Oh Santa

We had a practice run with Santa a few weeks ago.  We were at the Children's Museum with school and we visited the Jolly Days and there was NO line for Santa so we tried.  Jones watched him and they gave him jingle bells and he danced with them near Santa.  But he was skeptical. Immediately upon me dropping him on Santas lap jones was crying and screaming.  Obviously this makes we glad we didn't try first with the $30 mall Santa.  

We gave Jones a coupon in his advent calendar to go see Santa.  And we decided to go to the tree farm as they had a good Santa last year and the staff was very nice and line was null.  It was a good call.  The weather is extra warm right now so we even got to see and feed the animals.  I forgot to buy jones a Christmas outfit so he just wore overalls and a red shirt.

Basically immediately upon being put on Santas lap he wanted to be taken off.  But he didn't cry.  He refused to look at the camera.  But we'll take it.  Afterward he naturally wanted to point and look at Santa - go figure.

But he was fearless with the animals.  Even the pig that bit Daddy (the pig he called "moo").  He also liked watching the tractor take people to "the woods" to cut cut down their trees - next year when he can be trusted we'll get a real tree again.

We do want to give a shout out to Piney Acres Farm in Forteville.   The staff was excellent and it was a good time even without getting a tree.  We may return for pumpkins next year too.

Family Photos - November

Again in November I forgot about taking family photos but on Thanksgiving I grabbed my sister and gave her my phone.  We took these shots and which they aren't perfect I love it.  I am totally loving this project though and I think I may make yearly books from these and then next year as our family grows we can continue it with the new baby.  

17 Months

Again I was a little late taking these.  I've been picking Jones up from school and there's like 10 minutes of daylight left so it's hard to find a good wall in time.  I went with his school on a field trip so after yesterday's long nap I took him out to find a wall.  It was snowing but stopped before we took the photos.  This wall is in Fountain Square behind the Super Value thrift shop.  Anyhow a few things about month 17.

Dear Jonesy -

This month you weigh 26lbs.  

You discovered candy pretty much and now we are on the struggle bus to not let you see it at the store or anyplace because it makes you crazy.

You also love dipping sauces from soy sauce, to ketchup, to cheese you want to have dipping sauce whenever possible.

Your vocabulary has expanded dramatically I can hardly keep up with my list on the fridge but you are connecting words together and I find I can understand your jibber jabber.

Phrases you say "Bobbie at Home", "beed in the potty", "where's spot", "more wa", "more pehza", "more beans".  

We continue to work on potty training it you are scared to sit on many public toilets.

You often understand things I tell you like "we're going to the store", or "that's trash".  

It's great to be able to communicate with you more.

We started implementing timeouts when you do something you are not supposed to.  Not yet sure how successful this is.

Mommy likes watching you play pretend kitchen with bowls and spoons.

Mommy loves how you nuzzle your head in my neck and rub your hair on me when you are sleepy.

Mommy thinks it's so adorable how when you are in trouble you try to give me a kiss to make it better.  This is NOT good behavior.

Mommy likes playing cars or blocks with you.

Mommy thinks your more magical as your get older.

Daddy likes when you fall asleep on him.  

Daddy throws you up high in the air and you giggle so much.

Daddy loves the little sounds you make learn playing, eating and drinking.

Daddy likes catching you when you jump to him.

We are so excited to see what's next mister.

Lots of love, mommy

September 2015 - Family Photos

Well My friend took some family photos too but they aren't back yet (patiently waiting I swear).  But I did get a few at the end of the month for my project. These first two are from Homecoming, the first is terrible of me what am I doing there?

This bottom one is better though. 

We also got a family + shot at the orchard I love that jones is throwing his "ball" aka apple. There are several variations of this one but this is my favorite.

To the Orchard

I put Orchard on my fall list back in like July.  I just love fresh apples and making 1 million things with them.  And now with a baby he should get to do things like this too.  So I invited my family to join us. We went to Pleasant View Orchard because it's super close to us and they didn't charge admission for things like the playground.

I wanted to capitalize on scoring as many apples as possible and so we bought a bushel together as a family which worked out as like $8/person.  We picked our own apples - me mostly Jonathan with some Mutsu and Jonagold and Cortland tossed in.  

Anyhow it was a good time, it seems it was jones, Joes, and Dustin's first time to an orchard and that was fun.  Jonesy was adoreable in his lumberjack shirt calling all the apples balls and trying to scoop up the rotted ones under the trees.  He also was so glad to see all his people too he does so love everyone passing him around.  He can't seem to even bite thru the skin of softer apples but he sure did try on all sorts of taste testing. 

And now I plan to make Apple chips, applesauce, apple butter, Apple crisp, and if there's enough Apple Pie.  If I run out no worries because we will be at the pumpkin patch in a few weeks.

#50 Fall Activity - Cremona

For the baby's 3 month birthday we took our first flight.  We went East to see Uncle Jay and other family one of the things we got to do was visit Cremona and help make wine.  This was such a treat we had such a nice time and everyone was excited to meet baby's jones.  I am considering this the fall activity even though we may do some other things like pumpkins. 

Here's the baby with Uncle Andrew. 

And Daddy tasting grapes.  

And with Aunt Sara, aunt jo and grandma 

Ila supervises.  I started doing the same when I was itching like crazy.  

Andrew getting juice from the cake.  

Big picnic.

4 generations (jonesy naturally was not looking) - mixed girls and jonesy

And 4 generations on the guys side. 

And I love this one of Andrew and jones on the truck 

After making wine we hit the beach.  I wished I had packed our swimming gear.

And then of course there was the drift inn

It was a good time. 

#49 End of Summer Activity

This weekend we had an end of summer Grillout.  Dustin has been wanting to have many grillouts all summer but having a baby and changing jobs makes such activities a challenge.  But we did it for Labor Day.   Dustin invited only a handful of folks rather than his usual 500.  But he did make the time from 11-7pm (this is quite a long timespan).  We purchased hot dogs and hamburgers and beverages.   40 or so people showed up throughout the day and we ran out of beverages and hamburgers.  But somehow we have about 40 bags of chips now.  It was a good time even jonesy enjoyed it.  Here are some snaps 

Erica and Artie with Artie #5 almost ready to meet us

Ryan and Amalee (ps she is the cutest)

All of Dustin's siblings (except Jessie) got to come and his cousin and her daughter too.

And the newly weds Ben and Kaity.  

Oh and our friends Quern and Ricky  and their boy Pierson.  I love this photo of Ricky and Pierson playing the guitars too cute. It's such an interesting perspective in my living room.

Anyhow considering this my #49 _______ Summer Activity because summer is running away and what's more summer than a BBQ in your side/backyard?