Playgrounds are very exciting with Rowan and Evangeline. Rowan just runs off and can climb, slide, and scale the equipment all by himself. Evangeline now loves to swing and has been recently named a slide addict. It's all good timing since visiting the playgrounds is our most popular fall activity!

Rowan and Evangeline are pictured here at Lions Park in Upper Saddle River. I grew up playing on this playground although it most certainly looked different then since my memories are of splinters from the wood construction and hot metal from the reflective slides!

Our fall adventures are already double those that we got in last year. It's a new experience to be a little more flexible with the children and their schedules. They are both very eager about getting in the car and going for an adventure. Yippee!

On this excursion we traveled a long dusty road to Gardenworks at MacClan's Family Farm in Salem, NY. Driving on Mosquito Swamp Road was either a highlight or lowlight of the trip! With our successful arrival to the family farm we met Lolly, Pops, and PopPop, who also made the trip down from the lake, to Raspberry pick, meet the animals, and shop their little market. It was also a trip down memory lane as PopPop spent some of his time in Salem with his friend Norm on the farm and we were able to talk with the MacClans about mutual friends.

Flashback Frame

Spring 2009
Fall 2010

Fall is a favorite season of mine, especially with beautiful fall days like we've been having. The weather is perfect here for walking, running, playing - you name it! We pass our days with acorn collecting and acorn crafting, digging, passing the lacrosse ball, playing catch, and pretty soon we'll be raking (a lot) too.

Labor Day 2010

was cooler and breezier than ideal but we made the most of it at the lake,

Evangeline enjoyed breakfast lakeside,Rowan discovered sticky "tails" out walking with Pops and then showed Great Pop Pop all about his discovery by giving him a "tail" too,
and we all spent time hanging and relaxing anchored at Log Bay, these babes know how to do it!

Rowan loves his balance bike. Check out this post sharing our story and encouraging others to get on two wheeels, another guest blog moment on MaltaMama!

Evangeline Christine,...
-is 13 months old
-21lbs, 30"
-eats corn like she's playing the flute-signs all done, more, please, daddy, telephone
-follows directions well
-asks for her (or anyone's) shoes to be put on her
-loves playing with her friends
-eats all day beginning with wanting to be placed in her highchair directly from her crib each morning
-prefers water over milk
-likes to close doors, dishwashers, cabinets, and closets
-does not sit still for diaper and clothes changes
-climbs out of the tub
-loves to be up-side-downand she's a dream of a child that we are blessed to call our daughter!

We're at a great turning point in the house,..the two are starting to play together. Although they still work against each other most of the time here's proof that cooperation and giggles do actually happen simultaneously.

Guest blogged for a popular Mommy blog in town.
Check out the post @ Malta Mama !

Here's the dress. For Evangeline's 1st Birthday I made her a sundress. I was gifted the book Making Children's Clothes: 25 Stylish Step-by-step Sewing Projects for 0-5 Years along with some gorgeous fabrics. Therefore, I perused the pages and I embarked on creating the toddler dress for Evangeline. Of course, I waited for my talented Mother-In-Law to visit so that she was on hand for instruction and correction! It didn't take long but the mind work for creating it is intense. It's lined and could be worn reversed in a pinch if stained. The ties are sewn of the same fabric, there is a ribbon detailing on the bottom along with a homemade yo-yo to add flare to the front. I pray that she's wear this now, with undershirts as the weather cools and as a shirt with shorts or pants in the years to come. Making it was a memory of time well spent with my Mother-In -Law and as a precious gift for our beautiful and sweet Evangeline.

July at the Lake House we found ourselves diving into the heat of the summer with The Le's, food, and fun. What a hot blast!

We all swam morning, noon, and night and had fun just being around the lake house with family.Together, we celebrated Jill's Birthday, Fourth of July, our 6th Wedding Anniversary and Evangeline's 1st Birthday!
And, once a year we hit the village arcades and it fuels our laughs for the rest of the year!