39/52

Owen:  intent on finding a green pumpkin.
Everly: taste testing on site.

38/52

Jon's birthday trip to the beach.  

Our 'surprise' trip to the ocean was short but felt long - the perfect mini-getaway.  It was cool and a little rainy but we had enough time on the sand to build castles, chase seagulls, eat Kohrs (and french fries) and relax together.

Owen:  Not sure why I'm always so drawn to photos of Owen lost in the vastness of nature.  Here he is digging the shore back into the water. 

Everly:  Owen's opposite - I love close-ups of Ever, lost in her own little world.  Castle caves for tigers this time.

37/52

 Week 37 was one of those weeks packed with fun from end to end.  It was so nice to go through all my old photos (since I'm actually posting this on November 1!) and remember how happily busy that week was.  Doesn't it seem like some weeks hog all the activity while others stagnate in staying at home and chores?  I guess it's a life cycle of sorts.

Owen:  we ended the week at a tiny state park beach not too far away.  After swimming ourselves silly in the gentle bay waves we walked the long jetty down to its end and explored a bit.  The sky and the water seemed so big out there on this thin strip of land.  

Everly:  We found another park with a great wading river.  All it took was a long hike down (and then back up) the mountain.  This place is definitely on the list of places to explore next year!

Imagination

Somewhere along the line, we ended up with this plastic toy lawnmower.

O has used this lawnmower for some time, 'helping' to mow the lawn and assist with chores around the house.  In particular, he enjoys anything to do with raking, shoveling, mowing, etc.. as long as he's able to help.

So the other day should have come as no surprise to me...

As I was getting the grill started to cook up some kebabs, O was busy running the lawnmower back and forth over the backyard. I was only vaguely aware of what he was doing, just that he was doing it intently.

I glanced over at one point and he had it flipped over... studying the underside with great interest. Then, after a long moment of reflection, the following conversation ensued...

"DADDY!" O shouts. "There's no blade on this lawmower!!."

"Yes, son, I know."

"Well, I can't cut grass if there's no blade!!"

"Yes, son, I know." [pause for reflection] "You have to use your imagination."

Clearly unsatisfied, O retorts: "You can't cut grass with your imagination!!!"

36/52

Owen:  another day, another tree.  Giving the neighbor a heart attack (even though he was only 3 feet off the ground...with a helmet on).  
Edit:  Owen2:  Ever got two photos last week and I found this photo of Owen kayaking solo for the first time (that's Jon in the background).  Of course, he loved it.

Everly:  The sky, her marker painted finger (showing Owen the 'way'), her sun bleached hair, her little clenched board book.  I'd live this moment over again.

35/52

Owen:  climbs everything these days and is braver and braver with each tree/playground/doorframe he conquers.  He and dad had a nice long chat while he was in this tree.
Everly:  I knew as soon as I took this photo that I wanted to use it here.  The goggle face melted my heart.  But then we went fishing on the Saturday before labor day and Everly caught her first fish.  Her reaction is priceless.