Getaway to the Park

With such an amazingly gorgeous day, we snuck away to the parkway this afternoon. Nicholas was ecstatic to see squirrels - I think he's recognizing them from his Curious George stories with Jumpy the squirrel.

The swings are always a favorite - but today, Nicholas wanted the big swing!

He was so proud of himself...
He must be thinking "wow, I'm really up high!"
He looks like such a big boy - its so hard to believe!
We also went exploring down to the Lake.
Tossed in some stones, sticks, leaves...whatever he could find.
At the beginning, Nicholas was testing his limits with getting close to the lake. Eventually though, he managed to get in up to his sock-level and then complained his socks were wet.
He closely inspected some of his shell finds at the bench
and was off to explore more.
He was definitely into his Mr. Independent mood today.

Dessert Before Dinner

When I picked Nicholas up from the sitter's on Wednesday she told me he really didn't want to eat much of anything I had packed that day for him. Once home, he wouldn't leave the kitchen. When I asked what he wanted, he came up with "ice cream!"

Who could resist dessert before dinner - not this Mama!

Nicholas insisted on standing on his stool and also found it much easier to use his hands instead of the spoon.
Gotta love the sugar cone bowl!

Word of the Day:

"Yup!"

Yes, yesterday it was "yeah" and starting first thing this morning, everything was a "yup!"

Now, am I really supposed to accept "yup, please"?

"Punkin On!"

Every time we pass our friends' house, Nicholas always has a comment, whether its "Em me me," "Marco," "truck" or "pool." Lately, he is obsessed with their giant inflatable pumpkin decoration and now demands "punkin on!" whenever he sees it down. Today when we returned home from the park, the pumpkin was down and he was fine with my explanation that nobody was home...it would get turned on later when Marco got home. A couple minutes later, he was tantruming at the door and screaming "punkin on!" Little did I realize that Matt had opened the garage door to bring in the trash. Even with no vehicles home, Nicholas interpreted this as 'they are home now' and was hysterical for that pumpkin to get turned on.

Needless to say, after a long fit, I had to yell across the street and ask Matt to turn the darn thing on! Oh, the things we do for our kids!

After dinner, the boys went over to see the punkin up close.

A New Discovery Toys Submission

With Mommy's recent endeavor with Discovery Toys, Nicholas has loved all of the new cool toys to play with (you know I have to use him as my toy tester!). He was really excited to see the Dress-a-pillar and is insistent that this is what you do with it.

I love how he holds on to the antennae!

(I can't wait to show him this when he's at the age he can do the fasteners.)

Walking Zoey

With such a gorgeous day today, we just had to take advantage and all get out for a walk around the circle. We're making better and better time on our quests - today we were surely under 15 minutes (with only one episode of Zoey getting over excited, resulting in Nicholas falling).

When we approach a turn or bend in the road, Nicholas shouts "turn, turn!"
Some of our neighbors really get into Halloween decorating. Nicholas isn't too sure about the spooky things, but sure loves anything with "punkins."

Gampie's Tractor

Sunday afternoon, we went over to Gammy and Gampie's house for a "tacter" ride and dinner.

Nicholas was a boy in his glory, that is until Gampie had to remove him from the tractor!

Giant Punkins

We went to Oswego's Pumpkin Festival. We missed seeing the 1,200+ pound pumpkins, but these big mamas were impressive enough!

I don't think Nicholas really associated the huge pumpkins as pumpkins...he kept close to the smaller ones. He called them "oooo, big punkins."
He was just like Little Bear who had to try out each one as a seat!
This spot was just right to enjoy the pumpkin cookie he eyed when we walked through the food tend. He spotted that cookie from afar and knew it was going to be good - nothing gets past this boy!

A Tower of Creamers!

On Sunday, we toured Oswego County...well, it was more like Daddy was craving breakfast at The Grist Mill. Nicholas found a nice way to pass the time...

so tall!
he even attempted more complicated structures
He is such a future engineer!

"Yeah!"

Let's just hope its going to be chalked-up to a phase, but Nicholas' adorably enthusiastic "yes!" response has been replaced with a "yeahhh!" It's all I've gotten today...just so big boy'ish. I hope this isn't an introduction to the terrible 2's.

Sibblings Playing

Nicholas and Zoey were so cute the other day playing together. Just watch how much Nicholas crawls around when he plays with her. I think he thinks he's supposed to move around like her.

Happy Birthday, Emilie!

Yesterday we celebrated Emilie's 3rd Birthday! She looks so grown-up here with her chocolate frosting lipstick!

We did our best to keep Nicholas up (and happy) well after his bedtime, but in the end, he missed the cupcakes (remember this occasion, Marcela - I tried!).

Need A Window Cleaner?

Nicholas just loves spray bottles (not to mention soap pump bottles, lotion bottles, any sort of nipple-like top, etc). When I clean he gets his own sprayer and works on the windows. The other day, he was hysterically laughing and spraying himself.

Ooops, a little water in the eye
Maybe I need to taste it...
What a wet face!
action shot

Flashback Friday!

It's hard to believe Nicholas turned 23 months today! Last year at this time, we visited the pumpkin patch - he was just mesmerized by them.

He was so into checking out the pumpkins, we never got a good picture of him. I remember this day and insisting we take his shoes off, so they wouldn't get dirty. Now I look back and think, "who puts their baby down in a pumpkin patch in socks!" Little did I know a year later I'd regularly be scrubbing the bottoms of his shoes now that he seeks out every kind of mess to walk through.
Nicholas' version of a Lazy Boy Highchair!
The 3 baby cousins were all together for Papa's Memorial services.
Nicholas really enjoyed a day at the petting zoo...he just loves animals!
And we were still getting Jodi's wedding details in order at NY Bride. Wow, how funny to think that was just a year ago, since today I went to her baby shower!

Vacuum King

Nicholas just loves to vacuum. Despite having the most realistic vacuum I could find, he still insists on pushing around the real deal whenever its out.

He covers the entire first floor...
and says, "me vacuuming!"