The Great Pumpkin Patch

Isabella's class took a trip to the pumpkin patch!

The last post I wrote about Isabella's preschool experience, was her first day of school. She missed the second day because she was sick. As I was leaving from dropping her off on the third day of preschool, I was stopped by another mother who wanted to invite Isabella to her daughter, Amelie's birthday party. We attended her Strawberry Shortcake-themed party, which included a bounce house,(Isabella was in heaven) that Saturday. Isabella and Amelie have been best-good friends since.

Amelie is even more petite than Isabella. She too, has a little chipmunk voice, and is quite verbal, just like her new buddy. Amelie's mom, Jennifer, is a midwife, and her Dad, Mike, is a soft-spoken British man, who is studying to be a librarian--and both were total punk rockers, living in England in the 90's. (Their wedding photo should not be missed).

Amelie and Isabella palled around together until the third member of their trio, Christian, showed up.

Then this trio was inseparable.

Enjoying lollipops

Class pictures!

Before they left the pumpkin patch, Amelie and Isabella attempted to move the 950 pound pumpkin. They were not successful.

Matthew guarded the pumpkins.

Katie Gets Crafty

Matthew needed a mobile for his crib. I did not want to spend $50 at Babies R Us for a mobile, so I decided to make one myself. $30 in supplies, and 10 hours of labor later, I made Matthew this mobile for his first birthday!

The idea came from Pinterest, but I customized mine. This Owl Family resembles one I know. But who whoo, I'll never tell. (And for the sake of creativity, let's ignore the nocturnal nature of owls).

Papa Owl sleeps so tight dreaming of places he can take flight. 

He only wakes in times of stress, to give Mama a break from her wakefulness.

Big Sister Owl happily rests, cozy and warm in her sweet little nest. 

She's mastered the night, sleeping soundly on, but still wakes up at the crack of dawn.

Mama Owl attempts to sleep, unsuccessful at counting sheep. 

She dreams of a day when both eyes will close...the first day of college, I suppose.

 Baby Owl, as happy as can be, stays up all night to torture me (er, Mama Owl). 

Still, he wakes all smiles at dawn, his Mama's heart melts, the long night gone.

A Few of My Favorite Things...

 Tree climbing Isabella

 Birthday cakes

 Hat Day at preschool

The start of another arduous football season--for which we will focus on loyalty, and not the wins. Matthew's got his game face on (or he's just reallllly tired and wants to stupid camera to go away.)

7 Years of Love and Receipts

Mark and I spent our 7th wedding anniversary talking about how we didn't celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary. No weekend get-away, no fancy dinner out, we didn't even give each other cards. To add insult to injury, Mark has yet to replace his lost wedding ring, and I have yet to change my name to his, legally. I tried to let these things bother me as much as I could. I tried to convince Mark that all of this spelled doom for our marriage. But this year, we were just too tired to really let it matter. Mark did mention trying to replace his ring again, but seemed surprised, er, disappointed, when I reminded him that I purchased his ring, along with mine, at a Kay's Jewelers Outlet store. For 80 bucks. With his future mother-in-law. In other words, it was just par for the unsentimental course we seem to find ourselves on, these days. Were we ever sentimental about this most important union of ours?

The proof in in the receipts...

In cleaning out some file folders the other day, I came across a stack of old receipts of purchases we made as a newly married couple.

I found the receipt for the rings. Turns out I shopped at a Zales Outlet store, and the ring cost a whopping $81 (on sale). Don't worry, though. This wasn't just any outlet store, this was a  *premium* outlet. I go all out for my man.

But the best was yet to come...

This pile of records of old financial transactions brought back a flood of emotion and memories of my beginnings with Mark. A sampling:

Fairway (12th Ave) - Our favorite place to grocery shop. They have a giant refrigerator room where all their cold items are kept. The store provides jackets, hung on hooks, just out side the refrigerator room, so you don't freeze to death on the inside.

Petco (Broadway) - Mark bought me a fish tank from here for my birthday when we were dating. The fish tank came with us to our first apartment after we were married. We called the room with the fish, the "relaxation room" (really our office/guest room). Mark would come home from work and just sit and watch those fish for the longest time--his way of decompressing after a long day.

American Museum of Natural History (Central Park West) - The location of our first date. After we got married, we bought an annual membership so we go on more dates. Walks in Central Park, always followed.

Tip Top Shoes (W 72nd) - Mark bought a few pairs of shoes here and was never satisfied with them. And then always experienced some kind of drama in returning them. And then he'd go back to shop there again.??

