The Planetarium

I haven't updated the blog in a few days, mostly because I've been super busy! I hosted a party here yesterday, which lasted most of the day. Which meant that I spent most of the day Friday preparing for said party. And then, Friday evening, I went to the newcomer's wine and cheese event for the club I just joined (which was really fun, and I enjoyed meeting all these ladies! lots of potential new friends there, plus I handed out my business card to quite a few people!). I also had two photo shoots last week, plus preschool, plus dance class, plus watching a friend's son, and so on... And did I mention that Nikos had a stomach bug earlier this week? I am EXHAUSTED! And I feel like this is just the beginning. Things seem to be speeding up, now that fall is here!

Speaking of which... I took this yesterday. Most of the trees here are still green, but random ones here and there have started to change-- like this one maple in our yard (which is still mostly green, except for a few branches). Our back yard is going to be spectacular soon! I can't wait! I also booked us a quick overnight trip up to Stowe, Vermont in a couple weeks-- right at the peak of "leaf peeping" time. So excited!

Anyway... Today was a family day. I asked the kids what they wanted to do, and Nikos instantly said that he wanted "to go to a planetarium." They had never been to one before, but "planetarium" was apparently the Word of the Day on Nick Jr. yesterday (or sometime recently). As it turns out, the children's science museum where we are members happens to have a planetarium. Admission to that is extra, so we had never done it. But they are also offering half-price tickets for the month of September. AND they have a show in there specifically for the preschool/kindergarten crowd. It was perfect! And it started at one o'clock, so we wolfed down some lunch and headed over there. The kids loved every second. It was a major hit!

After that, we did the usual... explored, played around with stuff, etc. I took pictures. As I said-- the usual!

Oh, and there were a ridiculous amount of wild turkeys in the parking lot, which I took a picture of. Little did I know I would see like three more flocks driving around our town in the afternoon. I nearly ran some of them over, there were so many! Crazy! And it also made me kind of hungry for Thanksgiving dinner, which I realize is sort of sick, ha!

And then we ran a few errands, which were less exciting to the kids but kind of thrilling for me. We bought a pretty fall wreath for our front door. It made me happy! And we bought some groceries, which were less exciting but still pretty important!

Then we relaxed for the remainder of the afternoon. Maya fell asleep on the couch.

Nikos and I drove over to his t-ball coach's restaurant to pick up the sweatshirt he earned for selling all his raffle tickets back in June (yes, it has taken this long!). He adores his coach, and the guy is really good with the kids, so it was fun. And Nikos loves his new sweatshirt! He wouldn't try it on, though, saying he is going to save that for a windy day. haha!

Anyhow, it was a nice day, but I am still wiped out. I just finished a cup of chai tea with honey, and think it might be time to get in bed and read my book. This week is bound to be just as busy, if not busier, than the last! Stay tuned! Tuesday should be especially exciting, haha!

Dancing

I don't have any photos to post today, but just wanted to share how well our tiny dancer did in her class this morning! The past two Wednesdays, Maya has sort of stood-and-observed for a good portion of dance class, usually opening up and participating close to the end of the lesson. Today, though, she was ready from the get-go! She did SO well, and I was so proud of her! She listened to her teachers, and really did her best to copy their moves and do what they said. I might even go so far to say that she was one of the star pupils today! She didn't just copy their moves; she did it with style! I love that kid!

Anyway, I think that her first day of preschool was similar... She can be very shy when put into a new situation, but she is VERY observant. She told me about everything they did at preschool yesterday, but Nikos told me that she sat and watched pieces of it (as opposed to participating). Tomorrow is day two of preschool, and I really hope she continues to open up! I want them to see the Maya we know and love at home-- a total sweetheart who is so full of happiness and has a total zest for life! I can't wait to get the full report!

On a completely different front... my photography business is gradually starting to take off here! I offered a bunch of free sessions to people I know, and it's starting to snowball. I am also putting together an auction item for a pricey private preschool not too far from here. Things are really coming together, and I couldn't be more thrilled! :)

First Day of Preschool!

Today, BOTH my babies went to preschool. It was threatening to rain, so I dragged them outside the house for a few quick photos before we left...

