So, what have we been up to this fall?
Weeeeeeeeeell, if you are measuring by the level of exhaustion that I achieve by 6 pm most nights or by the number of loads of laundry that get done on a daily basis, or by the number of vacuum bags that I have had to replace in recent months, than we have been busy!! However, if you are measuring by the amount of milestones or vacations or exciting things happening this season of our life (besides our new baby due in 2 weeks!), than it probably won't seem like much. Most of our days are spent at the park, on walks, feeding people, cleaning people or putting people to bed...and that is it! On those particularly hard days with the boys, I just keep reminding myself of that phrase "The days are long but the years are short." And that pretty much sums it all up for me. I still feel thankful EVERYDAY that I get to be a stay at home mama for my family- there is truly no other way that I would rather spend my time or my energy...what's left of it anyways ;)
Since I can't just let an entire season go by undocumented just because it doesn't feel like much is going on around these parts, I have compiled a small sampling of what our life looks like these days for your viewing pleasure and for my remembering pleasure. Enjoy!
Every season deserves a fresh haircut.
Oliver has decided, for unknown reasons, that getting a haircut from Shiloh is very, very cool.
And we are very, very thankful for that.
Since the school year began, Oliver has pretty much dropped his afternoon nap and has taken to falling asleep during short car rides and in the stroller. It has not been a fun transition for any of us, but without an OFF button, I don't know what else to do.
(He still has a quiet time alone in his room while Elliott takes his nap)
I will say though, that I have enjoyed staring at him while he sleeps- he looks so beautiful and so much like he did as a baby and it always makes my heart melt a little bit.
I would say that this fall has been unseasonably warm, but now that I have lived in Davis for 12 years, I need to just accept it and deal with the fact that it is normal for us to have 90-100 degree days well into September and even October. This first picture is the view I get if I look over my shoulder while I am doing the dishes at the sink. I have LOVED to see these brothers grow closer together as the gap between their ages seems to shrink. Few things make me happier than making dinner to the sounds of them talking, laughing and playing together All. By. Them. Selves.
Of course, upon closer inspection, I see that Oliver has not fully accepted Elliott as an equal (and probably never completely will). At least they were both still laughing!
Oliver continues to be obsessed with drumming.
He will spend quite a bit of time collecting just the right boxes and containers and then set them up just how he would like and then...plug your ears, because this kid goes to town! His current favorite song to sing along to is an original piece that goes like this: "Mer-i-ca!! Mer-i-ca!! Mer!! I!! Caaaaaaa!!" Over and over again.
(I think he is singing about "america", but I am not sure)
Our little friend Molly turned two and so we got to play at the park and decorate our own cupcakes!
This is serious business, folks.
This is the exact reason why this party was held at a park and not someone's home. Brilliant.
Would you like some cupcake with those sprinkles, Elliott?
Happy Birthday Molly Moooooo!!
Elliott loves to wear anything "just like Dada".
And he LOVES to "help me too".
I don't think Elliott has ever turned down a chance to help out Dada.
Starting in late September, the local pumpkin patches started opening up for the season and from then on, I am pretty certain that we went to a patch at least 3 times a week.
Here we are at Cool Patch Pumpkins and Elliott is demonstrating his latest developmental skill:
Proper 2-year-old behavior! Noooooo!!
On this particular day, the patch had just opened and they were not quite ready for customers and so they let us play in the corn bath for free. We had the place to ourselves and to top it off, we were the first one's to try it out for the season so everything was all nice and clean.
Rogge Fam!
While Oliver and Molly perfected their jumping skills, Elliott preferred to play it safe and taste test the corn.
Since we got to play for free, we figured that we would give the "KIDS" corn maze a try. I have never done a corn maze, but let me tell you, after this experience, I would never allow my children to go into this crazy place unattended. The corn was well above our heads and we wandered through the maze for a good 20 minutes before stumbling out and I hate to say it, but after the first 3 minutes, it was not fun.
At least we had our trusty husbands along to protect and lead us!
