just can't stop with the Americana...

A bunch of Dreyers on Wilkenson Hollow Road

Emmet Craig Dreyer and Craig Roberts Dreyer

Mac, her sunny face and her Sunny fish


Emmet got one too!

Baseball in Pawling on Independence Day

Playing the field!


Emmett's introspection on the Great American Pastime


No comment necessary

Five Finley Faces

Hey...my source of nourishment isn't in my mouth!


I don't know how much I like this Uncle Matt guy holding me.

I think I'll furrow my brow at him.

Maybe pursing my lips will help

I think I'll just go back to sleep.
(Words translated from "babyspeak" to English by Matt)

Day One in Pawling

Mac agoin' frog hunting in the creek

Pops with babies

Annie, Mac and Emmett on the paddle boat

Me with the babies (Lounging in Adirondack chairs is my version of New York paradise)

Craig, Silas and Mac playing on the country road.


Thanks everyone for commenting on yesterday's post. Just so you all know, Annie's migraine is gone, my sinus infection is not, those big seats are Jet Blue Airlines-they rock, Silas doesn't like it when Annie carries Finley, but we are all having the best time.

I will keep you all updated as we travel with up to the minute blogs! Matt

Flying To New York City

Waiting to board

On board cruising eastbound (Migraines can't stop Annie)

"Hey, we can watch 5 hours of TV and were not getting in trouble"

Me holding Silas (Sinus infection won't bother me)

4 O'Clock in the morning and all the trauma of flying, driving is gone when we see our newest family member. We love Finley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

great books...

I really love Barbara Kingsolver...especially "The Poisonwood Bible" but just about everything else too. This is her latest...a collection of stories/essays... part memoir, part journalism...with great recipes in it too.

supergrowth since May...

then...




now!!

mandalas pt.2....will it ever end?....

Ode to Mac and Emmett

The Thinker

The smile...

Hams!

MORE HAMS

I love these guys
Papa

scenes of early summer...

...and our newest temporary additions Patricia and Hoenheim, the zebra finches from kindergarten, who have already laid an egg!!!

hellos and goodbyes...

Goodbye old school building!
Goodbye kindergarten!
What a great group of kids and families!


HELLO FIRST GRADE!!


Goodbye Morgan! Best kindergarten teacher ever!
WE WILL MISS YOU!!
(but of course we will visit regularly.
Emmett is already choosing books to read
to the new kindergarteners!


And...Hello SUMMER! WAHOOOOOO!!!!

MANDALAS...

The kids and I painted this huge mandala. It was a really fun project because the kids could do a lot of it themselves. They came up with much of the outline design. We all painted for hours on Saturday.


Even papa got in on the act with a smaller version.


The mandala craze that is sweeping our house began with an assignment to make something to sew onto Finley's quilt. We started doodling designs to spark an idea and, thanks to Spirograph as a kid and my mom who has always loved to do pen design coloring books with Mac and Emmett, we decided on mandalas and a new project was born.


We discovered that it is really fun to take old flannel, rip it into squares, and then put it on an embroidery hoop to keep it taut. Then we use Sharpees to go nuts.


The whole thing is strangely satisfying and addictive.
Now I want mandalas everywhere!


Even the simple ones are cool.


Emmett made this one for me for my b-day and I love it!

Papa rules ('cause he really does)...

Papa
Papa rocks the cazba
A smart guy
Pretty funny
Adventurous

Really fun
Oh man he plays basketball
Crazy
Koolest kat in town
Surreally cool


best papa

(us making potato pancakes for papa)