Pumpkin patch

Every fall we get a season pass to our local pumpkin patch. We go with friends and family and sometimes just for mommy-daughter dates.
This past weekend my mom, grandma and aunt visited while my husband was out of town. Girls weekend! We spent time at the pumpkin patch together and had a blast!























My little girl just loves animals.








- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Teddy bear park

We were here last year with my family and this time met my husband's parents here. I knew my mother-in-law would love it as she loves teddy bears and of course my daughter loves it. It was fun to share this place with her grandparents!




















- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Maternity & Family Pics

My friend Rachel took these pics so we would have a few for the baby book and likely our last family photo of just the three of us. I could not be happier with how they turned out! We had a blast too! A big thank you to her!!!

I had this book when I was little and my mom found it in a thrift shop for Kaia!!

~Angela

Dance class

Our little girl started dance last night. Her cute little bun, tutu, leotard and feet tucked into ballet slippers (and later tap shoes) make her look more grown up than ever. But I am noticing that more and more lately- that she is growing up!




We went last week to try on ballet and tap shoes, and although she begged me to let her wear them around the house, aside from trying them on for Daddy, they’ve sat in their boxes, awaiting their dance debut (the first class).




After school, we got dressed in excited (and very rushed!) anticipation and I reminded her that this is her special night! Both Daddy and I were there to watch, but we are hoping after this baby arrives, dance class will be her special night out with either one of us, while the other stays home with baby.




My husband and I were those parents, each armed with a camera, him taking photos and me taking videos, not wanting to miss a single moment, craning our necks for a view to watch her every move. The shyness when she saw us peeking at her through the viewing window, realizing she could see her reflection in the mirror and recognizing a friend from school was sweet to watch.

I couldn’t help but smile as I watched her, intent on following the teacher’s lead as she realized that she too could stretch and bend and turn. I noticed her awareness of self, a confidence slowly creeping out as she tried something new.








I always wanted to be in dance as a little girl. And I hope my little girl loves it as we do not believe in forcing things upon our children that they do not want to do. And although we dance and sing at home, that is different. But so far, I think she likes it…
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Master bedroom stripes

I often ask my husband for projects or adventures rather than things for gifts. So for my birthday this year (in January) I asked him to paint stripes on our bedroom wall. This weekend, I finally got my birthday present! We camped out in the living room while the paint dried –this sounded way more fun to me initially than it was in reality- and he finished the project in two days, allowing for dry time.










And I could not be happier with the finished product! It was well worth the 9 month wait.






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Summer bucket list update

It seems like Labor Day weekend marks the official end of summer. There are of course still many opportunities for us to be outside, but I thought I'd review our Summer Bucket List:

-Take our last family vacation as a family of three: yes!




-Go to the beach: yes! and yes!
























-Go to the zoo: my mom and brother took my little girl to the zoo!
-Go boating/tubing: yes!








-Make giant bubbles: yes!
-Eat outside as often as possible/ yes!
-Create a picnic nook in our backyard: yes!
-Ride the train: no
-Throw rocks into Lake Superior: yes!




-Go for a family bike ride for ice cream: yes!
-Go to the water park: no, but have a trip booked in a few weeks.
-Check out a new restaurant: yes!




-Make homemade ice cream: yes!












-Host a family gathering: yes!




-Play on the slip & slide: yes!




















-Have a water fight/water balloon fight: yes!
-Go to my brother’s softball game: yes!








-Visit out of town friends and family: yes!




































-Get caught up on my scrapbooking: yes!!
-Spend the night in the playhouse: no
-Make s’mores over a campfire: yes!




Oops... My daughter had a little mishap with her marshmallow and her friend.




-Check out a new park: yes!












-Pick strawberries: no, but we got deliveries of fresh picked strawberries from friends so we didn't need any more:)
-Go on picnics: yes!








I'd say our summer was a smashing success, a summer filled with meeting new babies, spending time with family and friends and being outdoors, having fun!
-Angela