Photo Catch-up: Halloween

Just because I can't in good conscience do a Christmas post until I'm ALL caught up, here are some more photos from recent Pickle history -- Halloween.

Our very girlie pumpkins. :)

The girls were Sleeping Beauty and a fairy. Miriam originally wanted to be Snow White, and I was willing to make the costume, but as the date of Halloween approached I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get everything finished in time. Actually, Miriam lost confidence in my ability to complete a sewing project in a timely manner (might be somewhat due to the fact that I didn't make her summer nightgown until August...). So we agreed to have one costume do triple duty, for the Medieval Festival, All Saints' Party, and Halloween. So behold a maiden, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, and Sleeping Beauty all wrapped into one! (You may recall in the Disney movie that Princess Aurora's dress was originally pink until the fairies started fighting over it.) Katie wanted to be one of the guardian fairies (Flora, Fauna, or Merriweather) but was perfectly happy with this hand-me-down costume.

Joseph was -- what else? -- an angel. :)

Mr. Pickles, for whom I don't have a picture, sadly, went as a hockey player. I went as a tired, unimaginative housewife. :) We decided to all go trick-or-treating as a family, leaving our candy with the neighbors. That was lots of fun, and may become a new Pickles family tradition.

The Boy

Someone once asked Mr. Pickles and me why we refer to him as "the boy." Well, so far, he is THE boy! Hopefully someday he will have a little brother, but for now he holds the privileged status of Spoiled Prince of the family.

So here is a whole post dedicated to him, with a sample of what he's been doing over the last couple months. Big Moves!!!

So far Joseph is my first baby who actually LOVES the outdoors. He LOVES grass, and has great fun ripping it up by the handfuls.
This was back in early Oct., at 6 1/2 mos. old. He looks JUST like some of my baby pictures here, don't you think Mom?

Our golden boy.

Bwa ha haaa!! A camera!

"Let me out!"
Whenever he hears someone opening the front door, he makes a beeline for it. He will stay there as long as the door is open and watch the world go by. When you close the door, or when we come in from a walk, he cries.

This is right after I gave him his first REAL haircut at the end of Oct. I feel that I butchered it (when's the last time YOU tried to cut the hair of a 7-month-old?) but it doesn't look half bad in these photos.

Ah, he has discovered the joy of upness. (early Nov.) So far he hasn't gotten much farther than this, but it's only a matter of time...

Oh yeah, he likes bookcases. Mostly he just riffles the pages -- he hasn't discovered the joy of completely emptying a bookshelf in 0.6 seconds. Yet.

Ready to cruise!

Peek-a-boo!

Arrrrr, maybe I can gnaw through it...

Hey, Ma!

No more pictures, please.

Finally, here is a sample of Joseph's unique method of scooting.



His arms are amazingly strong from this!

Sadly, he doesn't inchworm like this much anymore -- he just recently figured out the cross-crawl. Although when he wants to get somewhere in a hurry (like to the open front door) he'll forget his new talent and start digging his toes in.

Watching him develop has been very insightful into his personality, as it is with all children. He is so laid-back about his progress. He seems to just take things as they come -- he doesn't especially try to exert himself, or get upset if he can't do something. Scooting? Hey, this is a good way to get that toy over there. Standing? Wow, look at the view from up here! Cruising? Whee! Lookit what my feet can do! The only time he gets upset is if he falls and gets a bonk, or is trying to climb up my skirt and I move away -- basically when the universe doesn't cooperate in the way he's expecting (like changing his diaper when he's hungry). But when he gets upset, boy, does he let you know it!! There's no holding back. His emotions are just out there for everyone to see. I've been told that's a boy thing. It's loud, but refreshing. :)

It's going to be really interesting watching all these traits mature.

Look, Ma, I'se Kreativ!

I just received my first "tag" from my newbie blogger sister-in-law, to describe six things that make me happy:

-getting completely absorbed in a story (preferably a book rather than a movie)

-playing a piano piece well (you've all checked out the sidebar recently, right?)

-going for walks by myself at something faster than toddler pace (you know, that meandering, stop-and-go thing that drives you batty when you want to move along)

-the ocean -- the sound, the smell, the breeze, the feel of the waves

-that feeling of oneness and harmony with Mr. Pickles that comes from a moment of complete mutual understanding

-knowing my children and spouse love me anyway, even when I feel like a rotten person and the scum of humanity


Now I'm supposed to tag six other bloggers. I just realized that I do read several other blogs, but most of the authors don't know me from Adam -- so like Katie I'm just tagging the people I know whose blogs I read somewhat regularly and who I know check on mine semi-demi occasionally:

the SonFamily
Ecclesia Domestica
F.U. News
Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Thanks for the tag, Katie! This was a fun exercise. Now I'll be thinking about being happy all day. :)

500TH POSTIVERSARY!!!

