Pumpkin Patch

We took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch the other week.  It was a beautiful day and we practically had the place to ourselves.  Which is good since Jack wanted to try out every wagon and wheelbarrow there!  We allowed him to pick our pumpkin and gourds this year but he wasn't very choosy. I think he was just on a mission to see how much he could load into his wagons!

Fall 2012

Jack found this pumpkin all by himself and somehow got it back to his wheelbarrow!

Pumpkin #1

Pumpkin #2

Taking his gourds for a ride.

It was a bit heavy for the little guy!  I can still hear him grunting. :-)

Ella seemed to like her 1st visit to the pumpkin patch.

Well, she was along for the ride last year too!

We sure have been enjoying Fall!

Day 27

Where we live there are many beautiful kinds of roses blooming.

I have taken lots of pictures of Jack in that gazebo but I don't think I have ever shown you the flowers that surround it.  The gazebo has been a welcome addition to our complex.  We enjoy stopping there to relax on our walks or when we get the mail.

It is good to remember and enjoy the nice parts about where we live when sometimes all you can see are the negative parts.  We will have a bigger place one day where our kids can run around without being surrounded by parking lots.  Where we are free to to put some of our dreams into reality.  

 

Until then,  I will remember to look at the beauty and thank God for the home He has for us right now.

Day 23

We had a fun family day picking strawberries!

Jack had a blast again this year.  He loved the tractor ride, running up and down our aisle and of course eating as many strawberries as he could!  Ella sat in her seat and just watched us.  I'm sure she will be following her brother's lead next year.

We ended up being the last people in the patch and the owner let Jack sit on the tractor!  This was very exciting, of course!

Seth's parents live near the strawberry patch so, we stopped in to say hello and ended up staying all afternoon.  Thankfully, mom helped us wash, cut and vacuum seal the strawberries we wanted to freeze.  When we got home we made a batch of jam.  I am looking forward to using the rest for some yummy desserts.  Oh, how I love strawberries!

We had only been there a few moments and his fingers were already red!

The owner commented on her perfect strawberry picking outfit! ;-)

It was very hard to get his attention so I could get a picture of his face.
 He was so busy checking it all out!

Ella flashed me a smile while we waited for Dad to pay.

BIG wheels, little boy.

Now, I'm already thinking about picking blueberries!

It's Almost Spring!

It has been a really warm winter here. It almost feels like we went from autumn to summer! Due to the unseasonably warm temperatures our daffodils decided to come up early.  It reminded me of when I took Jack's picture by the flowers when he was around 4 months old.

So little!

Here is today!

At 28 months, he still fits in the Bumbo!

I wanted to get some of Ella this year. Here she is at almost 3 months...

Such a sweet girl! 

She was just taking it all in and actually enjoying herself outside.☺

The Big Bro and Little Sister

Yes, I do believe we are ready for Spring!

Snow!

I remember when I was a kid how exciting it was to wake up to freshly fallen snow.  Today, Jack got to experience his first time playing in the snow and we had so much fun! Ella didn't join us since the slightest breeze puts her in hysterics so we waited until she was napping and headed out.

She is cute though!

Big smiles

We had to check on his dear bobcat...

He had his 1st taste of snow.

He thought it was very tasty!

We made a snowman!

Jack gave me this look and then he did this...

Apparently, the boy was hungry! 

So, we headed in to make some snow ice cream.

Oh my goodness this stuff is delicious! 

Why have I never had this before? I grew up in the land of snow after all!  

Oh well, this is definitely a new tradition now.

The snow is almost all melted already and our poor snowman is ready to keel over but it sure was fun while it lasted!

Hello Fall

What can I say?  I have been away from this space for quite a while (sorry grandparents).  Here are some recent photos from our fabulous Fall Saturday.

Riven Rock Park

Jack + Dad

Jack could have stayed here for a long time throwing rocks in the river.  I think he was challenging himself to pick up the biggest rocks to throw!

He such a little man.  Can you believe he is going to be 2 next month?!

Here are some pregnancy pictures we took that day.

33 weeks!

We love our baby girl!

Next, it was pumpkin patch time.  Here is a recap of last year's visit.  He has really grown and he definitely enjoyed himself much more this year.

He kept calling them "apples"!

He tried to pull the wagon.

He pushed his own wheelbarrow.

He even liked the sign this time!

He also thought the scarecrows were funny.  :-)

Our chosen pumpkin and our other little pumpkin's first visit to the patch.

We ended our day at a nearby lake and took a family hike.

Jack led the way the whole time.

He would occasionally turn around to see what we were up to or give us a friendly wave.

It was a day to savor for sure.
 

The Days of Summer

The days of summer are quickly fleeting.  We have been busy with random things all month.  I am growing, Jack is growing and I'm just trying to keep up!  Here are a few peeks into our days...

You know it is time for a haircut when you wake up from your nap looking like this!

Jack started taking my pots out of the kitchen on a daily basis so I purchased a child size set for his birthday this year.  I guess we will find out in a few months if he likes them as much as the real thing!

We have gotten lots of joy out of our tomato plant this month.  

I don't think I have ever heard the word "yum" more than when Jack ate bruschetta for the first time!

We visited our local county fair one evening.  Jack loved the petting zoo, fair food, people watching, spending time with his grandparents and keeping tabs on the helicopter rides flying above us.

He coaxed this horse out of the corner and we all enjoyed watching their interactions.

He was so happy with himself!

Jack has discovered pockets!  He proudly struts around with my cell phone in his shirt pocket but nothing is cuter than when he just walks around with his hand in his pocket.  The other day, all three of us were in the grocery store for a quick trip.  Jack was thrilled that on this visit he was allowed to walk around while holding Seth's hand.  At one point, Seth had me turn around to see Jack happily walking beside his dad, one hand holding his and the other in his pocket.  It melted this mom's heart!  Love that boy! :-)