Pumpkin Patch #2

We capitalized on the gorgeous weather this weekend and headed to another pumpkin patch! This one had a small haystack maze, apple and corn launchers, corn and water play stations, a tractor ride to the pumpkin patch, and a large corn maze (which we didn't do). Marek really liked the water pump. The goal was to race little rubber duckies, but he was fascinated with just pumping the water! We picked up a larger pumpkin and can't wait to carve it for Halloween! I miss living in the midwest this time of year. I remember when I was in graduate school in Bloomington and we'd go on weekend drives to see the lush colors and farmland. I loved it!

We're excited about Halloween coming this Friday! Marek changed his mind about being a pumpkin for Halloween. Now he wants to be a fireman. It's a good thing I didn't start sewing his costume yet!

Fall update

Happy Fall! Hope everyone is doing well. We have a great big maple tree in our backyard that is midway through losing its leaves. Marek is having a ball playing with them, jumping in them...and as you will see below - being buried in them. We even started a book for him with his first leaf collection.





Today he also headed to the annual model railroad show at the library. He just loved it! There were all different scales of trains and he was mesmerized. I can't wait to build a layout with him when he is older! Uncle Kevin will have to give us some tips.





For those of you who haven't heard...our Halloween was not too eventful this year, as Marek decided he didn't want to wear his costume. [Anyone need a lion or chick costume? :) ] He did head to the Halloween party downtown, but it was "too noisy" and he wanted to leave early. He went to the downtown trick-or-treating with Grandma and me on his walk to the toy store, but only wanted one piece of candy. I think the costumes actually frightened him this year. But that's ok! We just went out for pizza, then headed home for an early bedtime. He had skipped his nap earlier, so that may have accounted for some of it! But it was a good day anyway!

We are all doing really well...very busy these days (as you can guess by the lack of regular posts here!). I'm heading to a conference in Chicago next week and will be missing my little guy like crazy then! But the conference should be interesting, too. I hope everyone is doing well these days and we will be in touch soon! Love to all.

Music Time!

One of Marek's favorite songs these days is "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash. Whenever we listen to that song, he gets wild with dancing around the living room. It's very cute to watch. Who knew he would be a Johnny Cash fan? He discovered the headphones the other day and wanted to listen to "Ring of Fire" in a new way. But, he insisted that mommy dance around to the song in the living room while he listened using the headphones.






This morning we were watching a live performance of Raffi on DVD. Marek moved along to the music and clapped with enthusiasm every time the song finished. He is really starting to like songs that he can act out as well. (He still sings Wheels on the Bus, the ABCs, and Twinkle, Twinkle very well. I wish you could all hear him!) Additionally, I've been playing some classical music during his quiet play times and a few times before bedtime or nap. He really seems to like it and calls it his "bear music."



We aren't doing music class this fall because I didn't want to overschedule him. So I'm happy to see he is still interested in a lot of music on his own. If we do music class in the winter, it will be interesting to see if a few months older makes him more participatory. We went to the indoor play park on Friday morning and he was much more social than usual. I'm happy to say he isn't as out of control or aggressive as some of the other kids there. He just loves his friend Elizabeth. She was there, too, at the play park. He recently went to her 2nd birthday party and still talks about her on and off throughout the week.

We're taking swim classes again this fall, as well as his favorite gym class at OSU. He could stay at gym class all day! I'm hoping everyone is having a great start to the Fall this year! We definitely are - we love the cold, rainy, cozy days! Marek picked out his first pumpkin of the season and we decorated the kitchen windows with Halloween fun. I haven't picked out his costume yet...but I'm leaning towards a lion this year.

Keep in touch and take care!