Carson started school! We have joined the co-op preschool right next to our house. Every Friday, Nick and Carson jump over the fence to play with other 2 year olds for a couple of hours. Carson looks forward to it every week.
Morgan has discovered that if the kids play outside more, things stay cleaner inside (less pick up for mom and dad every night). So Carson and Bracken enjoyed the last month of summer weather outside. They love the swings at Nonnie and Pop's. Carson likes to be pushed so high (it really is quite terrifying to watch her...but Nick seems to think she can handle it!). Bracken gets mad if we try to take him out of his swing. Nick also taught Carson how to kick the soccer ball. She has figured out that you don't kick with your toes and she actually can launch the ball quite high. Snacks were also often eaten outside. Any scraps that fell on the ground or that were thrown on the ground (Bracken), Lurch was kind enough to clean up for us!
Bracken has turned into quite a joyful human being. He loves to play and laugh. When we play the "I'm gonna get you game" Bracken has no interest in running away, he squints his eye and gives a crooked smile and charges at you. He is a funny child and he loves to join in the fun, always.
Carson is quite the two year old. She likes to do the opposite of whatever it is that we ask of her. We'd like to think that we are doing a good job parenting, but she still manages to flat out say "No" to us much too often throughout the day. Time outs are becoming a new favorite and tears are shed more often than we would like because she doesn't get her way. But personality and spirit she is not lacking. We wouldn't wish any bit of her stubbornness away...it is a joy to watch her test her limits and to watch her learn that there are limits, but questioning the limit is always a good thing. Some of her new favorite things: washing her hands, doing daddy's hair, taking off her clothes and putting on new ones, frozen grapes and bugging Bracken. Carson also got to spend some time with her friend Sophia from Santa Rosa this month.
After reading, Deep Economy, Nick and Morgan decided that going to the farmer's market and supporting local vendors is a worthwhile endeavor. So every Saturday we spend our mornings at the Auburn Farmer's Market. We also were inspired to have a more extensive winter garden. So with the help of the Newtons, we have created a beautiful winter garden that will hopefully provide us with vegetables throughout the winter.
We also traveled to Monterey to hang out (Morgan had an English conference there). Bracken got to cover himself in sand (Carson helped) and we went and stacked some rocks on the beach. It was wonderful to put on sweatshirts and spend some time walking and relaxing together as a family.