Botanical Gardens

This summer, I finally came up with a plan to blog somewhat regularly. At least more regularly than once a month. At the beginning of the month, I think up a list of topics and projects to share, and assign them to specific days on a calendar. The best part is, if I don't follow my calendar, it doesn't really matter all that much.

One item in particular has been on my list for some time now. In June, I went by myself (crazy!) to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, and I had a grand ole' time. Everything was pretty, and I could take as long as I wanted to take lots of photos, because I went by myself (!).

I loved my photos from that solitary excursion. and I made myself a little mini album because I loved them so, and I wanted to see some of them in print. It was in the making of this album, that I discovered how to make mini albums that I really like. The key being, to add as little as possible. When I start to add more to my mini albums, they start to feel haphazard to me. Keeping it simple, helps the design feel more cohesive. At least to me.

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The reason I finally shared this album now, is that I recently went to the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx, this time just with Dave, (crazy!) and again I ended up with lots of photos that I love. The moral of the story is, going places without children, frees you up to take a lot of photos. The only down side is, that they are not photos of my children. But, lovely photos, nonetheless:

Apple Picking (and a Clique Kits Sneak)

Last week, the Deutsches got into their lovely new car, and went apple picking.

I think we were the only people there with teenagers.  Which made me a little worried. But really, what is not fun about picking fruits and veggies? In fact, they both commented separately that they were having a good time.

I enjoyed the ride home a lot.

  

When we got home, I realized that we had an absurdly large amount of apples, and it was going to take some work to consume them all.

So I made some applesauce, and Dave made a decadent caramel apple pie, and I also made some reminders for the family to eat, eat, eat apples.

This one is on the refrigerator.

And these little number were good for sending some textual communications.

Since Rosh Hashana is just days away,  we will eat some apples and honey then too. With that in mind, I continued to go to town with my Rhonna Designs App.

And, in case you were wondering when the apple picking story will make it onto a scrapbook page, well, it already has. I just can't share the whole thing yet, as I used Clique Kits October kit. I can, however share a little sneak of my layout using their October kit, Masquerade Ball.

Sometimes I Repeat Myself. Repeat Myself.

I have a really hard time making layouts that don't contain a story of some sort. Which is fine, because I find I have lots of stories to tell. But sometimes I just love a photo, and I just want to scrapbook it, and there simply is no story. I see other people do it all the time, and the results are fabulous.

Recently, I took a series of photos in front of this very blue wall. I had been admiring this wall over the course of the summer, so I was glad when the boys and I were walking to do some back to school shopping, and they were in a good mood, and I thought I might be able to convince them to let me take some photos. So I led them to this place.

They were somewhat cooperative. Which for them is very good.

I really wanted to scrap this photo, but the story of how it came to be was simple not inspiring to me at the time. Mom wants to take picture. Boys don't usually want to have their picture taken. Mom convinces boys to take picture.

I tried very hard to scrap the photo without any story. But I just couldn't do it! I know it makes no sense. 

So, I told the best story I could, even though it is one that I told before. Almost exactly. Namely, that even though they think I take too many pictures, they have no idea how many times I don't take pictures because I don't want to bother them. And, also, because sometimes we have to get places.

See?

Oh, well. So sue me.

(Please don't sue me.)

In Between

A while back I wrote a post over at Write.Click.Scrapbook. about scrapbooking the in-between stages in our children's lives. The slight changes in personality and attitude and taste and humor that happen as children move from being kids to tweens to teens and then the big one-adulthood. Just thought I'd share those layouts here, plus another that has been made since then.

Max is 16, as I might have mentioned once or twice. He is a full fledged teenager now, and is generally happier, funnier, and more comfortable in his skin than in those earlier teen years. I am hoping that that bodes well for his future self, but really, only time will tell.

Sam, is the tween in the house, and he is often still deliciously small, but I certainly see some teenage attitude and humor peeking through.

Example- attitude. On some of our summer hikes, Sam, the one who loves to be outside exploring, could not contain some of his cynical comments. 

On the positive side-humor. When I pointed out to Sam some of his attitude changes, he shot back with a comment so funny that I cried. It also can't be repeated in decent company. Or any company really. But just in case one day we are ready to share the joke, it is tucked away in this layout. Right inside that little Jillibean Soup mini bag. (For the record- I used every single last one in the package. Which is extraordinarily satisfying, and also a testament to how much I love them.)

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Max.

When he was little, he cried whenever his parents left his side (like every day at preschool). He hid behind his parents when people came to visit.

Well, Max grew, and grew, and grew until he became a very large teenager. (He barely even fits in this picture.)

And he wasn't scared to leave his parents anymore. (They were happy if he said goodbye before he left for school in the morning).

And he didn't hide from new people anymore. 

In fact, by now, Max was so big and brave and not shy anymore that he was in his school play. A musical. He danced (sort of), and sang, and wore a skirt. (I mean a kilt! a kilt!)

And his parents were kind of amazed and excited and proud of the whole thing. 

P.S. On the morning of the play, Max did say goodbye to his mommy. And then he just stood there for a few moments, not going anywhere. And his mother (who is quite fetching, I might add) realized that even though Max was big and brave and not shy anymore, he was feeling a little nervous, and so she gave him a hug and a kiss. And then off he went.

The moral of the story is: Even though you might think you don't like the music of Gilbert and Sullivan, after watching Pirates of Penzance, you will come to realize that their tunes are quite catchy, and that's probably why everyone likes them so.