It's Fall!

It's officially Fall, and that means it's time for the apple orchards. We made two trips last week to Parlee Farm for apple picking, apple cider donuts, and feeding the goats. It's truly a New England experience you don't want to miss. The kids had a great time in the hay ride out to the orchard- did I mention it involves a very big, John Deere green tractor? Both times we've stayed until closing time playing in the hay maze.



And Ryan just loves the goats. For a quarter, you get a handful of goat food, which is really cheap entertainment. He loves to use the pulley system and feed them up on a high platform. He's told many stories about "goats pull tall".

Aside from our farm fun, it's life as usual around here. I may have unleashed a monster when I showed Cameron how to browse the toy section of Amazon.com a few days ago. We were working on a "wish list" so that I have some ideas of what he would like for Christmas, etc. At one point he asked me "Mom, are you getting all this yourself or will you have backup?" Once I recovered enough to answer, I had to explain that he would not be getting everything on the list. It's a good thing I think he's so cute!

And Cameron gave me another good laugh yesterday. We had been out grocery shopping, and of course, it was pouring down rain when we pulled into the driveway. I thought I would be subtle and drop him a hint with something along the lines of "gee, it's going to be so hard to get all this in by myself in the rain." He didn't go for it. His response was "you'll find me at the computer when you get in." See. I knew I shouldn't have shown him Amazon!

Ryan is embracing toddlerhood this week. He changed clothes seven times before school on Thursday, and twice when he got home. My challenge of the week is tricking him into selecting season appropriate clothing. I think I may have to hide all his shorts for a while. And does anyone know how long a child can survive eating only Rice Krispies? That's all Ryan's had since Thursday. Seriously. It's not that he isn't offered other things. He's very happy with other food...happy to feed it to us, happy to grind it into the carpet, happy to use it as "dirt" and drive it around in his tractor. He just isn't about to eat it himself. He just wants "kees" with milk, and it has to be in his Bob the Builder bowl. Eight years into motherhood, I've learned to pick my battles, and this isn't one of them. His obsession with the couch cushions, now that may have to go. Ryan is very insistent at the moment that all cushions be off the couches and piled in the middle of the floor. Why? I can't even begin to understand his logic, I just hope this phase doesn't last too long. It's a good think I think he's so cute!