full fall

It's a full fall. A full, beautiful, fleeting, yellow, glorious, busy, splendid, exhausting fall. Thursdays are full. They start with a 7:30 am staff meeting and today went straight through to swim lessons this evening. In between was as diverse as bribing someone out of her jammies to explaining the difference between hear and here, to reading the brilliant BFG to a rapt and exceedingly appreciative audience to the creation of an impromptu lamb loaf with tzatziki sauce. And red cabbage salad with miso ginger dressing. I was on it.

Also in all that goodness was a psychedelic walk through the park of many yellow leaves. And a little brother bear who could have sat and marveled all day. He's funny right now. Moving from his passivity into a very active little explorer. He was sorta annoyed to be strapped into Big Red, the massive limousine of a stroller I rock these days. But put that boy in a sea of yellow leaves, and he could stay all day. Leaves to look at. Leaves to eat. Leaves to finger. Love him.




And sister is too much in her swim lesson. Fearless, that one. Teeth chattering, skinny legs and dreading curls.

Like everything these days, she'd stay all day. Transitions are not her thing.


Just ten more times on the slide, Mommy. Just ten rides.
Just one more, Elie.
Just six.
Just one.
Just four...


Our little dictator. And her sweet bro. Who's up again for the gazillionth time since being put down at seven. It's not yet ten. Bro's rockin' a six month birthday cold and is a little less happy-go-lucky bro like this evening. A little pink rimmed and puffy eyed.

So I hit publish.

This activity that I can do in the quiet dark. A way to bookend these precious days.

Get ready to bust the boob. Break the rules. Cuz I can't let this little guy cry. And I could stare at those lips and lashes all night long.