kids these days

 . . . All they ever do is lie around all day texting each other . . .

family time

bedtime story

is papa taking a shower without me?

can you find what does not belong here?

That's right . . . there is a baby inside that tv stand/entertainment center.

jack is really into climbing (often onto -- and into -- unlikely things) . . .)

moving forward

Jack is happy to announce that he is finally moving forward in life . . . and in the car.  We had been holding out for the extra safety rear-facing seats offer but technically we could have turned him around a few months ago.  Today we decided to let him see where we have been going all of this time.  So on our way home from the festival, he had his first forward-facing ride in the car.  

And let me tell you, he could not have been happier . . .

. . . He was wide awake, yapping away and happy as can be for the entire hour-long drive home.

the pumpkin patch

Today we headed about an hour north of Los Angeles to Ventura County to visit the Pumpkin Patch Festival at Faulkner Farms.  I often am on the lookout for little and big traditions-to-be to show themselves to me since the traditions our family had growing up meant so much to me. I think we found one today.  

Rigo, Jack and I had a great time and I think in the next few years Jack will enjoy himself even more as some of the activities available were still a little much for him.  As it was, we climbed around in a hay maze, climbed to the top of a hay pyramid (I have good practice with this from my childhood), looked at and pet a few farm animals, wandered around this beautiful farm and pumpkin patch, picked out a pumpkin to carve, had some delicious food -- including a loaf of yummy, homemade pumpkin bread, and sat in the shade of a lovely tree on benches made out of bales of hay while listening to some great live music.  It was my kind of day. 

Can you find Jack?

the children's zoo

Jack and I have been spending a lot of time at the LA Zoo.  We bought an annual pass and, since it is so close to us, we often go for an hour here or there just to get out of the house and do something stimulating.  We practically have it to ourselves on weekdays.  We are yet to see all of the animals that are housed there and this last visit was actually the first time we explored their children's zoo.  

Jack was just under a week into his walking phase so when I parked the stroller and took him out, he first started screaming and crying and tugging at my legs.  

I asked him to give me a chance to take off my sweater, then I would pick him up.  More crying.  Then there was silence.  

And he's off folks!

Who needs animals to play with when you're wearing velcro shoes?

He may kind of look like he is smiling here but he was actually yelling at me because he could not climb that huge step on which he is leaning on his own and I was sitting there taking pictures instead of helping him.  (Look at those teeth! -- we are up to six now, that we can tell)

I am loving this phase and I am loving him walking on his own.  Yes, it means a whole different level of work for me, but it is wonderful to see him pacing around talking up a storm.  Most of all it is wonderful to have a little more insight into what really interests him from moment to moment . . .what catches his eye . . . because now he can walk right up to it and interact with the world on a whole different level.  

He seemed so cautious all of those months he was not willing to let go and walk on his own but now he suddenly seems fearless.  And believe me, he already has plenty of bumps, bruises and abrasions to prove it.

walking & talking at the children's zoo

the farmers' market

Jack and I head to our local farmers' market every Sunday morning.  He sits in his stroller, happy as can be, eating the fruit samples we get at each stand and watching and talking to people.  There is also usually some live music . . . our favorite is a little bluegrass band that is often there.  Having this music playing as we wander through the crowds and visit our favorite stands feels like a little slice of home.  I tell Jack that this music comes from the same region that his mama comes from.  

I have a few favorite farms whose stands I like to visit each week and chat with the folks who work there.  When Jack gets a little bit older I want to visit these farms with him.  I heard a wonderful discussion on NPR one day about building a sense of community for yourself and your children in this day and age when people are often far away from family and living in large, sometimes isolating, urban areas . . . I could relate to this dilemna.  One of my favorite points the author who was speaking made was to know the people you buy from . . . whether it be food or services . . . make a point to seek out local businesses and get to know the people there.  My favorite quote from what he was saying is:

"Practice random acts of loyalty daily."

I cannot think of anyone who lived by this adage more than my dad.  Not to mention that it pretty much defines life in a smaller community like the one I grew up in.  I miss this for Jack's sake.  So, visiting and buying from our favorite farms at the market each week is one of my random acts of loyalty.

When we are done shopping, we head to the children's end of the market, which has a big bouncing thing, a pony ride, train ride and a petting farm.  Up until this last week, we would just look in at the petting farm from the outside.  But since Jack is now walking on his own, I decided to venture into the chaos that is the petting farm.

Jack was not sure about being so close to the animals.  He liked the cow because it did not move much and in general he would pet anything that was not moving at the moment.  So, all total, he touched a small cow, a sleeping pig and a sleeping goat.  He loves to make animal sounds these days so there was a lot of that.  

The space is pretty crowded with parents, children and animals so I understand it being a bit overwhelming for the little guy.  He tended to hang out at the fence adjacent to the pony ride and watch the ponies.  

the beach continued

the cover clan at the zoo

My cousin Becky's husband, Ron, sent us some more pictures and video of our time together with them last week.  Here are a few shots from the LA Zoo & Botanical Gardens.  

Jack & papa . . .

Jack & the baby gorilla . . .

Our entire entourage at the lion's den . . .