MoST trip

We hadn't been to the MoST in a while (probably since last winter) so after school on Friday we took a short trip. Driving the helicopter and jets are the coolest part but we also got a lot more out of the air traffic control tower exhibit than we had before, and spent a while at the funhouse mirrors, laughing and running around. Again, no one else appeared to be at the museum when we were there. Weekday afternoons are the best!

Last weekend the big boys spent a few days with Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Greg, so Jeff and I had some time alone with Reed. He did great at our neighborhood Mexican place, Azteca. The big boys had a wonderful time in Johnstown too!

A little bit of Reed

Twin sleeping

 In April the big boys got their own room and their own new twin beds, which someday can become bunk beds. The beds were in an L shape in their room, so Theo slept next to the window facing the backyard, and Beckett slept next to the window facing our neighbor Joe and Kseniya's house. Then sometime during the summer they started both sleeping in Beckett's bed, partly because Theo said he was scared (of the dark, of being "alone", of having bad dreams) and partly because they like being close to each other. This continued on-and-off despite Beck's cast. Then in mid-August they decided they wanted their beds right next to each other. They have been sleeping this way since then. Beck has to climb over Theo's bed at bedtime, and when one occasionally wets the bed, it's difficult to change the sheets (especially when it is Beckett). They also end up gravitating toward each other while they sleep. Sometimes it's Beck who migrates toward the crack of the bed and ends up with his head on Theo's mattress or pillow, and sometimes it's Theo who is wedged over next to Beck. Here their heads were actually touching.

For the two weeks or so they're back to sleeping in the same bed. We've moved the beds apart so they don't have to climb over the empty bed to get to their shared bed.

Apple picking with Leah

Last Monday, on Columbus Day, we spent the afternoon with dear friend Leah at not one, but two apple picking hotspots. First we were spooked by the traffic coming from the preeminent apple commercial zone that is Beak and Skiff, so we went a mile down the road to favorite spot Navarino's, where we've picked raspberries the last few years. We picked a bunch of crispin and fuji apples there, and took a wagon ride, and goofed off in the (picked over) pumpkin patch. Then, our thirst for fall-themed adventures not yet quenched, we went back to Beak and Skiff to enjoy the carnival atmosphere. The boys played on the slide and in the sandbox (and, I'm somewhat proud to say, appeared to be the last men standing after a battle for meager sandbox toys). They also enjoyed pony rides on their favorite ponies from their last visit there, with Grandma Joanie and Grandpa Stu last year. We ate cider donuts and the adults tasted apple wine and hard cider in the beautiful new tasting room. The boys were happy to saddle right up to the bar and enjoyed multiple free glasses of delicious cider.

We could not tear Beckett away from his cup of cider to pose for the pictures.

When we returned from Diggerland last Saturday, Uncle Jon stayed an extra day with his favorite nephews (and brother and sister-in-law). He got to play soccer with Jeff and roughhouse with Theo and Beckett. This game is called "double piggyback."

Last week I was part of a cool thing: a mom in California decided to send baby carriers to Greece to meet the Syrian refugees at the boats and in the refugee camps. She posted something on Facebook about it, it got to me somehow, and I started collecting carriers from my neighbors and co-workers. The organizer lady is of Greek heritage and is planning to go to Greece, to the island of Kos where her family is, and she has a plan of meeting families as boats land to hand out carriers and then going to refugee camps to meet with families there as well. She hoped to get a couple hundred carriers and some money to cover travel expenses but she's collected thousands and lots of money to buy new carriers at cost and cover logistics expenses as well. It feels really wonderful to be part of a movement to help refugees in a tangible way, mom to mom, in a way that I imagine could make a small difference. She asked us to pin notes of hope on the carriers, so I found some extra fabric and wrote in "sent with love from Syracuse, NY USA" on all of them. I sent twelve carriers as part of the effort, thanks to many good friends and neighbors (and five of my own)!