Just like that...it's fall.

It may seem like not much goes on day to day but when

I look through recent photos I find that....

 We went to the park for an early birthday party for Everleigh

 We celebrated with "birthday party" oreos, juice boxes

and prizes with Andrew & Ethan and Uncle Ben.

 A good time was had by all!

 Now that I just have Ethan on Tuesday and Thursday

mornings (some weeks) we've had some outings.

We spent one morning at the zoo.

 We celebrated Everleigh's 4th and Briggs' 2nd birthday.

 Jesse, Ben, Ethan and Andrew spent an

afternoon with us at a nearby pumpkin patch.

 Andrew got a pony ride.

 GG spent a day with me recently and we had another

outing at a park.  Briggs gave her a kiss.

I snapped a quick picture when they were holding

hands.  They can snap at each other or be

very sweet....almost like siblings.

 Ami, Scott, Briggs and Everleigh met us as the

same pumpkin patch/orchard.  It was a beautiful

fall day.

Sunrise, Sunset...

Everleigh and Andrew both start

pre-school this month which means

that they will be in someone else's

care Tues and Thurs mornings.  It doesn't

end granny nanny for me....Briggs and Ethan

still need care and they still need me Mon-Wed-Fri...

But it IS a pretty big deal and a moment

to reflect on what they've taught ME these

last 4 years....

1.  The world is full of wonder...whether it's a

bug crawling on the sidewalk, splashing
in a puddle or a dandelion

needing to be picked...so much is beautiful and fun.

2.  We're born this way.  True, nurture plays

a huge role in everyone's life.  Young brains
are open to discipline, hard work and persuasion.

But we are mostly hard-wired....to be

inquisitive or nurturing or easy going or

hard-charging.  I see evidence of

this every day.

3.  Differences are good.  How boring if we

were all the same and how interesting

each individual is.

4.  Learning comes in spurts.  One day

a little one is taking a first step...the

next day they're running.  All of a sudden

there are sentences where only disconnected

words were.  Just when you think they
will never be potty-trained, they're asking
you to wipe their little butts.

5.  If you're bored watching little ones,

wait five minutes...IT WILL CHANGE.

6.  Keep things simple...food, directions,

expectations and clothing.

7.  We should never stop learning.

8.  Love can never be divided...it only multiplies.

Gonna go back in time....

We met Jesse, Ben, Andrew and Ethan at the

MN Renaissance Festival on Saturday.  It was

a beautiful morning with lots for the boys to see.

We hadn't been at the fest for a few years so it was

a nice change of pace.  Lots of food, costumes

and merriment.

 Ethan checked out the petting zoo.

 Andrew went "hands on" with a camel ride.  We

didn't quite understand why he chose the camel

because he could have chosen an elephant but

who knows how these things work in his mind.

 Then he joined "Columbus" on the Pinta.

 These are "dragon" wings in case you're wondering.

 The Swensons take in one of the many shows.

 Ethan gets a turn at being a dragon.

 Andrew and Ethan ride the butterflies.

I didn't see any motors on these rides.  I think

they were all human-driven....the boys thought it was great fun.

 Andrew checked out the snake while Papa

checked out the snake-handler.

 The 4 Swensons got to meet one of the jousters.

Then it was Ethan's turn to touch the snake.