To The Patch

Who doesn't love a good pumpkin patch? It's bizarre. It's beautiful. It's ridiculously fun. Add kids to the mix? A total blast. We have a great patch in the county that has quickly become one of our favorite spots and events all year. We gathered with dear friends this year for hayrides, pumpkin hunting, corn mazing, apple picking and pie. And the weather here has been downright glorious which only added to the fun.

Eddie and Phoebe hit the pumpkin wagon with great awe and wonder. (It's still such a trip to watch these little humans experience these things for the first time. I mean, if you really think about it, a pumpkin is kind of strange. Huge. Wonky. Orange. They were totally enthralled.)

Papa Love

Stella and her posse - Isaac and Nali. It's such a pleasure watching these kids grow together. Thanks to inherently lovely dispositions and fabulous parents, they compliment one another beautifully.

For the camera.

For us.

I think Stella would have spent hours picking apples had we let her. Is there anything more wholesome than wandering an apple orchard with kids?

The Dark

Vinnie got out last night. Stella was about to put on her pajamas but decided she needed to help Papa find our little Houdini. It was hysterical listening to Stella's banter as she helped. (This is pretty much what she said verbatim.)

"I'm helping. I need to help. Oooh! He's right there, Papa! He's right there! Vinnie. Vinnie. Vinnie!"

"That's right, Papa. Just step right in. Go get him. Step in. There you go. Oh. Did you get him?"

"I'm followin' Papa. Yes, I'm followin' Papa. It's dark, but I'm not afraid of the dark. Maybe we'll see a shooting star or a bat. I'm not afraid. It's just dark. Did you find him, Papa? Vinnie!"

We eventually caught Vinnie, and then....

Stella and the Dark from Brian Bressler on Vimeo.

Did you catch it? At thirteen seconds, Stella turns around and yells "I'm so proud of myself!" And oh my goodness, the minute mark absolutely slays me. I think we have a Barrymore on our hands.

An Ordinary Evening

Stella and Phoebe Dancing After Dinner from Brian Bressler on Vimeo.

Tiny Pirate

There is some serious Halloween planning in our house this year. Stella and I have settled on literary characters while Papa is still trying to figure out how he can honor Stella's requests that he be either this or this. And while she would make the cutest little pirate in town, Phoebe will be a bit of a sidekick this year.... more to be revealed later.

Oh my goodness. Don't you just want to nibble those cheeks?

Tales of an Apple Festival

This weekend marked one of our favorite events of the year, Cloud Mountain Farm's annual Farm Fruit Festival. And while us taller folk enjoyed countless varieties of apples from all over the state, Stella tackled a delicious caramel apple and danced her little tush off to Polecat. This event seems to mark the beginning of Fall for us, and it's got us baking pies, sipping tea and gathering acorns and leaves on our nature walks.

I've seriously never seen Stella so happy. She danced for an hour straight, totally enthralled.

"Hmmmm. Stella gets to dance. Hmmmm."

"Oooh, I know. I'll eat a fistful of grass."

Hee hee.

Reunion

Now that Brian is pretty much back to his normal self, I can't tell who's happier - the Papa or the Babe. Phoebe valiantly tolerated six weeks of not being held by her Papa, but it's so obvious how happy she is to be back in his arms these days. And I know her Papa is even more thrilled to nuzzle into such goodness.

Messy Eater

Just in case I haven't made this clear... Miss Phoebe is one messy eater. No delicate flower here, thank you very much.