Apple Picking

Last year was our first attempt at apple picking.  Unfortunately we waited too long into October and you could no longer pick the apples yourself.  None the less I really wanted to go so we made the 2 hour trek into the Georgia Mountains so Eli could experience apple picking for the first time.  If I were a gambling person I would have bet that any Georgia Saturday in October would be gorgeous for apple picking.  If we were heading into Michigan I would have been nervous all week about what the weather would be like.  I live in Georgia so surely the weather would be beautiful.  Here we are last year…

Can you say BURRRRR!  It was so cold and rainy it was exactly what I would have planned for in Michigan!  Eli couldn’t walk yet so basically he sat in his stroller freezing while we picked apples out of the bins in the store.  Not quite what I envisioned for the day but it was fun anyway. 

Fast forward to this past weekend.  Can you say HOT! It was 90 degrees by noon.  The complete opposite of last year but so much FUN!  It was a perfect day for a family outing.  I seriously live for doing this type of stuff.  I LOVE going to places like this and watching Eli think the simplest things are the most amazing things in the world. 

First things first… the petting zoo.  Eli wasn’t crazy about the animals but he was definitely curious after some coaxing from Tata.  These goats were silly! 

Riding the bull and of course hugging the calf.  Eli is all about hugs!

The best part of the petting zoo…. not the animals but the pretend tractor!

Finally! Apple picking! Finding the perfect apple to pick- I mean throw!

 

Look at that innocent little face.  Don’t be fooled he whipped that apple across the orchard after posing for this picture.

Eli finally decided to give his apple a try!   Milan picking some Honey Crisp apples.

 

This day was about as good as it gets.  Eli was an angel in the car on the long ride up there.  We couldn’t have asked for him to behave better than he did exploring the orchard and on the way home he slept like a champ.  He’s been asking and asking for a “sopper” (soccer) ball lately so we decided to get him one on our way home. 

I’m pretty sure this was the biggest smile I saw on his face all day.  Ahh, I can always count on a ball to make my child happy. 

Next year… we will have 2 kids at the apple orchard! I can’t wait to see what that will be like!  Life is always an adventure and I sure do love the ride! :) 

Mr. Busy Body

Eli is as busy as they come.  I am pretty sure he would give the Energizer Bunny a run for his money.  Eli’s awake hours are non-stop.  Luckily he is sleeping a straight 11 hours at night and taking a good 1.5 to 2 hour nap in the afternoon.  I have to force him to lay down and go to sleep but once he does he is out cold.  I know without a doubt that if I didn’t force him to sleep he’d stay up all night watching late night movies (usually really bad ones with Steven Seagal in them!) with Milan.  Eli just wants to go go go. 

The weather in Georgia is starting to cool off some.  By that I mean that it is no longer in the mid to high nineties with 100% humidity.  We can actually go outside in the mornings and the evenings without melting. Eli a.k.a Mr. Busy Body is much happier now that we are able to venture out more.  The park has been a frequent stop lately and the water table has been brought back out.  Believe it or not it was too hot to even play in the water table.  I may be complaining slightly but don’t be mistaken I will take this miserable heat over those miserable northern winters any day!

Here’s some of the fun we’ve been having over the past month.  I can’t wait for fall and all of the fun that comes along with it! Each new stage Eli enters is more exciting than the last.  I can’t wait to watch him run around at the apple orchard and pumpkin patch.  I can’t wait to see what he thinks of Halloween and all that candy he’ll get.  Maybe I will even give him a piece this year!  And above all, I can’t wait for him to look forward to going to “school” instead of crying about it! All in due time I suppose……

No more blowing bubbles in the toilet. Ahh, thank goodness they make toilet locks. 

Mommy’s little helper. “Eli do Eli do”

Eli discovered soccer!

“Peek-a-boo Mama!” Eli loves to play Peek-a- boo. This is his new hiding place.  He closes the door and then yells “where’s Eli?” It is just too funny.

The next time you think you are having a bad hair day just remember this picture. Eli wakes up with the wildest hair I’ve ever seen! Cracks me up!!

I thought I was going to be such a strict Mama about things.  Quite the contrary. Eli chooses to eat his breakfast on the couch with the remote.  If you ask him what he’s watching he’ll tell you Fox News. He’s not the least bit interested in cartoons (yet that is).  He will sit and stare at the news as if he is actually understands what they’re talking about!

 

 

Can you say obsessed with sports?  Eli is either throwing a ball or carrying one around under his arm.  Most kids carry stuffed animals around but not mine. His best friends are Mr. Basketball, Mr. Baseball, and Mr. Football.  At least he’s finally learned he can’t throw the ball to me when I am driving. 

Eli LOVES his Sesame Street house and the figurines.  You know he loves Harrison just as much since he is willing to share it with him.  This table has two chairs and each chair has an owner.  Eli only sits in “his” chair because the other one is Harrison’s.  When one of his other friends came to play and tried to sit at the table he told them “no that’s Harrison’s chair!”  These two are still the very best of buds!

This little boy is the sweetest child in the world. I love him to pieces!

Fun Fun Fun

Grandpa came for a visit and boy did we have fun playing outside!

Grandpa bought Eli his first baseball tee

 

 

 

 

 

Playing ball at the park

 

 

 

 

 

Playing with the hose is soooo much fun!

Silly Goose!

Thanks for visiting Grandpa! Come back soon! Love, Eli

Birthday Cake

Milan and Eli started a birthday cake tradition together last year.  The boys worked hard in the kitchen making Mama a cake for her birthday.  How sweet is that!  Milan did all of the work last year but this year was much different! Eli was able to help help help!

The night before my birthday Milan told Eli they were going to make Mama a cake in the morning.  Eli woke up and dragged me into the kitchen saying “make Mama’s cake make Mama’s cake”.  Before Milan could even start coffee for us Eli had him at the counter getting out all the ingredients.  It was too cute for words.

Here’s a look back at how teeny Eli was just one year ago….

 

     Trying to help stir the cake                             Watching the cake bake

Here is our little chef making Mama’s cake this year like a big boy!

 

                    Getting started                       Pouring in the graham cracker crumbs

 

       Using the mixer all by myself!                            Patting down the crust

 

    I need a little help pouring                   Proud little boy

This year’s cake is called Ice Box Cake.  My Aunti Ann used to make it for us when I was a kid and since my Uncle Norm just passed away a few days before my birthday I was remembering eating this cake at their house.  I thought it would make a nice birthday cake this year.  It was delicious!

Thank you Eli & Tata for making me a wonderful birthday cake- again!