Simple joys of Fall

The weather - it's perfect here! Mornings bring a crisp coolness and the need to wear jackets on the way to preschool, afternoons allow us to run around outside in pants and a short sleeved shirt, and the nights bring again that chill so we can build a little hand warmer in the fireplace or snuggle under a blanket on the couch. I love this fall weather! That's one of the simple joys of our fall so far.

Class field trips. Isla's already had one to the pumpkin patch and two more since then: the fire station and park and to a petting zoo. Gigi and I tagged along to the fire station and park. The kids loved seeing all that a fire truck had to offer and even got to explore the inside. Isla was the first one on.

Then they ventured inside to the fire men's living quarters. One of the firemen demonstrated how they got into their gear and he took every step very slowly b/c some of the kids were terrified of his outfit, especially the oxygen mask. But they had fun dancing in the kitchen and looking at all the work out equipment in the weight room.

I love this picture because these girls were all in the same class last year and they are still the best of friends: (Riley and Isla, Caroline and Natalia)

The whole little 3 year old class listening so intently. (Natalia, Roshan, Teddy, Caroline, Ray, Rose, John Michael, Isla, Riley, Max, Miles and Lauren)

We headed to the park after the tour and had fun sliding, playing in the sandbox, jumping on the suspension bridge, and most of all swinging on the tire swing. It was a great morning!

My mornings with Leo. We have the best time playing in the living room, going on walks, swinging in the yard, going to storytimes, reading books in his nursery and just hanging out together doing nothing. He is growing up so fast.

Visits from Papa are always great fun as well. Here's John Jr. and John the Fourth.

And what beats putting your little one to bed? I absolutely LOVE our nighttime routines. Snuggling under the sheets, saying prayers, and reading books by flashlight, it's the best! I hope sweet little Isla never outgrows this part of our day. It's too precious for me to ever give up.

His cheeks and smiles!

First fires of fall and playing games on the living room floor in warm, new pajamas.
Ballerina poses...she's constantly striking them in preparation for her big nutcracker performance in December. I can't wait!

Fletcher football games. That's right, we headed out the other night to see the Senators battle Coach Eddie Shea's First Coast team. First Coast destroyed Fletcher and my Dad was happy. Isla was just excited to play with her friend and fellow ballerina, Ruby. They just stared at the cheerleaders all night and even got to do a stunt with them which I wasn't fast enough to snap a picture of.

Leo actually liked watching the game and stood and said "ba-ball" all night. Translation - football. He's going to be our little linebacker.

Afternoon activities with my two babies. We hang out in the kitchen, bake goodies like spice bread, sit on the tile playing with Ellie Cat.

Breakfast. I think I've said this before, but I really do love it. Chatting about what the day is going to bring us, listening to all the thoughts that go through a 3 year old's head, watching Leo get more food on him then in him, and sipping my coffee. Ah, it's wonderful!

Isla and Leo. They light up my life and i don't know what I'd do without them. We are having so much fun this fall. How can it get any better?

Happy Halloween!

We had a Faboolous weekend! The best one we've had all fall. It was action packed and the kids are still catching up on the sleep they lost. My mom's school, Beaches Chapel, had their fall festival Friday night. Isla and Leo enjoyed all the activities they had for little ones. We started the night off with hotdogs, snowcones, chips and a brownie. (oh and this was Isla's Halloween outfit so she had to wear it to any and all Halloween festivities)

Then it was over to the pony rides....Isla was a little reluctant at first because these were big ponies but then she got over it and climbed into the saddle like a real cowgirl.

Leo kept an eye out on her and practiced taking a few steps in the grass while she went around in circles.

The view was better up on mom's shoulders though...

Then it was over to the blow up slide where Isla must have slid down at least 10 times.

As the sun started to set, so did our little Leo. So we ventured inside to the cake walk, face painting station and more bouncy houses. There were 20 people playing the cake walk at a time and they only picked two winners each round. When it was Isla and Gigi's turn they stopped on number 20 and guess whose number was pulled? That's right...we walked away with some yummy jelly bean topped cupcakes picked by the little winner herself.

Saturday was pumpkin carving day. We carved a little witch pumpkin for Isla by her request, a pirate pumpkin for mommy and a big "Scream" face on Daddy's pumpkin. Leo's was too tiny to carve.
Then we just relaxed in the afternoon and messed around until we saw the Gators take a little bite of some bulldog tail.

Then came Halloween night; the moment Isla was waiting for all weekend. After a dinner of mac and cheese, blueberries, and cucumbers it was time to load up with snickers, nerds, and laffy taffy. Isla dressed up as The Little Mermaid, Ariel and Leo was her sidekick, Sebastian the lobster. Then we headed over to Coach and Gigi's neighborhood for the main event.

There couldn't be any cuter under the sea creatures...

It really was a fabulous night. And now we are ready for Thanksgiving and all the fun that the month of November will bring. I'm planning on taking Isla with me to buy a lotto ticket soon. I'm hoping her cake walk luck will win me some Christmas money. :)