Private Nook

Courtney bussed into Philly to join me and Hagan in the trees since Haley and Kris were unable to go… We had a lovely, quiet adventure complete with long couches, small creek, fall leaves, handsome treehouse boys, pork and ice cream.
Later this week Papa will come home and we will jet over to Indy for a memorial service to celebrate the life of Grandma Yunker. We are looking forward to family time.

Hagan has a new toy cabinet (as the glass cabinet has moved due to a new ability of Hagan to open the doors…)

freshly napped

hangin’ on the porch

treehouse in the works:

it will be the indiana jones treehouse episode next season, apparently

Fall leaves…

back to work…campus:

Papa is still in the Poconos working on some giant adult-play-treehouse while mama works and Hagan gets to play with Haley and JimmyJames. Haley, Kris and I will head up to visit the project next weekend! We are all so excited to see the beautiful PA landscape and view this massive TV-treehouse project. Pictures from the week include Hagan’s adventures and Dads treehouse texts:

Grampa sent the crazy card that is still making the rounds at the breakfast/lunch and dinner table:

we FINALLY received a super fun portland package from the D&C of the Barnes tribe from Portland: in the package? a NEW FAVORITE TOY: the zoo bus!

JimmyJames and Hagan

oh- and some of portland was packaged up for us adults as well <3! THANK YOU!

Hagan has officially taken over Papa’s side…

note to self: this one loves pasta

under the couch MONSTER!

Haley and Hagan twinsie shoes

somewhere in the Poconos….

We received last minute word that Nelson Treehouse needed more hands on a job in PA. The choice was easy especially since we have two people vying for an opportunity to watch the babe. So, this week was all a hustle trying to prepare for no papa for 16 days. We ended the week with a party at the house for the landlords daughter who is off for London to get a Masters… and I overate. Oh, boy. But Hagan had quite the time going from lap to lap getting a whole lotta love.

Some pix from the week:

walnut being adorable…cuddling with one of Hagan’s birthday prezzies

Papa being frustrated trying to get all his things in order while managing a baby mountain climber

a quiet moment

a throwback to our last new york subway trip <3

For the baby mountain climber: his own table to climb instead of the ‘adult table’ 

papa sneaks a morning pic

one of the temporary papa people: Haley <3 love that girl

last minute stress as papa hits the road. he managed to save the yolks! now, what should i do with them is the question…..?

We spent the week/end working to get my bike back up and running, garden pruned and our visiting seattlelite, Bella a place to call home right here in Philly!

A local church has a bike church for peeps who need a place to work on their bikes… It just so happens to be right next to my job AND have a sweet little playground with a sand box, giant abacus and lots of kiddy bikes!! best church i’ve ever attended!
Hagan and I played really hard while papa worked on my bike:)

We also went down to see the Liberty bell and to walk the oldest neighborhood street in this nation- quite beautiful.
Our insanity garden was an overgrown mess of a trillion tomatoes and squash plants…with some radish and peas and basil thrown in. Papa pruned while Hagan participated by stuffing his face with as many tiny tomatoes he could get his hands on.
We ended the week showing our dear friend a possible place to rent as well as a place to purchase right in our own neighborhood. She is in love with our piece of Philly and we are overly excited to have her in our town.

We prepped and waited and finally celebrated Hagan’s first year with a backyard BBQ party. I wish I’d taken more pictures but ah well… I can only say that a ton of fun was had by all kids and adults alike. The cupcakes were a hit and the kiwi turtle cake turned out great! Here are a few from the week:

We flew back from Indy, hustled back to work while fighting an airplane virus >:/
And then bussed into manhattan Saturday to spend some time with the McBride family and Courtney too. It was fun to celebrate a year passing with the woman who was doula for me and Hagan….we walked the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and hung out at the Romero nest that SX helped build back in the spring. It was a gorgeous day that was finished with a pitcher of mojito in a Manhattan open sky bar.

We returned Saturday evening and spent a slow Sunday in the park and learning Canasta.

After so much fun reuniting with family, eating like piggies and lounging lakeside… I am back at work while the boys conquer an unbelievable pile of laundry and an out of control garden! I discovered a giant pumpkin which appears to have grown in our absence. I could hardly believe my eyes!

Hagan loved every minute of the trip except when he had to close his eyes.

We set off for Indy last Friday. It was perfect timing to see gramma Yunker move from assisted living to aunt Sharon’s in hopes of a graceful crossover. We sang songs and held hands as she directed us with her directors finger all while holding her graceful dignity. We departed thereafter for the lake to visit gramma Brauneller. It has been a relaxing time just catching up with family and fueling up on lake fumes. It is ever beautiful.

Aside from the norm of boys staying home to play together in the garden while momma goes to the big city to work.. Our house street has been blocked off for utility work for three weeks! What would normally be an inconvenience has actually been a sweet gift of quiet, serene neighborhood fun. We celebrated with the landlord and neighbors by bringing out the projector to watch a movie in the front yard where walkers-by would slow to catch a moment of movie. It was a fantastic night we hope to recreate very soon.

SX picked up a wee job… Hagan helped install a bunny gate.. And I’m just humming along at work. Hangin at the park each sunny Sunday just enjoying the local beauty.