Another farm.

So we hit up another farm. I tell you, these Minnesotans really know how to have a good time. Especially when it comes to kids. This pumpkin experience was like no other. When was the last time you saw a pumpkin cannon? Or had a llama let you (he practically asked me to) take his picture? [yes i do have a photo of a llama that i've been trying to add here all night]

Or had your daughter get so excited to see a real live rooster that she chased him halfway under the fence and then got scared half to death when her daddy grabbed her in the nick of time? (I know it looks like she's just standing there, but she was on the move.)
Really, though, it was all about the goats. Alla could have sat right here the whole day.

Here we are coming down the speedway. Mommy wasn't that fast. The guy and his kid behind us were much more experienced. Probably natives.

You think when you're a parent you will abhor cheesy signs that say "How Tall This Fall" because your own parents made you stand in front of every single gosh darn silly sign on every single vacation ever, but no. I loved it. In spite of all my wishes that Alla would never get bigger, this sign made me a teensy bit excited for next year, just so I can say to my husband, My how she's grown. [been trying to upload this photo all night]

What trip to the patch wouldn't be complete without bringing home one of our very own to carve at a later date? Alla picked out two teensy ones of her own to hug all the way home. [been trying to upload this photo all night, too]

And just in case you didn't know how to soothe a baby doll, this is how you do it: hold her very tight, pat her on the back, and shhhhhhhhhhhhushhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Sat her in my best light.

The best light I could find in the house on a cold blustery day. And gave her some ice to play with, cause she asked for it. And then just snapped away in this low light and hoped to get what I got.

Megan tagged me, so here are my five weirdnesses. I'm sure that more exist.

1. I have to set the alarm for 6:01 versus 6:00. I guess I think it's bad luck to set it for that normal, even numbered time.

2. I sneeze like a banshee.

3. I have the loudest hiccups (Alla calls it 'uh-cup').

4. I can eat a whole pineapple in one sitting. (Catie can attest to this.)

5. I have this one strange hair that grows on the back of my head and when you pull it out it looks like a spider leg. Ron gets real excited to pull it out every few months. As a matter of fact it's been awhile.

And with that I tag Susan and Paula and because it's their turn!

Maple Mondays: Week Five.

Yup, I realize it's Tuesday, but I didn't get to it yesterday.

Guess what, though, there is a teensy bit of yellow up there real high if you look veeeeeeeeeery closely. I think it's coming! That and snow. Stay tuned.

Borrowed leaves.

I don't know that windstorms blowing the neighbors' leaf piles into our once leaf-less yard is meant to be a good thing, but we are treating as such. Yesterday we were playing in the neighbor's leaf pile, and today there were neighbor kids in ours. Realistically, from this point forward, all the leaves are prety much community property. So far this is great news because it means on any given day we will probably have a good-sized leaf pile, in spite of our green maple!

And, brace yourselves, I bought a rake today. Oh my word, we are getting more and more Minnesotan.

Apple Farm.

I think this makes us true Minnesotans, right? Picking our own apples? The quintessential fall outing.

Unfortunately for me, it was a bright, sunny, day, so the pics are only so-so.

Fortunately, it was 80 degrees, which is probably unusual for this time of year, but I'm trying to store vitamin D for winter, so it was nice.

Unfortunately, 80 degree weather does not make you want to drink apple cider. I may be making my own in the coming months to make up for this lost opportunity.

I would say Alla thoroughly enjoyed the apple farm experience, picking the apples (though she wasn't necessarily as discriminate as I wished her to be, and some of her picks didn't make it home...shhhh), riding the pony, watching the goats (not so interested in petting).
Such a fun morning that she didn't even make it the half-mile back to the highway before crashing.

Maple Mondays: Week Four.

Nope. No color yet. Some other maples around town are gorgeous, but I have it from a reliable source that at least one of those needs some work in the spring. Ours must be so healthy strong and wants to have the last leaves standing.

But, lest you think that our neighborhood has no color at all, this is our next-door-neighbors' tree. All around us the street is full of leaves spilling out from neighbors' trees, and many of them spent all weekend raking. Ah, what we have to look forward to. Only thing is, we will be doing it in 30 degree weather, whereas the neighbors were raking in 80 degree weather yesterday. Not quite sure which is better, but I'm glad we're still obviously a few weeks from that.

Happy Monday all!

Seventeen Months.

Here she is in all her seventeen-month glory. Shhhh...I took one of these pictures the day before. Good thing, too, cause of the darned wind ruining the actual seventeen month shots. Oh yeah, and that tumble she took off of first base, face first into a mouthful of dirt while discovering the adjacent baseball diamond. That pretty much ended picture day. (She might need a few lessons in running the bases, Uncle John.)

That said, she's pretty amazing at seventeen months. Some favorite words: puh-low (pillow), huhg (hug, with lots of emphasis on the 'uh' part), and still baaay-beeeeee (baby). But those are only three of almost 200.

New signs: elephant, work (as in 'Daddy work'), and 'cycle' (as in the motorcycle ride-on at the park). But those are only three of almost 100.

