I know that maybe one of you is wondering why I haven't been posting more.
I've been distracted.
Rosie brought her two children up to my house for the week, and we have been having a wonderful time.

I went down to my mom's house the weekend before last to meet my new nephew...I knew Rosie would be coming up this week, but I couldn't wait. He's adorable in picture, but even more so in person. I don't think that Miles and Isai could look any different from each other, though.

I have to take a short break from my vacation posting to tell you all that Miles Bradley, seventeen-week-old, 4 months old tomorrow, rolled over from his front to his back last night.
He's really very strong on his tummy, although I am not very good at giving him enough time on his stomach...he doesn't seem to need it.

Jack, after we all watched Miles roll over and cheered, persisted in showing me that he also could rool from HIS front to HIS back. He doesn't remember when we cheered his rolling, less than two years ago!

Joel and Christine had a retreat to go on, so we got to help Grandma and Grandpa Tate watch their other four grandchildren. Josh built a bonfire on the beach.





Josh told a story.


Josh wanted to see the fire from the boat.






We roasted marshmallows, but the fire was very hot.









John hit rocks in the water.

We were invited, while on our trip, to eat a meal with the Peck Family- a very Vermont meal, with all kinds of wonderful and delicious foods grown in their garden and raised with their hands. We get to have some of the Peck kids come and work on staff, and it's great to have them...we knew when they left this summer that we would see them in October, so it made their leaving less bothersome. My chickens love this family, all the kids who play with them, and all of the older kids who humor their attentions.

I was looking forward to a delicious meal and good conversation, and I got both. We watched a football game and enjoyed the company.

The Peck kids are great with the camera! Three of theirs and three of mine...there are eight Peck children, so this is a small sample.



I never got a picture of shaggy-headed Nathanael, or of Mr. Peck, but they were there in full affect.

Jack slept through most of the visit, but it was a highlight of our time in Vermont, nonetheless. Or maybe because he slept. He's very sweet when he's asleep.

Baby Miles is nice to hold, even when he's drooling or spitting up.

On our first Sunday, all of us Tates were gathered- except Carolyn. We had to document this with some group shots- even Edwards got in them. Lisa took the pictures with about four or five cameras. Here are the results of the shoot. Gathering.

Almost there.

We have this picture of all of the Tate kids- but Jack- who were born at the time on Rock Dundar, and there was a common goal this vacation of trying to recreate that moment. The problem being that the first picture was spontaneous, and less posed, and we never had that moment with all of the kids. We had plenty of good times, but not so many picturesque ones.

Still, we tried and tried to get a good shot of all eight of them. I love these pictures...I love Elisabeth holding Miles. I like how Jack decided to not enjoy it. I love how Bowden and Lucy Joy stood next to each other, and I like how Lucy Gates covered her face when he father decided to try to get everyone happy by dancing for them.

I keep getting told that I have a big family...which seems strange. My grandparents had as many children as you see here, and still, looking at this picture, it doesn't seem to bee so many.

Gracie and Lucy Gates, posing nicely, while Obie tries to run away and Jack just yells.

Poor cranky baby.

These two are less than six months apart.

This is when Josh started to dance. Jack was momentarily distracted from his fit throwing. Lucy looks...shocked and appalled.

She warmed up, but Jack cooled to the whole thing. It didn't give us the shot we hoped for, but it is still nice to see all the kids together- and maybe someone else got a better angle.

Job often demands some action shots from the children. The funny thing is, they're active all the time. The posing just gets them together. Obie wouldn't run, but the other six that could did.

Jack is, how-you-say, not so fast.

"Now jump."

Jack was still building up to it...although I don't think that he can get his feet off the ground by jumping. By falling, tripping, or just walking, yes, but not jumping. It doesn't do a thing for him. (And lest you forget, us Paulson girls tend to be earthbound.)

We moved inside to show that we really are a churched people.

Will Jack be a preaching super-star like his fore-fathers?

