Promised photos...

Have I mentioned it's been a little hectic since returning from vacation?  No, perhaps not.  Too busy.

One Mozart quip before I share some of the photos that I promised:

After a long stretch of whining and being asked to, please, just speak like a big boy, he responds, "No, I am always YOUR baby!"

This kid doesn't miss a beat.  I have told him several times, often while snuggling, that he is growing up to be a big boy, but that he will always be my baby - even when he is an old man.  I did not see that backfiring when I said it.

And now onto the photos...

Where we were.

That's in the United States.

Ok, but seriously - we went to Hyannis, Massachusetts.  It was beautiful, and I love to take photos.  I don't have a proper camera, but I do have fun and like to find good shots.  The resolution on these are fairly poor - due to the lack of camera - but I hope you enjoy them nonetheless.

These buoys, standing tall - about 20ft or so - were at a park close to the Port.  

Same buoys, from a different angle, and with blades of grass in the foreground.

Buoys from a distance, with pebbled walkway.

I'm not much of a fisherwoman myself, but the photo called.

Statue of Sachem Iyannough, one of the Native Americans that assisted the Pilgrims on landing.  I am quite fond of contrast that the flag brings, but I've been told that it is distracting.  Your thoughts?

Knot at the Port.

Another perspective shot - grass and a tree.

The Port through ironwork.

Boat on water.

Was hoping to capture the balance between the water and the flower - not sure I got it.

Beached Buoys.

Taken at Cape Cod Museum of Natural History - On you left, that is a Clear Nosed Skate - new favorite fish of all time.

Exoskeletons of the horseshoe crab. Apparently the blood and shells of this creature have now been found to be quite valuable for testing the purity of medicines and for making sterile bandages.

Mini lighthouse - taken from a Duck Boat.

Beach Rose Hips - I tried and tried to get a photo with the actual beach, but none came out.  So you have beach grass and a couple well-to-do houses.  Still a bit fuzzy, but better than nothing.

So that's that.  I'll try to post some that are a bit more people-oriented next.  No faces of us, but happyiess abound.

Ah, Toddlerhood.

Tonight at the dinner table:

We were bribing Mozart to eat his quiche and veggies with pieces of crust from our own quiche.  All was going quite splendidly and then he says, "I gonna eat that toopid crust."
TW, somewhat shocked: "What did you say?"
Mozart, with a smirk: "That toopid crust."
Me, very seriously, even though the way he says toopid is just too cute: "We do NOT say that word."
Mozart "Toopid! Toopid!"
TW: "That's ONE."
Mozart: "Is toopid."
TW: "That's TWO."
Mozart, giving it up for a bit, goes one to talk about other things for a some time. And then: "Lilly said word toopid."
TW: "Well Lilly shouldn't say it either. That is not a nice word."
Mozart: "Poopy crust?"
TW: "That's ONE.  Again."
And finally he drops the potty mouth for the evening.

Later, completely unsolicited, he said, "Tank-you cooking, Mama."  And this was said with a sweet smile and absolutely sincerely.

And finally, I'm washing him up and saying goodnight so we can do the pass-off for the bedtime routine and he burst out into song, "Love you so much, Mama.  Love you sooo much Mama.  Mama love.  Love you sooo much Mama..."

Melting.

Back to reality...

Ah, vacation.  It is good.  Alas.  It is over.

Not sure I mentioned that we were going - it kinda snuck up on me, and then it was a whirlwind getting ready and we were off on our way.  We went to the Cape and it was awesome, awesome!  I might do another post with photos.  Ok, I will do another post with photos - I finally got that new SD card for my phone and I took many, many photos.  So, so wish I had a real camera, but I just know I'll be getting one for my birthday *hint*  *Hint*  *HINT*

We got back last Saturday evening and were immediately tossed back into reality.  Prancer's birthday (um, who gave that kid permission to turn 8?) was Sunday and we generally hold a party for him, so not wanting to fail on that count, we put our birthday hats on and pulled a party together.  I spoke with him the night before to see about what kind of cake he might like (should have done this weeks before, but everything seems to be very sneaky these days).  He said Neapolitan - to match his requested Neapolitan ice cream.  Ok - THAT, I can pull together in a heartbeat.  I did use a box mix and store-bought frosting, but I used some of my freezer jam and thickened it up for the filling.  I went to the store in the morning got the above-mentioned, hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, potato chips, candles, plates, napkins and balloons.  Came home and put the cake in, thickened the sauce, sliced tomatoes, onions, washed lettuce, made chip dip, and cut watermelon, and set up the backyard with balloons, streamers, presents and food ~ Thank GOODNESS for good weather!   TW ran to get a tablecloth that I'd forgotten and a couple extra chairs, made some punch, then set up the music. I stuck the cake in the freezer as TW went off getting Prancer and his dad, and Cake Master and Lashes showed up with more presents.

Prancer was ecstatic!  He climbed up on this little play structure we have and announced, several times, that this was the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!  Now, he says this every year, but it still feels good.   While I was disappointed that I didn't have the cake ready for his arrival, he was thrilled because that meant he was able to help put it together, "And sample everything along the way."

After we'd eaten, Prancer helped me place the candles and questioned whether they would stay lit. I said, that of course they would.  Hehe.  Of course they didn't, but he had a great time making a big show of pretending to blow the candles out, which was probably more fun.  And then FINALLY he got to eat the cake and ice cream properly, which, of course, meant that he could get to the business of his presents!  Ah, the bliss of an 8 year old.

Neapolitan Cake - vanilla cake, strawberry filling, and chocolate frosting.

Later that afternoon, I went over to my first Lia Sophia party - I won't go into the details, but let's just say that it was a bit more excitement than I thought I was getting into!  I did end up winning a lovely necklace, and ordered another for TW *SHHHHHH!* and then it was home to bed, and up for work.

But the excitement wasn't over because right after work we got to see Peanut!!  Her family comes out to visit the area quite often to see relatives and, thankfully, us and the foster parents of her brother as well.  We had such a wonderful time seeing her.  She is 9 now.  And if I can hardly believe that Prancer is 8, it is even harder to grasp that she is 9 and becoming quite a lovely young lady.  Once again she said that wants to come and live with us - that's always hard.  But now what I think she'd like is for all of the people to just live in one giant house.  Her parents really are doing an excellent job raising her up.

So after our visit with Peanut, then life really did get back to the normal work, food procurement, and food processing.  Tuesday we got milk from the farm.  Wednesday we got our fruit CSA.  Thursday we our veggie CSA.  Today, I made cantaloupe popsicles, apple sauce, and roasted beets.  I found a recipe for Moussaka that I think I'll try - sounds soooo good, and aside from the olive oil and spices can be entirely locally sourced!  Reality is pretty good sometimes, too.