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I have reached maximum capacity for this  blog and have created a new one.  I will transfer readership over to it and send you all an email with the new information.  Stay tuned!

Jack-o-lanterns

Carved our pumpkins this morning!!  Looking forward to seeing them glowing on Wednesday night!

Cousins!

Abby was in town visiting!  We got to see her twice today, once at our house for scootering/biking/snacks & princess dresses, and then again in the afternoon at the park.

4 happy swingers!

Abby on the teeter totter

Willy being silly on the slide

Ha Ha look at me!

Cheese!

Shaun also introduced the kids to "catch the leaf", a game where you try to catch a falling leaf before it hits the ground.  It was just windy enough that the leaves were falling in spurts off the tree - and the kids really wore themselves out playing that game!

Fun in the leaves

After supper we headed to the park to play with Grandma.  There were TONS of newly fallen leaves on the ground to play with.  We made piles by kicking them with our feet and the kids jumped in, and we threw handfuls up in air to watch them fall.

I even snapped a couple of pictures.

Happy Fall!

Reluctant Ewok

We have a Halloween theme in our house, and this will be the only preview ;)

Willy's Ewok costume came in the mail and Shaun was super excited for him to try it on.  

Willy was less excited about it. 

But did manage to say "cheese" for the camera.

I love my kitty

And he loves me too!

Our Yard

The tree in our backyard is an amazing colour right now.  Before our hike yesterday, I snapped these pics of the kids beneath it.

Welcome Fall!

Grandma's Fall Photo Shoot

I love this fall weather.  Actually, Fall is my favourite time of year.  The cooler weather is perfect for playing outside without over heating, the colours are amazing and the smells of fall are my favourite - cinnamon, pumpkin pie, apple spice.  Fall invites us to eat rich foods again and enjoy delicious rich aromas.

I love the crunch of the fallen leaves beneath our feet and the smell of the dampness.  There is nothing more cosy then bundling up in a warm sweater and heading out on a fall hike.

And that is exactly what we did today.  After Willy's nap, we headed out to the Saugeen Amphitheatre for a family walk and explore.  Its the first time we've taken the kids there and they were very intrigued with all the stonework and paths.

Grandma brought her good camera and took some fall shots of us.  

We enjoyed a lovely walk - exploring and admiring the beautiful landscape as well as the design of the gardens.

Today my name was patience

Friday and Tuesdays have turned into Mommy-Willy days.  On Tuesdays we're attending a movement class for kids (its fun, albeit not always developmentally appropriate for my 2 year old).  Its only 45 minutes so afterwards we have time to spare.  This past Tuesday we did the McDonalds snack thing.

Fridays often are wide open.  Every other Friday we have a chiropractic appointment right after drop off, and then often its whatever we want - no plans!

Today Willy wanted to stay and play with the train set at the chiropractor so we stayed for a good half hour. Then I suggested a tim bit, so we walked over to Tims.  Walking with Willy on the main drag is ... CRAZY! The kid loves to run, doesn't listen and there are cars and people everywhere.  Its a challenge!

Willy had 1 tim bit and I treated myself to a small coffee.

After that, he said he wanted to scooter, so we came home.

We scootered up and down our street for a while.  There is a spot in the sidewalk across the road where there are 2 small 'bumps' and that is his favourite spot.

Scootering over the bumps!

After about 20 minutes of that he wanted to go around the block and I said OK.  Let me tell you, you haven't tested your limit for patience until you've scootered around the block with a stubborn 2 year old.  It took us at least half an hour. It was crazy.  It was stop and start and turn around and look at this and that - but we survived!

I managed to get him inside after that because he was hungry and thirsty.  He napped really well!

Mommy-Willy Date

It is very rare for me to take the kids out to eat or snack.  Not because I'm opposed to it, but because I don't want to set precident or make it a habit - eating/snacking out is expensive!

However, it happens occasionally - as a treat.

Today Willy and I enjoyed a FREE snack at McDonalds.  We had won a free muffin and free small coffee from the Monopoly pull-off thingies from our family dinner a week or so ago.

Willy choose a chocolate muffin (surprise!) and I had the free coffee.  No tax even.  Awesome.

And yummy!

Snuggly

Anubis loves it when the kids actually sit still on the couch, especially with a blanket!  Heaven!!

The return of Eeyore

This will be the final year for the Eeyore outfit.  Its actually too small for Willy, but I just have to get as much wear out of it as possible.

Here is KJ wearing it: http://tarpictures.blogspot.ca/2007_10_01_archive.html
and P the first year:http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2583/1836/1600/Patrick&Pumpkin.0.jpg
And the 2nd year: http://www.ladyofport.blogspot.ca/2006_10_01_archive.html

Visit to Orangeville

We spent Thanksgiving weekend in Orangeville.  Friday was gorgeous warm weather so we spent it outside.  My parents property is gorgeous - I love taking pictures outside there.  

1-2-3 JUMP!

Running around:

Climbing trees:

Playing Hide&Seek:

Saturday's weather was cold and rainy.  Willy was sad we couldn't go out to play.

I love how forlorn he looks here.  So sweet.

Legs

We had a pet spider!

Yes I know how insane that sounds.  Buts its true.  "Legs" built a web on my van and lived behind the mirror.  We had her for almost an entire week!  The kids enjoyed checking to see if she'd made a new web, and seeing if she was out or hiding.  When she was behind the mirror she always left 1 leg sticking out - hence the name legs.  

We were sad when she moved on, but really, a van is no home for a spider.  Her web was constantly stretched out whenever we drove somewhere and she'd have to rebuild.  We wish her luck and better 'hunting' in her new location.

Pumpkinfest!

Another gorgeous weekend for Pumpkinfest!  We were so happy for nice weather.  Traditionally, Pumpkinfest is a cold, wet, windy day.  The day started of chilly but warmed right up!  We were thankful for a stroller to stash our jackets & sweaters in.

My parents came to join us for the day - the kids were so excited to have them there.  We walked over and arrived right when the midway opened, so we hit the rides first before the lines got too long.

Riding the coaster

Ferris Wheel

Willy & K on a really tame ride

Willy on a ride all alone!

Grandpa, P&K on a very spinny big ride!

We checked out the big pumpkins and checked out some of the stalls/vendors.

 We met up with Petals & Patches and the twins - K wanted her picture taken with Petals.

After some yummy frenchfries for lunch (and various other bits and pieces I had packed) we headed downtown to the classic car show.

We checked out some of the vehicles and then Mom and I headed home with the kids while Shaun and Dad checked out more cars.

It was a great time!

Smith's Apple Farm, minus the apples

This was our only trip to Smith's Apple Farm this year.  Due to the unseasonably warm March weather, followed by frost in April, the Apple crop was completely wiped out.  There were no apples this year.

But there were still pumpkins, the corn maze, the kids play area and lots of baked goods.

On the PD day, we met a bunch of friends there to play and explore.

K and Olivia on a huge pumpkin

 We did go through the corn maze... so thankful for friends that took K with them so I only had to keep track of my boys.  W gave up about half way thru and begged to be carried. I was very sweaty when we finally emerged.

P in the corn maze.

W with a pumpkin, outside the store.

 Traditional photos!  We have about 7 years worth of these :)

Kathryn gave P&W a ride in the wagon - strong girl!