Apple Picking

Went to Afton Apple Orchard recently. It was a gorgeous, warm fall day. We got to pick apples and three kinds of raspberries - red, pink, and yellow. We had such a good time. Below is a photo overload.

gotta start with apple donuts (and coffee for the adults) 

A little over 3' this year

Jo's first apple orchard experience

Oli liked to pick (and mostly eat) raspberries

Josie 11 months

11-month old Josie is just as sweet and cute as she can be. She's super fast at crawling now and usually walks with us holding one hand for support (instead of both hands like the previous many months). She has 8 teeth now (!) and eats a lot. She loves fruit but will eat almost anything. She is still taking two naps but they vary in length from one day to the next. She sleeps pretty well at night although some nights are better than others. She has a few words (mama, dada, more, cat, stop) but we're working on more and trying to teach her signs too. She waves, points, and does high-fives.

11 months old, with Bandit

So big she hardly fits on the blanket

She usually plays whatever Oliver is playing and watching the two of the play together is so cute. If he is playing music, she'll usually either play along on the keyboard or do her version of dancing. That said, she's also pretty good at playing by herself for short periods of time too. She loves books. Just like Oli at this age we read her books in the bath. She loves the Elmo "astronaut" book the best, especially the countdown part. She's pretty attached to both Chris and I but will spend time with others pretty easily. At Oliver's party (a few days after she turned 11 months old) she loved spending time with her aunt Shell and was pretty content to have some of the other party-goers walk her around the park.

wearing Oli's baby suspenders

standing

everywhere we go people say
these two look alike

loves to walk

only needs one hand for support now!

goofy little peanut

I'm holding on to the end of her babyhood with everything I can, but I know it's coming to an end soon. This is such a great age! We love you Jo.

And Oliver at 11 months.

Oliver Turns 3

Oliver turned 3 on Saturday so we had his party on his actual birthday this year. We had a party with friends and family at Wabun Park in Minneapolis. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was warm and sunny. And the leaves are changing and starting to fall here so it was just a gorgeous day. It was a morning party so we had coffee, fruit, and pastries and then cupcakes later. We've done a color theme every year and this year was yellow. Chris made chocolate peanut butter cupcakes from scratch that were delicious. Oli has been developing his sweet tooth this year so we were surprised that he wasn't that interested. He's been incrementally more interested in his birthday cupcake each year, but still just took a few small bites. Unfortunately we didn't get many photos from the party. We were too busy having a good time. Thanks to everyone who made it!

getting set up

thinking about blowing out his candles

father & son

Later in the day we went to another park and then to Punch Pizza, one of Oli's favorite restaurants where he devoured an entire margherita pizza and then ate some of his cousin's cheese pizza too.

love this expression

serious on the swings

looking like a big kid

swings are still fun

balance beam

At night he opened some more presents and then crashed from a long day. Thanks to all who sent him presents. You're all so generous!

I can't believe you're already 3 years old Oli. Wasn't it just yesterday that your dad and I were eating pizza in the hospital with a newborn baby in our arms? I love you so much. You're smart, imaginative, funny, talkative, stubborn, playful, and sweet. You make us laugh and keep us on our toes. I can already tell that each birthday is going to feel bittersweet. I want to keep you little and I'm also excited to watch you grow. xoxo

3 looks cool on this kid

trying out his new tape player

eating fruit from his edible arrangment

dancing in his cool new t!

And because I can't help but reminisce about all his previous birthdays, here's Oli turning 2, turning 1, and on his birth day.