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!  

Saucy and bossy

It was a sunny day, 8 years ago...

Can someone come over and deal with this please?

Too much fun? NEIGH!

Ev did five days of Horsey Camp earlier this month.  It was fantastic.  She loved it desperately.  They swam, played, went on hikes, did crafts, and (of course) got lots of horsey time.  

Rob and I were greeted a few times by the woman who ran the camp.  Each time she'd inform us with a slight edge of hysteria to her voice that: "Your daughter is absolutely fearless.  No.  I mean she's FEAR-LESSSSS.  FEARLESS. She will ride any horse I put her on."

Rob and I would nod knowingly as we're quite aware of Miss Ev's 'small but mighty' and slightly crazy approach to the planet.  So, instead of riding tiny ponies as the other little kids did, Ev got to ride the bigger horses too.  (I have to laugh, imagining that the horse would look behind to see if there was actually anything in the saddle!).  Just 28 whole pounds of spitfire, that's all!

 

Ev (L) and two friends get busy grooming a pony

Her feet almost both reach the stirrups!

Ev on 'Bobby' a former unicorn (so she has informed me)

She had such a great time.  What a lucky kid, eh?  And I got to go to the end of week show, where the kids did a synchronized routine on horseback to the song 'Call Me Maybe' (mind you, we much prefer the Cookie Monster version in this household).  

She has already made me swear an oath that she can go again next year, so stay tuned for that.  What's next?  Show-jumping?  Dressage?  Actually, I think she has a bright future as a jockey, don't you?  

Just for Jim

Yes, yes, yes. I know the sporadic updates are irritating, but, c'mon. It's summer and my life just isn't that interesting. One reader in particular has been particularly verbose about their displeasure. So, for no particular reason (ahem) here is a post all about Jimmy! 

Now that it's almost September (GASP!)it seems like our N.B. adventure was about 7 years ago. That said, I have some very lovely memories of being there and hanging with the Higgys. 

Now, two of the things in this picture (below) rolled off the assembly line in 1946.  Can you guess which two?  And which one has aged better in your opinion??!

Ev, Poppa and an elderly yellow truck

Jimmy and Ev and I also had a jolly walk out to the lighthouse on one very windy day.  The waves were crazy and I thought we might just blow away.  Luckily, Poppa took action to ensure the lightest member of our party was safe.

Poppa and his G-D.  Is this an official fireman's hold?

Let's get a close-up of that glee!

And the lighthouse looking lovely, though it sorely needs a coat of paint.

So, there, finally is an update.  Poppa - we can't wait for you to get back to Ontario.  And we've heard through the grapevine how desperate and frantic you are to return too (insert heavy dose of sarcasm here)!  Let the countdown begin!