Gus stayed home long enough so that we could both take them to school and get them settled. It didn't take much! Nikos was, of course, familiar with all the routines. And Maya knew pretty much what it would be like, since she came with me to drop Nikos off all the time last year.

First, they went and found their hooks in the coatroom. I was surprised that Nikos didn't comment on the fact that his new hook is in a different spot than it was last year. I think he was too excited to notice/care, haha!

After that, they put their name cards in the bucket (their way of "signing in") and picked an area to play in (that's what they do until all the kids arrive, then they have circle time). Nikos was so cute, wanting to show Maya everything! They ended up deciding to color at one of the fine motor tables. Nikos even handed Maya a crayon (purple, her favorite color!) which she then traded in for yellow.

At that point, after playing paparazzi in the preschool, Gus and I said our goodbyes and left. They didn't even give us a second glance! I knew they would have a great time. :)

And then I had free time. FREE. TIME. Two and a half hours of it. So I did what anyone would do, and went to get a haircut. I tried out the place across the street from us, and was very pleased. I will definitely go back! I think I lost about two pounds of hair today (literally). My head feels so ridiculously light-- I love it!

I picked the kiddos up right before lunch, and they were all smiles. Nikos was thrilled that the teacher picked him to put today's date on the calendar during circle time ("Today is Tuesday, September 18th," he informed me). Maya said her favorite part of the day was snack time, which is not surprising. Our baby girl must have her daddy's metabolism, because she eats and eats and eats, and is still a tiny little thing! But all in all, they both had a great day. They were talking about it all afternoon!

Now, it's time for bed, and it's pouring rain outside. Here's hoping that we don't lose power! Some people in the state already have... ugh!!

Happy Birthday to our favorite nephew/cousin!

I can't believe the little man is two today! The kids wanted to make a movie for their cousin, so here it is (yes, they are still in their jammies... this was recorded at 7:30am!). We wish we could be there to celebrate this weekend!

Summer is back!!

Earlier this week, it felt like fall had arrived. And while I am really looking forward to our first fall in New England, and everyone tells me how amazing it will be, the calendar still says it's summer! I didn't want to lose out on the last week of shorts-and-flip-flops weather!

Anyway, I had sort of resigned myself to the fact that it might be over. It was crisp outside. I was burning an apple-scented candle. Maya was even insisting on wearing footie pajamas (which are adorable, but definitely not summer-y)!...

And then, today, summer came back! It was gorgeous! Close to 80 degrees, a gentle breeze, and not a cloud in the sky. And, wouldn't you know, the plans we originally had today were canceled! It was a sign! So we had a lazy morning inside as I cleaned the house, but as soon as lunch was over, we went outside and stayed there!

When we were visiting the puppies the other day, Lydia (the little girl who is Nikos' age) showed Nikos how she takes her ride-on toys to the top of their grassy slope and rolls down. It hit me-- we have a Cozy Coupe that hadn't been used since we moved here. And a much bigger slope, haha! So the kids and I played around with it, and figured out how high up the slope they could start while still safely rolling to a stop before the drop-off. We even found a little clover patch that was designated "the launch pad." And that was all they needed from me! They dragged the car up and rolled down for hours, taking turns and having a great time. It was like sledding, without the snow! I wish I had thought of it sooner! They roll down fast enough for it to be exciting, but slow enough that it really doesn't have me worried. Perfect!

They would occasionally take breaks to go on the swings (which is where I got this next picture, obviously), but they would always go back to the Cozy Coupe!

We went back inside for a while, once the kids started complaining they were hot. But before dinner, they begged to go out again. And the lighting had changed, which gave me good practice playing with the sunflare!

And, I totally bribed them to sit together, because I loved this lighting. I promised I would push them on the swings. It worked, hehe!

Anyway, it was a lovely last taste of summer, and I am so glad we were able to enjoy it! Fall will be here before we know it!

Puppies!!!

