Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes and Pumpkin Carving!

This weekend we went to the Schratner farm pumpkin patch to get a pumpkin for Riley. It was a really great family farm and their corn maze was AWESOME! Took us quite some time to find our way out and every time we hit a dead end Riley would say, "oh no Daddy, we'll never find our way out now!" Morgan enjoyed it in the sling on my back and would occasionally grab corn stalks within her reach. We left the farm with a 10 pound pumpkin that Daddy and Riley carved the next day. This time of year in New England is just beautiful and we are loving every second!

New England Adventures

We headed off to Maine for the long holiday weekend and had the best time! The leaves are changing and it's beautiful up there. We stopped in Boston on our way up to see some friends then pushed onwards to Lobster headquarters! We visited Freeport and the LLBean Flagship store, which I might add was fantastic! We outfitted Riley and Morgan for the upcoming winter in snow gear and Daddy bought Mommy some new hiking boots. The next day we drove to Bridgton, ME, where Daddy went to prep school. Bridgton Academy was so neat and Mommy was so glad to finally see the place that holds so many fond memories for Daddy! We watched them win a football game (Riley spent the game running on the baseball field next door...playing in the dirt and running the bases). Mommy was excited to see Riley seem so at home on the diamond! One day she'll be hitting base hits and playing softball...exciting :)

On our way back we stayed the night in Portsmouth, NH, with our good friends who are stationed there. We took the kids to a Pumpkin patch and Apple orchard and picked apples. It was the prettiest day and a great way to end our long weekend. It's cold in New England now and we're enjoying the fall weather. Apple cider, pumpkin lattes and hot chocolate are in full force in our household...love it!

Hello little monkey!

Our pretty little flower :)

In front of the big boot at LLBean!

Riley on the baseball field in Bridgton, Maine

(one of many pictures mommy hopes to get of her in the years to come on the diamond!)

You looking at me?

Sister love

Baby in the sky!

Mommy and her big girl

Enjoying the fall leaves in New England

Daddy and Riley in Bridgton

Overlooking a lake near Bridgton, ME

Daddy & his little girl #1

I love this picture of her!

Friends

Riley and Jamie in the pumpkin patch

Family shot in the Apple Orchard

Riley picking an apple

Daddy & Riley on an old farm tractor

Look at all those punkins!

The kiddos in the pumpkins

It's Been Awhile!!

Well, first I have to say that I have been a horrible blogger. Yep, thought I would be able to keep on top of it but in the few moments that I have to myself I enjoy spending them relaxing and not sitting in front of the computer! I apologize and hope that I can keep on top of this better. Our lives are busy but so exciting. In the past 4 months we have: enjoyed summer in New England, visited Cape Cod, had visits from Mimi, Boo & Pops, seen 2 fireworks shows, potty trained a toddler, vacationed to Texas for a month, bought a new family car, drove the car back to New England from TX, stopped in Dollywood for a visit, attended a wedding and realized Morgan has no problem feeding from a bottle (unlike her sister!), Riley started school, visited good friends in Portsmouth, NH, drove (just me & the girls) to DC for a visit to see Austin & Laura and Susan and catch a Navy football game, drove back (long trip!), Riley turned 3, went to Boston for the day, and in between all of that Morgan had a trip to the ER (uti infection) and we've all had a cold somewhere in there too! PHEW!

The girls change daily and I'm having so much fun spending my days with them and being their Mommy. Morgan is just about crawling (9 months) and I think she would rather walk than crawl! I caught her pulling herself up to a standing position in her crib. I've realized that the 3 inches I dropped the crib to should have been about 9 inches now! They grow so fast. She has 6 teeth and is working on 2 more on the bottom. She LOVES, let me repeat, LOVES to eat food. Anything and everything. We are having so much fun actually feeding a baby! Riley refused baby food and I have video to prove it at 9 months! Haha. To this day Riley has to inspect every piece of food that enters her mouth, whereas Morgan is happy to open up and let you shovel it in! Amazing how different they can be.

Riley started preschool twice a week and is enjoying it. We had a few rough days of her crying and not wanting to go, but I think she really enjoys it. I think it was initially tough on her having a routine of being away from me. She's never really spent time away from me or a family member, so this was all new! She looks so cute each day in her uniform. There is never a day that goes by where Riley doesn't shock me in some form or fashion. She really is such a smart girl and I've even caught her trying to write letters on her writing board. I could make out a C and an A! Amazing. She is very excited about Halloween and likes to go to the candy bowl and tell me that a piece of candy in there has her name on it. Cheeky girl! haha.

Mitch is busy with school but we have enjoyed so much having him home every day. It's spoiling us and we are afraid to let ourselves get used to it!! Ahead in the future (soon) sea duty looms...but we don't worry about that right now. Just enjoy each day! He's doing very well at school.

I'm still loving being a stay at home Mommy. No job I'd love more! I do admit there are hard days, but they are few and far between and the good days completely make up for the harder ones! I'd take the hardest day being a Mommy over the best day sitting in an office...hands down! These years are going by so fast (I wish they would slow down) and I know I'll never regret spending these days with the girls.

I'll post a few pictures of the last few months. Hopefully I can keep up on a regular basis now! I hope everyone is doing well. Newport was amazing in the summer and the Fall has finally arrived and I love it. My favorite time of year!

Morgan 9 Months old

Love this grin!

The Conehead family on Riley's 3rd birthday...has it really been 3 years?!

Gnome 1 and Gnome 2

HOORAY!! Love this...pure excitement

Pretty baby

Daddy & his girls at Dollywood cabin

I love them so much...sisters FOREVER!

Mama & big bit at Dollywood (it was SOOO hot!)

1st day of preschool (*tear*)

Summer fun in New England

Enjoying time at Cape Cod with a great childhood friend of Mommy's

Isn't he handsome?

Love taking their picture

4th of July

Mama's Day and a Trip to the Zoo!

Happy Mother's Day! I woke today to Riley knocking on Mitch's forehead "wake-up Daddy!" We all 4 cuddled up in bed for a bit this morning (one of my most favorite things to do). Riley and Mitch surprised me with a homemade plate for mother's day. Riley made it with Susan ("Susu") before we left DC. Susan took her to the Playseum there and they made the plate then. It's so special and I love it! I'll treasure it forever. Riley was so excited to give it to me. Thank you, Susan, for helping Riley make such a special memory for me!

After we all dressed and ate breakfast, we headed to the Providence zoo and met our great friends, the Tuthill family, there. We had a nice morning touring the zoo with the kids. They have the cutest little boy, Jamie, who is just over a year. He is fascinated with Morgan and I think he doesn't know what to think of the chatty, loud girl Riley! haha. The day was beautiful but extremely windy! After the zoo we went to Chilis and the guys treated us to a nice Mother's day lunch.

Happy Mother's day to all the wonderful Moms in our lives. We love you all and are so blessed to have you in our life! I'm extremely blessed to be the mother to two of the most beautiful and loving little girls. Thank you, girls, and Daddy for making my Mother's day such a memorable one. I love you all!

Here are a few pictures from today (I didn't take many):

Trying to get a better view...

James and Jamie...such a cute picture! I love his little hand holding onto his Daddy.

She wanted to sit on this dog statue.

Isn't Jamie cute?! He has the prettiest dark brown eyes.

I had to take a picture of Morgan doing what she does most of the time. Maybe one day I'll get a picture of her awake while we are out enjoying things with us! haha!