Thanksgiving and groaning

Not that I actually have anything to groan about (ok maybe the perpetually whiny and possibly still sick little boy who is on antibiotics and has been waking up in the 4am-ish zone the past few days). The real groaning is the pressure on the waistband of my jeans after a weekend full of overeating. Today? Lunch was lemon meringue pie with blueberry pie for dessert! YUM!! 

We had a lovely weekend with family and friends, including a marathon hike of the Millbrook Valley Trails on Saturday. I had Henry strapped to my back in a carrier and like to think that the exertion of walking 1.5 hours like that helped to burn off my solid and liquid excesses of Friday night. 

More frosty mornings, and a furnace that's coming on quite regularly, and the days getting very shorter all mean that Fall's in the air!  These chimps don't seem to mind it one bit:

This was the best smile she could muster, being saucy and all.

What a chimp

Grinning goofball

Millbrook is looking beautiful, as usual.  The Fall foliage is in full effect, and the geese have taken over the millpond.  I know they are a pain in the arse, but, I have to say I love this time of year where they land by the hundreds and the air is full of happy honking. 

All's looking good on Millbrook pond

Yesterday was the Higginson/Lee Thanksgiving dinner at Granny Barbara's cottage on Missisauga Lake.  It was as crazy and chaotic as usual with 19 (nineteen!) of us crammed into a tiny one room cabin.  Some of the guests didn't take up too much room, like beautiful baby Owen, celebrating is first Thanksgiving:

A living yam:  Sir Owen, the chubby cheeked

I have to say, I think that King Henry got his knickers in a knot as he was quite fine with being the only baby on the scene.  Too bad sucker, you're getting to be a big grown-up boy now!!

Henrew!

And back to reality this morning.  A quiet day here, filled with leftovers, snuggles on the couch, and about 400 books out of the bookcase (so far).  Also, lots of time for peeking out the window to admire the fall leaves:

Looking at leaves n' geese

An amazing range of colours on our Maple out front

So, Thanksgiving is over.... what could possibly be next?  Oh yes!  Only 11 days until these fabulous lovebirds tie the knot (or Tighe the knot, if you prefer!).  Can't wait!!!

Soon to be Mister and Missus Bo-Tighe

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all. I hope the many things you were thankful for this weekend keep bringing you joy and happiness for the year ahead.  Like pie.  Or crazy kids.  Or a happy, noisy, chaotic household.  Bliss. 

Just another September Sunday

Just a lazy September Sunday here. We're saying adieu to September in an understated way, I guess. 

The leaves are looking purdy, the day is kinda grey and chilly. I broke down and finally put the furnace on - turns out an indoor temp of 16.5 is my breaking point. 

Here's the view from here on this lazy day.  
 

The maple is starting to turn

Sumac's gone hot pink - beautiful!

'Tumnal splendour

Time for toques, I guess

Mister saucy, out for a stroll

This is her 'I found a pretty leaf' face, or so she tells me

Chimps

We're thinking of Granny & Poppa today as they do the marathon drive home from New Brunswick.  Will be great to have them back in the province, but I'll try to give them a solid 24 hours before I recruit them for babysitting duties!!  (Oh, they'll be SO glad to be back!)

Happy last-day-of-September!  

September round-up

Where has September gone? Fall is  definitely here.  The ground was a crispy frosty white this morning and it's a refreshing 17.5 degrees in the house right now.  Maybe it's time I break down and put the furnace on?

I can't say for sure where this month has gone.  I guess it's the whole back-to-school/ snotty-nose-germfest/ change-of-seasons/ days-getting-shorter/ general-busyness-and-chaos thing.  

Well, no matter how quickly this month has gone by, it's been a good one.  Busy, snotty, occasionally feverish, but fun and rowdy.  Gymnastics and swimming lessons are in full swing, and Henry is loving having  a few days a week where it's just him and Momma.  (Momma, on the other hand, realizes it's a whole new task to occupy a toddler while big sis is in school!)

