Pumpkin Seed Hill

Although it probably seems like we have made more than enough visits to pumpkin farms this season, we made our annual trek to Pumpkin Seed Hill last weekend to get our big, family pumpkin.  The weather turned out to be great so it was really crowded, but that didn't stop us from finding the perfect pumpkin.  The girls had fun checking everything out (when we went to Rose's, we only went to patches of small, kid sized pumpkins) and selecting the perfect pumpkin for carving.  And Lee gets to do all the hard work - carrying the pumpkin around and carving it once we got home (that's a post for another day).

A beautiful afternoon at Pumpkin Seed Hill.

We ignored these pumpkins, heading for the more treacherous patch, where we stumbled around on all of the vines.

The girls.

The girls together.

Emily and her pumpkin.

Lucia's Birthday

Last weekend we celebrated our little cousin Lucia's first birthday.  Lucia is the daughter of Lee's cousin Josh and his wife Natalia and the little sister of Nolan, who has been featured on our blog in the past.  They live about 45 minutes from us, so it was an easy trip.  Lucia was an adorable birthday girl and clearly loved the attention - no shyness from her!  Although we have met Nolan several times, he seemed to really take a liking to Lee and I and we often found him making eyes at us during the party (very cute).  The girls had a wonderful time playing in the awesome playroom, eating birthday cupcakes and hanging out with a bunch of other little people.  Happy first birthday Lucia!

The birthday girl!

Elizabeth and Lucia playing.

Nolan devours a yummy birthday cupcake.

Lucia enjoys her birthday pie.

 

See what I mean about making eyes at us?

Deja Vu All Over Again

Last week, I made another trip to Rose's Berry Farm, this time with Elizabeth's kindergarten class.  Although I could have done without another trip to Rose's this season, I was really lucky to have the opportunity to chaperone Elizabeth's class trip (along with two other moms).  Her teacher is really great and very organized - which made the trip fun and relatively stress free.  I enjoyed meeting all of Elizabeth's friends and spending time with all of them.

Elizabeth's teacher quickly organized the entire class for a picture when we arrived.

Selecting the perfect (green) pumpkin.

Enjoying the slide.

Fun on the playground.

Keeping the class pumpkin safe on the ride home...

Kelsie and Elizabeth on the bus ride back to school.

Celebrating My Parents' Love

Although my parents do not officially reach the fifty year point until mid-November, we celebrated their amazing milestone last week.  They didn't want a party (and apparently, my siblings are still smarting from the tongue lashing they took over the twenty-fifth anniversary party, so didn't dare disobey!), so we celebrated their anniversary by going to Brown's Lobster Pound, which has been a family favorite for more than fifty years (indeed, my parents join us at Brown's every year during our summer vacation).  We had a great time - tons of lobsters and steamers, champagne and anniversary cake - and my parents truly enjoyed celebrating with just their children and grandchildren.  Below are some pictures from the afternoon, as well as a photo video.

Michael, Maureen, Kathleen and Joe pre-Brown's.

Emily enjoying steamers.

Elizabeth enjoying her lobster (clearly!).

Sandra works on opening the champagne bottle.

Celebrating fifty years.

Mom and Dad

Click on the four arrows in the right corner to maximize and turn up volume.

Pumpkin Town USA

As part of our weekend adventures with Aunt Denise, we visited Pumpkin Town USA.  I think that, for the adults, it was cute (if not a bit kitschy), but for Elizabeth and Emily, it was simply spectacular.  They loved going from "person" to "person" and inspecting all of the outfits and accessories.  They especially had fun in the giant pumpkin bounce house and Elizabeth loved doing the sling shot with Lee.  All in all, a good way to spend an afternoon!

Here is Elizabeth, in the town jail....

Losing their heads at this particular display.

Lee and Elizabeth at the sling shot.

Playing on the inner tubes outside of the bounce house.

Exiting the Haunted Fire House with Aunt Denise.

Even Aunt Denise had to slide down the pole!

Emily sharing her pretzel with Aunt Denise.

Photo of the Week

You know she's tired when she sacks out on the couch while the rest of us continue on at our usual, frantic pace....

Back to the Pool

It may have been raining, sleeting and snowing outside this past weekend, but that didn't stop us from hitting the pool at the Y.  Both Emily and Elizabeth started their fall swimming lessons on Saturday.  Emily is still swimming with Lee in the small pool (where the water and room temperature never goes below 95), but Elizabeth graduated to the lap pool.  She's a Ray now, which means no more 100 degree water and no bubble.  I will admit to being a bit nervous about how she would handle it, but she did great!

Lee and Emily

If Emily spent as much time learning how to swim as she does on her theatrics, she wouldn't need a bubble any more.

"Jumping in" with Daddy.

What a ham!

Aunt Denise and Emily watch Elizabeth in the big kids pool.

Elizabeth with the rest of the Rays.

Swimming by herself - no bubble, no noodle - nothing!

Proud of herself!

A Special Visitor

This weekend, we had a such a fabulous treat - Aunt Denise drove down from New Hampshire to spend the weekend with us.  We kept her visit a secret from the girls so they were overjoyed when she arrived on Saturday morning.  Aunt Denise is a well known spoiler and this visit was no exception, as she arrived with some "little things" for the girls including sidewalk chalk, M&Ms, pumpkin straws and books and barbies (because Lee and I deprive them so....).  She got a full dose of Elizabeth and Emily, as they constantly demanded her undivided attention.  Once we put the girls down for the night, she was able to relax with us a bit before the craziness started all over again on Sunday morning.  And her visit included one unexpected surprise - the door handle in her room stuck and Lee had to climb through the window and take the door off of the hinges to get her out (you're welcome, Lee and Denise, for not posting any pictures of the drama!).  She made it home safe and sound (driving through a snowstorm) and the girls have already asked us to plan her next visit.  We had such a great time - thanks so much for making the trip Denise!!

Reading to the girls before bed on Saturday night.

Working on a haunted house with the girls.

Helping Emily with the glue is a lot more difficult than it looks!

Elizabeth puts the finishing touches on the Haunted House.

Playing Barbies with the girls.

Rose's Berry Farm

On Tuesday, Emily's preschool class took a field trip to Rose's Berry Farm.  We took a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch where all of the kids got to pick out their very own little pumpkin.  Then we all had a little snack before heading to the playground to play.  Emily had a great time and it was really great for me to see her in her element (i.e., without Elizabeth bossing her around) and see how well she does interacting with her little friends and her teachers.

Picking the perfect pumpkin.

 

  

  Stop making me smile, Mommy.

 Enjoying the hay ride.

Of all the animals, Emily wanted to be a "lambie."

Checking out the pink tractor.

Emily and her friend Logan.

Playing in the tunnels.