growing up

Ryan: "I'm getting bigger and then I'll be a Mommy or a Daddy"

me: "Well, only girls can be mommies and boys can be daddies, so some day, you might be a daddy. But first, you have to grow a lot more and get married."

Ryan: "Oh. Okay. I want to marry you."

sweet, but it doesn't quite work that way!

Pumpkin Patch 2011

Ganyard Hill Farm pumpkin patch is becoming a wonderful fall tradition for our family. We've now been 3 years in a row, and we have had a blast each time. It's so fun to see what different things Ryan enjoys each year. And, of course, this year we got to introduce Kaeden, as he was not quite out yet last year!

Ryan's looking quite a bit taller this year:

Our first stop was to climb on the hay bales and go down the slide/through the tunnels.

Ryan wasn't so sure about the slide last year, but he couldn't get enough this year!

Even Daddy & Kaeden took a turn -

Crawling through the tunnel:

Next was the corn crib. Both boys had a blast and it was hard to convince them to leave so that we could do other things!

Ryan was very interested in this machine this year - it takes the kernels off of the feed corn - yet another thing that he wanted to do again & again.

A quick stop for a family picture before the hay ride. We were fortunate to have some friends join us this year and therefore extra photographers :)

Daddy & Kaeden (standing on his own!) waiting for the hay ride to begin:

They stopped mid-way for us to meander through the corn maze & Ryan had a blast running and exploring with his friend:

Back on the hay ride with corn in hand:

Then it was time to pick our pumpkins!

The boys were starting to get tired by this point & therefore were not especially cooperative for photographs!

It was another beautiful fall day at a beautiful & FUN farm with lots of wonderful family memories. Happy Fall!

New Hope Valley Railway

Last weekend, we got to go on a train ride at New Hope Valley Railway. I heard about this train almost a year ago, but it's closed in the winter and then we had a busy spring and hot summer, so we finally made it out! Ryan has loved trains for years, so it was definitely an exciting outing for him. And Kaeden was happy as long as we kept feeding him snacks :)

Here are Mason & Ryan watching the train arrive:

Ryan holding up our ticket:

There was plenty of time for snuggles!

Ryan's cheesy smile:

and Kaeden watching intently as the engine passed by:

And one final shot of the boys in front of the postal car at the train museum:

It was a chilly, but beautiful day, and a wonderful chance to spend some quality family time :)

Happy Birthday, Atticus!

Two weekends ago, we had a full house with lots of family in town for my nephew, Atticus' birthday. I fell in love with this sweet baby the very first time I saw him on the day he was born, which was something I didn't know could happen with any child but my own. We are so blessed that he lives in the neighborhood, and although Atticus is somewhat wary of my more enthusiastic boys right now, I am still convinced that they will all grow up to be best friends!

me & Atticus on the night he was born

Saturday was the big birthday party. First birthday parties are just so much fun... especially when there's plenty of family around to help celebrate :)

The big birthday boy!


Mommy & son


"Get this ridiculous hat off of me!"


Aunt Debbie & Uncle Kyle, expecting their first baby in November. Can't wait to have a niece (we think)!


Happy birthday boy eating a snack


Checking out his loot (that duck rarely left his hand all day)


Opening presents (including awesome turtle sweater made by my mom)



Cake time!


not especially impressed (getting tired & hungry for some familiar food by then)


a little bit of a smile :)


Sunday was Atticus' baptism. Once again, it was great to have so much family around to help celebrate this important day in his life.


We figured we'd had enough cake the day before, so we went with cookies for the baptism. Thanks to my dad & Aunt Debbie for help with the decorating!


Our side of the family


Happy Birthday, my sweet Atticus. Auntie Lucia loves you!