Gaggle of Geese

"The collective noun for a group of geese on the ground is a gaggle; when in flight, they are called a skein, a team or a wedge; when flying close together, they are called a plump."

Fascinating facts, right? Somehow in the back of my mind, I knew that a group of geese was called a gaggle. However, when I went to look it up on Google to make sure that I was using the right terminology, I had no idea that geese got all these specific words to describe their groupings! I'm just blown away. I hope to see a skein soon. 

 All this to say, is that tonight after our evening walk, we came across not only a gaggle, not only a skein, but also a plump of geese too! I know! Across our street there is this massive field. I'm not sure what grows there, but it's there. The field. Anyways. The kids and I heard some honking and wanted to investigate. The field had a least 60 geese gaggling about, with more and more groups of geese flying in. It was crazy! Apparently, there was this huge goose party in the field, and every single goose knew what time to arrive and where to land. I mean, like I said, different groups kept flying in overhead every minute or so. And the noise! (The noise! The noise, noise, noise,  noise!) Let's just say there was a lot of honking. I just had to share this weird but wonderfully cool experience we had. I have definitely not seen that many geese in one place at one time in all my life. I took some pictures, but like most pictures taken of cool things, they don't do any justice to the actual experience. I didn't get any shots of the geese flying in, which is a bummer as well. 

It was such a picturesque fall night too! Definitely crisp and cool, with burnt golden colours all around. I made the pictures slightly bigger, with the hopes that you might be able to see the birds in the distance. This, however, might all be in vain, because it is very hard to see. 

The field. No geese in this picture, but you can see the path that runs along the perimeter of the field on the right. 

 Do you see the tiny dots of geese there? Right along the line of the grass at the horizon line? 

Or am I going crazy here....

 The sunset, minus any skein of geese. 

One more attempt. If I had a better zoom, or was a better photographer, or probably a better person I would have gotten a better picture. 

So thanks for listening to my ramblings about my gaggle encounter. When the kids were in the bath later talking about how cold the walk was, 

James said: "It felt like I was going to get frostbite!"

Bethy (not really listening, she's two for goodness sake): "Me tooooooo!"

Clara: "Me too! Even though I don't really know what they are...."

I love how Clara used "they" to describe frostbite. 

Daybook: October 21st

Outside my window: Fall colours and cool weather. I think we have reached the peak of the vibrance of colours? They are still there, just slowly on their way out.

I am listening to: Silence. Well, that, and the wonderful "on hold" music that my insurance company is playing for me. It's naptime, so that means there are no children awake, but that I do have some miscellaneous work to complete, including calls to insurance people. 

I am thinking: "I am tired...Why is Clara so loud in the bathroom? How much longer will I be on hold?" Riveting thoughts, I know. 

I am thankful: For the month of October. My sweet Benjamin boo, who has been sleeping a lot better these past two nights. For naptime. 

From the kitchen: Cookies! Boo yah. 

I am wearing: My uniform: Black yoga pants and a bright green Underarmor Sweatshirt. And pearls. 

I am hoping: That someone picks up the phone soon! And that my two youngest take a good long nap because besides doing my calls this afternoon, I have, no exaggeration, about seven loads of laundry to fold. It's just so much easier doing it when they are asleep!

I am creating: A long list of minutes I have currently used while on the phone during this past half hour. 

I am praying: For God's peace

Around the house: My fall decorations, hurrah! Two of my three kiddos sleeping. One kiddo playing nicely downstairs....

I am reading: "Carry on, Warrior" by Glennon Doyle Menton. Such a beautiful collection of essays on living and being human in this messy, messy world. 

I am watching: "Marry Me"! Has anyone seen it? It's a new show on NBC with Casey Wilson, who played Penny on one of my favorite, yet now cancelled shows "Happy Endings." It is created by the same guy who did "Happy Endings", so there was a pretty good chance I was going to like it. And so far, so good. Also, "About a Boy," "The Middle," and "Call the Midwife." Does anyone know when "Parks and Rec" comes back on?

One of my favorite things: fall.

A few plans for the rest of the week: The usual business, school, preschool, grocery shopping, etc.  I do think we have are going over to a friend's house one day and James has Friday off due to conferences. 

A picture that I am sharing: The girls eating their snack from the other day. Yes, they are clearly eating their snack as dogs, can't you see?

Octobers Bike Ride

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

-Anne of Green Gables

You've got it, Anne. There is not much I can say to improve on these pictures of the afternoon we had yesterday. It is October. We went on a bike ride. And it is beautiful. 

Six Months

Introducing my half a year old boy!

Ha! He's so round and chubby. And those dimples. My oh My. Like any parent always says, I can't believe how fast time has gone! Six months! He is my dear momma's boy. Make no mistake of that phrase- he is seriously attached to me. Whenever I hold him, he is as smiley and as dimply as can be. When I set him down, it is a different story. I have never had a baby so crabby being set down! He could be perfectly nursed, having just woken up from a nap with a dry diaper, and he is still fussy if he is not in my arms. What the dill. Even still, I love him so. I am so thankful that he is here and I get to cuddle his sweet, smoochy face. 

His little milestones included: Rolling from back to front, front to back, all across the living room floor, trying bananas for the first time two days ago (with mild success), taking two good naps a day with one teeny cat nap at dinnertime, sleeping (mostly) through the night, only to wake up once or twice, and loving his sister Clara. She is the best babysitter for him, and can get him cheered up and happy almost as well as I can. He's huge- in 6-12 month clothing. He is sporting some outfits that James didn't wear until he was ten months old! 

I do love him so, my Benny Bear. 

We had a little photo shoot. 

Love you Benjamin!

You know it's been a while since you last wrote a blog post when...

...your oldest child is in first grade. Last blog post, he was just starting kindergarten. And, he completed his first season of flag football!

...your oldest daughter is now in preschool. Two in school! What the dill. Where are my babies going, and why do they insist on growing up? Also, last blog post, she was in a cast for a month. Now, she is happily cast free and back to her usual jumpy, dancing self.

...your youngest daughter is two. These last couple of blog pictures show her as a baby, just barely one. Now she can talk you ear off like nobody's business.

...you have a fourth child! What the wha!?!? Not only that, but he is six months old today! And though I love him with ever fiber of my being, this clingy, not-gonna-be set-down-or-I'll-throw-a-fit phase has gotta stop. I mean for the love, he's the fourth! He's gotta just roll with it, right?

Let's try to update this thing, shall we?

We played with our princess cuddlers today.

Poor Tiana. She thought playing with Clara was gonna be fun. 

This little firecracker lined them up...all.by.herself.

You do not know the amount of begging and pleading I did to get Clara to sit on that dang couch and take a picture with her sister. Just one! 

It's rainy and fall-y today and I love it. 

Seriously, this beauty of a tree. The colors look so artificial,

 yet I promise it is right outside my front door!