"Take us on outings, give us treats"

Love me some Mary Poppins. As a child, I really had no idea what "outings" were, but since they were coupled with "treats" in the song, I figured they had to be good. [See bottom for full lyrics to "The Perfect Nanny"]

Lately we've been going on outings.

Some have included treats.

(End of summer bike ride destination on a 70 degree evening to the local BR)

(Apple picking with our co-op preschool friends, these apples were sweet enough to consider as treats)

and some have included "bleats."

(4H Goats at their best--Prince George's County Fair)

 Some have included friends,

(The Cabin John Train park with Miss L)

(Camping in Prince William Forest--first cool weekend of fall)

and some have included bends.

(Mark trying to bend into the kiddie roller coaster at the fair--his body weight had to be perfectly balanced so the thing would stay on the track. Good thing Jackson decided to get out just after Mark finally made it in. )

(amazing hike--right in our backyard, full of boulders and bends)

Looking forward to see what winter outings entail. I'm guessing most of them will actually be dubbed "innings," but they'll likely to include treats!

Lyrics to "The Perfect Nanny"

If you want this choice position
Have a cheery disposition
Rosy cheeks, no warts
Play games, all sort
You must be kind, you must be witty
Very sweet and fairly pretty
Take us on outings, give us treats
Sing songs, bring sweets
Never be cross or cruel
Never give us castor oil or gruel
Love us as a son and daughter
And never smell of barley water
If you won't scold and dominate us
We will never give you cause to hate us
We won't hide your spectacles so you can't see
Put toads in your bed or pepper in your tea
Hurry, Nanny
Many thanks sincerely
Jane and Michael Banks

Compliments of lyricmania.com -- I wish I did know the song that well.

Moving From Baby-hood

The Allie picture overload.

Cue the new age emotional music. 

Goodness. Remember her hair? And her ears? Oh that was wonderful.


 We've had over a year with this cutie patutie. Those first 7 weeks of gassy dairy burps were sure painful, but it made the frequent smiles that came afterward so much more rewarding.

Smiles have certainly been flowing steadily ever since, wooing the world with the cheek scrunch and those insane eyelashes.




 The smiles get coupled with her flair of drama (you should hear her sad cry), stubborn will, and personal motivation I have little doubt she will let the world fly by without noticing.

 And the music abruptly stops, as you look at the next shot.

She suddenly she looks very old.

Because she is. Holy one year of Allie. Here she is moving right on from baby-hood.

(OK, so perhaps this is more like a moving walk-fall. She can definitely take balanced steps, but they get a little overwhelmed with an audience.)

Allie's First 1st

Allie will eat more cake tonight (a big one), but this is a quick little video demonstrating her love of sugar on her actual Birthday.

I can't wait to put her year long collage together. Stay tuned for her future career, and a timeline of pictures from her growing up.