Apples and pumpkins

A trip to the apple orchard with Patrick's preschool class.
I think the woman leading the tour forgot she was talking to 3 to 5-year-olds. She kept talking about pasteurization and government regulations. I think the little one's eyes glazed over at that point! They wanted to see some apples getting squished into cider!

The best part of the trip according to Patrick. Mia was the bus driver and he got to sit next to Andrew and Wyatt. He was so cute leaving the school. He was by the window and had a HUGE smile on his face.

Patrick has excellent picking form!

Patrick and Ava with their apples.

Ok- I'll admit it. Fall is coming.

The jungle that we call our front yard had 2 very large and aggressive pumpkins plants growing. The seed pack says you should allow for 4 feet between plants. Ha!
Anyway- during a break from the football game on Saturday (Go Bucks!) we picked our pumpkins- all three of them. There is another one growing but it is still green. Hurry little pumpkin!

Our biggest one.

Patrick can not wait to make a Jack-O-Lantern. We keep telling him he needs to wait until at least October.

Gettysburg

The whole group at the cabin.

Labor Day weekend was spent in Gettysburg. We found a box monster there!

Of course we forgot the fishing pole. It didn't even cross our mind as something to bring! Patrick improvised with a stick, some discarded line and a sinker that he found.

Ooo, these pics just make me laugh. He stood at that pond quite a bit throwing the line in. He had so much fun just throwing it in! When we asked if he caught anything he was would shrug and say "Nothin' yet." It was so cute.

This is a bad picture but it was taken from the cabin stairs across the fish pond. Patrick (in the green shirt) is over talking to a man that would sit and fish all morning and then in the late afternoon and evening. Patrick had to walk by him to get to the playground. Every time Patrick would stop and talk to the guy. The guy was so nice! He let Patrick reel in a fish and was giving him a high five. He also caught a fish and let Patrick touch it. What a nice guy to chat with Patrick every time he walked by.

A tour of some of the battlefield. There is so much to see and we had so little time. It is amazing to look out over the battlefield. It is so big. It is amazing that anything was actually accomplished over that large of an area. It looks so random. How did they communicate with eachother? All those men marched there and then had to fight. Pretty amazing.

The Pennsylvania monument.

Patrick checks out the plaque for Patrick O'Rourke. Not sure if you can tell but his nose gets touched a lot. That bright brass color was enough for Patrick. He stuck his finger right in there! "It's not real!" Patrick said sarcastically when we told him to stop.

At the cabin. Patrick really likes Tom and wanted him to go fishing with him or over to the playground.

We celebrated Patrick's birthday with Jason's side of the family over the weekend.

Patrick and Grampa enjoy the birthday cupcakes together. I think Patrick ate all the frosting off of his and then offered the rest to Jason. Yum.

Patrick with Joslin and cousin Jacob.

Amelia and Joslin.

Another picture courtesy of Patrick.

A baptism, a birthday and preschool

Joslin was baptized this past Sunday. She looked beautiful in her dress. My mom got her the dress and embroidered her name and birth date on the hem of the slip. Laura got her a handkerchief bonnet.

Patrick likes to take pictures. Lots and lots of pictures. We need to work on what he takes pictures of though. We got him his own camera for his birthday but later that day he informed me he didn't want a camera for his birthday. He just wanted one on any day. Apparently he thinks gifts any old day of the week are nice.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATRICK!

A Wizard of Oz cake for Patrick

Patrick got some weapons for his birthday. Every 4-year-old boy's dream, right?
A light saber!

An axe! Just like the Tinman!

Wow! 4 years old. Getting so big and smart, fast and strong. Handsome and funny. He's a great kid and I am so proud to be his mom.

The first day of preschool!

The breakfast of champions- Pancakes! A special treat for the first day of school. Darth Vader and his stormtrooper also enjoyed the cakes.

Patrick in the jungle we call our front yard all set with his new backpack.

Patrick, Wyatt and Ava all smiles before school.

Christy takes the troops inside. How cute!