One of the highlights of this fall has been that we got to go to TWO weddings without our children. Overnight, both times! (A huge thank you to Grandma Gloria and Grandpa Gary for making this possible)
Not only was it fabulous to have a long, romantic weekend with my husband, but we got to share in the joy of two of my oldest and dearest family friends.
Wedding Number 1: Jonny and Ashley Grabham
Hands down, the most romantic and fun wedding I have ever been to. I think I danced for 3 hours straight.
Evangeline and I got seated next to each other at dinner!! Woooo hoooooo!!
Wedding Number 2: Jason and Emily Summers
Sadly, these are the only pictures that I have from the most BEAUTIFUL wedding that I have ever attended. It was at a winery outside of Paso Robles and it could have been straight out of a wedding magazine. I intentionally didn't bring my camera because I didn't want to have to keep track of it all night, but just trust me when I tell you that it was breathtaking. And the food...don't even get me started! The company, the reuniting with old friends and the atmosphere made for a very memorable weekend.
Uh...I don't really know what to say about this picture, but hey, this is my family!!
Aaaaand....this is my husband :) We had a blast, if you can't tell.
OK...not sure how to segue back into my normal life but here goes...
Sean took the boys out to the homecoming parade downtown at the train station and took a few pictures. I found this one and not only is is sweet as can be, but I have to laugh because Oliver is wearing Elliott's 12 month size shorts and Elliott is wearing a pair of Oliver's underpants. I am not going to name any names, but.... Hahaha!!
And it's back to the pumpkin patch again!
Sam and her Mini-Me
Cutie Pie Alert!!
Even Grandpa Jack and Grandma Ellen came up to join in the festivities!
Somewhere in between all the pumpkin patch fun, we got to babysit for baby Owen Bjerke one evening. What a doll!! Thankfully, Oliver fell asleep early in the evening and so it was just Elliott and I and the baby which was a perfect trial run for what is to come. Elliott was in love and very curious but very gentle. He is going to be a doting big brother!
In keeping with tradition, we headed up to Apple Hill for our 3rd annual family visit.
I tried to take some pictures of the boys in their cute outfits, but it wasn't going to happen.
Too much fun to be had! (or was it too many apple donuts?!)
There was ONE rainy day about a week ago and I felt inspired to spend the afternoon putting away the backyard toys in preparation for winter. The very next day, the sun was shining and my kids were not outside for more than 10 minutes when I found that they had dragged all the chairs and pool and hose back out to their "spot" and just got back to their routine. I shoulda known better!!
Warming up with Mama!
This is Oliver and Elliott's cafe and they like to poke their heads out of the "ordering window" and ask me what I would like to have to eat. Usually, Oliver tells me that they don't have what I want but will kindly suggest something that they do have. This is the face he makes when he is trying to decide if they have what I have ordered in stock.
Just gettin' some work done while the sun is still out!
Oliver has entered the phase of wanting to "put on a show" for an audience. Any audience. This night, we had the pleasure of these cuties performing a very enthusiastic duet. It was adorable!!
And not to be left out of the fun, it was back to the pumpkin patch for a final hurrah with Grandma Gloria!!
Goodbye Impossible Acres, you were so good to us this year!!
And that, my friends, is what we have been up to! Like I said, not much going on, yet, so much happening every day. When I look back at the snapshots that I have taken over the months, it warms my heart to be reminded of so much of the good, the sweet and the funny that is happening all around me all the time- whether I can see it at the time or not. I think that is why I keep blogging, whether I have something significant to share or not. Sometimes, it is only in looking back that I can see how far we have come or just how good of a life we have and just how much we have to be thankful for. A dear, older friend of mine, who has had more than her fair share of trials in life, was quick to correct me when I was sharing with her about how money has been so tight and she leaned in real close to me and said with a warm smile on her face, "Oh Mary, you might be broke, but you are certainly not poor!"
How right she was. And how good it is to be able to discern the difference.
So cute. And it looks to me like you're more than rich, you're loaded! I loved seeing photos of Elliot and Owen. :)
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