Catching Up: Septmeber 2010

In the first week of September I took this skeptical child of mine on her first airplane ride to visit...

...this beautiful girl and...

...this beautiful girl...

...and their beautiful Momma! Sophie and I flew to North Carolina for 3 days to visit my dear friend Kate and her little ones. Sophie had an absolute blast, as she is the life of the party! and Kate and I simply enjoyed life together...it was a taste of heaven.

North Carolina is hot in September...still baking from August's intense heat...and since I always look for excuses to let my children wander in minimal clothing, the heat worked out well for us. Here's Sophie, diaper clad, playing with Kate's dog!

These three were a hoot together! And I'm oh-SO-grateful for these sweet girls!

(K8, if you're reading this, I will send you these pictures! Oh my.)

The day after S and I returned, we celebrated Andrew's birthday! Hooray Dad!
M with balloon.

Iced lemon pound cake breakfast surprise!

WE LOVE YOU DADDY!!!

And a couple weeks later we had a marvelous visit from my sister and her husband. We were their last stop before MOVING across the sea to Croatia. Oh. How. I. Miss. You. Bean.

One of the days we shared included an outstanding outing to the Philadelphia Zoo. Sophie did not join us so I had the gift of being able to enter into conversation and also enter into Zoo-interactions with Michaela. Such a JOY. We saw and loved this frog...

And this turtle in the reptile house (which we'd never been in!!)

Here's M happily waving at some creature :-)

And these river otters were the BEST. Such showmen (and women)!!

Uncle Matija was a great help in the bleacher seating effort...great for viewing the cheetahs.

Back at the ranch we enjoyed sweet, delicious, collaborative meals together...dinner

And breakfast

An interlude of hugging and gazing and pointing.

Love. All...

...Around. A sweet, sweet time.

Another September highlight was getting to visit the glories of Longwood Gardens again. We happened upon quite a warm day and spent much of our time outside drinking in the sun. I'm pretty sure M became a butterfly princess before my very eyes. Her intense attention to detail and appreciation for beauty are showcased in atmospheres such as this. A treat for a momma to behold.

M flitting to check out a potted hibiscus.

Da Girls...enjoying green lawn.

"Helping" Sophie to stand and cruise between us...she is wanting to walk!!!

Our final September Adventure took us here:

To do this!

One of Andrew's most favorite things in all the world is apple picking. So we drove 45minutes to this beautiful orchard in New Hope and picked!

And munched!

And walked through the avenues of trees and I told my family that I'd like to be a farmer. Michaela was fully supportive.   

Lovely to soak in these final sundress days!