Triple Time

We braved a trip down to St. Louis this weekend, I don't know how two little things can make what is relativelly a short drive so torturous... let's just say there was a lot of crying and not a lot of sleeping and when the crying outlasts the sleeping, I wouldn't really call is a sucessful drive. We are going to give a long drive another go tomorrow and head up to WI, trying out a new tactic: Morning driving, River is happiest in the morning and takes a good morning nap, and while A won't sleep during this time, he is now old enough to entertain a bit in the car and can read books. We'll see how it goes... hopefully good as we are heading to PA next Tuesday and have a 8+ hour drive ahead of us (luckily in two days).

Back to St. Louis, it was a quick trip in and out, babies aren't the most entertaining thing for an active two year old, but I was able to soak in some triplet love. Oh how little they are and how nice it was to hold someone that doesn't make my arm hurt. They are sweet little babes. Most of our time playing was during shabbos, so I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked, but a few of the girls. Asher played some music for the girls.Amalya gave me a few smiles. Asher got to swim at Barry and Shelly's. Their pool is awesome and feels so much like a resort. Bubbie got some QT with Asher. The triplets all went in the water too. Lots of kids in the pool (photo stolen from A&R)

River hung out being his cute, fun, smiley self.

Super Chunky Monkey

River hit up the Dr. office this week for a regular check up.The boy in all of his chubbiness weighs in just shy of 19 lbs, at 18lbs, 14 oz. 26 inches long.He is happy and healthy, and holy cow is he tough. He only flinched at his two shots, no crying or need for comforting afterward. This morning he pounced himself off of the bed, and landed like a cat- uninjured, no pain and just proud of himself for moving. I am not sure if all this is leading to a good thing and I can't imagine having my hands more full.
We are off to St. Louis to cuddle the triplets!

Overflowing Berries

Around these parts Asher is know as "Little Bear" I think it first came up last year when the currants were ripe and he was just like a little bear cub indulging in berries. This year things have quadrupled, we have more berries than we can pick and fill up our tummies, so we have been freezing those we can't eat. The purple raspberries left by the birds are kicking some major ass this year both in size and flavor. They taste like jam, no smuckers, real homemade jam made from the ripest, most wonderful berries and even better because they are still warm from the sun so perhaps is more like a jammy cobbler fresh from the oven, no sugar needed.

I have to partition the ones I pick to Asher, although he can pick himself, he still goes after the tray that is going to be saved form Winter- really who can help themselves when they are just sitting there?

Family Art Time

To beat the heat around here , we have been retreating to the shade of indoors, with the lack of central air, for some quiet cooling down time before naps. Bubbie and Zadie joined in of the fun and we have a new gallery on the porch.

Asher is still learning to use scissors and enjoys watercolors. Bubbie did some great art and Zadie painted a fish.

Bubbie and Zadie Visit

We had some fun adventures with B & Z here the last couple of days. We had lots of fun beating the heat at Kickapoo State Park, checking out Sleepy Creek Vineyard (nice, but really expensive) dinner at El Torro and a beautiful rainbow on the way home to ice cream. Very full day.

Creating

I have to say it out load, I feel like we are starting to his a rhythm with two kids. It may be comprimised with this heat as the mama has no energy and patience is twindling, but I will embrace this moment.

My favorite new part of the day is our after lunch 'art project' time. Asher has brought this about, it is upon his request and River has been very supportive as he has been taking a shorter early morning nap and an extended nooner afternooner nap, stretching 3-4 hours waking only to use the potty. And a rhythm is upon us. Asher and I get some one on one time, it is a quiet activity in the slump of the day and winds the boy down perfectly for his nap (now lasting on average 2 hours.)

Asher makes things and also requests things be made. I love that he thinks we can make anything. I finally embraced finger painting in the house, with my new drop cloth table cloth. I think by fall Asher and I will be ready for playdough inside as well, although River will be on his way to eating it then! For now though I am going to make my first batch of playdough for our porch for the summer.

After play group last week we had to make all of his friends that came over... we didn't get to all of them, but these boys are Christian, Asher and Manoloand a few ladies Natalie, Mama Cathy and Audrey

Oh how I love this boy!

Recent Shots of a 4 Month Old!!!

I don't know if I blogged this, but he is over 4 months now, 1/3 of a year, he has been here for that long!

Oh and he is just sofa king cute. and getting cuter and more fun everyday. He loves to laugh and is so talkative, just like his brother was. He can tri-pod himself up well and can't wait to sit up more on his own.

He is loving toys and entertains himself for longer stretches, laughing and what not. He loves seeing his reflection in the mirror or metal bowls for that matter.

and oh how big he is, growing so much. He is very long, I think that he will be taller than A is. We are pretty sure that he is responding to signing, he arches his back and gives us his hands when we sign up. And he is rocking the elimination communication as far as we are concerned. He wakes up in the middle of naps, pees, and then goes right back to sleep...
All and all a pretty awesome boy.

Fence Finishing

The pickets went up great (with Asher's help), Ben made a great gate.

The ground was made level to prevent escapees.

And the chickens made themselves at home.

Isn't it pretty?

Fence Day Two

Hope no body reports the nudity, but A spent day two of fencing beeing a worker bee, carrying pickets back and forth from the garage to uncle zak. It was an awesome morning activity.

He was so proud of himself. And really didn't get to the serious work until zak came into the garage and was going to get his own. Then he knew that we really needed his help. Plus his timing was great, getting the picket there just when it was needed.

The Chicken Upgrade

It is well beyond time to take care of the outside of our house. We have had a pretty thorough inside makeover of the house and now we are branching out. We are really looking forward to paving a patio of sorts, but that falls in the over $1000 projects and currently our budget can only allow for projects in the $100's. So we opted to make over the chicken area.
Here she is before, electric netting reminiscent of the days when we had 60 broilers in the field and first starting raising birds, back in the good ol grad school days. Oh, how I was so sick of that netting. We were lucky to have additional man power in town and Zak and Ben got to work digging the post holes (after going out for a 4 hour manly shopping trip- oh the gossip!). Seven post holes later, that auger goes through the earth like butter. The kids were cool with the project, R spent time looking up at the trees via his wagon. While A attempted to help.
Until he got bored and decided picking all of our ripe raspberries would be more fun and more delicious. Poles set (alternate soil and pea gravel), mama got to work with the new tool for the project (all new projects, require the acquisition of a new tool) a sharp chisel. We weren't slacking and making an unfancy fence, no our rails were meant to be sunk.
Those are some pretty fine notches. I am a good wood worker and look forward to other projects with my new tool.

24 lbs

I love me some strawberries! This was the first year that we hit the timing perfectly for picking. Typically true to our style, we are running just a little late, the picking is slim, time consuming and not nearly as rewarding as when you've got it together, babe and toddler in tow and the berries and just begging you to pick them. Ruby red skin flashing, proudly hanging from their mama, oozing with goodness.

I had a hard time stopping, there were so many more calling me to pick them, so I got this big haul of 24 pounds and then a little basket for some additional snacking.

Plenty to enjoy fresh and lots for the freezer.