We went to visit the puppies today! My friend, Ashley, bred her Great Danes, and the puppies are a few weeks old now. They are beyond adorable! There are eleven of them, all with such different markings. I photographed them for her, so she can use the photos to help find them all homes. I won't share all the photos, just the one of my favorite little girl. She was the sweetest (and smallest). It's really too bad that we don't have a fence here, or I would be seriously tempted to bring this one home!

Anyway, the kids were very hesitant about seeing the puppies, at first. They are scared of dogs, which I have never really understood. But I didn't force them to come down to the basement to see them. Maya decided she would go with me, as long as I held her, and then she felt much more comfortable once she saw that they were contained in their box. Nikos eventually came down, too, to check them out.

Later on, after lunch, we played outside. Ashley brought the puppies out one at a time for their little photo sessions, haha! And Nikos and Maya started getting closer and closer to us. My children suddenly couldn't get enough of the puppies! I actually had to tell them to STOP petting the pups so I could get my pictures. But it was awfully sweet!

Speaking of sweet... Look at this face! They had a huge old cardboard box in their yard that had been made into a playhouse. Maya liked it, of course!

And then we all went on the swings. There were five kids and only four swings, so the three bigger kids took turns on the two big-kid swings. When it wasn't Nikos' turn, we looked over to see him pushing Lydia (who is his age). Awwww...

And Lydia apparently thought Nikos was pretty cool, because she kept trying to plant kisses on him when we were getting ready to go. I just barely caught this one on camera. haha!! His face cracks me up!

Anyway, we had a lot of fun, and I think everyone will sleep well tonight.

Day at the Fair!

I am tired! We've had a fun weekend around these parts, first with Farm Day, and now the fair! A nearby town hosts this pretty impressive fair every September, and I am so glad we were able to make it there to check it out.

A huge portion of the fair is dedicated to the agricultural competitions, so the first thing we did was go and visit all the animals. The pigs were MASSIVE! Yes, there were plenty of other animals, but I had never seen such enormous pigs before. The rabbits, too, were fun-- so many different types, some with really interesting "hairstyles." The kids seemed to enjoy the animals, though were were constantly on poop alert (there were landmines everywhere!). Fortunately, everyone's shoes remained clean. Whew!

It was only a matter of time, though, before Maya became insistent that we go on the ferris wheel RIGHT AWAY. This was what she had been looking forward to all morning-- her first ferris wheel experience. Nikos was adamant that ferris wheels were too high and too scary, and there was no way that he would go on it. No way, no how, got gonna happen. But then he did! And he had a great time!

On the midway, en route to the ferris wheel. I have no idea why Nikos is making that face, but it cracks me up!

Me and my favorite little girl, on the ferris wheel:

The view from the top. Just like in our town, we were surrounded by forest! So pretty!

Nikos and Gus at the top of the ferris wheel. He looks miserable, huh?

After the ferris wheel, both kids were suddenly very enthusiastic about the other rides! We walked around the kiddie rides, and they both declared that they wanted to ride the motorcycles. And they LOVED it! I think this ride was the biggest hit of the day. Gus and I were cracking up, watching their delighted faces as they went around.

We told them they could pick one more ride after that, and they chose the "flying" helicopters and boats. We had to wait for the operator to come back, though, and I thought I would take a quick pic of them standing together. Only Nikos started doing a robot dance. Of course! haha!

The guy did eventually come back, and they chose to ride together in the blue boat with the "robot head" on the front (according to Nikos). Silly faces!

And that was it, for the rides. We bypassed all the scary fried foods (fried oreos! steak on a stick! etc.) and bought a small bag of fresh cotton candy for the kids to try. Yes, it is pure sugar... but the kids had been asking about it after they read about it in one of Maya's books. And it was a fun treat. Maya, in particular, was a fan!

Anyway, it was a lot of fun, and the kids are already asking when the next fair will be. Quite a change, considering Nikos didn't even want to go this morning! haha!

Farm Day!

Our town has a ridiculous number of farms. I know that 17 of them were participating in Farm Day, but there are even more than that. Which is so funny, considering that you can see very few of them from the roads. There are so many trees here that you wouldn't even realize it's a farm town unless you already knew. I continue to be surprised as I learn more. And it doesn't SMELL like a farm town, either, which I feel is important to note! There are apparently a TON of cows here, and we cannot smell them. But more on that in a sec!

