FALLING DOWN FOR FALLEN LEAVES!

Today I had an unexpected day off from work. I just love those kind of days, and the weather is absolutely beautiful. After Jeff got home from work, the boys and I decided we were going to help him blow leaves. Tucker would not give anyone else a chance to blow the leaves. He was making "his pile" and we couldn't help. But we had a lot of fun watching him and taking pictures.

Here is the man in action.

I just love his eyes in this one. 

Carter had a lot of fun in the leaves, but even more fun eating them.

Has anyone seen Tucker?

And for the grand finale, Daddy threw Tucker into the big pile of leaves. 

What a nice impromptu afternoon. Now we are off to McDonald's for a little dinner. Or "Old McDonald's" as Tucker calls it. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

This has perhaps been the most fun that I've had on Halloween in a very long time. This is the first year that Tucker has really "gotten" it. He was so into dressing up and trick or treating, it was hard not to have that kind of enthusiasm too. Although, carving the pumpkin was not his favorite thing. Those who know Tucker, know that he is a wee bit OCD. His OCD isn't forgotten even in the fun of carving a pumpkin. Hands must remain clean at all times, and "Don't even think of getting near me with those pumpkin guts!" We had a lot of fun anyway, and then trick or treating was so much fun. He literally ran for 2 hours non-stop. He was so over tired when he got home, he was cranky and even shed a few tears that the night was over. Carter on the other hand chilled in his stroller, and watched all of the trick or treaters from afar.

 

Mommy and Tucker figuring out what we want our pumpkin to look like.

"DAD, STOP IT!"

I think that it turned out pretty good

Peter Parker

The transformation...

Spider-Man himself

AWWW! Look at my Little Pumpkin and his Big Bro Spidey

Our cousin MacKenzie

Uma caught a giraffe named Poppy running loose from the zoo.

Our other niece Amelia with her G'ma Mang

My Little Pumpkin Carter in the Pumpkin Patch

Carter was nice and comfortable in his stroller, watching all of the shenanigans around him.

One neighbor wasn't paying attention and ran into a tree. I feel bad for the guy sandwiched between the bumper and the tree.

All of Tucker's loot. Way too much candy for one little boy. I might have to help him eat all of that chocolate so that his teeth don't rot.

THERE'S A STORM A COM'N

Remember awhile back and I won that radio contest for an overnight stay in Canada? Well, Jeff and I cashed in this weekend and went. We brought our friends Mike and Trish with us to stay overnight at the Holiday Inn Burlington. This was our first night away from the baby, but I was prepared. I had a 2 page spreadsheet of schedules, menus, and misc. tips for Uma and Upa. But, I knew spreadsheets or not, the boys were in good hands. We had a marvelous time, it was the first time in 2 years I was able to let loose and have more than one glass of wine and not worry about breastfeeding, and hopefully get more than 3 consecutive hours of sleep. And boy did I! After jumping around to several different places for drinks and food, we found ourselves back at the hotel and asleep by midnight. And I did not even stir until 7am! Can you believe it? But then guilt sunk in, I was sure that Carter was giving the grandparents a hard time. Boy was I wrong!!! I called promptly at 8:00am to get the report, and Upa told me that Carter also slept 7 hours. WHAT! (side note: he has not repeated this for us since that night) Both of the boys were great. What a relief to Jeff and I, especially because we are going out of town again in November for another overnight stay in wine country. 

Unfortunately I forgot my camera this weekend, but I do have some new ones of the kids. We had a fantastic storm the other night.

So what do Tucker and I do? We go play with big sticks in the middle of the storm and take pictures.

Than we came inside for a friendly game of Life. Can you see how happy Carter is in the background?

Here is one of Carter waiting for Tucker's bus to come, and eating yummy cinnamon apples.

Like Amanda, I am having tons of issues uploading pictures along with many other problems. However, check back this weekend for pumpkin carving and trick or treating.

THE BEST DARN FAMILY REUNION TO DATE

Last weekend we attended the "Becker" Family Reunion. Becker is my FIL's mother's side. They are a great group of people. Very relaxed and friendly. It was at a beautiful park about 45 minutes from us, and fall is in full effect. The leaves were absolutely breath taking. 

Our little Poppy has really come a long way since she has joined our family. She is so much more independent and likes meeting new people. She has this smile that just lights up a room. And (I don't have a pic of her), but Amelia started walking recently and she is so adorable. She walks with her hands up in guarded position, and determination on her face.

Our three adventurers lifting up the leaves with their sticks. They are looking for creatures.

Tucker, Henry, and Sidney

Daddy and Carter on our little forest hike.

Mommy and Carter

One of the rare times we can both be in a picture with one of the kids.

This little hill, was a few yards away from a very steep embankment leading down to a creek. This place was absolutely beautiful.

The Marrano Family (minus Lola, who was running around in the woods)

Our happy family

The whole Morris brood.

6 Grandkids all in one picture...we are good!

The boys took a break to eat popcorn and sit in the back of Uncle Scott's van to listen to the Bills game.

It was a fantastic time. So scenic and so relaxing. We had fried chicken, taco dip, caramel/chocolate dipped apples (thanks Amanda), Texas sheet cake, and so much more. We were stuffed and tired by the end of the day. I cant wait to see were it is next year. This one was hard to top.

BROWN'S PUMPKIN PATCH AND ALONG CAME WILLOW

Last Saturday we went on our annual trip to Brown's Berry Patch. It was the weekend of their Harvest Festival. There was live music and a craft show along with all of their normal fall festivities. It is always so much fun going there. They have over a hundred scarecrows dressed like famous characters like Shrek, Harry Potter, and fairytale creatures. They have a giant air pillow the size of a small field that kids and parents can jump on. Goats that live on a roof, and more corn mazes than you can possibly imagine. And did I mention apple picking, raspberry picking, pumpkin picking, scarecrow making, apple launching, hayrides, horse riding, sand pits, and much much more. (Can you tell this is my favorite place to go?) Here are our pics from the day. We had so much fun...

You buy goat food, put it in the can, then use the pulley to send it up to the goats.

This one was anxiously waiting for Tucker to send up his food. Look at him eating. How cool!

In one of the corn mazes you had to find five stations and dip your finger into that station's color. At the end of the maze, you match your fingers up to a sign and you get your fortune. Tucker's fortune said that he had a great imagination. Boy, were they right!

Tucker won that race! Daddy was just a wee bit big.

Tucker loved his horse "Midnight".

Carter just wanted the apples.

And Daddy just wanted the raspberries.

I think that the apple launch was Tucker's favorite. What a boy!

And then there was Willow...

Willow was Tucker's best friend last year in school. This year she has moved on to kindergarten. Her dad called us up the day before and wanted to get the kids together. So Monday Willow came over to play. They had a great time running around the back yard. They are truly kindred spirits. When I asked what they wanted for lunch, Willow said she just wanted peanut butter on her sandwich, and Tucker said that he just wanted jelly. Talk about Jack Sprat! AND...they both picked out the same costume at the Halloween store. They are so cute together.