Apples and a Hay Ride

Today the boys and I met Grammy and Poppy at Erie Orchards to enjoy a beautiful Fall day. We started off by watching cider get made then enjoyed a taste along with some donuts. Next we moved on to their kiddie play area. The boys had a great time driving the little tractors all around the track and playing in the hay. They also got a chance to feed some animals. Then we headed out to the orchard on a hay ride. We each got to pick two apples before heading back to the parking lot. The kids had a great time and were sad to leave. I love that there are so many fun places to visit during the Fall. The big question is do we try to head back to this particular orchard later in the season or do we try to hit up as many different orchards as possible. Decisions, decisions! I know, tough life. :)

 

Nature Walk

This week I took the boys to a local metropark to run off some energy and I think we've found a new favorite place to visit. After playing on the playground for awhile, we hopped on one of the nature trails and took a walk. The boys were simply fascinated with the woods and loved pointing out all sorts of random details. Colin was intrigued by all the little cabins (although he seemed to think that there were dead bodies in all of them) and Eli loved looking for animals. We had a really cool opportunity to check out nature up close and personal when we walked by 2 deer who were maybe 5 yards away from us and who just watched us as we took pictures and the boys tried to be calm and quiet. I'm looking forward to taking the boys for more walks this Fall as the leaves change colors and I am definitely going to have to take advantage of getting them out of the house so they're not bouncing off the walls. I love finding these little jems of Ohio that are so close to where we live.

Funny Family Feet Project or Why do I Bother

I realize that my foot might at least be a small step up from my children's abstract masterpieces, but does my husband have to out-do me by actually drawing something other than flowers and smiley faces (which are the only things I know how to draw, and clearly not well)? But seriously, I'm used to that. The part that really shamed me was him putting a family member on each of the toes which were positioned as such to represent the fact that he loves his family above everything else. Um, yeah.

Fall is in the Air

I know it's not quite officially Fall, but it certainly feels like it and I'm loving it! This weekend was Harrison Rally Day and the weather was divine! Last year I remember sweating profusely but this year we were snuggly in sweatshirts and jeans. In my personal opinion, Harrison Rally Day is really the best festival Perrysburg offers. The parade was great and there's such a cute fair afterward. The boys and I didn't stay much past lunch - we had to get home to watch the UM game (Go Blue!), but we still had a great time. It really got me in the mood for Fall and all the fun activities associated with the season!

Watching the parade and waiting for candy.

Enjoying hotdogs for lunch.

Back to School

Colin started his second year of preschool last week and he is so happy to be back! Despite some trepidation on his part at preview the previous week, he was super excited the morning of his first day back. As soon as he woke up, he got dressed right away, brushed his teeth, and combed his hair (?? *I* don't even comb his hair!). He came downstairs for breakfast, which he ate in record time (usually breakfast is an hour ordeal in our house) and was all smiles for the camera when I took his annual shots on the front porch. Unfortunately it was a little chilly and since we wanted to make sure we got some good shots of his new Star Wars shirt, we came inside to finish the photo shoot. He was chatty Charlie on the drive to school and was filling Eli in on everything he gets to look forward to next year. However, when we actually got to the school, things started to go a little south. He was no longer interested in taking pictures and he refused to speak to any of the other kids we came across on our way in. I tried to get a picture of him in front of his classroom, but he wasn't having it. I got a couple action shots and a small "Chandler" before Eli and I left, but I was actually feeling a little concerned that maybe this first day wouldn't go as well as we all had hoped. Thankfully, I had nothing to worry about and when I picked Colin up at the end of the day, he was all smiles again telling me that he had a great day and couldn't wait to go back. We celebrated by getting McDonald's for lunch (which he now asks for everyday after school) and he and Eli had a sweet brother moment where they confessed to each other how much they missed the other and then they proceeded to play incredibly well together for the rest of the day. Everyday Colin talks about how he really looks forward to the days he gets to go to school and is thrilled that he gets to go 3 days this year instead of just 2. Yay for school!