Fun in the Fall

Although I was sad to see summer end, fall has been a lot of fun too.  So far this month we've been to a Pumpkin patch with a whole crowd of family, Hallzooween two weekends in a row, painted some pumpkins, had a few campfires and played in the corn-box.

Another exciting occurence is that Grace has warmed up to school (she still doesn't like to get up in the morning, but there are no more tears).  She told me the other morning that, "I don't like school when I wake up, but then I change my mind" - translation, "I'm not a morning person."  Also, she frequently asks if it's going to be a 'short school' day - by which she means that school is so fun that time flies and it feels like a shor day.  Yeah!

Lincoln has also been living up the school experience - by having some special time with Mommy on Mondays and with Grandma & Grandpa on Fridays.  It's really fun for me to be able to focus on one kid for a while - kinda forgot what that was like :)

Here are a few pictures of our fun . . .

Sweet Dreams, Sweet Boy

Lincoln has a pretty eleborate 'going to bed' ritual that must be fully satisfied at nap & bedtime.  It started off simple enough but he keeps adding requirements.  He's a pretty creative staller (and he's so cute it's impossible to tell him to hush up and go to sleep).  Let me lay it out for you:

1. books or a movie

2. (bedtime only) get teeth brushed by daddy

3. prayers

4.  get in bed and have a drink of water

5.  make sure there is a truck/tractor/scoop sitting on his step stool next to his fan to "keep him company"

6.  give mommy a hug and kiss

7.  select a 'baby ball' (one of those small rubber balls that he likes to grip in his fist)

8.  and finally . . . have mommy sing a song (his favorite is 'the papa song' - aka hush little baby, don't say a word etc.)

I mean, where does it end??  Lincoln will probably be 12 years old and I'll still be singing to him before bed, but I guess that would be ok with me :)

The Beginning of a Long Journey

Today was the first day that our first kid went to school - really a pretty momentous event if you think about it. Which, of course, I have done a lote of. 

For the next 15 years (at least) we will be roped into the school schedule thing . . . waking up early, doing homework, looking forward to summer break, etc.  I'm still pretty shell shocked that I'm already a mom of a school kid.  I mean, last time I blinked we were just bringing Grace home from the hospital (now I'm tearing up) and figuring out how to bathe a newborn.  So cliche, but WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?!?!

Grace had a great time today.  It was a more like a dress rehersal for school than the real thing because Mommy got to stay the whole time and there was not real structure, just play/explore time.  Grace met her teacher - Miss Kathy - and enjoyed playing with all the fun & new things in her classroom.  We also took a little tour of the preschool and met a few of her classmates.  It went quickly and our big girl was not happy about having to leave when time was up.  She's so ready to be a big girl, but am I ready for that?  (I think I'll probably be the only one shedding a tear when I drop her off on Friday).

Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd . . .

and we did!  Tonight Grace and Lincoln got to experience their first ever Reds game.  Thanks to Papa, we had 4 tickets for the Reds v Phillies game.  We all had a great time!  There wasn't much actual baseball watched, but we did have some yummy snacks, met some cool characters and saw lots of sights.

We got to the ball park a little early and enjoyed our packed PB&Js, then said hello to Rosie, Mr. Redlegs & the Gapper as they walked past the wall in front of our seats.  Next, Daddy discovered that we could get 'First Game Certificates' since it was just that.

We made it to the end of the 6th innning before the kids lost interest and we headed home, fully satisfied with our first family trip to the Great American Ballpark.

On a side note, I'm pretty sure the Reds lost :(

LM&M RR

That's code for 'Lebanon, Mason & Montgomery Rail Road' - we had an awesome time today taking the kids for their (and Tony's) first ever train ride. We hopped on the five car train and the conductor punched our tickets, we enjoyed a 1/2 hour ride out to the "junction" where Clifford the Big Red Dog was waiting. We visited with Clifford, made a little craft and had a picnic lunch. All in all it was an awsome day - I think Mommy & Daddy had as much fun as the kids.