New, new, new

Introducing our new (new, new!!) 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sportswagon. She is candy-apple red, has a mere 177 miles on the odometer and promises to be an all out fuel-efficient champ on the road.
I still can't believe we have a brandnew car. I think I'll relax once we have a few smudges and a scratch somewhere on it.
She is a dream to drive.

Gus practices his sales skills on his Daddy, while our car-guy takes care of the endless, tedious business of car buying.

Last Day on the Beach

Granna & Pap build yet another monument to Gus.

 

No wonder he doles out his eye contact carefully - those blue eyes are so devastatingly beautiful.
I couldn't decide, which of these two shots was better - my heart overflows looking at them.
Gus is truly happy in salt water and sand.

This is better than any school year picture!

Pap tells Gus to play to the camera.

Having a "birthday picnic" next to the Shell Station in Newberry, South Carolina on our trip home.
We are tanned, relaxed and feeling good about this fall.

Lazy Days on the Beach

Watching College Football with Daddy - Roll Tide!

Celebrating his Birthday again - with a proper tea party with Granna

Charlestown Harbor with Pap.

 

GQ pose for Momma.

Boats everywhere!

Cindy & Ronnie sneaking in a romantic moment - and me capturing it!

Gus takes an extended bath in the Pineapple Fountain in Waterfront Park.

Haphazard snapshot with Momma.

Gelato with Granna.

Looking into mailbox slots - and waking up a few sleeping dogs along the way.

Birthday on the Beach

Admittedly Momma took a shortcut when it came to baking - but nothing tastes as good as a warmed up Krispy Kreme Doughnut with candles in it...especially when you just got back from swimming in the ocean.

Happy 5th Birthday to our sweet son!

 

 

 

 

First Day on the Beach

The Images tell it all - Gus celebrates his 5th Birthday at
Folley Beach, South Carolina, Sept.14, 2012
 

 

 

 

 

Birthday week

When you have an autistic mind, you have to warm up slowly to change, and so we have been celebrating every day this week leading up to Gus' 5th birthday birthday Sept. 14.
Today was an extra awesome day, as Gus got to celebrate - separately - with special buddies, Rion and Elijah. Unfortunately, we only have pictures of the former - at least for now.

You can't see it in the picture, but the cupcake is a cute, cute owl - and Gus' is plugging his ears because we are singing. He kind of likes it, but wants to make sure his fingers are at the ready if one of us hits a sour note - he has experience with bad singing by his mother, and has developed tools to deal with it.

Gus takes care of the five candles.

Rion takes care of his half of the cupcake.

Gus loves his present from Rion - Curious George goes to the beach - as are we in just 2 more days!
Elijah & Gus birthday fete involved capes and crowns, presents and bad-for-you food.
It was sweet, unrehearsed, unstructured and really relaxed and fun.
Gus loves his new accordeon, and we love the Bahnson family.
Happy Birthday, Gus. Three more days as a four-year-old boy.

Egg-O-Mania!

Maybe it was the brandnew doughnut pan complete with recipe for buttermilk doughnuts, that I scored at the thriftstore this week, or maybe it was the fact that Gus has been watching "Ratatouille" again lately, but this morning, we both looked at each other, after waving Daddy off, and decided to fire up the oven.
Baking/Cooking adventures here we come!
Gus has become sort-of-proficient in egg-cracking and scrambling....there are casualties and I try to keep extra eggs at hand.

Gus is definitely proficient in all things microwave...here he is getting ready to melt butter after expertly cutting it into the bowl.

Gus is ready to mix it all up and pour it into the adorable pan.

Gus is ready to bake these puppies! See that
face..that's Gus' low blood-sugar face.

Because we are saving the doughnuts for later, we (he) decided to whip up a quick cheese omelette for lunch. He cracked (one egg on the floor, two in the bowl), scrambled, salted, poured, watched it set in the pan, and flipped it (with Momma's help) and then sat down to eat it all.
The best part is that you can cut omelettes into pieces...that's Gus' biggest pleasure at the table these days...cutting things with the side of his spoon.
Bon Appetite!