One Year Anniversary

Leif and cousin Katy 366 days ago.
This was taken at the Pumpkin Patch on our first full day here. Katy's 3rd grade class had a field trip to the Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch. We went along, and Katy's teacher took pictures of all of the students in this little pumpkiny corner. Leif wanted to be near Katy, so the Teacher took his picture, too! She sent it to me, so this is the scanned version of that photo that has been on our fridge for a year! They also did crafts in the church hall, and then had snacks. So, Leif took his stickers from the crafts and stuck them all over his shirt, and his mouth was stained from the snacks. Funny thing was, we saw this and noticed Leif was wearing the same shirt on the same day one year later (sans Kool-Aid stains!) Silly-wompuses are we!

So, we've been here one year now - and that marks the second longest time we've ever lived in one house! The first longest title is currently held by our first home, the one we sold. I'm not even sure how long we were there, but I know that is where Jason carried me over the threshhold when we came back from our wedding, and Leif was around 6 months old when we left. I think. So, what is that...around 18 months? 19 months? I'm not very good with timetables...it all runs together in my head. :)

Leif had just turned 2 a few weeks before we moved here...amazing how much has changed with him in just one year! You can see a picture at the very bottom of this blog page (just scroll all the way down til you hit the bottom) of his cavorting in the yard when we first moved here. So little!

Of course, I can be in no place for any duration of time before my wanderlust kicks back in. There is something magical about sweeping and cleaning a new place up, unpacking your things and getting excited over them like when you first got them. I know I'm a little crazy like that, but I get bored when I've been in one place too long. (Does it show? We've only moved a million times in the past 4 years!!) Two years is generally my max, though. I really start itching at the two year mark! I don't know why...maybe it is because once we moved to Florida (when I was a child) we moved every two years or so for the first 6 years? Or maybe I have gyspy blood in me, who knows.

The seafood festival was downtown this weekend, too, another year marker for us. Last year's festival was our first weekend here, just a day or two after we arrived. I didn't get any fried oysters this year, but we did get in a few quick strolls. The first night of the festival, we got dressed in sweaters and pants (a first for the season!) and went downtown. All of the booths were shut up tight, but one was not locked down, but wasn't open for business, either. I saw that they had seashells and I thought aerophytes, so I was determined to come back in the morning! I also wanted to see what the other vendors were selling (answer: nothing much!)

So, the next morning, we bundled up again and as the festival was just starting, we strolled down the main street, travel mugs full of hot mulled cider, and enjoyed the spectacle. I bought a giant starfish and a small conch shell. After that, it was off to take care of all the kiddlies for me, and clam bags for Jason! It was a good day, and we were glad to have some happy little family time together.

Lately, Jason has been working long hours, so family time has been at a minimum. Leif and I generally eat dinner together, and Jason, who leaves at 7 in the morning or earlier most mornings, will come in after 8 or 9pm, and eat his dinner. But, things are getting done and we're productive, so that makes us ver' happy.

Leif and I are off to town today (the big town, not downtown) to get some warm clothes, jammies, and shoes for him. The majority of last year's clothes are way too small, and this cold snap has made it clear that he needs some warm things!

So, we're off and enjoying the crisp weather! Happy day to you!

(PS. Definitely can tell the cold season is here - the tides are all extremely low and our view is once again changing drastically from tide to tide!)