I KNOW!! Can you believe you've been subjected to our gratuitous kid photos and meandering thoughts 500 TIMES already?? Yay for you for hanging in there! While thinking about what to do to make this post special, we considered posting funny videos, or linking to favorite old posts, or summarizing the last few years in photos, or waxing eloquent about our family's journey together, blah blah. But I realized that the whole reason we even have this blog in the first place is for you, gentle reader. (Well, that and I'm too lazy and disorganized to send update letters to lots of people.) On this blog we aim to keep you all updated on the happenings, milestones, and various important occasions in our family's life. So we dedicate this, our 500th post, to you, our beloved family and friends!

And if there ARE any favorite posts that you'd like to read again but can't be bothered with trying to find, let us know in the comments and we'd be happy to find it for you and link to it here!

Peace and Joy

from our family to yours!

no reflection on his manhood

When you have two older sisters, and your parents are otherwise occupied, things like this are bound to happen.

(but doesn't he make a cute fairy?)

Ready for Creative Writing!

Now that Miriam has finished her sewing project, this is how the girls spend most of their free time.

Katie's pictures are becoming more involved -- after she finishes one she always finds someone she can corner and tell all about it. It usually involves someone's birthday, or riding ponies, or someone dressed as a princess, with lots of her friends, real or make-believe.

Miriam today has made her first foray into story writing. She came up to me while I was taking a decadent sip from my cup of Trader Joe's European Sipping Chocolate, asking how to spell "walk," then returned several minutes later with this.

As I write this she is expanding it into a full-blown story with illustrations and a book cover. There is about half a ream of lined paper with slightly off-kilter punched holes lying around the house, along with several ribbons which Miriam uses for book binding. I remember doing this sort of thing when I was about the same age (I distinctly remember a page saying "the Eed") but I used a stapler. Ribbons are prettier.

Her next story will be about "The Sistr and the Bruthr" I am told.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Since I've been laid up with The Cough That Would Not Die (just in time for Christmas prep!!), this is how Miriam & I spent most of our free time last week.

St. Nicholas brought her a little needlework kit, which she polished off in 3 days. She has a real knack for it, and seems truly to enjoy it. I've really gotten into embroidering things lately -- it's a great way to relax and yet be productive at the same time. I'm finding that as much as I love goofing off on my computer when I have a spare moment, needlework is actually more refreshing. And I can let my mind wander delightfully while my fingers are busy making something beautiful. I'm currently working on 2 projects -- I got some onesies for Joseph to go with his sleep sacks, and I'm embellishing the sleeves a little so they're more than just plain white. I'm also working on a little project for a friend with a newborn. I might get one of those pre-stamped pillowcases for Miriam to do next -- I remember making one when I was a girl and loving it. I bought an iron-on transfer pencil too so I can make my own designs if I'm feeling especially creative. :) The creative juices have been flowing strong lately!

the finished product! She really did a great job. I'm so proud of her!

As part of our home schooling schedule, I'd like to dedicate one day a week to creating. Some friends of ours do this, and I think it's a great idea. It's so refreshing to take a break from the usual weekday routine of learning and exercise the right side of the brain a bit. Everyone's brain is so fried by the end of the week anyway that one might as well try to have a little fun! The girls draw all day every day, so Friday would probably be devoted to even more artsy things like painting and crafts and all those other messy things that I normally hate to do. A neighbor just dropped off a bunch of crafty doodads like goggle eyes and itty bitty flower pots (perfect for fairy houses!) that we'll be sure to make good use of.

Yesterday afternoon I polished off another sleep sack for Joseph in about an hour. We're sick of trying to snap up all those itty bitty snaps in the middle of the night after a diaper change, when Joseph is anything but cooperative. (and by "we" I mean "Mr. Pickles" since whenever Joseph wakes up I feign sleep so I don't have to get out of our warm bed to change him.) So (to assuage my conscience) I decided to make him a wearable blanket -- it's basically a big fleece bag with neck- and armholes and a drawstring across the bottom to keep his toes toasty. (It also makes it difficult for him to scooch when he's groggy, thereby hindering his movement when he wakes up and giving us a sporting chance of getting to him before he scales the pillow barricades and plummets off the bed!)

He still manages to get around, though -- since he doesn't really crawl but inchworms his way around the house. Sort of like the butterfly stroke on dry land. You should see his big beefy arms. I've never seen a baby with defined biceps before!

I couldn't resist this button at the fabric store.

I made this sack about a week ago -- the one I finished yesterday is below. I love the snowmen. I had bought white buttons to go with it, but yesterday the creative urge once again inspired me to embellish it with acrylic paints thusly:

(one of his charcoal teeth got rubbed off slightly overnight)

I like this creativity thing! It makes the days so full, in a fun way.

...Now I feel guilty for scoffing at the Resident Murloc's taking a leatherworking class. :)

More from Katie's Birthday

I found the videos we took on Katie's birthday.

I forgot to take a picture of the cake, so this is the only glimpse we get of it. (funfetti cake with white buttercream frosting, candy roses and magic wand candles, all of which she picked out herself. there's also a Cinderella candle left over from Miriam's birthday, which I have a feeling is going to be making an appearance on every cake for the next few years)



Katie opening some of her presents. I include it just because she's so cute. :)

An appreciative audience

This was taken back in August, when Joseph was 4 mos. old and really starting to wake up to the world at large.



