Dear Dr. Gooch,

We kept the camera handy all day. Summer came back for a spell and we spent most of it outside. A few things: the neighbors called to warn you about the Voles--they might eat your bulbs.  Hazel somehow wore that pink sparkly headband all day.  Lucy brought the cricket inside.  I rearranged a few things (you're not surprised).  Avery fell down some steps, but is fine.  Lucy poked Seth in the neck with a stick, but he's fine.  Mostly, it was no work, all play--just your kind of day.  Here is what you missed while we missed you...

nearly always includes painting/drawing

a little post-meal math

the paperwhites making progress

Seth's sweet new setup

the scooter club meeting at the "gazebo"

leaves, leaves, and more leaves

peeking at napping (or not napping) Aves through the screen porch window

sunshiney diaper change

sunshiney snuggling

"mom, dad says we can climb as high as we want!"

this light through this Japanese Maple

this awesome soccer kick

this tired Mama and ONE of her leaf piles

Rascal-powered Swing Train

Snack time at the gazebo

Unsanctioned snack time at Seth's "bed" (the dregs of his Halloween stash)

AVERY

catching crickets

lounging on the screened porch

a second go on the swings

the just-built bridge into Chatam County and the quirky quartet (note: Lucy's second color-coordinated outfit this week)

a bit of tenderness mustered by S and L to help Hazel along (trail too long, legs too short) and my favorite part of the day

one boy's haircut by moi

the girls in the bath (Avery already cribbed and thumb-plugged)

the children begged me to save the sink full of dishes for you

night night

Love,

The Head Rascal and our Four

Saturday Survived

We didn't quite make it to the beach.  Only as far as Charlotte's crown jewel, IKEA.  Today's visit to our favorite Scandinavian Super Store isn't worth talking about at all exept for the moment when we shared a Lingonberry drink and Lucy and Hazel hogged the potato chips, Seth said, as serious as he has ever been,

"I want new sisters."

We finally made it home just in time to prescribe frozen yogurt for sore throats and a eucalyptus bath for shared sniffles before bed.  After the "undesirable sisters" were tucked away snug, Seth, who has been staying up later, asked,

"Why do Santa and Jesus know everything?"  He didn't let me delve too deeply into that before he was sidetracked listing off what he wants for Christmas: (I took note)

a toy lighthouse
a new scooter, like Lucy's, except it sparks
a gingerbread house kit
a toy speedboat

Then he drew a picture of the boat to show me what it looked like in his head.

We miss the Dad, but we're doing all right.  If we can just change Seth's mind about his sisters.

This one didn't end up making the flight to Louisiana with her biggest fan.  Hopefully, this means Dr. Gooch will have a true vacation (the kind you used to have before the kids came).  You know.

I Want To Go To There

photo taken by Dr. Gooch this past summer during our Outer Banks Sabbatical

We're sick.  All five of us (except Dr. Gooch, he has been spared, his immunity is ultra boosted due to the hostile environment in which he works).  Also, we are fatherless all weekend (except Miss Avery who will be traveling with her father further South).  Church is out.  So is any sort of social interaction (aka, other adults to talk to).

I'm thinking *beach escape*.  It's only a few hours away.  I'll let you know how it goes. Also, no cooking or dirtying of the kitchen of any kind (except watercoloring).  I can't smell anyway.  How can I cook when I can't smell?  Watercoloring on the beach?

Firsts and Lasts Happening Now

-Only one napper left (and only one nap)
-My oldest just figured out the Moon isn't really talking to the Bear in Happy Birthday Moon.
-My first girl dressed herself in a coordinated outfit.  Purple skirt, purple shirt, purple socks.  It's a start.
-We only have one remaining "free flyer" and she's taking advantage of that with her Dad this weekend.
-A spelling bee.
-Property taxes
-Tulips, Fritilleria, Hyacinths, Crocus, Muscari, Narcissus, and Peony bulbs in the garden ready for Spring.

The Garden Just Before Noon

This is our second North Carolina Autumn.

I'm floored
at the Fauna
we find
so late in Fall.

 Plus, I'm eating young beets and their greens for lunch while I dream of snacking on snap peas in another week or so.  Then there are the carrots and the lettuces.  I love you soil and sunshine.  You are magical.  Look at those flowers in November!

My Seed

Pictured above is my landscape guy Mark and his guys grading the soil for Tall Fescue Seed in our front lawn.  We're going for the soccer field look.  [Also pictured is the Goochmobile.  When he takes me on dates we open the sun roof--or moon roof, as it were.]  You can see--or rather--you can't see where the fourth willow oak used to stand.  They successfully made her disappear.  They brought in two loads of mid-grade soil, smoothed out probably a quarter acre and had the seeds scattered, fertilized, and covered in straw in a matter of hours.  It was a peaceful operation and quiet, too.  Enviably so.

