Mother Nature gifted an even better adventure. As Blakeley began to remove things from the Halloween bag, she chanced upon fairy wings and a wand. With encouragement, she did place things around the house before losing herself into fairydom. Later, she asked to ride the trike outside, and as she was pedaling down the sidewalk she spied a Monarch butterfly on the pavement, clearly exhausted. I have been hearing that they are migrating, and because of our devastating
drought, they do not have the ponds, the springs or usual places to hydrate as they pass through. I filled a shallow dish with water and the Monarch held on to her finger for a long time. I sprinkled droplets onto her finger, hoping it could drink. Then, straight out of Pixar, out came the proboscis and the butterfly drank. Blakeley was beside herself with love and eagerness to help. The magnolia leaf is her idea as 'covers' for the
butterfly. We sat in the front hard offering drink for a good while. Blakeley was able to see others fly over us, opening the perfect entrée to expand on your discussions about migration. HRH already knew that
butterflies have a 'hole in their tongues'. She is resting right now on the chaise, as she doesn't dare leave her charge. She has the kindest heart.

Great moment.

Tell me if you, too, hear archangels singing in the background

Blakeley dressed up, and when I suggested I get the camera to capture the moment, she took the reins, selecting the site for the shoot and each pose. No stage direction from the wings. 

 

 

Firetruck at the library

Despite Woods' serious demeanor, he gave little kiss smacks towards the fireman as we walked away.