Our Esme hears the word party and runs for her party dress. Normally it just makes her look cute. During today’s festivities at Monkey Joe’s it gave me a bit of a chuckle as it went up over her head!

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“Mama, could you please put this maple leaf in my hat?”

“Sure, but I’ll have to put it in back. You won’t be able to see it.”

“That’s fine. It is so beautiful, I want other people to get to see it!”

(two minutes later)

“Mama? Could you take a picture for me? I want to see how beautiful my leaf is again!”

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Somewhere in the middle of our 13 and a half hour drive today, one of us made an attempt to mutiny.

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We see Peter’s sister’s family not too often. When we do get to see them, I feel the overwhelming need to photograph every interaction and all the activities so that our kids will have tons of photos with their cousins.

No matter what is going on, there is voice inside me yelling, “I must capture ALL. THE. MOMENTS!!!”

I am starting to feel a bit intrusive. But sometimes, four days has to equal a year and I want to look back on these days and remember the joy and the fun we had and just how small they were together.

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Making the most of their short time together!

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Bedtime in Indonesia, our little cabin for a few nights here on the shores of Lake Erie. We’re enjoying time with Peter’s sister and her family.

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[and cheeks!]

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While the girls were out picking apples, feeding ducks and eating ice cream with Grandma and Grandpa, Peter and I took the opportunity for a rare, long walk down the Kokosing River Gap Trail. It was a lovely fall day with the sun shining and the leaves rustling beneath our feet. We talked in complete sentences and about topics that little ears need not hear.

It was nothing special, but it was very special.

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So, so happy to be able to meet our nephew Jedidiah and celebrate his first birthday on the very same day!

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Reading Mr Popper’s Penguins while lying on a penguin pillow. Perfect.