So, as part of Brianna’s membership to the local kid’s museum (thanks Nana and Poppa!), she was invited to their annual pumpkin carving party. So, we picked out a pumpkin and off we went. Along the way she realized “carving” meant cutting. “I don’t want to cut my pumpkin!” Perhaps she has seen a bit too much of the Great Pumpkin…
Anyway, when we got there we discovered there were lots of options, including just using other things to make faces on the pumpkin. She was thrilled!
Getting ready to “carve.”
Jason and I helped her secure all the items to the pumpkin, but she picked everything out, and told us where to put them. Side A (named “Jason”):
Hiding from the camera…
Side B (named “Brianna”):
She had a great time, and was even more thrilled to have time to play at the museum before and after the party!
We recently took B to our local fair. Last year she was too small for most rides, and quite frankly, not interested in much other than the merry-go-round (though after some encouragement she did try and seem to enjoy a few others). This year was a whole different story. She pretty much wanted to ride everything, and if possible, she wanted to do it by herself. No encouragement required.
We started with the merry-go-round (which she rode twice). As you can see, she is already looking ahead to the next ride…
Next she wanted to do the little boat ride (“all by myself!”).
After that, she moved on to the jalopy ride (again, “all by myself!”). In the first picture, she is objecting to all the pictures I am taking…
Then came the slide…the gigantic slide (~50′ in the air) that I was convinced she would not go down. She wanted to do this one by herself too, but she is not yet big enough. She almost pitched a fit, but finally acquiesced. Three times!! She went down this huge slide three times, and would have gone more if we had let her!
Then came the interesting part. Her next ride of choice was the Kraft Macaroni & Cheese equivalent of the teacups (or the strawberries) – aka a roundy-round ride. Jason refuses to ride on anything that goes round and round, especially with me (admittedly, I’ll spin that thing like a crazy person). But, B insisted on riding it, I am not allowed on that ride right now, and B was not big enough to go by herself. What is a Daddy to do? Why ride the ride of course (although he did not tell her that the “steering wheel” in the middle would make the cup spin…)!
Then she headed off to another one – a fire engine that rotates high up into the air. I was shocked she wanted to do that one too, but she loved it!
By this point, we only had enough tickets left to ride one more ride (much to her dismay). She chose a worm ride that she had to ride by herself – both Jason and I are considered to be too tall to ride it.
To distract her from her disappointment about the end of the rides, we took her over to the games and told her to pick one. She picked fishing, and won two fish. She was so proud!
She did GREAT (and that includes walking at least 15 minutes to and from the car), and had a great time! Best fair experience ever!
We have kicked off autumn with several trips to the local corn maze/farm. We went the first time the first weekend in October with lots of B’s buddies from school. The kids had lots of fun – sometimes playing with each other, but more often than not, playing around each other. Brianna’s favorite seemed to be the bouncy houses.
Playing the “fall down game” with her buddies.
Hayride with Sam
The tractors were also a big hit! The kids are allowed to climb all over them.
That first Saturday, a firetruck with some firemen were there to visit. Brianna was very excited to get a new hat…
…and of course, a pumpkin.
She was a little less excited about me taking her picture next to the pumpkin scale…
The second weekend in October, we went on Saturday and Sunday to do some things we missed the first time, and just because B loves it so much.
The giant pumpkin (she can’t get enough of this thing)!
And this time, they had a little train ride! She got to ride this twice because the first time they broke down midway through the ride.
We also ventured into the corn maze (Brianna is good for about 20 minutes before the “I’m done” starts).
Leading the way!
Of course, we had to do another hay ride.
And she even let me get a cute picture amongst the pumpkins (no small feat, I assure you).
