Stokoe Farms with Abel

A few weeks ago, Abel and TT joined us for a visit to Stokoe Farm. It was a beautiful fall day. The kind of day when a light sweater is needed and sufficient. We enjoyed the day sliding down monstrous slides, watching piglets escape from their pen, getting lost in the corn maze, eating warm donuts and dancing to the sounds of the singing chickens. Vi hardly stopped smiling all day - mostly because Abel was by her side.

Dear Readers, Please don't hate me...

I'm using facebook as our "look-at-what-we've-been-up-to" site and have obviously, painfully abandoned vi's blog. My autumn resolution is to pick it up again. wish us luck! ;)

A few pics from a walk today. Vi and I shared an apple muffin at a local coffee shoppe. After Vi had successfully introduced hannah the (stuffed) cat to every patron in the shoppe, we set off on an adventure. Very few would consider a walk down a neighborhood street an adventure, but if you have spent any time with a 2 year old you understand. We had a wonderful time counting pumpkins, throwing fallen leaves into the air and gathering sticks (her new favorite). Oye.

Look at this kid. how could you not love that face.

she loves this beach

CapeCod 09 from Rich Downie on Vimeo.

Perspective

Although our lives rest in the palm of a loving God - it's sometimes hard to remember how much we are blessed.

Whilst reading Violet books at the library today, I was softly prompted to remember...

When I was quite young, and quite small for my size,
I met an old man in the Desert of Drize.
And he sang me a song I will never forget.
At least, well, I haven't forgotten it yet.

He sat in a terribly prickly place,
But he sang with a sunny sweet smile on his face:

When you think things are bad,
when you feel sour and blue,
when you start to get mad,
You should do what I do!

Just tell yourself, Duckie,
You're really quite lucky.
some people are much more...
oh, muchly, much-much more...
unlucky than you.

Thank you, Dr. Suess.

Latest & Greatest

Viley-who
TT - thanks for the dress requested first EVERY morning.

Sleepy after lilac festival

Dancing at the lilac festival

One cool cat.

Rabbit food

In the middle of her bowl of oatmeal this morning, Vi asked for a carrot. "um, ok." came my reply. So I peeled a carrot and handed it over. She finished her oatmeal and then happily ran around the rest of the morning with her carrot in one hand, nibbling as she went.

Too cute to correct

Vi says a few words incorrectly. Every time she says them I smile and I'm selfishly not willing to give up those little moments. ;) The word listed first is correct and the second is Vi's interpretation:
1. Oatmeal = Email (Figuratively she's right on the money...we both consume "email" for breakfast)
2. Coins = monies (pronounced "MONEYEZZZ") (Me: Vi, how many coins are there? Can you count them? Vi: 1...2...4..6 moniens!)
3. Mine = mines (as in, "that's mines Hannah, that's mines milk, that's mines slide, that's mines veggie tales, that's mines birthday cake, that's mines...yadayadayada")
4. Milk = Nilk (OK, so I have tried to correct this one MULTIPLE times and she's said it this way for so long that I find myself saying it sometimes)
5. Ice cream = Eye cream (i think this one is just based on the fact that ice cream is difficult to enunciate and yes, I need a little bit of both of these right now)

60 second post

1. Vi has taken to carrying her Veggie Tales DVD holder around with her. It's really strange. She loves the asparagus.
2. I asked her if she had a dream yesterday and she nodded and said, "Yes, Pop-pop."
3. After receiving 2 shots and a toe prick at her 2 yr apt today she announced, "Doctor. FUN!" on our way out of the office. And yes, she had a rice cake in her hand.
4. I have an awesome babysitter who put together one of Vi's birthday presents today. She must know it would have never gotten done without her help. ;)
5. Vi now runs and hides in the guest room when it's time to change her diaper, change her clothes, put her PJ's on, eat her breakfast, take a nap, go to the store, or clean up her toys. There is NOTHING in there for her to play with and when I come to get her she is standing next to the nightstand doing NOTHING. Interesting.
6. I am convinced there are two types of people who shop at pittsford wegmans. Those who ignore everyone else because they are a part of the beautiful people club and those who compliment froggy boots. I prefer the latter - Vi prefers to be ignored.

dos años

Untitled from Rich Downie on Vimeo.

A few pics...sorry i've been such a blog slacker

Grandpa

We've been through a lot this past month. Rich's father passed away after battling a disease for many years.

