Fall Blossoms

Fall has presented itself in all its glory these past few weeks. We've found plenty of time to get outside and enjoy the crisp air, blue skies and colorful, yet ever changing surroundings. With fall also comes rain and we've had our share of dreary, wet, gray days around here lately, too. Rain or shine, we've embraced each day with an eagerness to stay active, creative and happy. It seems that in the process, we've been honing some old skills (language, agility, problem solving and logic), and have eagerly been trying our hand at some new ones.

This is how we do fall at our house:

Visits to the Cider Mill/Pumpkin Patch. Three to be exact.

A late September visit to see the animals and cider mill, with Mommy.

An early October visit with Grandma to ensure a "dry" outing to pick out a pumpkin.

A gorgeous Saturday morning play date to include Daddy and friends:

Seeing up close and climbing onto this shiny red fire engine was a big hit!

The wagon ride with friends was the highlight!

Searching for the perfect pumpkin on a perfect fall morning = Priceless!

On those house-bound days we've tried our hand at art - several mediums, I might add. Peyton loves to "do art" or "art projects" and will initiate and even set himself up to do so (moving his table into the kitchen, getting out the rag towels) without asking for Mommy's permission first. It's just that fun!

It's also a very tactile experience:

Being 2, we still often have to explore our world orally, as well.

Yes, we still sample most everything we get our hands on:
dirt, sand, soap and now paint!

"Tickers" (aka stickers) are another favorite past time around our house right now.

Earlier this week we even bravely tried our hand at cookie making for the first time. An educational experience for both Mommy and son. I found a whole-wheat sugar cookie recipe (whole-wheat sugar cookies are a bit of an oxymoron, I realize, but this little cookie maker has never had a cookie and poor guy, the deception continues...). Peyton took his job very seriously and was captivated from beginning to end. I'm not at all surprised that he kept saying, "No. My do it all by myself, Mommy," every time I tried to show or help him, since we hear it all day long. I am, however, pleasantly surprised at how well he did do all by himself. We just might have another cookie monster in the making here at our house:

He seems to have a keen interest in fixing things:

He frequently has a go at the tractor.

Any day and everyday, is a story day!

Richard Scarry is a new favorite.
"Where's Goldbug?" He's hiding on every page!

Just because the leaves are falling down all around, doesn't mean that beautiful buds can't bloom. I know one toddler (and his mommy's doing a pretty good job of it too) who is really starting to branch out and blossom this fall.