Where did the time go?

I can't believe it's been almost three weeks since my last post. Such is the schedule of December. In addition to both our of birthdays, one day apart, there was The Polar Express at the Symphony and the Nutcracker Ballet. Throw in the final days of school before Christmas break and, oh yeah, shopping, and three weeks flew by fast.

I got two photography books as birthday gifts that I have been wanting for over six months. I can't wait to dive into them and play. I have yet to get through all the latest photos, however, here are a few from the last couple of weeks. The final one... for B+W Wednesday... is, I think my favorite shot ever of Isabel. I love everything about it.

A Very Merry Christmast to All.

Birthday Girl Enjoying the Cake Batter

Hello Kitty Cupcakes

Birthday Art Project

Big "Brother" Lucas

A Visit to the Symphony's Instrument Zoo

The Nutcracker with Friends

Interview with the Birthday Girl

I saw this over at my friend Lucia's blog and loved it.

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An interview with my favorite nearly five year old girl:

L: What are you going to do when you are five?

I: I will play outside, help mommy clean, wash the dishes with her, actually... dry the dishes, help her trim the tree, help her clean up, help her organize my books, help her bring in the groceries, help her turn off the lights and give her a kiss and a hug. I will help her work in the garden and find worms. I want some garden fake scissors. Can I have real ones? That seems like all.

L: What is your favorite food?

I: Uhh...macaroni and cheese. Actually, my favorite food is Mommy.

L: What do you worry about?

I: I worry about when you get sick.

L: What do you want to be when you grow up?

I: I want to be a computer classer

L: Who is the funniest person you know?

I: Miss Heather

L: Who is the smartest person you know?

I: Miss Valerie

L: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I: Umm... home. Just home.

L: Anything else you want to say about being five?

I: That's it.

B+W Wednesday: A Yee-Haw Thanksgiving

A friend visiting for Thanksgiving gave Isabel a blinking sequined pink cowgirl hat for an early birthday present. She LOVES it!

[Click on photos for a clearer view.]

Throw in a little make-up and you get one happy little girl.

Check out other B+W photos this week over at Lisa's blog:

B+W Wednesday: Sunday Afternoon at the Park

The weather here has been ridiculously warm for this time of the year, allowing us to spend more time outside.

After church, we headed over to a park and Isabel played hard. It never ceases to amaze me how children are able to meet people and just join in on the life of the moment with such ease.

Within minutes of arriving, Isabel was playing chase with another child. Shortly thereafter, she was on the swings, and then over to the monkey bars. We walked over to the duck pond and ... with the bread from a new friend we had just met... fed the ducks.

It was a beautiful afternoon.

Autumn Gardening

It was one of those days that felt like

May was just around the corner...not December.

We spent time in the backyard

cleaning and filling bird feeders

exploring the bursting seed pods on our butterfly weed plants

(If you enlarge pic, you can see the seeds floating in the air)

and just digging in the dirt

Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is in five days!

B+W Wednesday: Well Grounded

These are the only three shots from our trip to North Carolina that are not bathed in gorgeous golden light or framed by scarlet foliage. It was surprisingly difficult to focus on texture amidst the distraction of color.

Angels in our Midst

I am amazed at the kindness of both friends and strangers. I went out to my car yesterday morning, only to have the engine not turn over. My neighbors had already left for work. I was really stuck with no way to get myself and my daughter to school. At that moment, an older lady who walks her dog past my house each morning came along and asked if I needed help. Long story short. She walked her dog back home, drove her car back to my house, got into the passenger seat and told me I could drive her car to drop off Isabel and then to get to school. I didn't even know the woman's name!

She told me she prays every morning to the Lord for someone to help and she just knew that I was that person. (I swear I could almost see the ruffles of her wings!)

Though I had no idea how we would get home, what was wrong with my car and how I would get it fixed, I had a peace that all would be fine. At school, I made a couple of calls. One retired friend picked up Isabel, took her for dinner and kept her at her home for me. Another couple met me at school, drove me home, worked on the car, got me to the auto store to get the engine tested, waited for me while I got a new battery and made she I was okay to go get Isabel.

I am truly humbled by the generosity of these people and the grace and protection of God.

It certainly gives me a new perspective on life this morning.

Enjoying a Glorious Fall Day

Delicious autumn!

My very soul is wedded to it,

and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth

seeking the successive autumns.
George Eliot

North Carolina

Growing up in New England, I have always loved autumn.

The crispness of the air, the blaze of color as the trees

shout out one last song before giving up their leaves.

Even after 30 years, I still miss it.

The closest I come to experiencing it is in North Carolina.

I have been blessed with having a dear friend live there for the last 20 years.

Two years ago I brought Isabel up there for the first time.

We did a lot of exploring,

Went apple picking,

ate hot apple donuts,

saw how tall we were

played in miniature houses,

fed ducks

and laughed ourselves silly.

Last weekend we returned.

It was glorious.

I was in heaven.

We stayed on a farm this time and woke up on Saturday to a morning in the 30s with frost on the ground. Isabel was in her glory.

She was surrounded by chickens, cats, and dogs.

She visited her first hen house and gathered eggs

She had wide fields of golden grasses to run in

and huge piles of leaves to run through.

We went back to the apple orchard

and saw how tall we are,

and played in miniature houses

and saw amazing foliage,

We discovered a small bamboo forest

We drank apple cider slushies,

ate hot apple cinnamon doughnuts.

and picked flowers

We met up with good friends,

laughed,

walked,

and ate well.

In all, the trip lasted less than two days

and yet it was enough to tie us over...

at least until next year.

B+W Wednesday: Serenity

After church on Sunday, Isabel and I headed over to the local Town Center to shop. I was able to catch these shots of her...

unusual, in that, she was not in motion.

See more photos at: