Auld Lang Syne

Ah, these eyes!

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine^† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

Well, it's been a while my friends and I suppose I should catch you up on the last few months here at the Rye House!  We had a fantastic Halloween with the most perfect Garden Gnome ever.  Not only did he look adorable, he actually put up with me putting him in every garden we could find so I could snap a picture!  The faces he made were perfect and he actually looks like he should be in the Travelocity "Never roam alone" ads!  I think he could absolutely put that fake gnome out of a job.  

After Halloween came, drum roll please, BEN'S FIRST BIRTHDAY.  (insert deep breath and sigh from Momma).  We had a lovely Elmo theme.  Do you have any idea how hard it is to make red icing?  Take my word for it, it's not easy.  But the cakes were delicious!  Too bad we think Ben hit another growth spurt the weekend of his parties, because he ended up sleeping through most of them.  Speaking of growth spurts, he was 24.5 pounds and 32 inches at his 1 year doctor's appointment.  Putting him in the 75th percentile for weight and 95 for height (not that any of us are surprised about that one).  His new nickname is Moose.  

  Back to the parties..  We were lucky to celebrate with many family members and friends.  It was a weekend to remember!  Tim decided Ben "needed" a bouncy house, so he got one.. to keep.. And Ben does really love it, especially when he decides to launch himself out of it, essentially belly flopping down on the ground.  Boys.  We can't thank all of you who were able to celebrate with us enough.  Your love means the world to us, so thank you!  (And your thank you notes are still in process, but don't hold your breath....)

Quickly following behind Ben's b-day was TURKEY DAY(S)!!  Mom & Dad were in town (day care was closed Thanksgiving week) and spent Thanksgiving Thursday with us and the Meyer's clan (Tim's Mom's family).  Always a good time and great food.  Black Friday we discovered Ben's shopping capabilities.  He definitely got those genes from both of us!  He was a trooper, as long as we kept his belly full!  And lastly, Thanksgiving Part Deux with the Buchers on Saturday.  Tim & I hosted the group this year and as always, there will be stories floating for years to come (ahem, note to self, no more sculpting materials at dinner).   

November is over, which means... CHRISTMAS is coming!  In early December, I was determined to find reindeer in Maryland.  Well, apparently, Maryland DNR won't allow them into the state.  Whomp, whomp.  So, one afternoon, we found ourselves at the Plumpton Park Zoo in Rising Sun.  Ben had a blast and even got the Bmooo cow to Bmooo at him!  Definitely the highlight of the trip (if you ask him).  Personally I think the peacocks roaming about were pretty awesome.  But alas, no reindeer, and of course, Santa was coming the following weekend.

And to "wrap" things up, Christmas.  As I sit here and type this blog entry, I feel the toys creeping in on me - I have no clue where I'm going to put all of this stuff!  Tim said earlier tonight, "We're gonna need a bigger house".  Christmas morning was fantastic.  Ben really got into ripping paper and playing with his toys.  His favorite by far was his ride on "Doot doot" or to most, a truck.  

So, in closing my dear friends.  

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Happy New Year!  Stay in touch with us next year!!

Lots of love and laughs, Laura, Tim & Ben

Scarecrow

Waiting for a Hayride

The black and green scarecrow,
as everyone knows,
stood with a bird on his hat
and straw everywhere.
He didn't care....
He stood in a field where barley grows.
His head did no thinking, his arms didn't move,
except when the wind cut up rough
and mice ran around on the ground.
He stood in a field where barley grows.
The black and green scarecrow is sadder than me,
but now he's resigned to his fate
'cause life's not unkind.
He doesn't mind.
He stood in a field where barley grows. 
(Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn)

TOUCHDOWN!

Another favorite Fall activity accomplished this weekend.  Scarecrow making!  Having an old barn full of hay is always nice to have in the fall.  It comes in quite handy for scarecrow time.

Kissing Cousins

Seesterly love

My beautiful niece Abby!

Taking a break to smell the flowers.

My cousin Jen, along with The Redheads, Jake & Aunt Nance joined in the fun with Tim, Ben, Gail, Carrie, Marge (This is my grandmom, but you can call her Marge - Marge) and me.  A fun time was had by all, well almost all.. The pics are quite telling!

Abby feeding Crusader

Making Mommy a bouquet

<3 these kiddos!

Ben: "what's wrong with her?"; Abby "cheeser!"; Savannah "get me out of here!"

Probably my favorite family pic EVER.

Come join us next year if you missed out this year!!
Love to all -
L&T

So sweet!

Our family :)

Such a happy boy!

Baby You Can Drive My Car

Ben & Momma

My silly boys!

