Photo Friday-Apples Aplenty, Apples Galore

A couple Sundays ago we headed up to "Apple Hill" for the morning with a few other families. Having never been there before, we just followed along to the different locals, tasting apples, pastries and candies along the way. I'd go back, but not to some of the places we went. Too crowded and circus like. I don't need to fish or have pony rides. I just need to pick some apples and eat a turnover or two. (Or seven...they were really good turnovers.) Here's a brief snapshot of our outing.

Padyn and Ninners, on their way to the pond were we refused to let them fish because it was too ridiculously expensive.How many kids can you get in an apple crate? And what's with the sticks?We each got to pick an apple treat. Daddy and I shared a turnover, apple pie, and apple berry pie. Kate choose the caramel apple.Padyn went for the sugar apple doughnut.

Robbie just got to watch.

And what day in the apple orchards would be complete without a pony? We didn't let the kids ride the ponies, but we did let them pet one. We're generous parents like that.Happy Friday!

Siblings

Pushing the Limits

What do you think the weight limit is on a decade (at least) old crib?

Photo Friday-Photos that Should Not Be Posted

That's right...since I took no photos this week, I decided to punish myself by posting photos from our trip to the pumpkin patch that you wouldn't see on a Christmas card. But, they do all make me laugh!

Happy Friday.

Number Two

Robbie's second tooth is here. What is that...2 weeks after the first one? Hopefully we'll get a few more weeks of decent sleep before the tops ones rear their ugly little points.

This is what happens when you leave Daddy in charge...

Yes, he really did fall asleep in his exersaucer. All that jumping really must have tired him out. Sorry the photo quality is so poor...it was taken with a cell phone.

Kate's TV Viewing

Right now? Kate is watching a show on PBS. She's never seen it before. It looks British or Canadian or something.

Oh, and it's in Spanish.

That's right. She has discovered the Spanish PBS station. And she loves it. Move over, Super Why. You have nothing on The Baby Triplets in Spanish.

Two Firsts for the Six Month Old

Seeing as how the boy turned six months old on Saturday, I figured it was probably time to break out the rice cereal. I was ready for it to be a flop, for him to hate it and spit it out all over me. I really wasn't prepared for him to like it. Boy, was I ever surprised.

Getting ready...he didn't even mind the bib. But see how we're set up outside? I figured it was going to get messy.Going in for the first bite. Here's where the surprises began...he actually opened his mouth willingly.And after the first bite, he was willing to eat MORE! He can't possibly be related to his sisters.Getting toward the end of the bowl and he's still eating...And this was about how messy he got.Miracle of all miracles! He seems to like rice cereal! The next day he ate another entire bowl (and by "entire" I mean about two tablespoons). He didn't spit it out, make yucky faces, refuse to open his mouth or turn his head away. Very different from this child. And while I wasn't blogging at the time of Padyn's first solid adventures, she wasn't keen on it either. Her pictures look similar to Miss Kate's.

Oh, I said there were two "firsts." The other happened the same day. We let him cry himself to sleep and he slept through the night. Ok, that might be a total of three firsts. But he didn't wake up at all between 9pm and 6am. That has never ever happened before. I don't know if the letting him cry it out contributed, but whatever the reason, I'll take it.

He did the same thing again last night. He did wake up a couple times during the night, but I left him to cry and he promptly went back to sleep.

Wait, you don't have enough information. This is huge because for the last week or so, he's been waking up every hour and a half during the night. And what do I do? Go in, give him his pacifier, re-swaddle him, and he promptly goes back to sleep. Mommy was getting tired. Getting 7 hours of sleep in a row? HUGE!

Oop, I hear the little man now. Best go get him up. He's slept now for about 12 hours

Photo Saturday-Six Months Old Today

And he's so serious about it...

Happy Saturday. And Happy 1/2 Birthday, Buddy. Can' t believe you've been with us this long already.

Bouncy Bouncy

Today, Robbie figured out how to really jump in his exersaucer/jumpy thingie today. He's having a GREAT time with it.

I hope his little legs aren't too sore tonight. Maybe it's time to take him out...I have all I can handle with him teething. He already is waking up every 90 minute through the night.
But he's so HAPPY about it!

