Fabulous Fall!!

Yes, I have been derelict in updating the blog. But it's because I've been outside so much, enjoying this glorious fall weather! If I thought last fall was gorgeous, I was in for a surprise... this year is even more beautiful! The colors are so vibrant, and the weather has been so nice (not too cold, very few rainy days). Because we haven't had many storms, the trees are holding onto their leaves longer. It's just amazing. It blows my mind that I lived for 33 years without seeing a New England fall. It's like living in a postcard or a travel magazine. I LOVE IT!!!

Anyway... Prepare yourself for photo overload. I've taken a LOT in the past two weeks, because it's FALL! And it's fantastic!!

First up, a pic of the boy from October 2nd. We went for a bike ride on the rail trail, and I made him take a few pics. I LOVE this one of my almost-6(!!)-year-old!

Then, last weekend, I dragged everyone out to do some family photos. I love what I got, though I will probably drag us out again tomorrow. I found a spot that I love, which is actually where this photo was taken. It's back behind the middle school here in town, which is also behind Niko's elementary school, haha! Such a nice, private spot! I took some others at the state park here in town, but the lighting wasn't as good (it was overcast, and so it was dark in the woods!). I plan to get as many family photos as possible with all this color around us!

I also captured this one. Niko was in kind of a bad mood all day, and we had promised to take him to a basketball court to play if he was good during family pictures. But then he got upset that Gus was helping Maya "cheat" (picking her up and letting her throw the ball through the hoop). He was ready to take his ball and go home. He recovered, though. :P

This past week, on Tuesday, Maya had her first-ever preschool field trip. It was her first time riding the bus! I couldn't go, since the timing conflicted with getting Niko to school, but her parent chaperone was my mom-friend (who happens to be Greek, married to a non-Greek... sound familiar?). Maya and Zoe had a blast together! We were actually supposed to go to little Zoe's birthday party today, but the party has been postponed due to illness. But I digress! The field trip was awesome! They made these shirts that said "I'm a Good Apple!" and printed on them with cut-up apples. They each got an "Expert Picker" sticker at the farm, where someone showed them the proper way to pick apples. Then each kiddo got to pick a quarter-peck to take home. They also got to pick out one small pumpkin. They had a hay ride, and had farm-fresh apple cider and cider doughnuts. And then they had a picnic lunch outside once they got back to the school. The weather was PERFECT for it. I took a picture of my sweet girl once we got home. She loved it and talked about it for the rest of the day! The MOST exciting part? They had HAM SANDWICHES for lunch! The girl loves ham, hehe!!

And then a gratuitous picture of my baby girl. Niko was at school, and the weather was so nice! And because the plants are all dying back in the woods, we can actually get out there and explore a bit. This was actually taken in our front yard, off to the side. Maya was collecting leaves, as always. But seriously? We live in a beautiful, beautiful place. My eyes hurt, it's so pretty! This is our YARD! That blows my mind!

Fast forward to yesterday... we went to the public safety open house here in town, at the fire station. We made it there before the big crowds did, though the foggy/misty weather might have kept some people away. We still had fun! Niko especially liked being locked up in the back of the squad car. Let's hope this is the only time he ever sits there!!

Then, after lunch, it was off to the pumpkin patch! I had actually planned to take us to a farm a few towns over, but then I learned that a farm here in town was offering hayrides out to their patch. It's the same farm we sometimes buy milk or cheese at. It's run by an older couple that is really nice, and we've been going there since shortly after we moved here-- it's right by the kids' preschool! However, we'd never gone beyond the little store that they have there. The place is HUGE!! I had no idea! And there were so many pumpkins-- the tractor driver had gigantic clippers that he used to cut our chosen pumpkins right off the vines. These are FRESH pumpkins, people! I loved it. And the fog/mist kept people away-- we had the entire hayride to ourselves!!

After that, we came home, kicked off our muddy shoes, and settled in to watch movies on the couch. We even turned on the pellet stove for a little while. It's crazy how much colder all the mist made it feel-- it was still in the 50s, but it felt so much colder!

And finally, today! Niko went to a birthday party for his friend Brayden. Brayden was his first preschool buddy when we moved here. And then they were on the same t-ball team for two years in a row. And now they are in the same kindergarten class! It wasn't a class party-- just a few of Brayden's friends. Niko has been excited about this for weeks! The party was at a movie theater, and then they got to see "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2." He had a great time! Gus took him to that party, while Maya and I had girl time. I raked up a pile of leaves and let her have at it. Even Nugget got in on the fun! Maya was miserable, as you can tell...

And that's it! Gus and the kids have tomorrow off (Columbus Day), so who knows what our day will hold! But now I am all caught up... Whew!!! Sorry for so many pictures in one post! :)