Yesterday was basically an "open house" event for the farms that chose to participate. Some of these places are usually open to the public, but many of them aren't... so it was an opportunity to see what goes on there. We started out our day at the meat farm, since we knew they were opening slightly earlier than the other places. As we pulled into the driveway, we saw that my new friend was there with her family! Small world (small town!). They live very close to that farm. Anyway, the kids visited the ponies and chickens, and Gus got into a conversation with the farmer (who is our age) about the cattle. Black Angus steers. He told us all sorts of funny stories about "the boys". I enjoyed watching them, especially the way they all stick together, wherever they go!

We also learned that the landscaping place next store was owned by his parents. We opted to go there next, since it was on the list AND I knew they had free cupcakes for the kids. Sounds like a plan, right? Not only were the people at the landscaping place super friendly and knowledgeable, the place itself was awesome! They grow every single plant on-site, from seeds and cuttings. They have over 20 acres of plants and trees! AND their prices were reasonable! We've been talking about getting some trees for the front yard for a while now. The owner (the farmer's dad, who looks just like him!) told us he'd be willing to stop by our house and actually walk the yard, mark where things could go, tell us what would look good, etc. And of course he knew exactly which house was ours, once we described where it was. haha! Anyway, we might be getting some trees soon. So exciting!

After our long chat with the owner, though, the kids were getting a little irritated. I supposed a landscaping place isn't the most fun for them, but they DID get the cupcakes (Maya got an apple, too). We finally loaded them into the car, and went to go check out a few farms in the neighborhood back behind our house. Our first stop was at a private, self-sustaining farm where they also train horses. The horses were fun to watch, and we even got to pet a few. I have actually been kind of scared of horses in the past, but these were so sweet and seemed to really love the attention. Fun!

As we were pulling away from that farm, we noticed just how pretty it was back there. Beyond this lake, through the forest, you would eventually come to the back side of our house. I love living here!!

Our next, and final, stop was at a dairy farm. It was literally next door to the horse farm. And I had no idea what a huge production it was! It looks fairly unassuming from the road, but they have over 750 heads of cattle, and sell their milk to a major company around here (Garelick Farms). I was shocked! And you couldn't smell a thing, which was most shocking of all! We soon learned why. This farm has some sort of methane-collecting machinery that siphons it off the cow poop and then uses the methane to actually power the farm! They have their own not-so-little methane-powered generator. It's really high-tech, and totally environmentally conscious. I was impressed! The farmer giving us the tour was impressed, too, and spent like 30 minutes talking about it... all while the small children in the group were starting to fall apart, wanting to see COWS. Finally, we saw the cows. And that massive barn, where the mature milking cows spend their days, was the one place on the farm where it stunk to high heaven! Nikos instantly pinched his nose and declared that it was time to leave, haha! It was pretty bad. Clearly, they were making a lot of methane...

At that point, we decided to go, since it was almost lunchtime and I had a very important shopping date with Caryn after that. Gus and the kids actually went out to our usual farm stand to get some milk, so they visited one more farm than I did. Next year, we'll have to check out the rest. It was so interesting!

A Discovery!

Before I talk about today's amazing discovery, I just realized that I didn't share this picture of Maya from the other day! This girl is just beautiful, inside and out, and I LOVE this picture of her!

Anyway... back to my discovery! We were supposed to have a playdate today (involving a litter of Great Dane puppies!), but my friend had to cancel. So we ended up having a productive day (for me) at home, which was nice! After lunch, we went outside to play. Nikos wanted me to push him on the swings, so I was walking to that end of the yard. Now, that end of the yard is along what we call "the ditch," although that is not an accurate description. There is a drop-off there (less than 10 feet, and it's a slope), and then a huge flat area that is basically impenetrable because of all the plant life. Animal life, too, since that area seems to be where everything lives (deer, fisher-cats, rabbits, etc.). We own a chunk of this space, but it's not really usable land. Just lots of beautiful woods to admire!