In other news, Seth declares each morning that "school is superfluous" (not his words exactly) and asserts his distaste for his education by refusing all of my suggestions for breakfast.  And I don't offer a meager menu.  Hazel shouted, "You're not my mom!", when I put her on "the step" for slamming the swinging door between the breakfast area and the dining area in Avery's face.  Lucy broke down this morning because Seth was being stingy with his Halloween candy which is actually a very large collection of both his and her stash.  They foolishly combined them.  We made hasty plans post-school to re-divide the junk.  As we made the final push this morning to scramble book bags and babes into the car, Avery suddenly had an opinion on footwear and flung herself back when I chose the black leather mary janes with a cute little bee on them--hitting her head on the wood floor.

Nearly a week into November, is it any wonder I still feel witchy?  Such the bad guy.  I don't like being the bad guy, but no one else is up for the position.  Dr. Gooch is the fun guy.

Yesterday, all four rascals and I arrived home after picking up Seth from school.  Avery's diaper had leaked through to her pants and carseat so I set her in a warm bath and began picking up the family room.  I noticed the carpet needed some vacuum love.  After that I went to dry and dress the baby and found she had company: three solid logs beginning to disintegrate in the water.

Dr. Gooch came home with the retort, "You love being a mom!", just in time to catch me sanitizing the tub.  I did what any good mom would do, after such a scene, I fled it with only my shuffle and bottle of water.  As I got in the car, anticipating a nice crisp Autumn run on the trail, I was suddenly transformed from witch to rock star.  The children crowded the driver's side door clambering for me to roll down the window for a kiss.  Tears from Lucy, sobbing that she would miss me "so much".  The cutest little baby wave (you know, the finger squeeze sort) from Avery and loud shouts of "I LOVE YOU!" from the same gal who would disown me as her mother in the near future.

What in the world?  Sometimes I wish raising rascals was more like seeding a lawn.

The Rashrey Factor

I often take advantage of drop-off line time at Seth's School to call my sisters.  One day I called Ashley (middle in this picture, but oldest of the four girls) and wondered if she was getting excited to go to Korea for Thanksgiving (even though I had invited her to spend the Feast Day with us) and if she wanted to leave smiley Eli in our care while she was gone.  Of course, Ashley had already made arrangements for the babe to be watched in their absence.  Then, I asked, "what are you doing for Christmas?"

"You just love having people come visit, don't you?", she asked.

"No!  I mean yes, but I just miss you!"

Ashley has a rare quality.  I don't know the name for it.  It is transparent, and guileless, and honest, but kind all at the same time.  It is the quality that makes you trust her.  It makes you want to hang out with her and do whatever she asks of you.  It is the same quality that made me want to marry Dr. Gooch.  If you could only have one quality it is the one to have.  I'll call it the Rashrey factor.

Happy 33rd, big sis! Gove your luts.

The Party

I puttered around the kitchen all day.  Dr. Gooch put the bulbs in the garden outside.  The children--who knows what they did.  And finally, party time arrived.  We had "Pygmies and Blankets" (Pigs in a Blanket),  salt and pepper potatoes, super large grapes, Cheesy Breadsticks, and scratch Vanilla cake with Dark Chocolate Frosting.  And I ask, is it all worth it?  Only if you have a Hazel.

Hazelnut

Dear Hazel,

You were five days late.  I was hoping to celebrate Halloween in the hospital but you weren't ready quite yet.  Our biggest baby at nearly 9 pounds you were our only surprise!  We didn't know if we'd have a brother or a sister for Seth and Lucy.  It didn't matter to Seth, he fell in love with you immediately and you two still have a special bond.  You and he are known to have quite extensive WWF matches on the rug after the evening's bath--the soundtrack of which is a continuous stream of laughter from both corners of the ring.  And the next moment you are spinning in dazzling princess attire with Lucy.  What versatility!

Yesterday you came down with a fever in the afternoon.  Feeling rotten and hanging around the toilet you were worried you would throw up on your cake and presents today and it would ruin everything.  I am certain, with your strong will, that nothing will interfere with such a celebration.  You requested cake with a pink flower on it and pink presents.  We'll do our best to comply.

You are at the age right now that leaves your parents at a loss.  You won't take "no" for an answer and your determination floors us.  From that position, we still love to watch the unusual tenderness you show for us and  your fellow rascals.  You call people "Sweetie" and still love to be picked up and hugged and kissed on-even though you are getting so big and grown up.

You love yogurt and cereal and a bite of whatever everyone else is having.  You have the boomingest voice of all your siblings and love to use it for both shouting and singing.  You are so smart and love to show how much you know by chatting with strangers in Harris Teeter, the guys working on the yard or fence, the UPS man, and anyone with ears, really.  You have your father's charm.