Yet another Tate picture, although Lucy disappears in the next shot.

How I love them!

We had a hard time getting all of the Tate grand-children- so far- in one picture in the church. They were not all so happy about it.

Someone tried to amuse them by going under the bench, which worked for most.

So we moved, but I'm sure one of the other cameras got a better shot.

My three big ones, not so big still.

There they are! The grandparents and all of their children.

This is my husband. MY Tate.

John is one of my favorite people, and I love him dearly. (I would never write that he isn't photogenic- only meaning that he is much better looking than these pictures tell.)
(Not that I care. After all, I still like Job.)



(Totally J/K, guys. I'm a jerk.)

Brother Job texted his sweetheart, although we didn't know it was his sweetheart taking him away from us.

Not everyone is as blessed as I am when it comes to in-laws. I am so glad to be able to call these two Mom and Dad.

Joel and Christine were smoochin' it up- ALL THE TIME. One would think that are still in love with each other after all these years and all those chirrens. I tried to take a picture of it to remember, since it was such a dominant feature of our interactions with them, but they couldn't quite keep a straight face. They're so cute.

Joel, the oldest Tate boy, with his soon-to-be-trimmed beard.

Then again, maybe Dad Tate is the oldest Tate boy. Joel is still college age in my head, you know.

Here I am. I was there, too.

I found these treasures on the children's pew after church the first Sunday. The Lake House was littered with all manner of strange and wonderful drawings and letters...even one to the President. I hate throwing them away.

We live in the middle of nowhere, up here on our hill, but we are not country-folk. The evidence lies in the deep and insatiable interest my children had of the chickens next to the Chittenden Church.

I had a hard time pulling them away...there were a lot of chickens, and the dead one on the roof of the hen house did not diminish the happiness of my children or the chickens.

Jack, especially was fascinated. The next week he managed to get himself into the chicken's fence, and was rescued by his Uncle Joel, smeared with chicken droppings and crying, "Chicken bite mine finger!"

We spent a lot of time at the Lake House the first few days. It was so good to be around Tate family and just relax and have nothing to do that those first days crept by beautifully, and extended our vacation, at least it felt extended. There is nothing better than being with people you love in a place you love, and the first week we were surrounded by some of our favorite people in one of our favorite places. It was idyllic.



Jack fell asleep leaning on the ottoman during one of our good talks, and we captured the image before putting him in a less accident-likely position.

One of my favorite things about this vacation was my children's opportunities to get to know their cousins and Aunt and Uncles. My chickens have been blessed, as I am, with an amazing family- the Tates, especially, are a unique group of people, and we are lucky enough to call them FAMILY.

We spent enough time with Joel and Christine's family to get past the uncomfortably polite interactions and see our nieces and nephews in their natural element. Much of that was thanks to the Eastern Tate's for driving all the way to the Lake House fairly soon after we arrived in Vermont, and coming more often than I could have hoped. They also opened their house to us, and we made a few visits out to their digs. My kids love their cousins...Lucy sings those songs the girls were learning every day, (well, part of those songs...)
They loved their Uncles and Aunt- and it would be worth much more than we paid this trip to have them understand what it is we love about Vermont and our folks there. I loved, too, getting to know my nieces and nephews, and I regret that we don't get to be a bigger part of their lives.

(Oh. And I loved eating eclair squares. Four times in one night.)

I wish Lisa could be with us all of the time. This trip was better because she was there!

Miles was introduced, and loved, and it was wonderful. These are the things I like best about Vermont.

Uncle John came up from Georgia to be with us on our vacation. He was a willing Miles-holder, and we had a better time because he was there.

Miles had first-time introductions to a lot of his Tate family, and he got along with all of them. Just so you know, Miles is not contentious.

Vacation pictures to follow- enough to make you tired of them, but they're coming.