So I was down by the ditch, getting ready to push Nikos on the swing, when I noticed a cluster of berries hanging from a maple tree. Curious, I got a little closer. And I thought to myself, "Hey, those look like grapes!" and "I didn't think maple trees had berries? Those are huge!"

Fast forward a minute or two, and I was able to see where the vine was climbing up the maple tree. And as I followed it down into the ditch, my mind was blown to realize that a) those ARE grapes, and b) we have the biggest grape vine I have ever seen in my LIFE, growing on our property. I risked life and limb to snag one little bunch for research purposes, and convinced the kids to come inside. My friend Google quickly helped me confirm that these were Concord grapes. And a (nerve-wracking) taste test further solidified that classification. They taste like Welch's grape juice! And we have a TON of them! I can't believe they have been growing right under our noses! I took a picture of just one little section. Harvesting them will be tricky, but I can't wait to make jelly, juice, and maybe even some wine! Hooray!

Wicked Cuteness!

Please note my feeble attempt to fit in here by using "wicked" as an adverb. hahaha! It's been on my mind today, since it seems like everyone I spoke to used it in some way. And I never do! Some things might never change!

At any rate... Today was Maya's first dance class! She was so excited when I reminded her this morning, and she flung herself into my lap saying, "Thank you, Mommy!!" It was the sweetest! No matter how big she gets, she is still such a total snugglebug. So I got smothered with hugs and kisses, and then we made our way downstairs.

The morning seemed to drag on, but it was finally time to get ready! I wanted to take a few pictures of my baby girl in her outfit, so I got her to come into my (soon-to-be-complete) studio for a mini session. Her smiles were all very forced and fake, but I just loved this one. My tiny dancer!

And then it was time to go. We got to the dance studio, and it was pretty chaotic. Caryn was there with her kids, so Nikos and Evan found some chairs and instantly began playing Angry Birds on their respective tablets. We didn't hear a peep from these two the entire time, which sort of shocked me!

Maya was happy to see Paige there, along with her other playmate, Catherine. I snapped this picture of her and Paige before class, but Catherine (and her mom, my friend Jen) showed up a shortly thereafter...

And then it was time to dance. Maya did NOT want me to leave the actual room. She didn't cry, but she wouldn't stay with the group and kept wandering back out to the waiting room. And her teacher kept reassuring her that I would be waiting right there, and leading her back to the class. That only happened about twice. Then, while the kids were doing various movements, I noticed that Maya would move her legs, but not her arms. She was picking at her nails, a nervous habit she has developed. Still, she was listening and staying with the group. And THEN they switched from ballet to tap, and she was like a new kid. She was grinning and laughing and having a BLAST! The door was open for a bit when tap started, so I was able to snap a quick pic inside the class... (that's Paige in the black leotard on the left).

Before we knew it, it was done and all the girls were getting lollipops! Maya was happy as can be, and can't WAIT to go back! I had fun, too, getting to talk to the three moms I already know in the class, and meeting a few more. I think this class was a fantastic choice for our baby girl!

When we got home, I was GIDDY to discover that I had a few packages waiting for me on the porch. Even more so, once I saw that they were nice and dry (the remnants of hurricane Isaac have been slamming us with rain for the past two days). I had two rolls of seamless background paper, as well as a studio light with a softbox cover. I still need the bulbs for the light, but I couldn't wait to try out the new paper. So I broke open the "Country Blue," and pleaded with my children to just pose for a few minutes. And I got this, which I looooooooove!

I also got this. haha!

Anyway, it was a good day. Humid and gross, but otherwise good. We have two playdates over the next few days, and a busy weekend ahead. Lots to look forward to! Here's hoping I remember to post about it! :)

We're still alive!

Yes, it has been over a week since I last blogged! ACK!

Sometime last weekend, I made up my mind that now was the time to get my photography business up and running again. So most of this week has been consumed with that-- getting my business license, insurance, advertising, offering free sessions to my mommy friends, etc. And, I was both pleased and surprised to learn that, because of our home's location, we are also zoned for commercial use. So... I can have a studio in the house!! I had sort of hoped that would be the case, but having it confirmed by the town clerk finally allowed me to get excited about it. Our office, which is right by the front door and the powder room, has always been earmarked as a potential studio... and now it's starting to look like one! My friend Alicia (back in SoCal) is even making me a really cool vinyl wall decal of my logo, which will go in the middle of a display of my work. Exciting times!!