Asked a girl what she wanted to be
She said baby, can't you see
I wanna be famous, a star on the screen
But you can do something in between

Baby you can drive my car
Yes I'm gonna be a star
Baby you can drive my car
And maybe I'll love you

I told that girl that my prospects were good
she said baby, it's understood
Working for peanuts is all very fine
But I can show you a better time

Baby you can drive my car
Yes I'm gonna be a star
Baby you can drive my car
And maybe I'll love you

Beep beep'm beep beep yeah

Baby you can drive my car
Yes I'm gonna be a star
Baby you can drive my car
And maybe I'll love you

I told that girl I can start right away
When she said listen babe I got something to say
I got no car and it's breaking my heart
But I've found a driver and that's a start

Baby you can drive my car
Yes I'm gonna be a star
Baby you can drive my car
And maybe I'll love you
Beep beep'm beep beep yeah
Beep beep'm beep beep yeah
Beep beep'm beep beep yeah
Beep beep'm beep beep yeah
Beep beep'm beep beep yeah

Where have you taken me now?

Not quite sure who is going to be a "star" in our family.. But driving a car?  Something we do quite often in this family.  This past Saturday we got into the car with a plan to either drive to Frederick for an Oktoberfest at a historic barn or to Tilghman's Island for the Waterman's Festival.  Well, we ended up in Ocean City.  Yup, just over a 2 hour drive.. And a fantastic time by all.

Sand!

We started the adventure by hitting the Oktoberfest at the Convention Center.  Not the best Oktoberfest, but Ben quite enjoyed it.  The polka's were his favorite.. Well, after the food that is!  He amused all of the "elders" around us by scarfing down a bratwurst, sauerkraut, pickle and sauerbraten.  Yup.  He ate EVERYTHING.  Watch out Thanksgiving goers, Ben will give you a run for your money this year.  He's not fooling around when it comes to his food.  At all.

It looks pretty yummy!

When Tim and I had enough of the polkas, we drove over to The Boardwalk.  Plopped Ben in the backpack and started trecking..  Oh my the smell of Thrasher's fries and vinegar - my mouth is watering as I write this.. Fischer's popcorn!!  Soft-serve chocolate peanutbutter ice cream rolled in chocolate jimmies from Kohr's Brothers. A dieter's nightmare.. But oh so heavenly good.. 

Yum, leaves... 

Since we knew Ben loved the beach at mom & dad's, we thought it would be fun to see if he still enjoyed the sand.  And he did.  Even the taste of it..  And the dead leaves.. Yes, he ate those as well..  What can I say.. Other than I love this kid.. 

I can drool even at the beach!

Where's my toes?

Enjoy the pics..


L&T

Golden Slumbers

 

Who doesn't love a great nap in the car?

Once there was a way to get back homeward
Once there was a way to get back home
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullabye


Golden slumbers fill your eyes
Smiles awake you when you rise
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullabye


Once there was a way to get back homeward
Once there was a way to get back home
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullabye


Fall, my FAVORITE season has arrived!  And not a moment too soon either.  I am more than excited for sweaters, knee high sock (yes, typically argyle), jeans, fires in the wood stove, pumpkin everything, apples, leaves changing colors, the cool crisp smell of the air, days getting shorter, deliciously dark beer, cider - oh my the list goes on and on.. And FOOTBALL, how can I possibly neglect to include football in my list of favorite fall things.

 

One of my all-time favorite fall activities is apple picking.  Piling into the car, driving up to Pennsylvania, filling (or better over-filling) baskets with the most beautiful, humongous, tart, crisp apples is absolutely on the top of my list.  Last year, while I was pregnant with Ben, my mom and I went apple picking along with Tim's aunt Janet.  We had a blast!  So, deciding to make it a tradition, we all loaded up in the cars on Saturday, the sky looking a bit iffy but drove up to Susquehanna Orchards in Delta, PA anyway.  The orchard was packed when we arrived, cars, or better mini-vans and SUV's everywhere.  We bundled Ben up, plopped him in the backpack carrier and headed in to join the fun.

  

Yum, yum, yum...

Mommom, Nan, Ben, Momma & Dat (yes, Ben calls Tim Dat)

Walking through the orchard, Ben's eyes were huge (seriously bigger than normal).  He loved watching the "Big People" pluck the apples from the trees and load them into the baskets.  And when we gave him an apple to gnaw on, he got so excited!  Janet took a bite and handed it over.  He grabbed it with his big fat hands and started nibbling away.  Squinching his face up when the tartness reached his tongue.  It was really quite adorable!

Momma & The Love Bug

Peek-a-Boo Dat!

So incredibly happy.  <3 him!

I love my Nan!

And pumpkins!  Who could forget the pumpkins?!  Ben wasn't quite sure what to do with the pumpkins, but he was a good sport - as always!  It looked like he was playing Patty Cake with the pumpkins. But he does enjoy eating pumpkin.  And it's a good thing, because there will be plenty of it soon.  

A fun time was had by all.  And now I just have to figure out what I am going to do with two and a half bushels of apples!  Tim will make cider with one.. The rest, well, we'll just have to wait and see.  Many will be eaten after being smothered in peanut butter.  Many will go into Jewish Apple cakes (a recipe passed down from mom).  Maybe I'll try my hand at making apple sauce?  Any suggestions for apple related delicacies, please post below!  Oh, and of course Aunt Sue's awesome Apple Cranberry bake - my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Silly Dat - NO KISSES!!!

All smiles :o)

Enjoy the pics and hugs to all -
L