Yesterday

Yesterday, the last day of my vacation for the rest of the entire year...Sad yes very sad I know. We spent the day cleaning and getting ready for the cold weather. It was mild so I cleaned broken pots and withering, frost bitten plants from the back steps Joey played for the first time outside in his play pen. I as I carried him outside he looked at me like, really mom, outside, come on we do this like, never... insert a tad bit of guilt here.

 As the garage got cleaned and the Mustang washed, we went for a tractor ride. The first since the first first when you were barely old enough to scream at the top of your lungs because you were forced to sit on the seat for cheesy photos. I think you enjoyed yourself a little more this time.

 I know John did. You also reached for the naked lady on the stearing wheel...

 Squealing for food...

 Playing with dad and your glow baby...

 Kisses...

 Reading books upside down...

 Tummy time... Oh the missery.

Jersey

 

We made the more than 600 mile trip across three states to John's home state of New Jersey last week to visit friends and family. It was so nice to see everyone and spend time with those that we usally only get to talk to over the phone.

It was Joey's first long trip, something that I was so nervous, maybe terrified about for weeks before. I planed and planed every last detail. What to bring and how to pack it. Turns out, there was nothing to be nervous about. He was such a trooper the entire week. We stayed with friends which was so much nicer than it would have been in a hotel. They have a 6 month old daughter Nicole and the two of them hit it off quite nicely. 

If nothing else the trip confermed my confidence in my day to day parenting skills. Seems a trip to the grocery store is nothing now, a little fussing at home is cake compared to the wailing from the backseat along I-80 someplace in the middle of Ohio. Can't say I blame him we wanted out too. 

I hope the trips out east contiune as much as possible.  There is nothing like it. But I've never been so happy to pull back in my driveway.

Christmas dinner

There has always been a tiny corner of my mom's heart where animals have a home. I'm not 100 percent sure but I don't think there have been many times in her life when she hasn't has some kind of creature to call her own. 

Joey and I spent a little time this morning visiting the hens we took to the farm earlier this summer and got one last glimpse of the turkeys before they make their way to mom's freezer. 

I may have gotten a little poop on my shoes but it was worth it to see them both enjoying a visit with feathered friends. I don't spend early as much time down there as I would like.