Apparently Miriam is saying something in Old Solar (which you know is babies' first language, followed later by Sindarin) that is just totally hilarious.

I just love the little baby squeals! They outgrow those precious noises so quickly...

Lazy Dayz

There are few things more sleep-inducing than holding a warm, snoogly baby.

Oh, the boy noises!

He does this every time he takes a big drink.



"Pure poison it is, but I can feel it doing me good all the way down!"

A picture is worth a thousand words

Katie at Four

Our bear-cakes is now 4! Four is a big deal. Four is a big girl. Four means no more whining when you want something -- you're old enough for Mommy to insist on using words.

She's still so little and sweet it's hard to believe she's already 4!

She's SO grown up now that she can make her own birthday cake.

...out of mulch and leaves.

"Mommy, don't take a picture of me." "Okay, I'm not!" :) She's so camera shy that I have to lie through my teeth to get a decent shot of her.

Our kids' birthdays aren't timed well for outdoor parties, but we do it anyway!

Somewhere I thought we had a video of her cake, but I can't find it right now -- I'll update when I can.

The next shot I have is of Katie enjoying her birthday spoils.

She's at the stage where she loves playing with little things.

Hooray, a birthday smile!


And here, The Pickles presents to you, an exclusive birthday interview with the Katie-Bear:

What's your favorite color? Purple. I don't know. Blue.

...food? macaroni and cheese

...fruit? grapes. no no, blackberries

...drink? milk

...flower? daffodils

...book? Belle and the Beast

...song? Christmas songs

...clothes? dresses

...movie? Cinderella, when Gus-gus said "Happy Birfday" and Jacque said "no no no!"

...princess? Sleeping Beauty

Why? because I like pink colors

What's your favorite thing to do? draw and draw and draw

How do you like being four? Fun

What do you like about being 4? because then Miriam will let me draw on her princess book

What was your favorite birthday present? the big kitties

Joseph's 6(7) month photoshoot

Totally missed Joseph at 6 months. However, by waiting until he was 7 1/2 months, I could actually take pictures of him sitting up... -ish. :)

Why, yes, as a matter of fact, I DO like trucks and dirt. How did you know?

Puttin' on the charm. This kid is going to be so spoiled. How can you even think about punishing a face like that?

What? Hold still? What does that mean?

glowyyy.... light.....

We love our cutie boy.

Perhaps I should dust more often

Although lace leaves a lovely pattern, don't you think?

Annual trip to the Alma Mater

Have I got my work cut out for me! By some miraculous gift from Heaven, all three children are napping AT THE SAME TIME. Hopefully I'll get a good start to updating this blog, before they all graduate from high school.

So let's see... I think we left off with our trip to Steubenville. That was an amazingly fun weekend, as usual! An added treat was that our materfamilias, Nana, graced the state of Ohio with her presence while we were there! So we had the good luck to see her on this side of the Mississippi TWICE in a year! It was nice getting to spend more time with her in a slightly more relaxed setting, as fun as the wedding in Chicago was!

The cousins were all ecstatic to see one another again.


Katie exercising her recently attained status of "big girl."

It's still fun watching two oldest siblings trying to boss each other. :)

Mommy's little lizard. (He likes to taste the wind.)

One day we took a trip out to Amish country. We went to a restaurant, got some treats at a dry goods store, and visited an Amish farm. We got a wagon ride to a pumpkin patch and picked a couple beauties.

I love the gaps in their smiles.



Nothing like the rocking movement of a horse-drawn wagon to put a baby to sleep.

Katie fell in love with Nana, which tickled Nana pink.

They also had pony rides. Katie is loving it, but refusing to admit she's having a good time. She is not a performing monkey.

Miriam, on the other hand....

(I'm sure she gets it from her uncle.)


At the farm you could also feed some of the animals in pens. The kids got a big kick out of this. So did the animals.


I found myself in real sympathy with the mother goats, whose kids kept jumping on their backs and generally using them for a jungle gym.

The next day was the Medieval festival on campus, which is always lots of fun for both kids and adults.

Ready to party, medieval-style!

The event gets more involved every year. There are quite a lot of creative people there. This year they had a clown show with some local talent which was downright hilarious. There were also several tables of crafts, at which the girls made gem-studded crowns, pet rocks, and magic wands. Naturally, I was having too much fun to take pictures. :)

I'm so glad Miriam loves this dress. It's hard to resist the swirly skirt.

Nana practically had to strap Katie down for this one. :)

Joseph also got along well with Nana.



Close encounters of the baby kind. Lucy was fascinated. Joseph is very obviously saying, "Heh-heh, um, Mom?"

(Love the lighting on this one.) I'm so glad these girls are friends. They've been sending each other letters and postcards back and forth ever since the trip.


I've always felt blessed in my cousins -- I'm glad our children already have that experience too.