Fall follies

My family of four is establishing traditions without even trying. In the last couple of weeks we've attended our third autumn Milford Community Picnic and third closing day at DQ. I remember last year so vividly that I can't believe the photos. Maizey is such a baby. And Lucy?! (Not to mention our first year.)

The horses were back (Maizey was NOT thrilled at having to wait in line to ride, however).

And Lucy had her first mounted equine encounter.

Not quite how she imaged it, I guess?

Bean bags were back.

But this time Lucy was around to annoy Maizey get in the way.

Grrrrrrrls.

Dad played interference.

And Lu moved on to other endeavors.

Happily, this year we shared the tradition with BFFs Jack, Ryan and Jaclyn. (Otherwise known as Nestor Will's other family - and my sister wife.)

 (that's Ryan peeking through Jaclyn's legs)

After all the dancing, Jack went to get Maizey some juice.

Alone. (Adorbs, right.)

While she warmed up the sack. 

I could spend hours captioning these, if I had hours to spend. But, I don't.
In short: competition master Will was WAY into it. Jack was WAY into Will. Maizey was WAY into Jack. And the crowd was way into the toddlers trying to compete.

  

(Will's face?)

I don't know who had more fun. Us watching or them running.

Cooperation, clacking and cake crashing

The post's title sum up the themes of Lucy's first birthday party on Sunday, September 21.

She cooperated with her sister while opening gifts (né - observed while Maizey opened)... 

 She clacked on a $4 computer keyboard gift ordered from Amazon (just like mom's),

and her new noise making glockenspiel (or to you non-hipsters "xylophone")...

And finally, crashed her smash cake...

 (with a little help from sister sister.)

Girl after my heart.

Thanks to all her guests: birthday twin Grandma Katie, Grandpa Bill, Gemma, tireless Uncle Paul, Aunt Jane, Uncle Joe, green-bean-salad wielding Aunt Robin, garbage man Jack, Ryan, Marc, Jaclyn, Dad, Kip and Maizey!

O.N.E.

Remember?

First days... & Birth story...

We love you, dear child. Happy Birthday.

Blades of steel

Last weekend Maizey donned skates for her first Lakeland Ice Arena Snow Plow Sam course. Attempting to avoid potpourri parenting (and swimming was a non-negotiable), we made her choose between skating, dance and gymnastics. Much to my surprise, she chose skating. Two Play-It-Again-Sports stops later, we had a slightly large pair of  pink-laced, size 8 hockey skates.

Friday evening I gathered last winter's gear together (poor girl's being split in half by her 2T snowpants) and packed a tote, and at 8:30 a.m. off we went - M&M.

Considering she's never worn skates before, she was amazingly steady while standing and walking...on the mats.

(Though she kept laughing hysterically and jabbering about her "tippy" feet.)

On the ice, well, after being "deposited" at her "station,"

She got a little assistance,

and then spent most of the time like this:

   But, hey, she seemed happy about it!

One cut lip (but no tears) and 25 minutes later I met her at the boards.

Stay tuned for regular progress reports.