Smashing Pumpkins

Over the past few weeks of fall activities, we've managed to gather a little collection of pumpkins, cornstalks and a small hay bale that we put out in the front yard surrounding the street light. You know, just being festive and in the season and all that jazz.

When putting the pumpkins out in the yard, so far away from the protection of the house lights, I knew we were asking for trouble. But I honestly thought that it wouldn't be until Halloween night that I saw pieces of pumpkin smeared across the pavement in front of our driveway.

We decided to have Nick wear his costume last Saturday to the parade to "get ready" for Halloween and stretch the enjoyment out for more than one night only. I guess we weren't the only ones with that same thought. The neighborhood kids decided it was time to start their Halloween fun, too.

I guess the whole thing just surprised me a bit. I knew that I was "an adult" now, and have been for some time. What with being married for several years, owning a home, and being a parent. But to see how completely that change has occurred caught me a bit off-guard. To have gone from being that kid sneaking around smashing a pumpkin or two with my friends, thinking nothing of it, to the adult standing in the front window, frowning down at the broken bits of gourd in the road, wondering if it would be safe to get a replacement.

I'm guess I'm not in Kansas anymore. And haven't been for some time now. And am happy I'm not, but it's still a bit of a shocker to fully realize it.

Getting Ready for Halloween

We've been doing some Halloween prep lately - picking out Nick's first Halloween costume (the pumpkin's going to be a little pumpkin!), going on a hayride, and watching Anoka's Halloween parade. I'm afraid yesterday at the parade may have been the last time Nick gets to sit outside for over 2 hours at once until next year - a very sad realization. Sigh.

Nick has started on rice cereal now - just one serving a day. He is still getting used to it, not completely sure yet, but he's getting better each time.


Here are some photos of our recent activities -

Beautiful Weekend

It was the most beautiful weekend - and we tried to take full advantage. Saturday we went to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum again, this time to see the beautiful fall colors. Jon and Jill came with too and we had a great time. They were celebrating Jill's birthday (on Friday) and their one-year anniversary (on Monday). Congratulations Boucher's!



Then on Sunday, we went to Elk River for a corn maze and pumpkin picking. Kat, Michael and Ali went with us and again, we had a great time.



Nick was coming down with a little something Friday evening - he had a slight fever and was kinda snotty. But by Saturday his fever was gone and by Sunday he was great. He loved being outside all weekend, I think that's what cured him.



Check out all of the photos below - sadly, it's probably the last beautiful weekend we'll have like this for a long, long time. :(

The gorgeous colors at the Arboretum.

Mom and Nick in the corn maze

Our little pumpkin.

New Toys

So Nick is officially not a baby-baby anymore. We got him a new toy last weekend - an exersaucer. He loves it! I was afraid he might not be quite big enough yet - but nope, he does great. We have to stuff a blanket around him to make it a little more stable, but otherwise, it's great. He has so much fun hitting all the buttons and hearing the noises and seeing all the lights.

It's the start of a very noisy future, I can see. =)