Halloween

I love Halloween in Maryland. Every year the weather is perfect. You can feel the fall chill in the air, but it's no where near the blizzards I grew up with.

This year Beckett decided to be a fireman. He looked pretty dashing in his costume.

The serious juxtaposed with the silly. This kid is starting to do all sorts of funny poses.

Felix was a mad scientist again because how could we pass up that opportunity?

Every year Beckett's school has a Halloween party and every year it's been its own special form of torture. Until this year. It was actually fun. Probably because Felix was old enough to participate without making trouble.

Felix doing the bean-bag toss was hilarious. 

Then Felix pulled out all the science equipment which was just too fitting to ignore.

On Halloween night we went trick-or-treating with a couple other families, and we got tons of candy. We were just all having such a fun time that we kept walking and walking.

Fall Farms {take 3}

Our third (and probably last) farm trip this fall was with Beckett's class. I always love this trip because not only is the farm lots of fun, but the drive there is also gorgeous.

These duck races were a new and fun addition.

We stopped in the corn fields to retrieve some popcorn.

After a walk through the corn maze we came to the pumpkin patch.


The boys both picked out a pumpkin, and we climbed back onto the hay wagon.

Fall Farms {take 2}

For our next fall farm trip we went to pick apples. It was a beautiful day and we stayed far longer than the rest of our friends.



The trees were beginning to get a touch of fall foliage. 

I love being able to drive out to the country so quickly.

The kids loved these photo boards. Felix's faces are particularly amusing. The adoration of his older brother is just so obvious.

The kids adored the hay maze, and it really was a good one. The hay was stacked to just the right height. The kids were completely engulfed but the adults could see over the stacks. I let the kids play in the hay maze for a long time, and I was just starting to wish that I had a friend to hang out with while I waited and waited when one of Beckett's classmates from school showed up. That set off more maze exploration, and I had a grown-up to stand around with.

Up Next: Another farm!

Fall Farms {take 1}

I love fall. I love fall in Maryland. This fall we visited a lot of farms. Up first is Nate's boss's farm on the Eastern Shore.

 The big boys pretended to be too cool for photos.

As usual, Felix took the best shot of the day.

 I convinced the big boys to join Felix in the cornfield.

 The picnic included games, pumpkin painting, lots of good food, and rain. Lots of rain.

 Felix likes cookies.

Up next: Another farm!

The Bicentennial of the Star-Spangled Banner

On September 3rd of this year the Star-Spangled Banner celebrated its 200th birthday. We made a visit to Fort McHenry with Nate's friend Chad and his family and joined in the festivities.

We love to take all our visitors to Fort McHenry. If you need a refresh on the War of 1812, the battle, the key players, and why Francis Scott Key was out in the harbor that night with the British, I recommend the Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast on the Bombardment of Baltimore.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge

They had a lot of fun activities for kids during the birthday festivities. Felix dressed up.

 Beckett helped hand stitch a flag.

And both the boys did laundry.

We watched the marchers and the cannon.

Happy birthday Star-Spangled Banner!

P.S. Other trips to Fort McHenry here, here, and here.

Farewell to Summer: Ocean City 2014

One of the perks of living in Maryland is that we get to go hang out on the beach with my old roommate Jamie when she comes to see her parents. This trip to Ocean City was at the very end of the season. We were there on the first day of school for most kids, so we got a great hotel rate and smaller crowds. I'm really going to miss that perk next year when Beckett heads to kindergarten.

We packed in as much as we could. In the evening we hit up the rides on the boardwalk because there is just something so fabulous about putting your kids on rides.

In this picture Felix looks thrilled and Beckett looks nervous. Once the ride started it was quite the opposite. Felix was terrified.

After that we went opted for something a little gentler. You can see that Felix recovered quickly.

I love how the boys could ride together on so many rides. At times like these they are good pals.

After the rides it was time for some ice cream.

Beckett loves hotels. This drive to the beach felt so long because every few minutes he would ask, "When are we going to get to the hotel?" or "We're going to the hotel first, right?"

On the balcony the next morning.

Time for the beach.

The best part of this beach trip was definitely getting to hang out with Jamie and her family. This year we got to meet the twins and Jeff's parents. And Jamie's parents are always wonderful. I'm so lucky that I get to see them again even though Jamie and I graduated from college long ago.

Just like old times. I love old friends.

P.S. More Ocean City here and here.