Fall Fun

We've been busy with fall activities! It is so much more fun this year, Jackson can do almost everything, and he enjoys it. He loved the fair, loved loved. He would have gladly gone on rides for hours. I would have loved to go on them with him, but this eggo is preggo, no rides for me. The fair is a great place for a pregnant lady, other than not being able to go on rides, that is. There is a whole lot of yummy food, all in one place. Homemade fudge, panzarollis, and deep fried cheesecake, yum in my tum. I definitely paid for it later, but it is worth it for the deliciousness.

This past weekend we also made a trip to the pumpkin farm. This is something Jackson will probably enjoy more next year. We walked a 7km corn maze, and I'm sure he wondered why the scenery was the same for an hour and a half. Then he played in a giant sandbox before we picked out our pumpkins and chowed down on candy corn. I think the sandbox may have been the highlight for him. We are  going to carve our pumpkins very soon, and I'm sure he is going to really enjoy that, it will be an outside activity, because Jackson can make a mean mess with food. Now we just have to decide on a Halloween costume for him, and we will be set for trick or treating. Gosh life is more fun with this boy!
Happy Fall!

Fall Family Photos

Saturday we headed out, with our trusty Nikon D60, to take some family pictures. 

These were taken at Albion Falls, in Hamilton, Ontario.

If you are into editing your photos, check out Adobe Lightroom. Awesome, easy to use program. Most of these pictures looked beautiful as they were, but a few adjustments really made them pop.

I hope you all had a fab thanksgiving weekend (for those of you in Canada) ! I'll post tomorrow on our Thanksgiving festivities.

Our Weekend In Pictures

We went to the Caledonia Fair. Ate some panzerolis, funnel cake and bought some fudge. Looked at chickens, goats, bunnies and cows. Jackson liked looking at everything, i can't wait until he's old enough to go on rides, and get excited for things like this. None the less, he enjoyed himself. I feel bad for the poor cow he "petted" (ie; pinched, we need to work on being gentle)

We played some scrabble, and drank some vino. 

We also watched movies, stayed up late, slept in (does 8am count as sleeping in?) made baked mac and cheese. Ate ice cream, and vegitated (is that a word?) 

Of course Sunday is all about football for Marcus and Jackson. That's mommy's time to herself. Of course a mommy's time to her self generally ends up involving laundry or cleaning.

That was our weekend. Nothing fancy. Just time with our family. And our adorable, sweet, face pinching poo face. (we really need a new nickname for him before he can remember being called poo face)

Our Weekend Looked Like This

 We celebrated a double digit birthday with my nephew, Jacksons cousin. Jackson had pizza for the first time. Obviously not the best choice for a baby, but we tried tuna with him for the first time, and he wouldn't eat it. So pizza it was! He loved it, of course.

He does love his toast with avocado though!

Lastly a giant bonfire. Night shots with the D60 are awesome!

Jackson Goes to Byng

This past week was a busy one. Jackson met his Uncle Cody for the first time, as he lives in Alberta. We also spent a bunch of time at a local campground (Byng) Jackson sat on a motorcycle for the first time (and i hope he isn't on one that's moving for another 16 years!) with his Auntie Nomi.

Of course, being the food connoisseur he is, he ate lots of Mum Mum crackers at the pool. They don't allow food, but he's a rebel like that. (And momma loves Mum Mum's, because they keep him occupied for at least 10 minutes!) He's still practicing his crawling skills, always on his hands and knees. We had a breakthrough the past week, he learned to get from his tummy to sitting by himself, and can pull up on low things. I see furniture cruising in his near future!

We have a true water baby. This pool is generally freezing, and is tolerable on a day where it's scorching hot. The days we went it was just "warm" outside. Therefore the freezing pool felt extra freezing (i should add that it is an enormous pool, more of a man made lake, the size doesn't really allow it to warm up too much) It is pretty awesome for little kids, because it is shallow all the way around the edges, and there's an awesome splash pad. For the bigger kids there is an awesome diving board. Not for Jackson for several more years. He had a blast in the splash pad though, especially the tiny fountain that was just his height. Jackson enjoying the freezing pool just goes to show you, that you really have to keep trying new things with a baby. At the beginning of the summer he hated being in water unless it was warm warm warm. You've come a long way little dude, and momma looks forward to many years of you dragging me into freezing cold pools.

A Lavender Festival In Pictures

Purple Daze Lavender Farm

Daddy, Mommy and Jackson

Jackson and his bff, Fen.

Mommies and babies

If you live in the Haldimand, Norfolk, or Hamilton area, check out the 

Purple Daze Lavender Farm.

It smells fabulous, and it's worth the drive. We checked out the Lavender festival this year. It was filled with vendors selling natural products, there was a celtic band, and some local produce. Fun for the whole family.

Going to the Beach

We expose Jackson to everything we can. We want him to like going out and doing things. I don't ever want him to be the kid that's afraid of everything. I want him to love going swimming in a lake, rolling around in the sand, and just being a boy!

This last weekend was a hot one, so we headed to the beach. Lathered the little man up in his sunscreen, and into the water he went. He's still not a huge fan of the water, but he tolerates it. I think by the end of the summer he'll love it, and we won't be able to get him out.

We didn't get any pictures of him fully in the water, here he is just dipping his toes. The look on his face when a wave comes is precious. You can tell he is just trying to figure out what the heck is going on.

Seeing everything through a babies eyes, really makes you see that the world is a wondrous magical place.

I know we have years of beach fun ahead of us, and we can't wait. 

Necessities for going to the beach with a small baby (Jackson has been going since he was 4 months old):

-A beach umbrella, you never know if there will be shade.

-Tear free spray sunscreen, so much easier for slathering all over them.

-An area that you can keep somewhat sand free for them for eat, play with toys that go in their mouth,nap.

-A comfort from home that they can nap with. Jackson has one of those bears attached to a little blankie that he likes to snuggle.The beach can be a hard place for a baby to fall asleep as per the noise and brightness.Also an extra towel to try and make a softer spot for them to nap, the beach can bumpy. (i don't want to lug a playpen to the beach)

-Wet facecloths for sticky hands, and the sand they WILL get in their face.

-A uv shirt or wet suit (we keep him under the umbrella as much as possible)

Happy summer!