You insist, lately, that everyone call you Hazelnut (thanks to your buddy Mac) and of course they all comply.  Yesterday, after church we all sat on your brother Seth's bed eating Halloween candy.  You plopped down in the middle of it all, leaned back on your hands and said, "So, how's it goin' you guys."

I love my three-year-old teenager.  Happy Birthday, to the Third turning Three!

Mom.

The Ten Highlights of Our Halloween

1. Avery won best "baby" Costume at the Trunk or Treat

2.  I was reminded how soft and comforting Milky Ways can be

3.  now I can say, "Go eat your candy"

4.  I was reminded that the rascals are freakin' cute

5.  it was in the high 70s (with a breeze and leaves)

6.  my theory that one bag of candy is enough to get you through the whole holiday was proven

7.  I was reminded that I don't sew and it's okay

8.  a special thanks to Target, my closet, and Syd's Surplus Military for magically making me Amelia

9.  Dr. Gooch is hot, even in a mustache and onesie

10.  He took the rascals on the last round of treating while the Prize Peacock and I chilled at home!

Room With A View

My Kitchen Window

The View from my Kitchen Window

I love this Huge Crepe Myrtle.  And the autumn sunlight on her branches.

This Week, 3 Years Ago

Hazel then inside

Now out

That Lucy leer

Turned Avery pout

Three-year-ago-Me

Mirrors now's She

Different home

Brand new view

Though same old show

In the same old hue.

"Picking up Things" or "In a Wad"

Lately, over here at the CC, "Maddening" rhymes with "Motherhood".  The rascals are staging a coup against their mother and they've even roped little angel Avery (not even two!) into it.  I went to fetch her from her nap (an activity that would have brought me great joy pre-coup) and she had somehow rolled her crib over to the dresser and through the slats opened the drawers and emptied dispersed widely the contents.  This is their main tactic: spreading things all over for me to pick up.

When I gasped and said, "Avery! No!!" (not in reprimand, but in a "how-could-could-this-be" outburst), she stood staring at me, silent, until the lips began to quiver and very convincing sobs began to seep from her seams.  I knew better than to fall for it though (It is all a part of the coup).

Toddler on my hip, we sauntered into the family room and there, on the rug, her older brother (6 years) had somehow collected every possible choking hazard in the house and spread it in plain view and reach (and was nowhere to be found).  But, I did find him, he was in the basement with his father who was encouraging him to use latex paint with his regular clothes on (the ones that cost money and he wears to school) and hit is fingers repeatedly with a hammer.  At this sight, my knees trembled (not from fear, but from the betrayal).  Was my Dr. Gooch a part of the coup?

Then there was the deep (and surely saliva coated) finger swipe marks in the dessert on the countertop (Hazel?), the rose petal pile neatly place on the front porch near the rose bush now barren of blooms, the poop stewing in the toilet(s), and the Mr. Potato Head parts stuffed in the musical instrument box and vice versa--to name a few.

I was slowly being beat down by the forces of my own progeny and their papa.  Wounded and weary, I left the children to their own evil devices downstairs and deciding to lose myself in laundry,  I entered the girls' room to gather soiled shirts and skirts.  Suddenly there they were in plain view.  The socks.  Not just dirty, which is expected.  Not inside out, which is just annoying--but tied in multiple, super-strength knots.

I collapsed, defeated, to the floor and could have sworn I heard from the rooms below, four tiny cackles and one big guffaw.

Do You Live In Utah?

Are you already fretting over the daunting task of Christmas Gift Getting?  Fret no further:

Real World "I Spy"

Shells, coins, a mini Etch-A-Sketch, cutout drawings of lighthouses, mismatched dominos, a ceramic basket he made in Kindergarten, plastic dinosaurs, a Corona bottle cap (must of gotten it off the beach), a flying glider kit, rubber bouncer balls, Cracker Jacks Toy Surprise, keys, pink floss, Lincoln Log piece, a flashlight, a mini train conductor figurine, Ring Pop, Laffy Taffy, and a plastic coin purse.

These are just a few of the "treasures" of a six-year-old boy.

Your Pumpkin, Personalized

Seth went for the classic Jack-o-lantern design.  Hazel flitted in and out of the carving session so Dr. Gooch headed up her grinning ghoul, Lucy failed to specify so I dolled her pumpkin up with lashes and lips--she was sorely disappointed and claimed she had her heart set on a scary squash, but in the end warmed to the glowing gal.

They are lighting the porch of Cicada Cottage now ready for the festivities.  We made one more stop at Surplus Syd's today in downtown Carrboro and our costumes are complete--now for the kids' getups!