Chilly camping

We had big plans for our Fall camping trip, but most of them fell through -- cousin Pearce couldn't make it, neighbor Sienna backed out, and then the girls got sick. But we went anyway! We inaugurated our new-to-us minivan by heading to Greenbelt National Park (can't believe it's so close) for a crisp night of stars & s'mores. It was chilly (40 degrees ) but fun. Robin and Miriam hogged the sleeping pads and slept better than their parents. Some highlights:

Miri teaches Robin the ways of fire-blowing

S'mores! S'mores! S'mores!

Oatmeal by the fireside with Lamb...what could be better?

Sukkot tradition

We started a new family tradition for Sukkot: going to the pumpkin patch! Actually, it's more like combining a fall tradition we love (pumpkins!) with one that, well, needs some improving (Sukkot). Somehow, we manage to pick a rainy day each time we go to this particular patch, but that just means that we get the whole place to ourselves.

Miri at the patch two years ago

Miri in 2011

Robin in 2011 -- we couldn't get her to strike the pose!

KIAP! (Yeah, we don't know why she's kicking either...)

Rabbi Mommy

Q: Who are the rabbis at Temple Sinai?

Miriam: Rabbi Roos, Rabbi Oleon, and Rabbi Mommy!

The past couple weeks have been hectic times for Rabbi Mommy -- a grand slam sermon on Rosh Hashanah, all day service on Yom Kippur, bar/bat mitzvah kids, a retreat with teenagers, Sukkot, ...this time of year is exhausting for clergy! But she loves being a rabbi and she's great at it. We love you, Rabbi Mommy!

Books, Books, Books

It's no secret that the Asch girls love to read -- that's pretty much the go-to activity when all else fails. Yesterday, we were lucky enough to have a real-live children's author (and wonderful family friend), Mark Pett, come to Miri's pre-school class as the first stop on his nationwide book tour. Yup, before he hit Politics & Prose and the best bookstores around the country, he came to Temple Sinai Nursery School to read his hilarious and heart-warming new book, The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes. Miri was so proud to have "Millie's daddy" come to class!

The Great Outdoors

One of the things we love about where we live is that we are right next to the woods and creek. It means we get a lot of time outdoors. Here is a typical afternoon. The girls are wearing dresses that Nana got on her cruise. They are from Jamaica!

Robin loves being outside.Miriam builds a fire for camping. She loves to do this! Robin walks over the fire and Miri cries, "No Robin, you'll burn yourself."

Miriam looks into Sligo Creek. The bridges are good for climbing on, throwing things off, and running over.The girls run to the park.

Robin climbing up the ladder.

No escape

Miriam had one place in the house where she could escape her crazy sister -- the top bunk of her bunkbed. Had. While Daddy was putting the sheet on the bed tonight, Robin scaled the side and slid over the top. (We deliberately had not built a ladder to make it more difficult for her, but that only worked for a couple months.) "Robin's on the top!" Miri screamed, out of surprise and, perhaps, anguish. Alas...there is no escape.

Robin recreated the scene for posterity (while Miri pioneered a new way up):

First day of pre-school

Miri is officially off to pre-school at Temple Sinai, where Mommy works. She excitedly picked out her favorite clothes (she's still in her Goth phase, as you can see) and got herself ready to see her teachers, Laura and Valerie -- they came by the house last week to introduce themselves. She's going to love being in school, but Mommy and Daddy are a little sad to see their baby go...