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Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

My 2007 thankful list (in no particular order)

1. not having to worry, stress about/transport to, from/pay for child  care--thanks to my mother, who is an endlessly patient, giving, and loving coparent to our boys;

2. our public library system

3. fresh, local produce; farmers markets, and Hurd Orchards (especially our own red raspberries, which were amazing this year);

4. the previous owners of this house, who unwisely removed the beautiful (original?) wooden front storm door to our bungalow, but wisely stored it safe and sound in the attic;

5. living near the Genesee Riverway Trail and the Strong National Museum of Play;

6. Letchworth State Park, which always reminds me of my grandma;

7. Battlestar Galactica, because it is frackin awesome;

8. a healthy pregnancy, 5-hour natural labor, and 10 perfect fingers and toes;

9. nightly family dance parties in the living room and Harrison's slick moves;

1o. Everyday Food magazine, which saves me every Saturday when I'm planning my weekly menu, and Val and Tara for the annual gift subscription;

11. family walks and Harrison's collections of leaves, pine cones, and sticks

12. friends and family who can cook well and cook for me;

13. old house blogs, websites and the library's do-it-yourself books, and  a motivated husband

14. being able to share the journey of motherhood with my best girlfriends;

15. Harry Potter resolution--finally!

Parent Teacher Conference

We just had our first parent-teacher conference with Harrison's Montessori teacher. Oh my god.
Here's what Doug sent me as a follow up:

From: Douglas
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 12:13 PM
To: Sarah
Subject: harrison in future

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Genesee Riverway Trail

This is our favorite place in the neighborhood and just a 15 minute walk from our house (or 2 minutes by car with the kidlets)! 

Our usual sightings: turtles, ducks, a family of swans, blue heron, gulls, fish, cattails, lily pads, red-winged blackbirds, cyclists, motorboats, and kayakers. Harrison loves it!

On the Move

Brownie Points

The Scene: Me and Harrison. 4:15 Sunday in our kitchen. Making brownies. 

Me: These will be done in a half hour, but we need to wait until after dinner to eat them.

Harrison picks up and "reads" brownie mix box.

Him: Mommy, I read the box and the box says right here that you should eat these first and then dinner. 

_________

Crafty he is.

My Munchy Munch

Apple Picking in Massachusetts

Every October we take a drive out to Northampton Mass. to visit beloved Aunties Tara and Val. Last year we added apple picking to our itinerary, and this year had a great time as always. Griffin even got in on the action and tried to eat/take home a few handfuls of apple leaves!

Harrison loves visiting farms and farmer's markets. This fall he's been apple picking twice, took a visit to the pumpkin patch, and this summer we went picking twice at Hurd Orchards: once for raspberries, peaches, and blueberries, and once for blackberries. His pails always come back completely empty--my dad suggested that they should weigh him before and after.

He had a hard time picking out a pumpkin this year, as shown below. Every pumpkin was declared to be "too dirty."

Happy Halloween

The Griffman

I am obsessed with this child. I want to eat his adorable head.