Kate's Daily Lunch

I wan peayut budda toast, not toasted, wit peayut budda spreaded on it, cosed, wit a nakin.*

Translation: a peanut butter sandwich

She asks for it the same way everyday. And if I say, "Do you want a peanut butter sandwich?" She says no and gives me the spiel again.

And if it isn't peanut butter, it's strawberry yogurt in a circle cup with a straw. That would be drinkable yogurt in a sippy cup with a straw attached, for those not in the know.

At least she knows what she wants.

*I want peanut butter toast, not toasted, with peanut butter spreaded on it, closed, with a napkin.

So Stylish

Nothing says "class" like a gymnastics leotard covered with a fuzzy pink vest, accented by pink boots.Oh, that and a healing goosehead on her forehead. Classy, I tell you.

Photo Friday-Pumpkin Patch Teaser

It's my favorite photo-op time of the year again...Pumpkin Patch Time! But, since it's 10pm, and I'm still fighting a cold, you are only getting a few photos from our trip to the patch tonight. More to come over the course of the week. Plus, this will not be the only visit to the patch. There seem to be 17,000 pumpkin patches in our area. We are sure to hit 2 or 3 more. And really...most aren't just a "patch." We don't live in the city, people. This is the central valley...prime ag land. We have pumpkin amusement parks. The one we went to today had bikes to rent, a corn bath, the Guinness Book of World Record's Largest Corn Maze, teepees, hay pyramids, playhouses...oh, and pumpkins. The one we'll go to later this week has a petting zoo. But since I didn't get many pictures with actual pumpkins today(like here and here from previous years, and here which is the same patch two years ago), I just have more reason to go visit the others. And now for a few highlights.

Loaded up in the wagon on the way in...

Kate was a ball of energy. I don't think she stopped running until she hit the "Corn Bath." Then she was diving and jumping instead. The playhouses...can you see Kate in there behind her big sister?Stopping to catch her breath. And yes, that is the freeway in the background. The girls in front of their favorite playhouse. You guessed it...the pink one.

Making corn angels and corn diving...And my personal favorite...

Happy Friday!

Close-Ups of the Little Man

Surprise...Happiness...

Now the Drooling and Spitting Make Sense

That's right...Robbie has cut his first tooth. Could have happened yesterday, but I just noticed it this afternoon while he was nursing. He'll be 6 months in 10 days. This means he has finally been first at something. That's right...he is the first of my children to cut teeth before they were 6 months old. Padyn cut her first at 7 months. Kate was about the same. In fact, you can read about Kate's first tooth here. She was really very disagreeable. Clearly, I didn't even notice anything different about the boy. Hence my surprise upon finding it today.

You go, boy. Start outdoing your older siblings as soon as you can. You'll need as much ammunition as can get for when you are older.

Three and a Half

I missed it on Saturday, so I thought I better take care of it now...

Kate turned 42 months old this past Saturday. I think these photos I shot on that day pretty well sum up her personality at the moment.

Happy Half Birthday, my little drama queen. I love you, anyway.

Pure Joy

Photo Saturday: Five Month Comparison

Order of appearance in all sets: Padyn, Kate, Robert

Set A

Set B

Set C

Here is where one ability difference between the three is evident. At five months, Padyn could sit up assisted by the boppy. Kate could sit up completely (although here she is tilting to the side a bit, but it's because she was going after a toy that was to her left) and Robbie isn't quite there yet. He prefers to slide himself down so he's flat on his back.

Set D

A commonality: All three loved the bouncy seat. They live(d) in that and the exersaucer at this age. Set E

Another difference in ability. You can see that Kate was able to stand up while holding onto the table. I haven't even tried that with Robbie, and I'm sure it never crossed my mind with Padyn.

And finally, Set F

I only include this one because it's funny to see that at 5 1/2 months, both girls had perfected their squishy/piratey face. Robert has no such face. Just a calm stare, a wide eyed smile and a crying face. No pirates here.

But hopefully that's a good thing...we have enough drama with the girls. I don't need a dramatic son, too.

Happy Saturday!