After Labor Day it’s Birthday Extravaganza in our household. Auntie Bean, Grandma, Daddy, Uncle Noonee and Madeleine. I believe the month of September is full now, thank you very much, and all future Tredways and Lawtons ought to carry birthdates from one of the other eleven months. That being said, it’s fun to buy cards and presents for all the adults before capping off the month with a kid celebration for Madeleine.

The following shots are from my niece’s birthday party. She turned charming, vivacious three. (Forgive me, Evil Uncle Adam & Kristen, for posting a snotty nose pic. I love it though.)

Does anyone know the name of this plant? Christina? Karma?

The Sunken Gardens really are phenomenal right now. (Or at least they were gorgeous two days ago when we visited. It’s since gotten pretty chilly in the mornings, but no frost yet.)

The flowers and bushes are at their peak of beauty, their enormous blooms almost hide garden paths from view. A few months ago I could see little heads pretty much anywhere in the park, but Monday I had a hard time keeping an eye on Livia while shooting various blossoms.

It’s no wonder Claude Monet painted water lilies. I was captured by these purple flowers in particular and wanted to preserve them just the way they were that afternoon, with the sun glowing brilliantly on the purple petals.

It’s time to play princesses. Time to get out the beads & slippers, the tiaras & boas.
It’s time to share. To trade. To wait five minutes and then be gracious.
It’s time to learn. About bugs, about dogs, about following directions.
It’s time to snack. Slices of apples, slices of cheese. More slices of apples.
Finally, it’s time to go home. Another day, another playdate.

I have other blog posts in mind. But frankly, they all require too much time and forethought. So instead I’ll post a photo of my dog.

In this pic his fur is unkempt. He’s quite dirty. He’s dog tired. And yet I still think he’s the cutest pooch on the planet. That’s what love does apparently—it blinds you into believing your dog (or more frequently, your child) is the cutest, best, brightest creature on the planet. That’s what I think until Shiloh puts his paws up on the coffee table and licks Livia’s apple slices. Then he’s not so cute.

Shiloh-lito.
Shilozers.
Al Poochino.
Poochy-poochers.

I love my pup.

Bokeh is a funny photography term that refers to the blurred, out-of-focus background of a picture where light is distorted. Last weekend I wandered between the cabin and the lake, and allowed my camera to turn towards anything potentially captivating. The sun was setting beyond this little grove of trees (birches, but I could be wrong) and the sparkling light grabbed my attention. What is it about trees and light that is so interesting? It makes me think of fairies and forest elves… and the peace and quiet found around lakes in northern Minnesota.

Yep, this little face definitely charms me! I love my sweet nephew Noah and marvel at his new growth and expanding personality each time I see him. He’s talking now, with baby goos and ah-oos that mesmerize me.

Kristin wears Noah on her chest in the coolest baby wrap (what’s the name of this one, Kris?). It’s amusing to see something similar to a pregnancy shape, only there’s a baby snuggled close and sleeping just inside the fabric. Sometimes I forget Noah is there until I hear his waking cry. The wrap is a brilliant way to keep a little one happy and snugged tight.

Cute cupcakes are only a boxed cake mix away. Liv and I like to put some batter in the oven and move on to icing. It’s simple to mix up Wilton’s buttercream recipe and then tint it to our heart’s desire.

Our preferred icing method is to heat the icing in the microwave, then dip the cupcakes in the mixture. Livia’s task, then, is to sprinkle like a mad woman before the frosting hardens. We get a little crazy, sprinkles go everywhere, but the end result is cute cupcakes every time. Need a quick platter of treats for a friend? Want an afternoon pick-me-up? Cupcakes are the answer. The cuteness is just the (ahem) icing on the cake.

We saw Over the Rhine last night in Omaha. It was a last-minute kind of thing and I’m soooo very grateful we got to go. It was a fun ride up and back with the Koenigs, and of course the concert was great. Oh to sing like Karin Bergquist! That woman has amazing control of her voice, say nothing of her stage presence. (Jeremy asked me where she was from and I’m now reading on the OtR website of her “torchy, devil-may-care voice, brimming with Midwestern soul.” There ya have it, JT.) I foresee more Over the Rhine albums in my future.

Today feels nothing like a Tuesday. Sunday morning perhaps, but definitely not Tuesday. Tuesdays have responsibilities and schedules and chores and so far I’ve polished off a large quantity of Diet Mountain Dew, assisted in DVD playing for Liv, and watched a giant spider wrap up it’s prey in the flower garden. Tuesday, really? Tuesday-after-a-Monday-night-date? Yes, definitely.

Now if only I can squeeze a nap in between reading some Harry Potter and avoiding the dishes piled up in my sink.