Naturalist or a Photographer?

I am not quite sure which of the two we have on our hands here, but maybe both. Thanks again to Aunt Sarabeth for her suggestion to pass along the "old" camera in our house to our budding preschooler. Ada and I went for a nature stroll yesterday, and she of course brought her new camera along. My favorite part of this, aside from her interest in the flowers and trees, is her "photographer stance" -- I can't stop laughing when I see it. Oh, and how she exclaims, "Yes! That's right!", as if the flora and fauna are posing just for her.

Try and wipe the grin off of my face.

Now for a look at her photos:

A "beautiful" flower

The Christmas lights are "sooo beautiful!"

A berry "for the birds"

The "most beautiful" Christmas tree in the neighborhood

Christmas Day

We went to church, had dinner, left out milk and cookies for Santa and went right to bed.

Easiest time I've ever had putting the kids to bed. Ada did not want to read books or leave the hall light on, "I just want to listen for Santa." Well OK then.

In the morning at the side of my bed, "Mom, I didn't hear Santa come."
Me, "Go look and see if he ate the cookies and milk you left, then you will know if he came last night."
A scurry down the hallway and back, with a long pause at the kitchen table to inspect the crumbs and thank you note left by Santa, "Mom! Mom! He ate the cookies and they are all gone!!"

"How does he know I like Minnie & Mickey Mouse?"

2 cookies and a lollipop -- that's all she wanted (thanks Aunt Stephanie for sending the lollipops).

Is this how you pose for pictures, Mom?

Oblivious but happy all the same.

"Wow, this was really nice of Santa."

Playing in the "band in a box" box.

That pose again, showing off her new jewels from Grandparents and friends.

Not sure what to play with first!

Ding! Ding!

Having fun with her new art supplies.

A Secret Garden

You would never know it is winter in Virginia and that we are 3 days away from celebrating Christmas. The weather has been incredibly mild and we have taken full advantage of it. Ada and her "best friend, Nixie Fae" have been playing outdoors most days, reenacting scenes from The Secret Garden, which happens to be the first chapter book Ada and I just finished and then streamed via Netflix. Ada is slightly taken with Mary, the young girl from The Secret Garden whose disposition was improved by digging away in the dirt and spending time with the flowers and animals on the moor. 

Since we clearly don't have a walled-in-garden, Ada and Nixie had to get creative and use the ground underneath the lawn table the previous owners left for us in the backyard. I only stepped outside for a minute to snap a few photos, knowing that my presence wasn't necessary during their imaginary play. I was only sorry to miss the riveting conversation between these two gals.

Thanks to Aunt Bonnie & Aunt Sarabeth for their suggestions of new and creative ways to engage their niece following my recent post about feeling uninspired and bored with our regular activities. I am excited to pass along our old camera to Ada this Sunday thanks to Sam's generous "pre-Christmas" Christmas gift to me, which you can see I have been using liberally. Ada will also receive several new art supplies to experiment with, thanks to Santa who we have been anticipating all month. Ada talks to him every other day on the computer thanks to THIS SITE -- you should make a video for your little one, too. And if you happen to watch the video on the link, yes, Ada asked Santa for 2 cookies and a lollipop this year.

While we wait for new art supplies, we have had fun making all kinds of Christmas crafts, including pomanders, which you can make using the directions HERE, although we didn't cure ours; maybe next year with a little planning.

And this post wouldn't be complete without a picture of this sweet face. I think I may need to lay off of the sweet potatoes, carrots and winter squash for a while. Look at that orange nose!

And just in case you missed it on Facebook -- Ada teaching her Dad how to sing Rudolph!

Snips & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails

Don't let that sweet face fool you. Trouble, I tell you. If we were to have a third child (No, we are not!), there is a 50-50 chance that it could be another boy and this one is handful enough, thank you very much! Quentin started walking about 4 weeks ago, which is fun and fabulous news in our home. 

Even before he started walking though, he was climbing up onto furniture (and falling off of it), so you can imagine what life is like now that he is truly mobile, fairly agile and getting faster.

I always rejected the notion that boys and girls are different. They are. I have proof in my house. Come over and you will see it and know for yourself. Shortly after Quentin was born I received a random free sample of "Nerve Tonic" from Hylands in the mail. I have always used their homeopathic teething tablets for Ada, so I guess they decided to promo a different product. I think they knew something I didn't know at the time. They knew that my laid back, mellow, drama-free boy was going to WAKE UP one day and live out loud. I came upon that unopened box of nerve tonic in the hall closet today and seriously considered popping a few, and I am not trying to be funny -- I really did almost take some!

Most of the time this is what I see of Quentin -- his backside as he is swiftly moving from one self-generated disaster to the next. I am following around a human tornado.

I am convinced that one day I will find him on the roof, cape tied securely around his neck as he attempts to fly, bungee jump, or just soar off the roof for the heck of it.

It's a good thing I have some fierce love for him and would sacrifice everything to keep him happy and healthy. 

I just may have to take a nerve tonic to actually raise him.

Christmas comes early

Sam picked up a bit of extra work this month and purchased a snazzy new camera for me for Christmas, which was mighty generous if you ask me. Rather than waiting until Christmas morning, he thought I would get double-joy out of receiving the gift early so that I might capture the holiday season while the littles are still little.

But as you can see, they are growing rapidly, making my new camera all the more special.