finding our way

We seem to have found something of a routine in our newly expanded family. Roy's in school, I work full time, we're adding 300 square feet to our house (that's a whole OTHER post), there's a lot of Festival work to be done and, oh yeah, we have Riley's football practice and games, Sophie's active 4-year old self, and the demands of a nearly 4 month old.

But yes, routine does exist. Making coffee before bed and setting the timer for 10 minutes before my alarm goes off; meal planning like a beast; trying to keep up with housework within the fog of during-the-week exhaustion; and the kids have strict bed times, giving Roy and I at least an hour of peace and quiet before I fall asleep mid-chapter.

Here are some highlights of late.

Sophie loves all foods. She will try anything (last week she asked if we could have sea urchin). For her birthday we bought her a cookbook and she cooks dinner (with help, of course) every so often. This weekend, she and Riley made ice cream sandwiches.

I snapped this picture of Sophie reading Roy's hacker magazine, 2600, while doing her business.

and this little guy finally ditched the baby tub - much to his delight.

Oh, we just can't get enough of this sweetness.

Autumnfest

Roy's cousin Mallory (whom I claim as my own) and her darling boy, Aiden, moved to Rochester, NY a month or so ago. Sophie and Aiden are a few months apart and over the years met for many a play date while Mal and I commiserated over beers and the trials and tribulations of getting our kids to use the toilet. I miss this.
So when she came to town this weekend, we, along with the rest of her family, went to the Autumnfest at Bi-Water Farm in Georgetown. We even let her better half, Nick, come along, despite his punniness.
We spent hours and had a great time.

The beautiful and intelligent Cornett sisters
who really are pretty bad ass.

and there were GIANT rocking horses.
What better way to spend a gorgeous fall day?