Pearly Whites

Q had his first dental check up yesterday. We talked about it a little before we went in. I told him they would just count his teeth and they needed to look at them to make sure they are healthy.

When we arrived, we were called back pretty quickly...which I think helped to not let anxiety set in too deeply. When we got into the exam room, there was a thick foam booster for a mini person. Quincy sat on the booster in the chair long enough for me to snap one photo, then told me he wanted to sit on my lap. The hygienist was all right with that. She gave him some tiny sunglasses to wear so the light wouldn't be so bright in his little eyes.

Teresa counted twenty teeth. Then asked Quincy what flavor he liked. I know they have about five different flavors, but she narrowed it down to two for him: cherry and orange. He chose orange. In all, his appointment lasted maybe 20 minutes. It was very quick! The report was there are no cavities and no tartar to be scraped. So of course, I patted myself on the back.

Q got to choose a new toothbrush, too! He told me he chose red because that is his favorite. It's really true! You learn something new every day! I didn't know he had a favorite color!

We celebrated Quincy's bravery by stopping at McDonald's for a little bite to eat and some time to play on the gigantic gerbil tubes.

Let It Snow!

It's snowing and the kids are so happy! Just look at those adorable little faces!

Comforts Handmade

I love this quilt! It was one of my first "big quilt projects." It's a lap quilt or a snuggle quilt, but I love that it is a star quilt and I love that it is so bright and colorful. It was made to become a Halloween "decoration" of sorts. I wash it and fold it up and tuck it away at the end of each Halloween...to make it all that more special. I think this is one of the things I can't wait to see when we pull out all that black and orange stuff.

My KaitieBug is happy to have it. :) She is never far from her cellular device...see it there in her hand? It almost looks like she'd just received a new text message as I snapped this picture of her with MY cellular device!

MMMM!

Banana Bread Recipe for you....

1/2 C. oil
1 C sugar
2 eggs
1/4 C. sour cream
1 t. vanilla extract
2C all purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. nutmeg
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 C. walnuts

Beat oil and sugar; add eggs. Stir in sour cream and vanilla; add flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Stir in bananas and walnuts; pour into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Makes one loaf.

Good Morning, Sunshine!

Yesterday, I awoke at the perfect moment to see my bedroom flooded with the most beautiful amber light. I grabbed my camera phone and snapped a shot of it on that camera and went to get my "good camera," but much to my sadness, the light had already changed so much, that it felt as though the magic was gone. I was happy to have at least gotten in on my camera phone.

This morning, I was given that gift of beautiful morning light filtering through my lace curtains...yet again! I saw my camera next to my bed. I reached out, picked it up, rolled back over, poised my heavy camera and composed this shot from the comfort of my pillow....lol. So there may not be a lot of technical merit here, but I just felt so happy in my bones that I was given the gift of the light in its brevity once again .... and that I was able to capture it to remember how happy and lucky I am.

Quincy's Big Bang Theory

I told him, "Little Dude? Today is the day! We are going to cut your hair today. It's hanging in your eyes."

He tilted his head back and batted those long eyelashes and said, "I don't feel it!"

Rrrrrriiiiiiight!

A Lovely Autumn Day

Yesterday, while the big kids were in school, Q and I packed up a few things and headed to the water park to feed the ducks. It was so good to get out of the house for a little while as I was beginning to suffer a case of cabin fever. The air was heavy with humidity and chilly; the sky was cloudy and gray. The trees were full of color and were beginning to shed their foliage. It was just a wonderful way to spend a little time.

When we arrived at the park, Quincy wanted to hold the red paper bag filled with buttery popcorn. So he carefully carried it to the water's edge without dropping even one fluffy piece.

As soon as the ducks saw us walking toward them, they happily waddled to us quacking all the way. I think they knew we had treats for them...or they were at least hoping we did. One duck flew from about 100 feet away to land in the water right in front of us. Quincy was so delighted. He even laughed and said, "OH! They can FLY?!?!?" He wanted so badly to hold one of the feathery fowl. I tried to tell him in simple terms that not everyone is kind to animals and it's best to let them be fearful of us.

When the popcorn was all gone, we decided to head back to the car. I held his little hand in mine as we walked. I told him his hand was warm...and he looked up at me and said..."Yeah! And your hand is COLD!" I laughed.

We stopped at one of my favorite craft stores to scuff up the floors a little bit. I lingered for a while at the yarns. I really wanted to pick up some yarn for a project for my mom. I couldn't decide on a color...and quincy was growing annoyed with my indecision. He started whining about it being time to go now. Finally, his suggestion: "Can we just go home without the yarn, NOW?!" was heard and we left.

We had a really great day together.

Vintage Cupcakes

I love Halloween! I especially love vintage Halloween decorations...or ones that look vintage. So when I was shopping at The Barn in Castle Rock and saw these, I just had to have them! This picture doesn't show the black kitty face or the jackolantern's face as the toppers for the cupcakes, but they are pretty cute, too.

We got outmost of our Halloween decorations last week and Quincy can hardly wait now til it's time to go get CANDY!

Old Truck

While mom and I were daytripping through the Rocky Mountains last week, we happened upon this rusty old truck. I told her to stop and go back! I really wanted to photograph it, but it was on private property. As I walked up to the driveway, I quickly made up a story that would allow for photographs of someone's old truck. There is a for sale sign in the window. So, if anyone had a problem with my being there, I'd tell them I wanted to take the photos back to my step-dad who was looking for a truck like this.

In truth, for a long time, I have wanted an old truck like this. Well, what I really want is one more like the old "bubble trucks" is what I like to call them. You know...the ones with the bubble fenders on all four wheels. I just love old things. I love the stories. I love to think of how things used to be.

New Rules!

You may recognize these pieces from Monopoly, but Quincy has taken to building villages with all of the plastic buildings. This is one of his close-knit communities!

1, 2, 5!

This is Quincy's favorite game! I think he likes the sound of the "gems" falling into the wooden cups of the board. Or maybe it's the feel of the "gems" in his little hands? Those are the things I like when playing this game with him.

Des Colores!

I was happily knitting this hat for my friend, Ric, who is battling cancer and just went 6 hours of chemo last week. I picked up my mug of coffee to take a sip and I realized the colors of the yarn and the colors on the mug were so similar!

While I had the knitting project on the floor for the picture, Moses plopped down on it and made herself cozy. I think she likes it. She kinda has that "ZEN" look on her face.

I really love this hat! It was a super-eazy knit. My mom saw the hat and squealed with delight and told me: "I WANT ONE!"

PERFECT! She has a birthday coming up soon!

Pretty in Pink!

Ahhhh! I got to snuggle this little tiny baby girl today. It just made my day to hold her and snuggle her. Of course, no baby comes in here without getting a few portraits made.

Daytripping in the Rocky Mountains

~Marjorie, Quincy, Kelly~

We live in a beautiful place on the planet, for sure! Mom, Quincy and I packed it up and headed up into the Rocky Mountains to see the changing of the leaves. I feel so lucky to have gotten to go and spend some time with my mom. THANK YOU!

My mom and I were just so amazed at the beautiful colors we saw. It's been said that when God created Colorado, He was showing off! Maybe there is something to that! ;)

Powder Puff Football

Kaitlyn signed up for and played Powder Puff Football this year. We all went to watch. It was fun! The junior class won the title AGAIN for the third year in a row!

Kaitie and Alex

Childhood friends: Tiana and Amanda

Alex and Quincy