Fall Fun

Fall in New England has begun. The leaves are starting to change, and it looks to be a beautiful fall because of all of our recent rain.


Benjamin and I went for a stroller ride on the trail near our house yesterday. He actually had to walk and/or run for the majority of it. Only a snack could entice him into the stroller.


Then we had to go down by the water so we could throw rocks in, and watch them go "plop."


Today we went to a nearby farm with some families from the church daycare. We went on a wagon ride, pulled by horses. It's mainly a dairy farm, so we saw a lot of cows.


Here's a shot of the wagon. We also got to see some goats and horses. The most exciting thing for Benjamin were all of the tractors. He very badly wanted to "drive" them. We also saw some shovels, rakes, saws, and brooms in the barn--all very exciting things!

Apple picking

No tractor ride, but this is just as fun!



Benjamin ate two whole apples while we were picking!


This is just a posed shot. He couldn't actually get the apples off the tree. =)


This is heavy, Daddy!


Farm living is the life for me!

Just another day...

Reading the paper with Dad--no wonder I know so many words already!


Yee-haw! Riding my dino


Mom and Dad still have not gotten me a sandbox. Oh, well, this pile of dirt works nicely for digging!



"Heabee!" One of Benjamin's new words--he loves to lift, or try to lift, heavy things.

Aren't there laws about child labor in this state?!

New Jersey

We made a quick trip to New Jersey last Sunday and Monday. Jonathan was playing in a golf tournament nearby on Monday, so Benjamin and I spent the day with Aunt Mary, Uncle Ken, and Great-Grandma. We also celebrated my birthday. On Monday when Benjamin woke up, he immediately wanted to know where Aunt Mary ("Ah Mee"), Uncle Ken ("Uck Ka-ka"), and Great-Grandma ("Buh-Bus") were. (Sometimes he also calls Uncle Ken, Grandpa, which seems funny, since he doesn't look like his other Grandpas!) Jonathan and I were amazed he knew exactly were he was only seconds after he woke up!


Playing with blocks


Here, Great-Grandma, catch!


Ooo! Look what I found, Mom!


Tweet, tweet! (Although, it looks more like a pirate face!)

The Zoo

Jonathan had a meeting in Providence the other morning, so Benjamin and I rode along and went to the zoo there. Benjamin loved it! The animals were okay, but the highlight for him was definitely seeing the elephant cage being cleaned out. The zookeepers had a broom, shovel, and John Deere Gator--three things he loves! We stood there for almost a half hour watching them scoop elephant poop--fascinating! He also loved the rocks, benches, flowers, and dirt. Maybe next year the animals will hold a bit more interest than a passing glance.




Riding a caterpillar


There was some kind of bird in this exhibit, but you can't really make it out.


Standing by a sheep. Benjamin didn't try to pet it, but he loved the dirt next to his pen!

Eating

I've become very independent with eating lately. Here I am after eating yogurt. It's hard to get it to stay on the spoon! But hands can work just as well. And when you're done eating, it works nicely for a facial.


I insist on eating all of my fruit whole now--apples, pears, peaches, plums, bananas. It just tastes so much better that way! This was an apple I was eating as Mom made some applesauce.


Here I am sampling the applesauce--warm and pink, just the way Uncle Jonathan likes it!

Yard work

Benjamin "helped" Grandpa do a project in the front yard while he was here. They removed rocks and hostas, and then put in brick, lights, plants, and more rock. Moving rocks was Benjamin's favorite part. Grandpa will be happy to know, Benjamin still wants to get the bucket and move rocks.


Nothing is better than getting dirty!


Here's the finished project--a little hard to make out, but it looks great!


Helping Dad mow the lawn--Benjamin's in the backpack, if you can't tell. Dad got a great work out! Benjamin, however, fell asleep on the job.


Watering the tomato plants--another favorite job!


Grandma got Benjamin his own watering can while she was here. Most of the water still makes it on him, rather than the plants, but, oh well, that's half the fun!