Here's how our afternoon of photos at The Farm at Swans Trail turned out...
Monday, October 10, 2011
Fall family photos
I like Fall and, as everyone knows, I like photos. I especially like Fall photos of our family. Since we're 3,300 miles away from my favorite photographer, Cory Callahan, we take our own photos. Our trusty tripod coupled with my cat-like agility in leaping from behind the lens to the perfect pose position does an okay job most of the time.
Here's how our afternoon of photos at The Farm at Swans Trail turned out...
Here's how our afternoon of photos at The Farm at Swans Trail turned out...
Friday, October 7, 2011
Pumpkin Day
Today is Pumpkin Day.
Okay, you're probably thinking to yourself, "What the heck is Pumpkin Day?" Well, that's because it's a holiday that I kind of made up.
If you didn't already know, I lived in Florida before I met and married Dan. The last few years that I lived there, a group of girlfriends and I would pick a day each Fall to meet at Starbucks for Pumpkin Spice lattes and then head to the local pumpkin patch for silly picture taking and general merriment (I just had to throw that word in for fun!). The tradition was fun and it kinda stuck with me so in a desperate attempt to keep it alive I've brought it to my friends here in the Pacific Northwest. Hence, the newly founded Pumpkin Day. A day for all things pumpkin....lighting my pumpkin-scented candles, baking pumpkin bread, watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown...and of course, a trip to the local pumpkin patch after a Pumpkin Spice latte at Starbucks.
I love Pumpkin Day!
Today was a gray and rainy day here in our corner of Washington and that's perfectly acceptable for Pumpkin Day. After a trip to Starbucks (or "Barstucks" as Jackson calls it) for the aforementioned lattes, we caravan-ed up to Snohomish where The Farm at Swans Trail is located. This is our third year of Fall fun at The Farm and the drizzle of rain just made things a little more slick but no less fun.
We got to go on a hayride to the pumpkin patch.
Jackson was thrilled to see the "punkins!"
But he was probably even more thrilled to discover the mud.
Here are some more Pumpkin Day photos...
I'm already looking forward to next year's Pumpkin Day.
Okay, you're probably thinking to yourself, "What the heck is Pumpkin Day?" Well, that's because it's a holiday that I kind of made up.If you didn't already know, I lived in Florida before I met and married Dan. The last few years that I lived there, a group of girlfriends and I would pick a day each Fall to meet at Starbucks for Pumpkin Spice lattes and then head to the local pumpkin patch for silly picture taking and general merriment (I just had to throw that word in for fun!). The tradition was fun and it kinda stuck with me so in a desperate attempt to keep it alive I've brought it to my friends here in the Pacific Northwest. Hence, the newly founded Pumpkin Day. A day for all things pumpkin....lighting my pumpkin-scented candles, baking pumpkin bread, watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown...and of course, a trip to the local pumpkin patch after a Pumpkin Spice latte at Starbucks.
I love Pumpkin Day!
Today was a gray and rainy day here in our corner of Washington and that's perfectly acceptable for Pumpkin Day. After a trip to Starbucks (or "Barstucks" as Jackson calls it) for the aforementioned lattes, we caravan-ed up to Snohomish where The Farm at Swans Trail is located. This is our third year of Fall fun at The Farm and the drizzle of rain just made things a little more slick but no less fun.
We got to go on a hayride to the pumpkin patch.
Jackson was thrilled to see the "punkins!"
But he was probably even more thrilled to discover the mud.
Here are some more Pumpkin Day photos...
I'm already looking forward to next year's Pumpkin Day.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
pumpkin patch
Look who I found in the pumpkin patch!
Cutest li'l pumpkin in the patch, if you ask me.
Cutest li'l pumpkin in the patch, if you ask me.
16-month-old Jackson
Well our little man is becoming just that...a little man! He's growing faster than we'd like to admit and learning at a rate that's seriously mind-blowing. Every day at least one new word is added to his vocabulary and sometimes it's a word that we haven't even tried to teach him. He is one seriously cool dude.
I thought it was hard to take his Watch Me Grow photo back when he first learned to walk but now that he's at a full run, it's become a game of Catch-Me-If-You-Can and here's photographic evidence.
Eventually after about 50 tries, we ended up with this picture that's only slightly blurry but is an accurate representation of our Always-On-The-Go Guy.
16-month-old Jackson has two speeds: full-power fast and out-like-a-light asleep. He still loves story time and especially likes any books that have pictures of the moon in them. Maybe he's destined to be an astronaut? Since NASA has put the kabosh on the space shuttle program, I sure hope not!
His favorite foods at the moment are bananas and "capes" (known by most English-speaking humans as grapes). Although, now that he's tasted the chocolate chip cookies I just made, he's been asking for "coo coo's" on a regular basis so fruit might take 2nd place here soon.