Mott Haven Station Post Office (E. 139th, S. Bronx) - We had to buy stamps from a postal worker working behind bullet proof glass. Always an interesting experience, but so convenient because it was located a few blocks from our school. (Which, of course, is where we met.)

St. Nicholas Laundromat, Inc (St. Nicholas Ave). We spent every Saturday morning, hauling our laundry to and from the laundromat in our rickety little cart, and then had to get it all up to our apartment in the perilous elevator in our building, which never liked to stop on the correct floor, and sometimes stopped in-between floors.

What a fun start. What a wonderful life we've made...

Happy Anniversary, M! 143

Life as We Know It, Is Over

Isabella Claire Holsten

• Age: 4
• Education level: Preschool, 1st Day
• Eagerly anticipating: Art
• Future vocation: Firefighter (that does flashlight duty and puts out fires with water)
• Car Ride Anthem: "I'm going to preschool, yeah, yeah, yeah! I'm going to preschool, yeah, yeah, yeah!" (lyrics and vocals by ICH)

Isabella inherited many things from me: stubbornness, a feisty temperament, a touch of drama...but one thing she did not inherit (thank goodness) was an apprehension to try new things. This girl walked through the doors of her preschool and enthusiastically announced to every kid (and teacher) that she met, that today was her first day of school.

As we walked into her classroom, soft music was playing and stations were set up to greet the kids: playdough, painting, a bin with dinosaurs, a dollhouse, a play-kitchen area.  I was not sad, but I was emotional, because I knew what a perfect match it was for her and how ready she was to be there. I kissed and hugged her good bye, and left her to play at the dollhouse station with only one parting thought: oh please may there be no tornadoes that hit that dollhouse. 

P.S. After dropping Isabella off, I headed back to the car with Matthew and could not, for the life of me, figure out how to get to the grocery store. (I guess I was more emotional than I thought.) When I did finally get to the store, I could not, for the life of me, figure out what to do with my new found freedom of having to grocery shop with only one sleeping baby. (I quickly adjusted. I can get used to this!)

Officer Isabella Reporting for Duty

Every once in a blue moon, Mark takes his turn at "Flashlight Duty" at our church. Every evening, for one week, Mark has to walk the perimeter of the building to make sure doors are locked, windows are shut, etc. The last time he did this was when I was pregnant with Matthew. He took Isabella along with him, so that I could rest. She. Loved. It. 

An actual flashlight is involved, but not really necessary during the summer months. A bike helmet is not required, but she's four, and is rarely with out it. Or her bike.

Isabella's job is to run around the building and try all the doors to make sure they're locked.

Mark's job is to report any findings.

Maybe, though, the best part of Flashlight Duty is doing relay races on the front lawn, afterward.

Jubilee

So many reasons to love summer:

1. The Girl and her Trampoline.

This summer Isabella and I jumped on the trampoline after dinner. It was our thing. One hot night we brought some blankets and a pillow out and read books by lantern light until the cool breezes kicked in. We were more fascinated, though, by the zillions of bugs attracted to the light. 

2. Our First Harvest

We are terrible gardeners. But we grew enough tomatoes to make this:

 

and it was delicious!

3. Fish fry

Mark even had a t-shirt to go with the theme. Now that's dedication.

4. Baby M. 

"In Love" pretty much sums it up.

This summer Matthew figured out how to turn from his tummy to his back-big milestone!

5. And then there's his big sister, who stole my heart a few years back...

Here's just one reason why:

A summer headline you probably missed: Isabella Moves Into Box...

After (Doll)House is Hit by Tornado.

Thank goodness her fire truck was close by to assist in the rescue.

6. The Freemont Diner.  

We made an impromptu stop at the highly hyped roadside farm stand 

with its dirt driveway and chicken farm. 

Our family reviews: 

Katie liked the layout and font style of the menu.
Mark liked his coca cola.
Isabella thought their mac n' cheese was too pretentious.
Matthew liked everything--except the food, which he didn't eat, because he knows nothing compares to his mama's roasted bananas and blueberries, pureed to perfection.

The dinosaurs thought is was all very prehistoric, but the turquoise tables were a nice touch.


7. Family Reunion.
Surrounded by family is the best way to end a summer! My Dad's family gathered at their house for a lovely dinner and visit. Elinor and Bob came from Southern California, while Tom and Margo were visiting from Pennsylvania.  We love and miss all of you already!

 When we look back and say, those were halcyon days, we're talking 'bout jubilee.