I am one proud mama. I am sooooooooooooo that parent saying, look what my kid can do. SO her.

And in other happy news, congrats to Rick & Cathy, new parents of baby Johnny, born yesterday and weighing 6 lbs 13 oz, 18 1/2 inches, teeny thing! But finally another boy in the mix for all the girls to fight over!

Maple Monday: Week Three.

As you can see, our tree is still green. We don't care, though, because it's nearly 70 today and the sun is shining! It is so beautiful!

TGIF.

It's been a rough week with naps and colds so I am HUGELY thankful that it's Friday, which in our house means PIZZA FRIDAY. And believe me, even Alla starts asking about it by Thursday and gets real excited when that hot box shows up at our door.

Just a quick snap of her little runny nose earlier in the week. It's still running.

Maple Monday.

I know you all have been checking all day to see if the highly anticipated tree shot has been posted. I know you cannot contain your enthusiasm for this little project of mine. Because you know that just behind the last fallen leaf will be the first frost, and then the first snow. And you cannot wait to see if I will survive!

Sorry to disappoint, though. Our tree is taking its sweet time. And we are just fine with that.

See, I told you I found a great site.

Isn't sketch-it the best? This was drawn for only a buck. I'm hunting down the artist to get my very own original in my very own hands.

A few faves.

Just thought I'd share a few photographs making me very happy these past two days. Thanks for the watermark, Erin! I will use it sparingly...when I'm really happy! Hope you're all having a great week!

Maple Mondays.

For the next several weeks I will bring you Maple Mondays, where we will examine the leaves on the giant maple tree in our front yard for signs of fall. Today it is green. Not even a yellow leaf to speak of. But it was not a stitch above 55 yesterday, so I imagine the good ol' maple is sure that fall is here and will be getting some golden soon. Check back here next Monday for an update! I'm sure I've left you all just dying for the next installment.

And, us. Our little family.

We went with the Fulkerson's to a little (and I do mean little) Greek festival in uptown Minneapolis. But, hey, great friends. Great food. Great times. And we are for sure heading back to uptown real soon to explore the shops and eateries. Seems like a family shoot of the Fulkerson's is in order cause only Tara and Ashby's picture came out with both person's eyes open!

Every picture has a price.

I was able to get this.

And this.

And this.
But for this price:

Because I was gone SO long.

Well I didn't mean to upset anyone. For heaven's sake, the grandparents were in town! That means I wasn't spending my evening blogging, I was out with my husband, seeing two movies, mind you. Talladega Nights (funny) and Little Miss Sunshine (funny and touching). But since more regular blogging was requested, here are a few more from the weekend. Because honestly I got nothin new today, friends. We went to Turtle Lake for a Mom's Club outing, went to the library and hit the jackpot with a stack of Signing Times waiting for us, and barbequed for dinner. The weather is near perfect. It's warm, it cools off at night. It's been many days since we turned on the air and that's saving us lots of money. Life is good.

Alla waiting to ride the train at Mall of America. Signing 'train.'

Ten on Tuesday.

Ten photos on Tuesday. A is for Alla at Teddy Bear Park in Stillwater. Teddy Bear Park is the best park I've ever seen! My daughter played hard this weekend. At parks, with Nana & Pappi, in the rain, at the zoo, on the carousel. We explored and discovered and had a full weekend.

And now it is September of all things, which gets me thinking about the unofficial end to summer, shorter days, the upcoming time change, Mommy & Me classes starting on Monday, Christmas in three months. The slightest touch of fall is in the air. You have to really look since it was 80 today, but it's there. It's there in the mornings when it's crisp. Hope you are all having a lovely start to your Septembers.

Ten on Tuesday.

1. A barn spider had been taking up residence on our sliding glass door for the past few days. Built quite an impressive web. A few times. Ron learned last night (Oh the wonder of the internet) that they eat their web when it gets messy (neat little things), and then build anew. Unfortunately we went out back after dinner so that pretty much destroyed the web. Sorry little guy. Feel free to come back.

2. Today I noticed a beautiful garnet-colored bloom on the marigold plant from the neighbors.

3. Three days til Nana & Pappi come! Hello, date night!

4. It was a balmy 72 degrees here today, blue skies shinin' on me.

5. Why do I have a Target list every week? I literally feel the need to go there at least once a week and it takes waaaaay too long to get the 5 things I usually need. On today's list: pork tenderloin, big crayolas (thanks, Amanda), black printer ink, a lightbulb, and a cheese grater. And I did, of course, pick up some 50% off clothes for Miss Al for next spring/summer. Why isn't clothes shopping as easy for me?

6. Found a cool website: a sketch for $1.

7. I'm selling a few things on ebay. Thanks for the encouragement, Miss Erin.

8. Alla pulled at my nose today and said "pretty." She didn't do it again, so I have no idea what the heck she meant by that. She might have said, "potty."

9. We need some artwork for over our fireplace. Any good ideas?

10. I need something framed for over my bedside dresser. Any ideas?

Happy Tuesday, all.