You know one of the things I love most about having another baby?

Another chance to capture fun expressions like these with a camera.

SRS ELLIORA IS SRS.
*srsface*

(I completely stole that last caption from a comment the brilliant and lovely Bex made on the Flickr page.)

Last spring when Brenda and Bug were here helping us unpack, Brenda thought Annalie’s room needed a painting as a focal point. We bought a big canvas and some acrylic paint so we could create one, but we were busy unpacking and sightseeing, and we never got to the painting before Brenda and Bug had to go back home.

I planned to get the canvas and paint out at some point and help Annalie get her masterpiece on, but never quite got around to it. And when we knew Brenda and Bug were coming back to visit us this fall, I decided to just wait till then.

Today Brenda ordered me and Troy to go on a movie date while she broke out the canvas and cardboard and paints and had a little artists’ workshop on our deck with Annalie and Bug.

When we bought the canvas and paints originally, Brenda and I talked about Annalie maybe painting a scene with flowers or butterflies or something cute and girly. I assume Brenda gave Annalie some suggestions and pointers, but Annalie has always known her own mind when it comes to her art.

She painted her canvas sky blue, with a big yellow and orange sun surrounded by puffy white clouds. As a finishing touch, she painted in a little airplane flying through the sky off to one side.

Is that not an awesome painting!? I love it because it’s so interesting and different from your average 6-year-old girl’s art: not a single flower or heart or kitten in sight. Brenda said the painting was all Annalie and I believe her. I’m continually impressed with what my kid draws and paints. I don’t think it’s only because I’m her mom, either. I’m fascinated with how easily she can put on paper the pictures she sees in her head. She just seems to be a natural artist and takes joy in creating. I hope she always does.

All photos in this post taken by Brenda Ponnay. Thanks again, B!

This morning we woke up and everything was yellow outside. It rained yesterday all day, so many of the yellow leaves on the maple trees around our yard had fallen. There was a yellow blanket of leaves covering the ground, our deck, everything!

Brenda, having spent most of her life in Southern California, has been amazed at the fall color around here. She’s been going a little nuts taking photos but that’s okay with me because I’m not really in much of a picture-taking mode recently. I’ll just steal all her gorgeous shots. (All the photos in this post were taken by Brenda Ponnay unless they’re labeled otherwise.)

Brenda keeps apologizing for going on and on about how beautiful the leaves are, but I don’t mind a bit. Fall has always been my favorite season, so I completely understand. And I am selfishly glad that I not only got to introduce her to the wonder of winter turning to spring last March when they were here, but a beautiful, colorful fall as well.

Photo on left taken by me.

Of course, the adults aren’t the only ones enjoying the leaves. The kids have been enjoying playing outside in the crisp fall weather every day. On the day it rained, that only added to the fun of exploring the backyard which had been turned into a leafy wonderland.

We’ve collected leaves a couple of times already to press and preserve them by ironing them between waxed paper. Brenda and Bug have made cards to send home to friends and family. Annalie just hangs the leaf collages in the window for light to shine through.

Photo taken by Annalie, age 6.5

We had a little bit of sickness in the house earlier this week, which was no fun, but everyone was quickly over it and we’re all feeling back to normal.

Brenda thinks the baby will be born any minute now, and as much as I’d love that to happen, I suspect we’ll be waiting another week or two. This baby just seems to have a totally different personality from Annalie, who has been full of energy and ready to rush out and greet life since her birth, so it makes sense she was early. This baby has seemed a bit mellower all along. I will not be surprised if she hangs out a while longer. (Though this is one time I will not mind a BIT being proven wrong.)

Which is okay, because we have a ton of stuff we’d like to get done before she comes. In fact, I should go get busy on some of that. Catch you later!