Pumpkin Patch!

Addy has been really into pumpkins this fall.  She has been talking about then pretty much all through September and so as soon as it was "the season" we decided to head out to the pumpkin patch. 

It was a fun entertaining Sunday!  We had gone to church in the morning, had lunch at my mom & dad's and then headed out to Northwoods Apple Orchard.  I was very impressed with the place...there was no entry fee, they had a petting zoo, lots of little places set up for pictures, some bon-fires going on if you just wanted to sit and relax & of course pumpkins and apples!!! 

The only thing we missed out on is the tractor ride - we didn't want to spend the time standing in line and had hoped to make it back before the season was over...but, I don't think that is going to happen anymore...

I took a bunch of pictures - hard to narrow them down but even though there are a lot in this post...I actually did not share very many :)

The Apples of our Eyes:

Picking out the perfect pumpkins :)

Taking the pumpkins up to get paid for :)

Heading to the car!

 It was a fun Sunday afternoon at the pumkin patch!!

Oh the places a conversation can go....

You gotta love conversations with a 2 year old!  Here's a little bit of our daily life...constant questions and "why's" :)  I love how one topic can turn into about 5 different ones by the end of a simple conversation!

Addy: Where are we going?

Me: We are going to get family pictures taken.

Addy: Why?

Aaron: Because we are a big happy family

Addy: Why?

Me: Because, we love each other and that is what we do.

Addy:  Why?

Me: Ummm....because we are going to take pictures to capture moments in time and maybe use them for a Christmas card...

Addy: Why?  (for the zillionth time!)

Me: Well, because that is what we do in America

Addy: I want to go to America's house!!!!

Me: You want to go to America's house??  Well, it's hard to explain, but you are sort've already in America's house.

Addy: I want to go to America!!!

Aaron: Which America do you want to go to?....North America?....South America?....

Addy: South America

Me: Hmmmm, well then you aren't there yet, that might be a problem.

Aaron:  What about Latin America?  I think Dora's house might be in Latin America

Addy:  (Huge gasp of excitement and claps/cheers)  Yeah!  Dora's house, I want to go to Dora's house....!!!!

....and the conversation drags on....

What a goof ball...

Slumber Party!

We started this little "swap" with my sister Shannon's family.  Once a month we choose a weekend to take each other's kids for either a night or something so that we can get things done around the house and/or go enjoy ourselves...whatever we want to do!

In September Shannon had Addy and Blake.  October was our turn to have the Kelley Kids! 

They came over (Brynne, Brooklynn and Drew) not far before bed on Friday and we had them all day Saturday.  Addy had her first slumber party in a sleeping bag that night!  We started out with some popcorn and a movie.  Addy had so much fun with her cousins...she wanted to do everything the "big kids" did.  We were going to have her sleep in her bed that night, but she said "I want to sleep with the big kids" - and so we thought we may as well give it a try.  Pretty soon she'll have to up-grade to sleeping with the rest of the kiddos at my parent's cabin, so having a sleepover at our house was a good trial run! 

Thankfully she has a pillow pet - because the 3 came with theirs so of course she wanted hers to sleep with too (which she hadn't been doing  before, but it is now part of the million other things she throws in her bed.  Most days, there is barely room for her little body in that bed!)

Ready for Bed!

It was too cute watching them get all lined up for bed.  Brought back some childhood memories.  We actually have 2 rooms that the kids could have slept in, but they all wanted to sleep this way!  (Brynne isn't in the picture, because she slept in the pink tent we have in our play area...which, for the record...next time it is Brooklynn's turn to sleep there!)

My big girl at her first slumber party! 

Sleeping Babe!

I couldn't help but take a picture of her when she was sleeping :)  She actually did really good.  She started crying at like 4 in the morning so we brought her upstairs...but she REALLY wanted to stay down.  We just didn't want her to keep the others awake so brought her up.  Which made her more sad at 4 in the morning, but we made it through!
I had gone and checked on them once, and had noticed Addy was basically on Drew's pillow, and his head was where his feet should be...I think that he woke up and went to get back to "normal" and grabbed his pillow which is what woke/scared Addy at 4 in the morning.  Because he said "I was just grabbing my pillow" when we came down to get her. 

"Aunt Marissa" with Drew, Blake, Brynne, Brookie and Addy

We went to the park the next day for a while (thank goodness it was nice - we would've gone a little stir crazy otherwise!).  All the kids got to run and let off some steam (and so did Aaron and I!).  Blake had fun in his swing - Addy loves parks.  Slides...Swings...etc.  She did the monkey bars for the first time at the park this time.  The others did a bunch of climbing and running around.

Aaron said "Tackle aunt Marissa" - I love Drew's big grin in this picture.  Blake is actually with me below Brynne and Brookie.  He handled the tackle like a true Tough Guy!!

We took a ton of fun pictures at the park...so many to choose from.  I wanted to share more - but decided to do just one of each of the kiddos having some fun!

 

Monkey Girl!!

 "When I grow up I want to be a little boy."

(or girl!)

My Handsome 11 Month old Man



 Another month came and went...it has flown by.  Blake is getting too big - eleven months!  He stands on his own now sometimes, and tries to walk from one thing to the next.  It's just a matter of time before his legs get a little stronger and he gets a little bigger --- he's going to be walking. 


Standing for a brief time - he has stood for about 10 seconds at a time.  So fun!  Side Note: I love this sweatshirt!  I actually found it when I was in the hospital with him right after he was born!  I was by myself with my laptop and a sleepy newborn...and decided to investigate all the cute boy clothes I could buy for my little man. 

The style of this sweatshirt has Aaron written all over it...and the fact that it has a 7 on it makes it even better!

 Blake finally got 2 more teeth.  He has only had 2 teeth that he had gotten in May until recently.  He now has 2 top teeth and 2 bottom...and I think that more will start coming through.

This guy also loves his food still...and he also loves baths.  Which is a good combination, because he gets REALLY messy when he eats.  He is 100% boy.  I know I have said that in other posts...and I have also posted pictures of messy-faced Blake almost every month, but they don't get old!


Messy Boy!



Gettin' Clean!

 Blaker's vocab is increasing too, but I don't know that he has increased words since my 10-month post.

Blake is happy boy a good amount of the time...but he also has a "monster" side.  I say monster because of the way he expresses himself...literally with a little "roar" so I like to call him a monster when he does it.  Most of the time it actually makes me laugh, but it is interesting to see that little personality come through.  I hope I can identify ways for him to learn to control that crazy temper before he gets too old!  At the same time though - he is such a little cuddler that he can be "sugar and spice" within a matter of minutes...and I love my little man's cuddles!

I'm starting to get sad that he is already going to be a year old.  My kids' birthday are always bittersweet for me.  I love that we get to celebrate them being a year bigger, but I get sad about the fact that they are growing up so quickly.  I love my little tiny babies and totaly wish that they could stay tiny for longer. 



Goofy Guy --- what's not to love??!!!!