He's very much the little engineer, following in his daddy's footsteps. Boeing, beware. He's constantly trying to figure out how things work and you can see the wheels turning in his head as he problem solves when a toy won't fit somewhere or when something is out of reach. Speaking of being out of reach, he's definitely started climbing up things and on to things so my life is about to get a whole lot more interesting now that our house is considered a climbing gym. And he still loves phones -- real or fake.
Today we experienced another "first" with Jackson. I took him to the grocery store before nap and decided to take a few photos of him with the pumpkins that are for sale outside the store since he had been such a big fan of them the other day when we were there. Well he's not just a fan, it turns out he's a FANATIC! He instantly started sobbing when I picked him up and told him we were going inside the store. This began my first-ever Mommy-son scramble in the grocery aisles. He whaled and wiggled and I held on to him as well as I could (he's surprisingly strong for a 16-month-old) and tried to calm him down and pull out my Magical Mommy Distraction Techniques -- to no avail. Thankfully we were only there to pick up a few needed ingredients because the melt down continued all the way to the check-out stand and I kept thinking "Oh my gosh, I look like one of those moms who can't control their kids." Yes, Humility, here I am! He was nearly calm when we left the store and there they were again...the "puckiss" (pumpkins)! You can imagine how much joy Jackson expressed and then the crying that ensued as we walked past the pumpkins and toward the car. Don't worry, a nap was the instant cure all and I had my sweet-spirited son back.
I love that he still sleeps with his bum up in the air (as uncomfortable as it looks).
We are so grateful to God for this little boy and the tremendous amount of joy that he brings to our family and everyone that he meets.
I thought it was hard to take his Watch Me Grow photo back when he first learned to walk but now that he's at a full run, it's become a game of Catch-Me-If-You-Can and here's photographic evidence.
Eventually after about 50 tries, we ended up with this picture that's only slightly blurry but is an accurate representation of our Always-On-The-Go Guy.
16-month-old Jackson has two speeds: full-power fast and out-like-a-light asleep. He still loves story time and especially likes any books that have pictures of the moon in them. Maybe he's destined to be an astronaut? Since NASA has put the kabosh on the space shuttle program, I sure hope not!His favorite foods at the moment are bananas and "capes" (known by most English-speaking humans as grapes). Although, now that he's tasted the chocolate chip cookies I just made, he's been asking for "coo coo's" on a regular basis so fruit might take 2nd place here soon.
He's very much the little engineer, following in his daddy's footsteps. Boeing, beware. He's constantly trying to figure out how things work and you can see the wheels turning in his head as he problem solves when a toy won't fit somewhere or when something is out of reach. Speaking of being out of reach, he's definitely started climbing up things and on to things so my life is about to get a whole lot more interesting now that our house is considered a climbing gym. And he still loves phones -- real or fake.
Today we experienced another "first" with Jackson. I took him to the grocery store before nap and decided to take a few photos of him with the pumpkins that are for sale outside the store since he had been such a big fan of them the other day when we were there. Well he's not just a fan, it turns out he's a FANATIC! He instantly started sobbing when I picked him up and told him we were going inside the store. This began my first-ever Mommy-son scramble in the grocery aisles. He whaled and wiggled and I held on to him as well as I could (he's surprisingly strong for a 16-month-old) and tried to calm him down and pull out my Magical Mommy Distraction Techniques -- to no avail. Thankfully we were only there to pick up a few needed ingredients because the melt down continued all the way to the check-out stand and I kept thinking "Oh my gosh, I look like one of those moms who can't control their kids." Yes, Humility, here I am! He was nearly calm when we left the store and there they were again...the "puckiss" (pumpkins)! You can imagine how much joy Jackson expressed and then the crying that ensued as we walked past the pumpkins and toward the car. Don't worry, a nap was the instant cure all and I had my sweet-spirited son back.
I love that he still sleeps with his bum up in the air (as uncomfortable as it looks).
We are so grateful to God for this little boy and the tremendous amount of joy that he brings to our family and everyone that he meets.
Monday, October 3, 2011
we're back!
After nearly 100 days abroad, we finally flew (in first class comfort) home, touching down in Seattle on Tuesday, September 27th.
We were warmly welcomed home by our friends from Mars Hill Church community group with an All-American party complete with chocolate chip cookies. The girls from the group gave me flowers, another sweet friend gifted us with a Starbucks card, and Jackson has been savoring the grapes from the fruit basket that Dan's mom gave us upon arrival.
Coming home has been surreal. It's amazing how quickly 3 months passes when you're enjoying yourself in Europe but how lengthy the amount of time can seem when you return home and realize how much you've forgotten. It took me awhile to remember where I keep the extra soap and toilet paper here at the house and on our first trip to the grocery store I had to think long and hard before I could remember what phone number to punch in during checkout to get my extra savings.
Jet lag is quickly losing its grip on our family. Dan seems to have had the hardest time with it, waking after only a few hours the first night and getting progressively better throughout the week, just in time to return to work today. Jackson still wakes up at least once during the night thinking it's time to start his day but thankfully he's been easy to get back down for the most part. I've barely had any jet lag signs at all so that's been a real blessing.
