Pumpkin Patch 2012

We returned to the very popular pumpkin patch by the grandparents, where we had taken pictures of Collin his first Halloween, for a TON of pictures, this year with a new cousin to join the fun!  Grandma Libia with her two grandsons -

 Collin started out strong, posing with me -

And with our family -

But then he discovered the wagons, and suddenly posing for pictures lost all of its glamour - 

 Distressed as another boy started pulling "his" wagon and intently looking out for another one - 

After the wagon drama, we resorted to fake laughter to elicit smiles - 

Tickles, bribes, matching hats -



And upside down acrobatics -

The most natural smile came when driving the tractor -

Nico didn't protest all the photos, our gorgeous nephew with his uncle - 

After countless pictures, we headed to dinner to celebrate Grandma Libia's birthday.  Another fun, family afternoon and evening!

Fall fun with family

Collin was delighted by a visit from cousin Nico one weekend.  He showed him all his toys, read him some books, and even shared his silkie, his little security blanket that he sleeps with daily. 

 He also tried to encourage Nico during tummy time, but no three-month old enjoys tummy time!

Collin spent one night with Grammy and Brownie so we could get some house unpacking and projects done more efficiently than we could with a two-year-old in tow.  They wrestled in the front yard -

 

 And went to the Children's Museum where they let him paint his own face -

They ended the weekend with some front yard tennis practice.  He'll be ready for Thanksgiving where we spend the long weekend at a tennis camp every year!

We have been having a great time with our family this fall!

Zoo with friends

After our breakfast watching the front yard construction, we headed to the zoo on Friday.  We were able to meet my friends Jill and her daughter Kiley, Rachel and her sons Oliver and Elliot, and Rachel's neighbor Celeste and her daughter Kyla.  We traversed the zoo with four two-year-olds and 6-month-old Elliot, and it was fun to witness all the animal excitement! 

We met at the sea lions, and thanks to sweet Jill, I made it in a photo or two.  I realize this shirt is too short, but Collin was determined to wear his Thomas shirt, with no reasoning or bribes able to convince him otherwise  -  

Of course we spent awhile at the bongo drums before visiting the chimpanzees.  Playing with Jill and Kiley -

 And drumming with Mommy -

 
 Collin could have stayed here 30 minutes if we let him -

 Happy when Oliver joined -

 
After lunch by the giraffes, we went to the petting zoo, a first for Oliver and Kyla.


 It was really cute watching the boys play together, with Oliver imitating Collin -

Before we entered the petting zoo, I had told Rachel that Collin likes petting the goats, but is just as happy brushing the dirt.  And those Y chromosomes produced the same behavior in Oliver -

I am so thankful for my part-time schedule that lets me meet up with friends and their children throughout the week! 

Breakfast picnic on the front porch

While Cas and I are less than thrilled that we're about to lose access to our driveway during some street construction, Collin is thrilled with the free construction equipment entertainment right outside our front yard.

The excavator at the end of the driveway -

 It is "so big" -

On Friday morning, they were tearing up the street and ditch right outside of our home.  How could we pass up the opportunity for a breakfast picnic on the front porch, watching the construction vehicles at work?

 Our enthralled two year old looking on at the excavator and bulldozer -

With diggers, cement trucks, excavators and more right outside our front door, Collin never wants to leave home!

Kisses for his first cousin

Collin got to meet his first first-cousin, Nico, the weekend after he was born . . . back in July.  Three months later we finally have our home computer back!

We had prepped Collin to be gentle and not poke his new infant cousin, but all Collin wanted to do was smother him with kisses. 

Big grins for a new baby cousin, with Grandma Libia and proud father, Uncle Libero -

 Matching fedoras, my style-conscious boys -

 Handsome days-old Nico -

 Huge grin as he leans in for a kiss -

 We all got a turn with our nephew -

Very happy grandma of two grandsons, with her oldest -

 Sweet cousin kisses.  Collin has finally finished with this never-ending cold, and we haven't seen Nico in weeks since we knew telling Collin he couldn't kiss his baby cousin would not go over well -

 One last kiss good-bye -

We are delighted that Collin gets to grow up with Nico and look forward to them playing together in the years to come!