It's such a blessing to have memories of Violet with her Grandpa. He would have so much joy watching her play and laugh and he always enjoyed pointing out all of her antics. After Fred was moved to an assisted living home, Violet always looked for him and would point to Grandpa's chair when visiting Syracuse.

We miss him painfully. We are so grateful for the time we did have with him. He was an authentic, caring, funny and generous man. I think Vi has more than his eye color, she has his humorous spirit and that undeniable twinkle in her eye. Truly, I think they were kindred spirits and if given the opportunity, would have probably formed a very strong bond similar to my Grandpa and me.

Each night when Vi is saying her prayers, she says, "God bless Grandpa in heaven." I can picture Freddie smirking at her and patting her little head. We can't wait to tell her stories about her Grandpa and how much he loved her.

Uncle Scott, is that you??? hehe

Dear Violet (22 Months),

You're growing up so fast...


Over the past month, you have grown a full inch and started saying so many new words! You've mastered your uppercase letters and most of your colors and you've started learning your lowercase letters. Your new favorite books are I Like CATS!, The Mitten and Hop on Pop.


You stored up many of your childhood illnesses for your 21st and 22nd months...battling croup, pink eye, a cold, an upset stomach and the stomach bug. Yes, in that order and yes in succession. You took it like a champ. I, on the other hand, did not. ;)


"Hi, Rich!" and "Mom's here!" are common ways we are now greeted and kicking your soccer ball and throwing your dora ball are sooooo entertaining. However, shouting, "ready, set, go!" and running the length of the room is your favorite new activity.

You're a ham Viley...I hope that never changes. ;)

There's nothing a new crayon and a good friend can't fix...

*Photos courtesy of Uncle Scott

A new friend

New book

To want for nothing

During the first day of this new year I am grateful.

Despite growing up in a house where money didn't exactly grow on the tree outside our door, we never needed a thing. We had food aplenty (even if it was a bushel of zucchini), a warm home, loving family, and a safe environment. It wasn't perfect...but it was nurturing and healthy.

And now, as Violet sleeps soundly in her room upstairs and the temp dips below 20 degrees outside, I realize how blessed I am that years later I can still be in a safe, warm environment. We have food, friends near by, and faith in something bigger than ourselves.

At this moment, I want for nothing (of importance). That might not always be the case, but in this moment I am grateful.

A verry merry holiday

It's sad that you spend months preparing for one day and Christmas ALWAYS goes so quickly. We went to Aunt D's on Christmas eve and spent the night at my parents so we could wake up on Christmas morn with the fam.

Vi had fun playing with Aunt D's 90lb golden retriever, Casey. She was so patient with Violet's enthusiastic (bordering on annoying) attention. Every few minutes she'd run over to her and point out her ears, eyes, teeth and nose and then squeal with delight at her new furry friend. Vi also enjoyed her "dinner" supplied by another of Aunt Shawnie's brilliant recipes and she was pretty worn out after eating 2 bagels topped with sun dried tomatoes, garlic and cheese and two cookies. We put her to sleep in her pack n play and enjoyed a lovely dinner of lasagna. (Vi was too sleepy to wait up for dinner).

After driving to Grandma and Popop's house (with Vi hammin' it up in her car seat at midnight) we all snuggled in for a calm winter's night...that is until Nana got up 5 times and watched her Christmas story on a loop on high volume all night. ;) I really don't believe Vi got a sound sleep - but it was fun to wake up all together on Christmas morning!

Grandma made it a very special day with a yummy Christmas breakfast and dinner (needless to say SHE didn't have a very relaxing holiday...sorry mom). Violet and Abel had fun playing together and coloring and then opening a mountain of gifts from everyone. Vi also found time to chase Poncho (their oversized cat) and entertain the crowd while dancing to a rather scary singing santa.

Despite a meltdown caused by a pair of purple, princess shoes during present time - Vi had a wonderful Christmas and she can't wait to celebrate again with the Downies!

After taking a good nap today (and catching up on what she missed in sleep the past few days) Vi greeted me and Rich with a "Hi Guys!" when we went to get her. She never ceases to make me laugh...

Merry Christmas, Viley. Your second Christmas was a memorable one. I hope the third one is just as fun (minus the meltdown) and hopefully you can help me decorate cookies next year (while watching Little Women and sipping cocoa).

Merry Christmas!