In other news, though... I joined a club last week! I'd been debating it for a long time, but they had a booth set up at a street fair we went to last weekend. Already, they have a wine and cheese event planned for new members, a Halloween party for the kids, and all sorts of other events. It's basically a social club for women, especially those who are new to the area. We even had a playdate yesterday with another mom from the club (who also lives here in town). AND we came away from that playdate with several large bags of 3T and 4T clothing that her daughter doesn't wear anymore. Maya is almost completely set with fall/winter clothing now! CRAZY! But in a good way!

The next few weeks are going to be busy. We are having a small cookout here tomorrow , with Caryn and her family. Maya starts dance class this week, and we have two playdates, too (one of which involves me taking pictures of my friend's Great Dane puppies, so she can sell them. SO CUTE!). Preschool for both kids starts on the 18th, and Gus' parents will be in town sometime around then for a visit. I'm also hosting a HUGE party here on the 22nd for pretty much all my online mommy group friends. Right now, we have people coming from Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and (obviously) Massachusetts. It's also a direct sales party for one of the girls (she sells Perfectly Posh, a line of spa/skincare stuff), and I'm the hostess, so I am looking forward to getting all sorts of free stuff!! Woohoo!

In the meantime, how about some pictures?? Here are just a few from today. I can't believe it's September already!!

P.S. If you happen to know anyone in the Central Massachusetts area in need of family portraits, throw them my way! http://www.sweetbriarphotography.com

Pirouette!

I don't even know that I spelled that correctly, haha! Anyway, it's been a slow week, blog-wise. Lots of grocery shopping and exciting things like that. Oh, and I caught the cold that my brother so generously shared (Thanks, Grant!). So it hasn't been the most exciting time, especially since I feel like I've been run over by a truck. Yay...

At any rate... We DID go to the dance studio yesterday, so Maya could meet her teacher and see where her lessons will be taking place! They were having an open house, and it was good to get some questions answered and develop a clearer mental image of how this all works. And, it was REALLY good that I convinced Caryn to go, too, since it turned out that her daughter was not on the class list! And yet, they had charged her credit card! It ended up being fine, since there were still a few spots to fill, but Caryn was SO mad. Her inner New Yorker was about to break free! I'm just glad it worked out, and that Paige and Maya will be in the same class. And the teacher was really sweet. She's going to love it!

As soon as we got home, our tiny dancer insisted that she needed to get all dressed up and "practice ballet." I snapped this photo while talking on the phone with my mom. Seriously, could she be any cuter?? She loves to dance, and I think that this class is going to be so great for her. I can't wait!

They're Gone

Insert sad face here! :( Grant, Melissa, and Colton left us today and headed up towards Maine to continue their New England vacation. We were so happy that they were able to spend as much time with us as they did, and that the kids got in lots of quality cousin-bonding time. Hopefully, it won't be too long before we're in California again (fingers crossed for the week of Thanksgiving, but we'll see!). It was really nice to see some family again!

Anyhow... they hit the road shortly after lunch, timing it so that Colton would take his afternoon nap in the car. Once they were gone, Nikos actually asked if he could paint! It's been a while since we've done any art, and I thought it sounded like a great idea. So I set up the easel and kid table on the back deck. That way, one kid could paint while the other one worked on a collage or drew with colored pencils. Maya loved working on her collage of leaves, and impressed me with her efficient (and vastly improved from last time) glue stick abilities. Nikos preferred painting his dinosaur scene, but also dazzled me with his little colored-pencil rendition of all the Yo Gabba Gabba characters. Really, I need to take a picture of it. I knew EXACTLY what it was when he was finished!

At any rate, these kids love art, and I, for one, enjoyed sitting on the deck and doodling with colored pencils, too! So relaxing!

And that was essentially our day! They played on the swings for a bit after that, and then it was nearly time for me to start preparing dinner. Not a bad day, but certainly a lot quieter without my brother and his family around! They can come back anytime!