"Daddy Go to da Ore-Port"

Daddy is off to Orlando for a few days for Educause. Last year's conference was in Seattle, so we all went together and stayed with my sister while Steve conferenced. We thought about going with him and doing the Orlando stuff, but I don't have any desire to do all that on my own with Lucy. So instead, we will head to Grammie's tomorrow to go play there, while Bud holds down the fort here.

We're going to do the whole pumpkin patch thing at this beautiful farm out near my parents' house. It's actually known nationally as a Christmas Tree farm, and was mentioned in Real Simple a year or two ago. Very cute place, and I think we'll have a grand time.

October, while a fickle month, is losing out to the change of seasons. I am putting off the Things To Do for a bit while I enjoy my coffee and Lucy's special blend of tea (must be Earle Gray) out on the patio table. Lucy graciously supplies the sugar. It has been so nice recently that we headed out to the beach on Saturday. It was a perfect, perfect day out there, and so good for my soul to sift through the sand with Lucy's little sifter, and pick up tiny shells, just for the therapy of picking them up. Lucy and Steve, of course dug their customary hole in the sand, which resulted in a nicely exfoliate butt for Lucy. It was a hard day on both ends, so the beach in the middle was medicinal.

And so off we go with our day, ready to pack up for a week of being spoiled. No objections here, except that I always feel that something missing when Steve is gone--like I've forgotten to lock something or turn something off or return something or drop something off. But I also love being apart for a few days because it is so much fun when we come home to each other.