Monday, November 7, 2016

October!

Looks as though monthly updates are as good as it's gonna get these days. Here is an overview of Sweet Sir Isaac's October shenanigans!



Isaac was overdue for his 2nd haircut and Mommy thought it'd be a great father-son outing, so she kept her fingers crossed and sent the boys off to Vivid Salon. Shortly after they left Mommy received this picture message from Sandy, who happened to be there getting her haircut as well! Isaac was very good, and when he saw another guy there with foil in his hair he asked Daddy what that was. Daddy told him, "highlights", and Isaac looked at the girl cutting his hair and told her, "I want highlights." Glad she didn't listen!



Mommy has gotten back into a more regular workout routine, and in order to help her stick to her goals she often has to take Isaac along with her, usually for a jog in the stroller, but earlier this month we got a new bike seat for Isaac and he was so excited to try it out! The night we put it together he got himself a little greasy playing with the chain, but he loved going out on the actual ride, telling Mommy to go faster and raising his hands in the air for hills, saying "Wheeeee!!!"




off on our 12 mile adventure


We have hit quite a few fall festivals so far this season, the first one being at the Howard County Convservancy. Isaac was so excited to go, telling everyone at church in the morning, "I'm going to a fall festival!" and once we arrived he was not disappointed. He was really excited (and patient) to feed the alpacas. He got to try his first honey stick, had a lot of fun increasing his balance and speed on the hay bale maze, enjoyed reading the scenic trail fall story, and even ran away with an older girl to climb up and explore the goats (sigh).





Honey sticks are serious business!












"Hi Buddy! I'm Isaac!"

We've gone on a few of our mommy-son breakfast outings to Willy's, per Isaac's request. This boy can really throw down when it comes to breakfast foods. One morning he was even adventurous enough to try Mommy's soft crab sandwich, and wound up eating all of the legs!
Big boy, sitting at the counter eating his sunshine Mickey cake

Since Isaac has been so excited about all things fall, we took a day trip out to the daily fall festival at Gaver Farm. We stopped for breakfast at Mt. Airy Tavern where Isaac proceeded to eat an absolutely enormous breakfast.




Once we arrived at Gaver Farm, Isaac was VERY excited and had nonstop fun as soon as he got his wrist band. He jumped on the big pillow with Daddy, went down countless types of slides, fed some animals (giggling, "It TICKLES!!"), went through the rainbow maze (Twice.), took a hayride to pick a pumpkin from an actual pumpkin patch, and even had a special apple cider donut hole treat. He seemed to really enjoy himself!



















searching for the perfect pumpkin


The rule was he had to be able to carry it himself
Success!

Mommy went a little "fall crazy" while we were there. With no Harbin Farms this year to get our mums and fall decor, she loaded up at Gaver and had fun decorating the portico when we got home.



On another beautiful fall day, we spent the day with Debbie who had taken the day off of work. She had gotten a cool new lens that she wanted to test out, so we went to the Hilton area of Patapsco where Isaac had a blast at the tire playground and with all of the other natural play "equipment". Then we went to lunch to Pho #1 where Isaac slurped down some meatball soup, bean sprouts and other pho delights.

















checking out the nature center...


Off to Pho #1!









After his nap that day Mommy showed him the pictures Debbie had taken and this was his reaction:


















Here are a bunch of random pictures from time around the house. Our heat was broken up until a week ago, and we did have one cold stretch of weather where we had to bundle up pretty heavily inside the old drafty house. Here's Isaac bundled up in his new hat and mittens enjoying a snack.


playing guitar with Mommom
More naptime silliness:





Orioles Magic dance party with Daddy & CharliePop:

trimming CharliePop's nails with a bottle opener
Isaac's first encounter with bubble wrap:



A little stained glass painting:


Hanging out with Poo-Pa:




cuddling in the blanket Mommy finally finished making
Eating some fresh beans from the garden:

Whoo's there?
Mommy-Isaac selfies:



cuddling with Allie and watching the Great Pumpkin


"cleaning up" some snacks he dropped



The weather has been beautiful for the most part. We spent a lot of time at various playgrounds, checking out a new favorite spot in Ellicott City. We wrapped up our gymnastics classes at Sokol, with CharliePop joining us for the last class. Isaac participated even more than usual, doing all of the stretches, counting out loud with Ms. Ronnie, and even chiming in to share which pizza toppings should go on the pizza we were "making" (hot dogs!?). We had a few visits with Uncle Tony, where Isaac enjoyed sharing his books and raiding his cabinets for bananas.









On a particularly dreary day we took a trip out to Storyville. Isaac absolutely loves this place and had so much fun using his imagination in all of the various "rooms".








it took a lot of work for Mommy to squeeze into this "boat" so she needed to document it!



And finally, we ended a fun-fall-filled October with Isaac's 3rd Halloween. This year (and perhaps the final year of Mommy getting to DIY her personal choice for the costume), Isaac was a sweet little scarecrow. Although if you ask him what he was, he'll tell you scarecrow in a creepy whisper voice, making it sound like his costume was a lot scarier than it was.



On Friday night we went to a Halloween event at the Breadery in Catonsville where Isaac got to proudly wear his costume for the first time, which was a crowd favorite everywhere he went (even though he unfairly lost the costume contest...long story!), he painted a pumpkin, got to meet Olaf, and played with other kids on the Trolley Trail.







Then on Saturday, Mommy and Isaac went trunk-or-treat hopping, hitting 3 different events throughout the day, with Daddy joining us for the 3rd one across the street at the St. John's. Isaac really got the hang of saying "trick-or-treat" and "Happy Halloween" and loved going to all of the different "parties".









Actual Halloween day brought even more excitement as Isaac got to pack his costume to take to school where he got to go to a special luncheon, parade around in his costume, AND have a party with his classmates. He was fired up with excitement by the time we got home! Before trick-or-treating we made some quick stops to see Uncle Tony, Aunt Margie, Mommom & CharliePop, and Ying & Frank. Then we walked door-to-door where Isaac quickly learned the routine and happily asked to go to each house that had lights on, enjoying seeing the different decorations and other costumes. He enjoyed seeing Ms. Donna and Sandy, Buddy, and Brandon, And while we stopped at Sandy & Buddy's for a while, Isaac stood so still in the yard he actually startled a few older kids who thought he was an actual scarecrow.


Good thing I got a few good pictures on Friday because Isaac was less than cooperative on Halloween night when it came to picture time!








Pinterest Fail! Mommy's attempt at jack-o-lantern stuffed peppers for Halloween dinner. At least they tasted delicious!


playing his horn from Ms. Pat