Date with Mom {Rylan}

Rylan and I may spend most of our days together but those days are usually spent running Holden to and from school, running errands, and doing household chores.  Sure we play together and have fun but nothing too special.  But finally, it worked out that we could have a little date together.  We decided to visit Blooms & Berries Fall on the Farm.   Yes, we usually venture here together as a family but this year, it just did not work out that way.  Instead Rylan and I had a little one on one fun together.  He was so excited!  He held my hand and told me where he wanted start...first he started with the rolling pumpkins, 

then the duck races, 

the tube slide, 

the horse swing, 

and then fed the goats.  

We finally made our way over to the Bucking Cow Train.  Oh my goodness, he absolutely loved this ride!  I think his mouth was open the entire ride!  

So funny!  

As I say every year, we need a corn box at our house!  Literally I think Rylan could have played in here forever!  

But I was itching to walk through the sunflowers.  

They were in full bloom and beautiful!   WOW!  What a sight!  

After the sunflowers, we had one last thing to do before we called it a day...the tractor ride to the pumpkin patch.  

Rylan picked his perfect pumpkin.  

It has a little character, just like Rylan.  What a fun date spent with my little man.  We had the best time spending the afternoon together.  I love these times.  Now, I need to plan something fun for Holden and I to do together on our date.

It finally feels like Fall!

The leaves are changing, temperatures are dropping, and well, it finally feels like fall!  I just love fall! Pumpkins, mums, fall festivals, hot chocolate, apple cider, you name it, I love this time of year!

Between all of the boys activites, I knew we had to make time to keep our fall traditions this year.  So after football and baseball on Saturday, we made our way out to A &M Apple Orchard for a little apple picking.

As soon as we arrived, the boys spotted the stacks of hay bales and decided they would be perfect for jumping. And that is just what these little country boys did.

They jumped from one hay bale to the next.  Over and over again.

We were told before heading out to the fields that the late frost this past spring destroyed 80% of their crop! Yikes.

We were worried that we would not be able to find any apples to pick but that was not the case.  We were able to picked Golden Delicous and Melrose.

And as Kevin and I both said, it is more about the experience with the boys rather than getting the best apples.  As you can see the boys did not have a hard time finding some "winners".

But I must say their favorite part of apple picking has to be climbing the trees!

Now we did not pick as much as we have in years past but these will be just enough for apple sauce, apple cobbler and I sure we can find something to do with the rest.

Happy Fall!

Are you Smarter Than a First Grader?

Are you smarter than a first grader?  Well, apparently I am not.  I like to think that I am pretty smart but lately Holden has come home from school with riddles and homework and now I am questioning myself.

For example, Holden says to me, "What is round on both sides and high in the middle?"  I guessed everything from the earth to the moon but then it came to me....O-HI-O!  Get it Ohio.  Yeah, it took me a bit too.

Then today he comes home and asked me if I knew what the biggest state was in the United States.  Not thinking twice I said "Texas."  Holden quickly corrected me and said, "No, it is Alaska"  We went back and forth for a while until I decided to look it up on Google and what did it say the biggest state in the United States is....ALASKA!  What!  I quickly apologized and told Holden he was so smart to which he looked at me and said, "I thought Moms were suppose to be smarter than kids.  I think you need to go back to school Mom."  Geez, he is a little harsh.  But I know it is sad, my little first grader is officially smarter than me!

Family Portrait

This week's theme at Rylan's school is "All About Me".  When I picked him up today he was so excited to show me his art work he made.  It was a picture of his family portrait.

Don't you just love my hair and dress!  Look closely and you will see, he even got my eyes the correct color.  But most of all don't you just love the smallest addition at the bottom of the page. This little guy is so funny.  Don't you just love this picture!  I know I do.  I may just have to frame this one.

Football, Baseball & 2 Parties

What a busy weekend!  Football, Baseball, two birthday parties, and that was just on Saturday!  Holden kicked off his first Flag Football Game bright and early Saturday morning.  Again, Rylan was too young to play flag football with Upward so he was designated as the "little coach".  The boys warmed up before they took to the field.

Holden did awesome pulling flags.  Seriously, I think he was on a mission with each play. Just look at his determination!

Holden was so focused the entire game.

At one point the ball was passed to Holden and I am not for sure he knew what to do at first but then he took the ball and ran, and ran,

 and TOUCHDOWN HOLDEN!!!!!!   Whoo Hoo!!!  He was so proud!  And a little celebrating was in order.

What a great season opener!  Even Rylan had a blast assisting as a coach.

After football we were off to baseball.

Playing two sports at once was probably not the best idea but thankfully, Fall Ball is almost over. Only a couple of weekends left of feeling totally booked.

Then there were two birthday celebrations.  Our neighbor Avery turned 2 and had a cute Mickey Mouse party.  But I left my camera at home.  Then we were off to an Adventures Superheros Party where the boys were assigned who they had to dressup dress up as.

What a crew!  Holden was Thor and Rylan was Ant Man.

I know, Ant Man was a little hard but this was all I could come up with!  Rylan loved his costume.

Once again, we had a jammed packed day and weekend at that, but the boys loved every minute of it.