If one is good, two is better

Sometimes we have to take a break from playing in order to get some housework done.  As you might have guessed, chores are not the favorite pastime of two little people.  But throw a laundry basket into the mix, and it's practically a party!

That is, it's a party for about 12 seconds until..."Mom, Ben poked me!"  "I just took this book away from Ben because I wanted it."  "Waaaaahhhhhhh!!!!  Ben's pulling my hair."

And then everyone gets their own baskets, with their own pillow, blanket, and book, positioned just far enough apart that physical contact is not possible.

His own basket is pretty much a win in Ben's mind.  Score one for the little guy!

Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere

The end of October is rapidly approaching.  We've had a packed month so far with really no end in sight, but today we had some free time this morning and made a date with the local pumpkin festival.  This was Ben's first trip to the farm to pick out a pumpkin!

Ben and papa waiting for the tractor and wagon to pick us up

Ben loved watching the tractors moving around.  

He waved and waved, and made his little truck sound as they drove up and pulled away.

Nat waiting on the hayride to the pumpkin field

plotting her course through the sea of pumpkins

pumpkins as big as Ben!

two uncooperative kids

We left the pumpkin festival with two nice pumpkins and a funny shaped gourd.  After scouring the entire field for just the right pumpkin for Natalie, we had a picnic lunch of fried chicken, green beans, and fries.  It was a beautiful fall day, and so nice to spend a few hours all together!

Reeling in the Big 1

Sunday was the most beautiful fall day, and the perfect day to celebrate Ben's birthday, fishing derby style.  Everything came together so wonderfully to make for the best boy theme birthday party.  See for yourself.

(we didn't open presents first, but I figured I really should start with a picture of the birthday boy)

Ben's cake

and cupcakes!

there's Mimi and Pa's fishing rig

They even brought a wagon for a hayride at the end of the party

two best buddies having lunch

Jack got a wheelbarrow from Trevor

Papa and the birthday boy

extra special favors for Ben's guests

after lunch we all went fishing...

...and Mimi caught the first fish!

There wasn't a derby prize for that though.  

Prizes were awarded for largest fish caught and most fish caught.

great grandpa 

one going on sixteen, apparently

dada and Nat 

Trevor caught a fish, too!

there's Papa's catch

great grandma

Jack and Pa

good job, Aunt Beth!

(look at her fish peeking out of the water!  She caught that on a kid's pole.)

mama and Ben

Ben was really good at reeling.  No kidding.  

We didn't catch anything though.

Uncle Ronnie caught the most fish

hey, Pa!

That is one tired birthday boy.

this big tractor from Uncle Ronnie and Aunt Jess was kid-approved!

Ben got so many wonderful gifts.  

Thank you, thank you to everyone who came to help us celebrate!

he really like this tower of presents, 

especially when he figured out that the bottom one could be used as a step!

hmm...

things went a little better with a fork

I'm 90% certain that the only cake that made it into his mouth got there accidentally while he was flipping the rest of all over the yard.  So, picky eating extends to cake and frosting as well.

making a break for it nearly naked and covered in frosting

Again, many thanks to everyone who came to help us celebrate such a milestone birthday!  We had a great day!

Ben's actual birthday was Tuesday, and we celebrated again just the four of us.  Low key dinner, small cake and ice cream and presents from mama and dada and Natalie.  Natalie got invited on a sleepover Monday night, so Ben got a special day out with Mama.  We went to the aquarium and got some lunch!  What a lucky boy.