An awesome girl

I had the privilege to style Savannah's hair and take her pics today. I've known her since she was in kindergarten. She is someone I really admire. Savannah faces some difficulties most people don't ever experience, but she always has that smile and personality that lifts everyone else. Here's one of the strongest girls I know.

Libby's birthday

Libby is three today. We celebrated yesterday with family.

Wedding weekend

My brother got married this weekend. It was such a beautiful time for our whole family. It was such an honor to be part of their special day.

Newness

The fairbank fam (minus Libby) got new kicks.
They also got to gush over their new baby cousin, Jared.

Learning

I love to teach my kids new things.  One of my favorite teaching experiences happened this summer while at the beach.  James and I were lying side by side on our towels warming up after a dip in the ocean.  I was explaining the importance of the dunes in preventing erosion of the beach.  I told him how ocean city had a serious problem in the early nineties and about how they how they had to pump sand from the ocean floor up to the beach to re-create the dunes.
He said to me. "That was so interesting.  I wish I could suddenly not know it so that you could tell me it again.". I don't know if anything captures the love of learning quite like that statement.

But, now James will be in school, and many of those wonderful moments will happen, but I won't be there to witness them.  It does make me sad, but he is excited and loved his first day.

In other news, Libby Lou is learning to write her name.  She loves to write "words", aka jibberish, or a long series of the letters n and u.

Luca is expanding his culinary repertoire to include french toast, and made it for himself and his brother on the first day of school.  He is very proud of his new skill, and if anyone comes to visit he will eagerly make you some!

PS: I am having trouble with loading pics on this app.  It cuts off the right side.  So if you'd like to see the full pick for the last two, click on the image.  

Pear jam

Stuck at the house waiting for dishwasher repair man.  We made a pear cinnamon jam that was so good the boys scraped the pot clean with spoons.  This one was so tasty James forbade me to give any away to friends.  The recipe was from a blog I like called foodinjars.
The last lid just popped down making that lovely popping sound we like to hear around here.

Reason I love being a mom: Shortstop breakfast palace

Yesterday I came home from work to find my basement converted into a restaurant with a table set for two, complete with table cloth and fancy dishes.  James was waiter and Luca was chef.  Jer and I sat quietly enjoying conversation while the boys worked together upstairs cooking our food.  (And we silently prayed neither boy burned himself)
Our waiter was very polite and proper.  Our chef perfectly cooked our omelets, although he said he almost forgot the ham and thankfully the waiter reminded him before he folded it.  They worked together without a single disagreement.  We left a generous tip.