Maxwell and Anna are flying by to wish you a Happy Halloween!

Here’s the second installment of pumpkin patch photos. These ones are from our trip to the farm by our house. As you can see, it was a cooler cloudy day, but still dry. I really wanted to get another in our annual series in front of the “How tall this Fall?” sign, so we checked that off the list right away. This year the kids were really into the pumpkin cannon, and Max even shot off a pumpkin of his own, with Daddy’s help. They both covered their ears when it would go off, but still wanted to watch. This was also the trip where we picked out pumpkins to take home. Max went for the biggest one he could find, and enjoyed trying his hand at steering the wheelbarrow. 

One of my favorite Fall traditions is our visits to local pumpkin patches. We have one right by our house and another favorite one not far away. We haven’t done the corn maze the past couple years, but before too much longer the kids will be old enough to enjoy that part also. For now our priorities are the train ride, the pumpkin cannon, the play area, and oh yes, picking out a pumpkin or two to take home. Our 2013 October included two family patch visits and a preschool field trip for Max to one as well. Here’s round one of pictures, from our first outing. We enjoyed a warm sunny day exploring the farm!

These pictures are a few weeks old, from a late-summer trip to a local beach. It was a cool, cloudy day, but we still had a great time. We explored the driftwood, threw rocks in the water, spent lots of time on a high bridge, and of course played on the playground. I love living so close to the ocean! I never get tired of looking at that water and mountain view, as ferries glide by in the background. 

She runs down the long hallway upstairs to me. I am stationed at one end, placed there by her outstretched hand and firm, “Mama, no” when I started to run with her. Instead I have the wonderful role of finish line greeter. Her chubby legs pump up and down, her knees turning in toward each other. Her face is alight with the joy of movement, mouth open in a smile that makes me feel a little weak with love. Then, the best part–she launches herself into my arms and wraps me in a hug, then turns to run the other way again.