hedgehog!

Went tonight and picked up the newest member of the Sims household!
(So much easier than giving birth.  I highly recommend this form of family-growing.)

Here's baby Begonia.  Born 9/24/2013.

So she's 6 weeks old.  She's fast and strong for being relatively little still!  And she's really quite sociable. 

I got her off craigslist here in Austin.  Went for a newborn so that we could have the greatest chances at her being social and friendly with the kids.  

I really liked the gal I got her from; she only has one breeding pair, so she handles all the babies regularly and you could tell she took great pride in her knowledge and love of hedgehogs. 

 I'm enormously pleased!!  The hedgehog-shaped hole in my heart has been filled once again!

fox!

Yesterday, I looked out the back window in time to see this huge bushy tail dart across the lawn and run straight up the tree!  I called Josephine and we went out there to say hi to our cute little friend.

the last couple of weekends

The second-to-last weekend in October, we put in a little time at the Christ Church Garden, which I've mentioned before.  

"yeah, Mom, maybe you can keep your nasty gloves out of my toy bag in the future..."

Poor Carmen.  Two supervisors and one deserter.
(and then there's me, taking pictures.  also helpful.)

Sean, all domesticated.  If I could hack his facebook account I'd make this his new profile pic.

the fall garden starting to grow

The last weekend in October was the Christ Church parish retreat, out at Highland Lake.  The weather was great, and we enjoyed getting to know some folks better and taking walks while our kids were in the children's programing.  I'm posting these pictures so I can remember having at least a few serene moments this year.  ;-)  Speaking of serene, I actually have a silent retreat coming up in a couple weeks that I am supersupersupersupersuper excited about!

random bits

Our garden attracted several big butterflies this month.  

Josephine drew them:

 

Clement's pretty into putting things on his head-- you'll find him wearing hats, a washcloth, practicing with sunglasses, etc.

ah HA.  she'll never find them in here!

I got some new boots for my birthday-- pretty cowgirl ones-- which have a tendency to inspire some mommy-daughter hoedowns every now and then.  Below, Josephine's in my old work boots in order to dance along-- we need to get this girl some of her own fancy duds!

clearly one of my signature moves.  she's such a copycat.

trunk-or-treat with Zanna

We went on our church retreat last weekend and got home just in time for Josephine to put on a Halloween shirt and join Zanna at her church's trunk-or-treat event.  (Sean stayed home with Clement and attempted to rest.)  Josephine's rainbow princess costume wasn't ready, so at some point she took Zanna's bouquet away from her bride outfit, and started claiming she was Zanna's bridesmaid.  (My daughter is obsessed with weddings!)

It's so cute to see these two run around!

silly face

scary face

the bride and her bridesmaid in the parking lot parade