I know, I know. It's been a long time. I am still trying to get used to life here in un-vacation, and yet life continues...Lucy played her last soccer game of the season on Friday, and Next week id the playoffs and championship games for Bowden's league. Our good friends, the Whites, invited us over for a wonderful breakfast at their house- really wonderful because it was delicious, and even more wonderful than that because we have no food in the house being away for two weeks.
Halloween was yesterday, and the kids had their costumes all picked out. The ninja costume was found at a ninety-nine cent shop two years ago. The princess outfit is the same as last year, too. Only Jack the Dragon had a new costume- Old Navy, 15 dollars.

This was the only time Bowden wore his entire outfit. The mask bothered him too much, and the sword got in his way. By the end of the night, he looked a bit like he was wearing pajamas.

We dressed the baby up, and then Lucy and Jack had to hold him.

Jack was a very thoughtful dragon. Peace-loving, even.

Happily, my mother came up to help and watch the festivities, and it made all the difference.
The chickens talked Nanny into dressing up. We all helped with her make-up.

The town has an annual "parade" that begins up at the top of North Circle and continues right into town. It's a little bit crowded normally, but since Halloween fell on a Saturday this year, a lot of people from off the mountain came up to enjoy an Idyllwild Halloween. We don't go door to door up here, we just go to the businesses on the way down the parade route, but the lines were so long that the kids didn't have much patience waiting...which means that we have a rather manageable amount of candy this year!

Jack fell asleep in the car, and stayed asleep, for most of the parade. He awoke to a pumpkin bag full of goodies, and proceeded to throw a fit about not having all of them at once. Good thing he can't really breathe fire.

The flood of people around the best candy spot- Idyllwild Heating.

Three adults meant that there were three pairs of arms to hold Miles. It was a nice time until Miles lost his pacifier and wanted to nurse. I then left the other three kids with Josh and my mom and hurried down the street to the Whites and their Inn. I had trouble reconnecting with everyone, but eventually we all came together at the carnival.

While I was feeding the baby, my mom had Josh take a picture of herself and the kids with this dog. It was dressed as a baby. Dogs in strollers do not inspire admiration in me, however.

The best booth at the carnival was the "Needle-in-the-Haystack" game in which you can search for a small toy hidden in the hay. A majority of our tickets went to this.

Josh held the baby while Nanny took the kids to the bounce house. They had TWO this year!

It was a nice night, but more tiring than usual owing to our recent return and the influx of so many tourists, but we were home by 7 and the kids were in bed at a pretty normal hour, so the mayhem ended early.

Miles is three months old!

And we are in Vermont!

We love to hold baby Miles. Everyone needs a turn, and when it comes, it is great fun. He puts up with much more than poor Jack did at his age, and is thereby more fun.

We love this baby. If he is the end, at least he's a good note.

This is my friend Marin's younger daughter, Emmy. She's a sweet girl, and a perfect little two-year-old. She and Jack have a strained relationship, but she LOVES Miles. For some reason, there are not as many infants around Idyllwild as there were with Jack and Lucy, so Miles is quite the specimen. I spend a lot of time defending him at soccer games from little hands and faces.

Emmy is pretty good about it, but there are some children who I have caught trying to pick him up, after I have told them they can't. (Obviously. Who gives permission to kindergartners to pick up their babies?) Miles takes it in stride, without much fussing even, but I think he's being exposed to a lot of germs early...maybe it's a good thing.

The many faces of Miles...at 12 weeks old.

He likes to talk to me...mostly making phlegmy noises and saying, "goo." He's beginning to roll onto his side, and definitely looks for me when he hears my voice elsewhere, but he likes all faces at this point, and will reward whoever notices him- and some who don't- with a smile.

Lucy started playing soccer this year, and she does it up Lucy-style. Which translates- in a dress.

Lance Fogle is her coach- an excellent coach- and she seems to enjoy it.

Here she is with her new ball, ready to play!

Bowden came down last week because, he said, he was scared. Miles fell asleep in my arms, and I laid him in the Moses Basket.

