AppleWorks Visit

One of our favorite weekend haunts at this time of year is the orchard Appleworks. They have delicious apples and peaches as well as a heavenly setting and adorable petting zoo. The grounds are a wonderland spread over a pictureque area of land with a creek, pond, waterfall, and several garden areas. The gift shop sells baked goods that feature their fruit, crafts, jellies and honey, and one wall is covered with funny plaques. My favorite one warns that "Unattended children will be given an espresso and a free puppy". The petting zoo has a donkey (Joshua's favorite), a miniature cow with sweet eyes, several friendly goats you can feed by hand, a turkey, and a peacock.

Exploring the House

Joshua loves his new mobility! He can crawl from one end of the house to the other at lightening speed. He also stands and cruises along couches and chairs. One of his favorite places is the kitchen, where he can open drawers I set up with soft things for him (placemats and oven mitts). Daisy has learned to eat in quick bursts since I can only put her food and water dishes down for small amounts of time when Joshua is occupied in some other room.

Like most 10-month-olds, Joshua's other new skill is finding new spots to squeeze into. Apparently, it is an important part of developing a sense of one's size as well as coordination. I caught a picture of him when he was under our coffee table this morning. The cubby is only 18 inches wide! Too bad the camera wasn't fast enough for his proud grin without being fuzzy!

Beefaroni!

Joshua is doing a wonderful job feeding himself finger foods. His favorite are banana bits, beef stew, toast fingers, fresh peach nuggets, watermelon pieces, red jello, and Beefaroni. I like feeding him Beefaroni- the way he gets covered in the deliciousness is so adorable. As you can imagine, the next stop is bathtime!

Indiana State Fair 2010

If it's super hot and the middle of August, it's time for the Indiana State Fair! The annual trip to the Fair was extra special since it was Joshua's first time. He did a wonderful job travelling in the stroller most of the time. Seeing all those people and animals was fascinating for him (and us, I admit it).

Joshua was pretty intrigued by the World's Largest Sow, but he got very excited about the donkeys. He likes goats a lot, too. Mike & I each enjoyed a famous Dairy Barn milkshake and shared the annual elephant ear. That sweet, sweet man even gave me the last bite!

Seeing the tractors is always a treat because Mike talks about what it was like growing up on a farm. No wonder he is so patient- the tractor he used to plow fields was quite slow and there weren't iPods back then to keep someone entertained...

Family Visit- Summer 2010

We had a fantastic time visiting family during the first weekend in August. Jeff & Heather were so sweet to host a big gathering at their house. Kendall, Ezra, Emma, Mom, Dad, Donna, Uncle John, and Aunt Jean were so thoughtful to make the trip to a common location, so we could spend more time visiting than driving.

We had a wonderful time relaxing by the pool. Jeff brought Joshua in to enjoy the water several times. Meghan, Matt, Ezra, and Emma did a great job playing with Joshua- both in the big pool and the little kiddie pool. Mom, Heather, and Jean looked like very relaxed beauties sprawled out on their floats. Uncle John took the prize for the most patient tanner; he was poolside more than anyone else! Ken was so sweet playing stack & knock over games with Joshua.

As usual, Heather was quite a hostess. She effortlessly manages to place everyone in a comfortable sleeping spot, provide lots of entertainment options, and delicious meals- all while still spending time with us!

I really enjoyed the washers tournament. Meghan and Kendall should take their team on the road. They are unbeatable! The day trip into Plymouth with Meghan, Heather, Mom, Joshua, & Aunt Jean was a spectacular day. We stopped in a few places, like the award-winning cupcake shop (always let Meghan choose the cupcakes!), the gardens behind the historical Society, a charming bakery (see any theme?), and a gift shop alley. Then, we walked back to the car along the waterfront.

Sailing Adventure

A few days before leaving for a trip to New England to visit family, I told Mike that I would like to go sailing someday. Someday- like within the next five years. The same day, he showed me a pamphlet he had picked up the previous time we went to New England!
After leaving Jeff & Heather's house, we went on a sailing adventure. What a marvelous time! The day was sunny and breezy, the boat was a beautifully-restored 1911 vessel, and the company was spectacular. Joshua was mesmerized by the view of the water and gained sea legs immediately. (We kept a good grip on him!) Mike and I both helped unfurl the sails before sitting to take in the gorgeous views. It was an amazing day!