Jackson returned to his home and toys with a familiarity and ease that greatly exceeded what we'd hoped for. The crazy thing is seeing how differently he plays now that he's 3 months older, wiser, faster, and bigger. We'll have to raise his basketball hoop up another notch unless we want him dunking every shot. He can now adjust the knobs on the stove with ease so that means we're on our toes at all times for fear of him burning the house down.
He can hop on and off of his Buzz Lightyear car and can "drive" himself across the living room forwards and backwards without an ounce of help from us at all.
We jumped right into a busy Blankenship schedule. We've bought new shoes for Dan and for Jackson, whose feet we'd been cramming into shoes a size and a half too small for his growing feet! I've already been to Starbucks so many times that Jackson thinks we're on our way to "Barstucks" each time I put his jacket on him and head for the door. Dan's already managed to do an overnight hike on the beautiful Pacific Crest Trail with his brother Rob and sister-in-law Beth. 
They weren't the only ones who got to hang out in a tent though. Jackson and I had fun here in Edmonds while Daddy was out in the mountains.
I was more than excited to break in my kitchen again by trying my hand for the first time at making a batch of The Last Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. WARNING to chocolate chip cookie lovers like myself: this cookie will change your life. It has CHUNKS of chocolatey goodness and a light dusting of sea salt for that perfect balance of salty & sweet. 
Jackson was quick to volunteer as my taste-tester.
Although, he was NOT happy about the blockade I put up between him and the kitchen while I baked. One by one, he thew his toys into the kitchen in hopes that I'd stop baking to bring them back to him and play with him.
We're happy to be home and back within US cell phone range but we definitely miss our friends that we left behind in Italy. Jackson is suffering through withdrawals from his Italian "family" at Sunrise Bar. Several times throughout each day he asks for CaCa, Gaga, Mimmo, Lela, Victoria, and CoCo. Each time we have to remind him that they're still in Italy. Francesca ("CaCa") says they're all missing him just as much and that Mimmo eats a gelato each afternoon in Jackson's honor.
We were warmly welcomed home by our friends from Mars Hill Church community group with an All-American party complete with chocolate chip cookies. The girls from the group gave me flowers, another sweet friend gifted us with a Starbucks card, and Jackson has been savoring the grapes from the fruit basket that Dan's mom gave us upon arrival.Coming home has been surreal. It's amazing how quickly 3 months passes when you're enjoying yourself in Europe but how lengthy the amount of time can seem when you return home and realize how much you've forgotten. It took me awhile to remember where I keep the extra soap and toilet paper here at the house and on our first trip to the grocery store I had to think long and hard before I could remember what phone number to punch in during checkout to get my extra savings.
Jet lag is quickly losing its grip on our family. Dan seems to have had the hardest time with it, waking after only a few hours the first night and getting progressively better throughout the week, just in time to return to work today. Jackson still wakes up at least once during the night thinking it's time to start his day but thankfully he's been easy to get back down for the most part. I've barely had any jet lag signs at all so that's been a real blessing.
Jackson returned to his home and toys with a familiarity and ease that greatly exceeded what we'd hoped for. The crazy thing is seeing how differently he plays now that he's 3 months older, wiser, faster, and bigger. We'll have to raise his basketball hoop up another notch unless we want him dunking every shot. He can now adjust the knobs on the stove with ease so that means we're on our toes at all times for fear of him burning the house down.
He can hop on and off of his Buzz Lightyear car and can "drive" himself across the living room forwards and backwards without an ounce of help from us at all.
We jumped right into a busy Blankenship schedule. We've bought new shoes for Dan and for Jackson, whose feet we'd been cramming into shoes a size and a half too small for his growing feet! I've already been to Starbucks so many times that Jackson thinks we're on our way to "Barstucks" each time I put his jacket on him and head for the door. Dan's already managed to do an overnight hike on the beautiful Pacific Crest Trail with his brother Rob and sister-in-law Beth. 
They weren't the only ones who got to hang out in a tent though. Jackson and I had fun here in Edmonds while Daddy was out in the mountains.
I was more than excited to break in my kitchen again by trying my hand for the first time at making a batch of The Last Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. WARNING to chocolate chip cookie lovers like myself: this cookie will change your life. It has CHUNKS of chocolatey goodness and a light dusting of sea salt for that perfect balance of salty & sweet. 
Jackson was quick to volunteer as my taste-tester.
Although, he was NOT happy about the blockade I put up between him and the kitchen while I baked. One by one, he thew his toys into the kitchen in hopes that I'd stop baking to bring them back to him and play with him.
We're happy to be home and back within US cell phone range but we definitely miss our friends that we left behind in Italy. Jackson is suffering through withdrawals from his Italian "family" at Sunrise Bar. Several times throughout each day he asks for CaCa, Gaga, Mimmo, Lela, Victoria, and CoCo. Each time we have to remind him that they're still in Italy. Francesca ("CaCa") says they're all missing him just as much and that Mimmo eats a gelato each afternoon in Jackson's honor.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)