Apple Picking

Abigail loves the camera.  I mean LOVES the camera.  Anna... well, she doesn't hate it but she's not always that into it. 





So there are tons of pictures of Abigail

And just a few of Anna.



I love these two!



But we had a fun afternoon picking apples.  We waited and waited and waited for just the right day.  I wanted to go in the late afternoon so that we would have 'pretty light' for the photos.  But when we left on that chilly day it was overcast... oh well. 

They love it and I'm so glad!

Hay ride out to the apple trees!



























And this guy... found him in a barn. He was perfectly positioned and seemed to love the camera as much as Abigail!











A perfectly perfect fall day!

And boy have they changed from 2010.  And last year.  And last year again

Somewhere Between

"I don't think that I could consider myself fully Chinese or fully American.  I think that no matter where I am in my life I'm always going to be sort of somewhere in between."




An adoption movie that I look forward to and dread seeing. I know it will be emotional but necessary.

The 9 Minute Photo Shoot

Sometimes I get that panicked feeling and I rush the girls in the car to get to "that tree" because the leaves are perfect right now.  And I don't want to miss them.  The two most beautiful trees in the fall I've ever seen are at the girls school.



So yesterday we headed there for a few pictures.  It amazes me every single year how beautiful God has made our world. 



Anna was given this sweater as a hand me down. And as we were going through the bag she quickly gave it the "thumbs down". I understood of course but told her that we were going to hold on to it for a fall leave photo shoot and that she only had to wear it for 9 minutes (her age). I just knew that the colors and the texture would look perfect for in these pictures. She was happy to wear it knowing that it was only for a few minutes!



My days have filled up more than I could have possibly imagined.  I LOVE being a volunteer in Kindergarten.  I love my afternoons with my girls (as busy as they sometimes are).  I love family dinner time, viola practice, reading logs, word rings, all of it.  I have just enough time to grocery shop, clean what needs to be cleaned for the day, cook, and that's just about it.  And I am happy.  Still a Mom... just the way I want to be! 



Tomorrow I'm off on another field trip!  It's Abigail's first.. yahoo!  We'll be visiting an apple orchard; and this will be her first ever bus ride.  I can hardly wait! 

It Was Devine

That's what Anna said when we got in the car last night and I asked her about playing at the Bushnell.  I was proud and happy for her.  She's come a long way.  She was hardly nervous and played beautifully. 



Of course the lighting wasn't the best but I had to take a bunch of pictures anyway.  Darn, I forgot to take a picture of her with Scott and I! 




(up and down Cinderella went)







This weekend we are busy, busy, busy.  I'm looking forward to Sunday afternoon when we're all home... finally.  Feels like we've been going, going, going in and out the door.  There girls need some good, relaxing, family time just playing at home.  There hasn't been enough of that lately but I'm going to change that soon! 

I still have so many pictures to go though of fall like happening around me, and this weekend is Anna's China Reunion so more pictures to take there.  Off to cook, clean, charge batteries, pack, and go, go, go... 

Tomato-Basil Soup

Been so busy lately with events coming up and ones this week.  I'm looking forward to the hum of the dryer and the dishwasher next Monday when I'm home, not frazzled, in my element.  So for now I still have 'apple picking' on my camera and I don't see it coming off until possibly Sunday, ugh!  But just to keep at this blog a teeny tiny bit I've got...



Tomato Basil Soup
(and yes it's photographed in the same way as the Creamy Butternut Squash soup from last weeks post... sorry... I told you my mind is scattered and busy this week)

1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup butter
6 ripe tomatoes, chopped
2/3 cup sherry
8 fresh basil leaves
1 cup Cheddar cheese, grated

Saute onion in butter until golden. Add tomatoes, sherry and basil, cover loosely and simmer 30 minutes. Mash large chunks of tomato with a pesto masher. (I use my handy dandy hand blender) Serve with croutons and top with cheese. (We added salt to ours)

It Feels Like Fall

Well, our Indian Summer day on Friday that was perfect for Abigail wearing her sailor suit ended.  And I'm thrilled to welcome in chilly days and even the rain we have today.  With my jeans and sweater, and a cup of tea I'm as happy as can be.  (although it wasn't much fun spending my morning at three grocery stores on this rainy day)









This weekend I decorated every nook and cranny for fall.  From the front door to the bathrooms.  And all of this cozy goodness will stay up until Thanksgiving day.  Ahh, the best time of the year. 



I haven't taken pictures of everything yet but here are few. Mostly I take pictures once I get the house decorated for a season so that I'll remember for next year.  I can't tell you how many times I've looked back at decorating pictures and said, "oh, where is that cake stand?  I like how the wooden pumpkins look on it."  I need reminders.  But I do love setting up a bit different each year. 


(our little non heated ~ more like a part of our garage than our house but it's gotta be decorated too)



My house is a fall house for sure.  I think it all started with the Wedding China that we picked way back in 1994.  No pictures, but it has a gold ring around the outside with fall fruits on it.  It seems that without even thinking about it we picked our wall colors, furniture, everything to match, and it all feels perfect in the fall.  (with the exception of our springish blue kitchen)











We've been busy as usual this week.  With Monday off my cleaning, shopping, cooking schedule was a bit off which is never a good thing for me.  I follow a tight (and typed) schedule.  I need that to feel sane and to be super organized.  But oh well... some weeks are just like this.




(roses from my wedding boquet... then never get changed out for the seasons because I'm afraid they'll break... 16 years old)

Anna will be playing at the Bushnell on Thursday night.  It's a big deal.  She'll be playing in front of some if the Hartford Symphony Orchestra members as a pre concert.  I've been jittery all week and have had trouble concentrating on anything.  She seems fine but we'll all be better when it's over :)



Last night Abigail woke me up four times.  And guess what?  I loved it!  Don't know why... I shouldn't have but I loved hearing her door open and her sneak over to my side of the bed and just wait for me to look over at her.  She was sweet and snugly in her jammies and smelled yummy too!  I took her back to her room and cuddled with her three times (think that was about 2 hours of the night) and on the fourth time when she came in she was crying.  "I just can't do it mommy.  I can't sleep alone tonight." 



Knowing that our alarm clock would be going off at 5:10 and waking her if she came in bed with us.  (Scott's out the door by 5:20) I made her a little "nest" of blankets and pillows on Anna's floor.  She fell asleep in complete peace in seconds and didn't move until I woke them both in the morning. 



Off to pick up the girls on this rainy, favorite day of mine.  It's the one and only out of seven that we have NOTHING to rush off to.  (and they get out early).  Oh I love Wednesday! 

"Make your home as comfortable and attractive as possible and then get on with living.  There's more to life than decorating."