Enjoying Fall

[Jeremy] Fall is always a time of change for me. With the changing weather and the shorter days, I find I can spend less time outside, and when I do spend time outside, it takes a lot more preparation (and clothing) to make it enjoyable. I wake up to mornings of darkness and frost, and days are cut short. Something in me seems to need the sun and the outdoors. Also, as a stay at home dad I am now daily still trying to make sense of this tremendous change in the course of my life.

Moreover, we recently had to bid a sad farewell to the only car I have ever owned (addressed in detail in another blog post). That 1998 Subaru Forrester has been part of our family since before it was. Jody and I fell in love in that car, it carried everything we owned every time we ever moved, and it was Ethan's favorite place to play -- he would spend hours just sitting... "play car?" he would ask with clear intonation, telling whoever was in ear shot that he wanted to play in the car.

In this time of transition, before the onset of winter, we have been playing as hard as we could to squeeze every last bit out of the ever-shortening days.


Ethan has found that although lollipops and other kinds of sugary candy are not quite his cup of tea "choc-it" as he calls it definitely is.

Playing rugby is a big part of my life and I had a great time playing rugby for two different teams this fall. I am pictured here playing prop for the Tuck Rugby club. Tuck is Dartmouth's business school. I scored a try later in this match (Rugby's equivalent of a touchdown), my first for this team.


One pretty cold and grey day in October, Ethan, Jody, and I met a good college friend of mine Jen Stevenson at the Boston Aquarium where we all got to check out the "Pinguinos" for an afternoon. Ethan still talks about how Jen gave him a piggy back ride.

The three little peas outside the aquarium (picture graciously taken by Jen).

After the completion of the big dig (which runs right by the aquarium) and the subsequent dismantling of the old overpass, the route where 95 used to run has been converted into a long park or "greenway." At one end, there is a carousel. After we went to the aquarium, Ethan had his first ride.

Nana and Pappy recently got a leaf blower to take care of the new grass in their backyard. Ethan LOVED it and talks often about how pappy and he blew leaves in their backyard.


Ethan has long loved the bike pump, but has only recently gained enough skill (and strength) to use it effectively for it's intended purpose.

After being scared of it for a long time, Ethan has finally embraced the pure childhood joy of riding the see-saw.

And as is true for all of us, the harder we play, the better we sleep. I have heard tell that some other children Ethan's age move away from the long afternoon nap... not my little peanut. He has still sleep 2.5 -3 hours every afternoon.

I am somehow always touched when I look back when we are driving somewhere because I haven't heard him for a while and I see him fast asleep.