Bowden quickly fell asleep on the chair, to the comforting sounds of nighttime football.

My oldest and youngest. I couldn't stop looking at the babe that looks so much like his older brother, and the boy that babe may soon look like, too soon.

What's that baby doing?

That's right. Miles started reaching for things this week!

11 weeks already! I took some pictures last night...here he is just awake and ready to eat. Jack, too was photographed at this age...a little compare and contrast for you

Then he ate, and was happy for a bit before sleeping.

Today I was noticing that Miles was upset in his seat, attempting to kick, but hampered by the little bib that came with the seat...I took it off, and it made sense that it had been bothering him...

His little feet are poking off the edge! Already! He's certainly not as fat as Bowden was, but he seems much longer.

What can I say? He's a sweet baby, and nice to hold, and quite the chunk, and we love him.

This little guy hit the ten week mark on Tuesday. Tuesday was also the day I started to coach soccer, but I managed to get a picture of him at the field while Lucy was practicing, before we started practicing with Bowden's team. He liked to watch the action.

I dressed him appropriately, I think!

Sweet as a bee's knee, this boy is.

We had a fabulous after-party at the Rini's house with aunts and uncles and cousins galore. Jack got chilly, so his Nanny offered him a shirt.

The next day we came over as well. I like how Nanny is so empathetic with poor Miles.

If you don't know me well, you may not know that I am Italian. If you know me at all, you know it, and you know how proud I am of it. We celebrated our family's 100th year in America in Simi Valley with a grip of our extended family- I took the four chickens down to my mom's house to join the festivities, and it was well worth it. My Umpa, the handsome man above, is part of the first generation of Fusanos in the U.S. (Fusano is my mother's maiden name. Just so you know, my mother was the only member of her family to not have an Italian last name- her other two sisters married Italians as well. Paulson is Danish.)

My mom brought a HUGE watermelon from her garden...it became the appetizer to a smorgasbord of deliciousness. I'm going to post some food pictures on dwell in sunshine, just for posterity.

My first cousin-once-removed, Victoria.

Some other cousin painted the kid's faces...Lucy showed me hers, then I asked her to smile.

" Is this how you smiled for your school picture?" I asked. "Yep!"

Bowden sweat his off in a couple hours. It was HOT.

My more-immediate family enjoying salzits (sausages) and corn.

My cousin Laurena's daughter...

She and Jack are two months apart. They enjoyed raiding the corn chest. You know, like a treasure chest or ice chest, but full of corn.

Some more Fusanos enjoying the spread.

Grandma Gigi with Miles.

Listening to my Uncle Crue M.C. I didn't have a panoramic option on my camera, but these next few pictures give you an idea of how many people there were. Some family members opted to play Bocci while this was going on, but most crowded in. There are actually offshoots of three siblings here- Rosa Modugno, Pasquale Modugno, and Michael Modugno. Rosa Modugno married Christo Fusano, my great grandfather and Umpa's father.

My cousins Matt and Michelle's oldest boy, Porter.

Jack wanted to be in the balloon toss.

Bowden and Jack got to enjoy the water of the balloon toss afterward, anyway.

We all had name tags. With over two hundred family members, you are constantly being asked who you are, and how you're related.

Posing for the family picture.

Jack fell asleep with Nanny holding a Bocci ball.

The Modugno women challenged the Fusano women to a tug of war.

We're tough.

We won!

Toward the end, Tony and Dave, my two "little" cousins, hung out with Umpa.

Dave and I- it was a good time, and I really loved being there. The rest of the weekend was spent with family...two of our Uncle's families came down from "up North" (near Sacramento) and no one can resist getting together when we can. It was really sad that Rosie couldn't be there-or Josh- or my other few cousins that weren't there, but it was great to see who did come.

I love my family. (My cousin Cherice contacted the local newspaper, and they wrote an article on it!)