Apple-picking!

Well, that title is a tad deceiving since no actual apple-picking took place but we did have a wonderful fall day at an apple orchard!  The whole Carter clan made the trip to Delano for lunch at the Peppermint Twist (what a great place!) and then on to Apple Jack Orchard. 

Zoe and Jackson dancing to the jukebox before lunch.

Peppermint Twist is such a great place for kids...and the food is really good too!  It's an old-fashioned drive-in style with lots of outdoor activities.  The kids loved the wishing well!

The playground had those crazy noodles that you find at the pool.  They were a hit with Jackson and Zoe!

Jackson and Grandma and Grandpa Carter playing in the train.

After a yummy lunch and a little playtime, it was off to Apple Jack Orchards.  Unfortunately, there were no apples to actually pick but they did have lots of pumpkins, a big hay pile for the kids to play on, a small petting zoo area, hay rides and an apple canon.

Jackson LOVED the pumpkins! He found the little one he has in his hand and carried it around most of the afternoon.

Mom, why do you put me in these crazy poses?  You know all I want to do is run around and play!

Finally, on to the animals!

Checking out the turkeys with Mom

...and the goats.

Looking at the chickens and roosters with Zachary.  Pretty cool!

Look Mom, the goat is right next to me!

Enough of this walking around.  I want to ride in style!

Family picture -- unhappy Jackson.  Oh well, you can't win them all!

Look at this cool chair!  Can we take it home?

More pumpkin time

It occurred to me that weekend, as it does frequently these days, that he is such a little boy.  He's not a baby anymore.  He charged into toddler-hood and hasn't looked back.  If given the option of walking or being carried, he wants to walk.  He absolutely won't let you feed him anything.  He wants to do it himself.  In the last couple of weeks he's decided that he doesn't need us to read him books.  He will sit down and "read" them himself.  On Saturday he even grabbed the wrapper from a granola bar he'd just eaten and promptly threw it in the garbage -- something I'd never seen him do before!  And he laughs like no other child I've met!  He cracks himself up (and his parents too) constantly.  I really can't wait until he starts talking so I know all of the funny things he's saying.  He has his temper tantrums too but while it's frustrating when he's in the middle of one, he really is a good-natured little boy and the odd tantrum is a small price to pay for all of his giggles, smiles and hugs. 

Ok, time for a few pictures and videos from the cabin

We spent Labor Day at the cabin with my parents and Elizabeth and Reef.  The weather was cool and crisp.  Fall was letting us know that our sunny days of summer were numbered.  But honestly, I'm OK with that.  I love Fall!  Football season, beautiful trees, cozy sweaters and my North Face fleece.  These are all things that put a big smile on my face.  Fall is wonderful and after a HOT summer, I'm happy that it's here.

Here are a few pictures from our week Up North.  We all had a great time, especially Jackson who got to spend a whole week with Grandma and Grandpa Blair!

Reading time with Grandma

Our little goofball

Nothing quite like a sippy cup of milk in the morning, especially in the woods!

One of his latest favorite things to do is take the toys out of the little toy bin and get in it. 

Silly boy! 

The cats made the trip to the cabin too.  Here they are trying to devise a plan to catch the squirrel out on the deck.

Possibly the highlight of the week, chasing the ducks in front of Gunflint Lodge. 

Here are two "Jackson with the ducks" videos.  The first one is from Labor Day weekend and the second one is from the end of September when we were all back up at the cabin to close it for the season. 



So Far Behind

I know, it's been so long since I've posted anything.  September has been incredibly busy and we've had so much going on that I just can't seem to find time to sit down and sort through pictures to get them posted.  We've been to the cabin for a week over Labor Day, back to the cabin for a short weekend to get the dock in and start the "closing" process and we've spent some time outside enjoying the beautiful fall weather.

But, the big news is that Jackson had been moved up to the toddler room at daycare.  It's happened an entire month early (typically they stay in the infant room until 16 months) but we are all VERY excited about it.  Honestly, for the last two weeks he has spent most of his time in the toddler room.  I have been dropping him off in the infant room from breakfast in the morning but by mid-morning he is down with the toddlers. 

The toddler room means more independence but more fun for him too.  Because of the independence, he is able to explore what he wants to do more.  The toys and activities they have are geared towards older kids.  There is music class twice a week which I know he will love!  He gets to play outside at least twice a day.  In the toddler room they have group time twice a day as well.  During group time they sing songs, practice counting and ABC's.  They even work on Spanish language skills with the toddlers.  I really think being around the older kids is going to be so good for him.  He was clearly bored with the infant room and watching older kids and being exposed to more is going to be great developmentally. 

That being said, this whole change was supposed to happen Tuesday, NOT TODAY!!!  I was prepared for Tuesday.  I was prepared for one last day of dropping him off in the infant room.  I was prepared for our little morning routine of getting him settled, a little chat with the teacher, a last cuddle before I'm off to work.  I was NOT prepared to be told to drop him off in the big kids room where they eat breakfast at little tables and drink out of cups (not sippy-cups -- yikes!).  It became very clear to me that I really don't have a baby anymore.  I have a toddler who is growing up way too fast.  I just want it all to slow down.  How is it possible that the last 15 months have gone by so quickly?  HELP!