Apple picking

Paul insisted on picking the apples up off the ground, and putting them in our bag. I think I was able to weed out all of the rotting apples!

Benjamin has been eating at least two apples a day, since we picked them on Sunday.

Now it's time to make applesauce and apple pie!

The lawn was mowed in record time!

Evening at the beach

A couple of Fridays ago, we took a spur of the moment trip to the beach in Rhode Island. Jonathan came home a little before 4:00, I packed a quick supper, and we were off. Jonathan really wanted to see the waves, since a tropical storm was off-shore. We were not disappointed; the waves were big! So big, that Jonathan, along with my help =) decided against body-surfing.

Paul wanted nothing to do with the water. The waves were too intimidating. And Paul is usually ready to tackle anything!

More Birthday

We went to New Jersey after church Labor Day weekend, and stayed until Monday evening. Aunt Mary and Uncle Ken had some birthday presents for Paul and a cake. We had a good time there. Jonathan helped Uncle Ken with a project or two. We helped them do some more down-sizing for their permanent move to Florida. (Read: we came back with the van loaded down, including the Hoosier cabinet from Jonathan's great-grandmother.) We got to pick raspberries while we were there. And the boys got to play with the neighborhood kids--in the street, no less. Paul really wasn't too sure about the whole playing in the street thing, which was actually quite reassuring to me. Benjamin learned how to ride a two-wheeled scooter, which was very exciting for him.

Swinging

This summer, Benjamin went from being nervous about sitting on a swing (because he felt unsteady) to pumping himself! Now he loves the swing set.

From the mouth of babes...

Benjamin: "You know, teachers are like moms."

Me: "That's true. They take care of you while you're at school, and can help you if you get hurt or need something."

Benjamin: "Yeah, except teachers work a lot harder than moms."

Me: "I don't know about that. I've been a teacher and a mom, and I think it's harder work being a mom. It's more fun, but harder."

Benjamin: "No, it's harder work being a teacher."

Me: "Why do you think that?"

Benjamin: "Teachers have a lot more kids to take care of."

Once again, lesson learned--don't argue with the logic of a 4-year-old.

Paul has also been entertaining us with some of his sayings.

"I do it by self!" Spoken like a true toddler.

"We will, we will, rocking chair!" His own version of Queen.

"That make noisy!" When something is noisy.

"That car has a spoiler." Yes, he really knows what a spoiler is.

First day of school

Benjamin was excited for school to start this year. He's going 3 mornings a week, and he's the in same classroom with one of the same teachers. A few of his classmates are the same, too. So far, I've gotten much more out of him when he comes home and I ask about his day. Maybe because he's just that much older.

Paul just lays around the house in a depressed state while Benjamin is at school. Okay, not really, but he definitely misses his brother, and is very excited to pick him up from school!

On Dad's watch

"Honey, I'm going to hang the clothes on the line. I'll be right back."

Ten minutes later...

It could probably be left unsaid, but there was nothing on the floor when I went outside. And not that the same thing has never happened on Mom's watch, but there you have it...

ABCs

Paul shocked me by singing the ABCs--more or less--the other day. This was my attempt to get it on video.