Cox Farms Fall Festival

Mommy wanted to celebrate the Fall season on her birthday weekend - so we organized an outing to the Cox Farms Fall Festival. It was a perfect day to be out on the "farm" - 75 degrees and partially sunny. We met our friends Darren, Christa and little Bea; Audrey and little Laurel, and Kelly and Dan. The farm had all the cheesy fun of Fall - giant slides formed by hay bales, petting zoo animals (including baby goats!), a kiddie zone with climbing structures, a slide, and corn box,  live music, and a corn maze with spooky exhibits along the way. The kiddos had a ball - riding the giant slides with mom or dad was a favorite activity met with squeals of delight. And at one point Nicholas and Laurel grasped hands and took turns leading each other through the corn maze. Too cute!  At the end of the day, we went to the festival market and picked out our three pumpkins - along with some yummy kettle korn for Mommy.

The Giant Slides:

"I can fly!"

Mommy & Nicholas

Daddy & Nicholas

The miner's tunnel slide!

The Goat Petting Zoo:

Baby Goats!

#39 was Nicholas' favoirite

The Corn-undrum Maze:

"Who goes there?"

Follow the leader!

Laurel and Nicholas led the pack through the Corn Maze

The Kiddie Zone Train:

"Peek-a-boo!"

"All Aboard!"

Bea and Nicholas in the caboose!

The Corn Box:

Nicholas & Laurel

The Kiddie Slide:

Nicholas leaned to the left...

Bea rolled right....

And Laurel shot straight through the middle!

Nicholas also straightened out on his second time down! What a pro!

The Pumpkin Patch:

Mommy, Nicholas and the Pumpkin Totem Pole

Nicholas gives the camera man the "skunk eye"

There's our happy little family!

"Now, which pumpkin should I pick?"

"What are you supposed to do with these things? Ride them? 

"Mine's broken...it's not going anywhere!"

"But, it does make for a comfy seat"

"I think I may be in over my head here..."

"Don't look now, but I think there's a pumpkin behind you!"

Little man down - in the pumpkin patch!

Soft Play Room at Lee District RecCenter

On a cold and dreary Columbus Day, Mommy and Daddy took Nicholas to the soft play room at the Lee District RecCenter. It was pretty cool - lots of foam shapes to push around and crawl over, with tunnels to hide in and bridges to cross. Nicholas had a great time playing on the steps and slides and he LOVED bouncing into the mini ball pit. He watched the older kids race around and even made friends with a little girl on the rocking horse.  Needless to say he slept for a solid 3+ hours when we returned home!

The First Haircut! - 9/15/12

We finally took Nicholas in for his first haircut. The curls were so cute and adorable, but they were quickly turning into a mullet. We took him to mommy's salon and she did a great job! It is nearly impossible to keep a 1 year old still for an even cut - so we left in some layers and he still has some wave. Our little baby boy officially looks like a little kid now!

The before shot - oh the curls!!

"Mom, it's time!"

How cute is he in that little smock!

Wow - his hair was LONG!

"Hey, what are you doing back there?"

"Here, let me help - I am a pro with the comb"

"Mom - I think there's something on the back of my head!"

Almost done!

"Ahh, the cool breeze on the back of my neck and a slider in my hand - this is the life!"

Our Trip to Norfolk to Visit Aunt Cynthia, Uncle Doug and Cousin Amasa

For Labor Day weekend we finally made the relatively short trip down to visit some of the Smith clan in Norfolk, VA.  Amasa (our little Junior Bridesmaid from our wedding!) is all grown up and just started her Senior Year of High School. She was an awesome help with Nicholas and kept him thoroughly entertained the whole trip. Plus we enjoyed more adult conversations with her about her college search!  Of course Frank and I got to reminiscing about our college years.  (feels like ages ago!) And we are secretly, ok not so secretly, hoping she will decide on a school in Washington, DC - we even promised a free place to do laundry! Uncle Doug and Aunt Cynthia seem to be doing really well too and enjoyed having a little one toddling around the house again. Nicholas had a ball with the wooden kitchen set that Aunt Cynthia got out of storage. We set it up on one of the wooden benches that Grandpa Smith made. Turns out Nicholas is quite the make-believe chef!

Here are some photos for the trip - regrettably we forgot to get one with the whole group! 

Botanical Gardens:

Father & Son

Spray Park

Nicholas loved the bubbling rocks! Just his height!

Nicholas and Amasa

Nicholas, Amasa & Cynthia on the giant swings

Pool Club:

The older boy didn't have much luck convincing Nicholas to share his watering can!

He was a little unsteady navigating across the center.

The kiddie pool was the perfect depth for Nicholas.

Our happy little guy!