Here's a photo-round-up of our month so far:

A last blast of colour in the garden

As always, the Millbrook Zucchini Festival is one of our favourite days of the year.  The kids had a blast, the boat races were a hoot.  Evy and I represented the clan as we both brought home bronze medals (me for the baking contents and Ev for the zucchhini boat decorating contest).  

Some serious fun at the Zucchini Fest on Sept 9

Saucy creek-dwellers

Evelyn is loving school, and dare I say, is thriving there.  She loves her teacher, loves recess, loves playing with the other kids, and has embraced the new routine with much enthusiasm.  Now, if only I could get her to actually eat ANY of her lunch, we'd be in great shape.  Here she is after her first day, proclaiming her future career aspirations:

At home after her first day of school

Look at that professional demeanor!  A future MD for sure!

I actually managed to go away one weekend and rendezvous'd with the gals for a fabulous weekend on Georgian Bay.  We had a great time, filled with an inordinate amount of laughter, margaritas, death-defying boat rides, dance-moves, excellent canoeing and even perhaps a midnight swim in the frigid waters of the 'Bay. 

Girls Weekend '12 - Georgian Bay sunset

The Girls (can we still call ourselves 'girls'?!)

Other highlights were the Port Hope Fall Fair (thanks to Auntie PeePee for making Ev's first PoHo sleepover such a success!), lots of sibling playing and destroying the living room, lots of walks in the autumnal splendor.  

So, here's to a whirlwind month!  And, we're very much looking forward to October (Thanksgiving, the wedding of the youngest Higginson, and of course Halloween!).  Happy last few days of Sept to one and all!  

Fall fun roundup

Ah, what fun the weekend was. Complete Faux-vember, with warm temperatures and lots of sunshine. Evy, Henry and I had an abundance of fun, despite the fact that Rob was off on his annual 'mannymoon' with his boyfriends, Greg and Dennis.

Afternoon sun and an early moon

On Saturday, the neighbours took pity on me and entertained us with a smashing Guy Fawkes bonfire and a delicious supper.

Henry appreciating the bonfire. He tried to eat some foliage.
Ingest that healthy dirt and bacteria, boy!

Evy and her BFF Maia topped the night off with some disco dancing. (Dancing is ALWAYS better in your pyjamas, don't you know?)

Strutting their stuff. Evy is seriously coveting the disco light.
(Ok, maybe I am too).

Then on Sunday the Higgy Clan descended on Millbrook for lunch and some outdoor fun. Here we are up at the Old School.

A motley crew

Evy and Sam playing 'Choo-choo'
One is the engine and one is the caboose,
but I think this train went off the rails!

Aunt Mary (aka Patron Saint of Unruly Children) and the kids

And the grown ups prove they can have fun too
(Lee realizes it's hard to give your man-brother an underdog)

It was a lovely weekend, and a lovelier still because it doesn't feel like November! I know the flurries will fly soon, but I'm happy to stay in denial just a bit longer.

Sunset o'er the pond

Fall into Fall

Although the temperatures this week have been fairly balmy, there's no doubt that fall is on its way. And I for one am cheering for the first frost! (The cheer goes something like this: "Yeah frost, stick it to that pollenh*le ragweed, woot woot!" Ah, life with allergies is sublime).

Whether you are lamenting Winter's arrival or not, you have to admit, Fall is a beautiful time of year. The geese are descending on the pond by the dozen, the leaves are starting to turn, and it's lovely to snuggle under the duvet at night. Unless you're sleeping next to a 6-month old, but I digress.

Proof in point:

The last bloom on the honeysuckle vine

More honeysuckle - the humingbirds love it and you can see why

The house looking lovely in late afternoon sun

Fall mums in the planter

So, we await those first few flakes of snow, and in the meantime will enjoy all the dreaminess of this fine season.