Pumpkin Patch

We just spent a week in Washington and got to take Neal to his very first Pumpkin Patch. I am sure once we move to North Carolina we will go to lots of pumpkin patches, which I am excited about. However, in AK there is no such thing as a "pick your own pumpkin" place unless you count choosing a pumpkin out of a big cardboard box in the front of FredMeyer as picking our own pumpkin.


We only had about 10 minutes at the pumpkin patch before it started to downpour on us (no surprise in Washington right?). Neal was very interested in trying to pick up the huge pumpkins from the field until he realized he could pick grass...then he could care less about the pumpkins and spent the next 5 min picking grass and throwing it in the air.


Tia and Grandma came with us and we had lots of fun snapping some "fall" looking pictures. Neal picked out his very own baby pumpkin to take home to Grandmas and called it his "b-ball" (basketball) all the way home.


One thing that did make us laugh was when Neal called the skinny yellow gourds "Nanas" (which means bananas). Every time he picked up a yellow gourd he would say "nana" and then try and take a bite. It was a fun, but short, outing with Tia and Grandma.

The rain didn't spoil the fun one bit, though it would have been nice to have an umbrella.

New Look

He just can't get enough of his boots. So, whether we are going out or not this is how you will often see Neal...not really fashion forward but still cute :)

Puppy Love

Yawkey and Neal are best friends. Neal loves to give Yawkey snuggles and chase him around the house. When I tell Neal we are going to the park he always asks, "puppy please"? So, the dog always gets to come with us. Yesterday, on our walk to the park Neal held the dog leash for the whole walk. He was so proud of himself and Yawkey did a great job not pulling on the leash too hard.



I love that I get to spend every day with this cute little guy...and his sweet puppy.

Growing Up

When did my little boy get so old? I know he is only 19 months but he acts like a little boy now. He is tons of fun and loves, loves. loves being outside. We just can't get enough of these beautiful autumn days.


(This is Neal with his first book from the library - no surprise it's an Elmo book. He was so excited about taking it home)

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

There is no doubt that Fall is here. The leaves are falling off the trees faster then I would like but for a little while we are enjoying the beautiful fall colors, cool air and occasional rain.

Fall to me means lots of baking and lots of coffee. What goes better with the cooler weather then a good cup of coffee and fresh baked cookies or pastries, right?

So this is what my house has been filled with lately.



Also, I tried the new Salted Caramel Mocha from Starbucks today. My opinion, not bad but I'd stick with the Pumpkin Spice Late, you can't beat it. But really any coffee will do on a sunny, crisp, fall morning.


So, join me one day for some coffee and cookies. Or meet Neal and I at the park were we can enjoy some coffee and the kids can play. You are always welcome 'cause coffee and friends is really the best way to spend a beautiful fall day.

Favorites

There are lots of things that Neal loves but there is also by far some favorite things. That is what this post is all about, favorites. So here are Neal's most recent favorite things:

1) Books, and Toy Story - Anytime he sees these books or this DVD case he gets excited. He reads both of these books to himself often and anytime he sees the Toy Story pictures he gets excited and asks for "Toy Story ory ory ory....Please"


2) "La La La' song - no explanation necessary, just watch the video.



3) The park - every day that it is not raining outside we are most likely at the park. Neal would live outside if I let him. He loves to run around in the dirt, pick up rocks and point out airplanes that fly overhead, and slide down any and every slide.


4) Riding the 4 wheeler at GiGi and Grandfathers house. He squeals with delight and tries to help drive it. If the wind isn't blowing his hair and in his face you aren't going fast enough. Oh, and he loves GiGi's chickens.



5) Playing with his cousins. (this picture may not show the most happy moment of playtime but they do have fun together)


There are so many other things I could write about but these are the top favorites for now. Oh and speaking of favorites this is my new favorite quilt....


It is being added to my list of "quilts I want to make". I should start on some of this "wish list" quilts 'cause my list is getting longer. But you know what? Football season is here which means quilting season for me and quilting is my favorite past time, if you didn't already know.

A Day at the Fair

It's been a few years since Tyler and I went to the AK state fair, but this year was different. A few weekends ago we went out to the fair on a beautiful sunny, sunday afternoon.



I think I have said this before, but it really is fun to go do things for the first time with Neal. His wide eyed wonderment of everything going on at the fair made the afternoon priceless.

We spent lots of time visiting the animals. Some favorites were the sheep, goats and baby chickens. He wasn't so sure about the pigs but everything else he loved.


But nothing could beat the tractors. Neal didn't want to leave and could have "driven" the tractors all afternoon.


We walked all around and Neal loved riding on Tyler's shoulders looking at everyone, pointing to everything and listening to all the music that was playing. We also got to have one of my favorite treats at the fair, funnel cake. It was delicious and I thought Neal would eat more then he did but with all the distractions not even a funnel cake could hold his attention.


When we walked past all the rides Neal watched in awe at all the fast moving rides, lights and sounds. You could just tell he wanted to ride everything. In a few years I think we will have a hard time convincing him there is anything else to do at the fair but ride the rides.

We did purchase him a pinwheel, which was a way bigger hit then I thought...Neal was so excited and would grin from ear to ear every time it spun.



We had a great time and I am looking forward to more fair visit in the future. I hear NC has a great fair. :)