Jumping for Joy!

After dropping Grace and Jack off at school this morning Eve and I had some time before her first soccer practice started.  We decided to go to Higgins Beach, which is one of my very favorite beaches in Maine.  Eve and I were the only two people at Higgins this morning...we had the entire beach to ourselves!    

Grace's First Soccer Practice

Grace's soccer season started at the end of August.  She has practices every Friday evening and her games are scheduled on Saturday mornings.  Grace had her first game this past Saturday.  Grace and her team did really well.  Grace scored two goals and her team won!  Here are some pictures from Grace's very first practice...

When Grace and I drove up to the field we were amazed to see a hot air balloon take off right from the soccer field!  We stood there together for a long time watching the balloon drift slowly up to the sky.  It was beautiful. 

Grace with some of her teammates and Coach Drew.  

I will be posting pictures of Grace at her first game soon.  Jack also had his first game on Saturday (unfortunately most of Grace and Jack's games are at the same time and in two different locations).  Eve will be starting her very first soccer practice tomorrow morning too!  We are a very busy soccer family with practices on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and games every Saturday.  It's official now...I have become a soccer mom.  :)  

Happy Grandparent's Day

Grace, Jack and Eve really have the best grandparents!  I feel so honored and blessed to have Memere, Maddy, Pepere and Poppy as role models and influences in my childrens' lives.  To celebrate Grandparent's Day I took Grace, Jack and Eve to our local pottery shop this week so that they could make something for each of their grandparents.  They had the best time choosing the pottery and painting it.  As they were sitting and painting together I had them tell me some of their favorite stories about their grandparents.  It was a treat for me to listen to their stories and to see how happy all three of my children were are they spoke of these four amazing people in their lives.

I hope you enjoy these pictures.  Grace, Jack and Eve chose tea cups with saucers for Memere and Pepere so that they can enjoy cups of tea together and coffee cups for Maddy and Poppy for them to enjoy their coffee together in the morning!  They will be coming your way very soon.   :)

I can't thank Maddy, Memere, Poppy and Pepere enough for all that you do to bring so much love, laughter, special times and lots of extra hugs and kisses to the lives of Grace, Jack and Eve.  You are truly extra special and we love you all so very, very much.

Jack's Dance Class

Jack couldn't wait to start dancing again at the Maine State Ballet.  His first class was this past Tuesday and Jack loved it.  Jack was excited that there was another boy in his class.  This year is going to be extra special for Jack because he gets to be a reindeer in The Nutcracker, which will be performed later this year!

Jack at the barre. 

 Jack practicing his bow!

 

Eve's Big Girl Bed!

Eve has a big girl bed now!  Tonight was Eve's first night without her crib.  She happily fell asleep in her bed with her beloved Lavender in hand!  Eve was SO excited all day today and she told everyone that she was getting her big girl bed tonight.  Many pictures to come....sweet dreams!

Waiting....

Eve watching Jack at dance class earlier this week.  You can see Jack sitting on the dance floor in the background.

Ever since Eve was born she has waited with me at all of Grace and Jack's weekly dance classes.  Eve loves watching her big brother and sister dance.  She very sweetly stands in the doorways or has me hold her to peek in the windows to watch Grace and Jack dance in the studio.  When Eve turns three in January she can enroll in her first dance class at the Maine State Ballet.  Hold on little Eve....just a few short months to go!

  

These pictures remind me so much of THIS and THIS and THIS!

Apple Prints

 

Yesterday was a big day for us.  Jack started his first day of preschool.  He will be at school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings (pictures of Jack's first day are coming soon).  This means that it will just be Eve and I on those three mornings while Jack and Grace are both in school.  On our first morning together Eve made apple prints to welcome the upcoming arrival of autumn.  This is an activity that we have done every year since Grace was born!  Eve had the best time making apple prints and I had the best time being with her.  Eve was either laughing or talking to me the entire time she was painting.  It was priceless!

When Eve was finished with her apple painting I hung it up in our entryway for Grace and Jack to see when they first got home from school.  Eve could hardly wait to show her big brother and sister what she had done while they were at school.  Great job, Eve!

Ballet

Grace's ballet class started yesterday.  It is so good to be back at the dance studio.  I love watching my graceful Grace dance.

The End of Summer Farm to Table Dinner at Broadturn Farm

As many of you know, we live around the corner from Broadturn Farm (a local organic farm).  We spend so much time here throughout the year enjoying the hiking trails through the woods, playing in the stream, attending summer camps and various family programs.  This summer Grace and Jack spent two weeks at their farm camp.  At the end of the summer camp sessions the children harvest the produce and herbs from the farm to prepare a meal for members of the community.  This is an event that I look forward to with my children at the end of every summer.  There are lots of pictures in this post!  I wanted to document as much as I could of this evening because it was all so beautiful -- I never want to forget a minute of it  

One of the highlights of the evening for Grace, Jack and Eve was to have their faces painted!

In the picture above, Eve was letting the face painter know that she wanted turquoise hearts painted on her cheeks.  :)

Grace asked to have a butterfly painted on her face.

Jack asked for a ladybug face painting.

My two sweet girls.

I love how my children have learned first hand where their food comes from and just how hard farmers work!  We are so lucky to live so close to Broadturn Farm and to be able to enjoy local foods.

Jack enjoying a treat at the end of the dinner!

Eve enjoying her treat!

After dinner Grace, Jack and Eve and I enjoyed walking around Broadturn Farm together (notice that my growing boy is still eating!).  It is such a beautiful place.

Jack loved showing Eve the turkeys that he and Grace helped feed and care for during their weeks at camp.  

The chickens!

We were very excited to see Broadturn Farm's new sign on their Long Barn!

 Jack and Eve climbed the fence to get a better view of the cows in the pasture.

Eve

 Jack

Eve had fun balancing on this wooden beam.  This is a favorite activity for many of the children at Broadturn.