Pumpkin Patch

Today we finally made it to the pumpkin patch. We couldn't have picked a better day because the weather was perfect. It was a little chilly when we got there at about 10 but then it started to get a little warmer so we could take our jackets off.

For the past several years we have been going to Belvedere plantation to the pumpkin patch. This year we decided to try a different one and we are so glad that we did. For one, it was a lot less expensive and we had more fun at this farm. We went to Sneads Farm which is just about five minutes past Belvedere.

The first thing we came to when we got there were the animals. Nathan loved to feed them and was really enjoying it. Lenny was a little hesitant after a horse sneezed on him. Don't tell him I wrote that in my blog. He asked me not to tell anyone that it sneezed on him. That's our secret. :-) It was cute though. At first Brooke had nothing to do with the animals unless I was holding her. Then after seeing that her brothers enjoyed it, she decided to give it a try.


The farm was so pretty. They had pumpkins and mums everywhere. You know what I was thinking--picture time. Unfortunately it was still too cold to take our jackets off but I wasn't going to miss this opportunity. I was so disappointed when I noticed that Brooke took her pretty orange bow out of her hair in the car. Ornery thing.


Next we went to the barn where the kids had a blast running around in the hay and swinging on the ropes. Brooke again wasn't too sure about the rope swing but she absolutely wanted to do it because her brothers did.


When we were done in the barn we headed to the pumpkin patch. On the way, we came across a zipline. Of course Lenny wanted to try it. After he tried it, Brooke and Nathan wanted a go at it too. Poor Dominic didn't get to go on it. I know that he wanted to though. It was long and high and I couldn't believe that the kids really rode on it.


Finally, the pumpkin patch. The kids each picked out a pumpkin. Well, with a little help from us. Otherwise we would have had some not so nice looking rotting pumpkins.


And on the way back, we had to stop at the barn to play in the hay again.


While we were waiting for the hayride, the kids played in a little tunnel and corn maize.


On the hayride. Brooke and Nathan were so tired at this point, I thought they were going to fall asleep on the ride. Each time I asked Nathan if he was tired, he would smile real big and tell me no.

The hayride was a lot of fun. We went through the pumpkin fields, past the asparagas, through the sunflower fields and even through a huge puddle of water. It was really nice.


Lenny wanted to go through the sunflower maze one more time before we left. As Dominic loaded Brooke and Nathan into the van, Lenny and I snuck over to the maze. He took me all the way through it.


We had a great time! I really do think this was our best pumpkin patch trip ever. We will definitely be going back to Sneads Farm. Actually, we've decided to go back there at the end of November to get our Christmas tree from them.

Pictures I Love

Here are some pictures from the past few months that I really like.

Brooke and Nathan watching Shrek while Lenny was at school.


Nate playing with the train.


Making sugar cookies.


It's funny how Brooke's face is covered with flour but the boys are completely clean. Not surprising.


She looks so sweet when she is sleeping.


At a Redskins game.


She looked so cute sitting there watching TV.


Yes, he was sound asleep.


She thinks she's a rock star.


Showing off our peanut butter cookies that he helped make.


I think that Dominic enjoys playing with the sidewalk chalk more than the kids.

Brooke and Nathan Start Preschool

I can't believe that my babies are in preschool now. It's just hard to imagine. I thought I would never make it past the first six months and now they are almost three and starting preschool. It's so sad in a way but so exciting in another.

In February I submitted an application for them to attend a preschool program in the high school that is right across from our neighborhood. I had heard about it from a few different people. It's for high school students who are going in to child development. There is a teacher in the class and then all of the high school students in the class are the preschoolers teachers too. It's really a great program.

You don't find out if the kids were accepted until September. Well, I didn't get a letter and was very disappointed that they didn't get in. I thought for sure I got their application in early enough. The only requirements were that they are potty trained and three years old. The teacher told me that as long as they are potty trained, it was okay that they don't turn three until November. Other places are not so lenient when it comes to the birthday.

On Lenny's first day of school, I was so excited to get a call letting me know that Brooke and Nathan were in the program. There were 23 people in line in front of us and luckily for us a few people were moving so Brooke and Nathan got in.

October 1, they had an open house so that the parents and kids could come in to meet the student teachers. We were to leave the kids there that day too. Brooke and Nathan were so excited that they were going to school just like their big brother. They would talk about it and let me know that I was dropping them off and coming back later for them. I had told them that many times so that they were prepared.

Here they are the morning right before they went to the open house.


They were so excited to go to school. They both reminded me to give them their snack bags. It was so cute!

Just as I expected, Brooke didn't even care that I was leaving when it was time for me to go. She was too busy checking things out. Nathan on the other hand was not happy and started crying when I left. I felt just terrible leaving him when he was crying.

When I returned, I got there a little early and was able to watch them through the window. The teachers were putting on a puppet show and all the kids were watching. I couldn't see Nathan from the window but I could see Brooke sitting with the other kids. I snuck in just in time to hear the teachers ask the kids to raise their hand if they want to volunteer to be an actor. Of course, Brooke's little hand went up pretty fast. She was chosen. I watched her walk up and go behind the puppet show. They were acting out the three little pigs and Brooke was the wind. They had to hold her up for that part because she was so short. Then I could see her trying to get into something on the table behind her. I then saw an arm scoop her up to get her to pay attention again. Yep, that's my Brookie.

I finally found Nathan when I walked into the room. He was sitting very quietly with a student teacher and looked like he was enjoying the play. He was very happy to see me though. Brooke too. She kept giving me hugs. Nathan wouldn't let me put him down.

They go to school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8-12. It's a very long day for them and they are certainly ready for a nap after we have lunch. This week was their first official starting week. Nathan cried when I left on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday he was fine. I was so happy. Lenny and I were practically giving each other high fives when we left. Lenny kept saying, "He didn't cry!"

The teachers told me that Brooke tries to console Nathan when he cries. They also said that if she can't play with him, she cries. That's the only time that she cries. Silly girl.

Lenny goes with me in the morning to drop them off. Then we head back home so that he can catch the bus to school. I think that Brooke and Nathan really like it that Lenny goes with us. They think Lenny is the coolest.

I'm definitely looking forward to the extra few hours a day that I will have to myself. It's been great so far.

The School Bus

Lenny was so excited to finally get to ride the school bus when school started. He looks like such a big kid getting on the bus with everyone else. It's so cute. And believe it or not, he still likes riding the bus even after what happened to him the second and third week of school.

The first week of school was great. We had no problems at all. Then at the beginning of the second week of school, he missed the bus home from school. I was a little disappointed that it happened especially since he is in Kindergarten. I thought for sure that the teachers would be standing there with a list of kids and their bus numbers. Nope. It was completely up to Lenny to know what his bus number was. He, along with another girl in his class who rides his bus, missed the bus. Neither one of them could tell the teacher their bus number. I still think that the teacher should have had their numbers there to help them.

Anyway, Brooke and Nathan were waiting with me at the bus stop. When the bus came, all the kids got off and Lenny was still not there. I asked the bus driver and she said that he wasn't on the bus. She quickly radio'd the school to find out where he was. He was still at school and waiting in the office. They tried to call me but I had already left for the bus stop and didn't take my cell phone. I always take it now.

So I quickly loaded the kids in the van and headed off to the school. It's only five minutes from our house so it wasn't that far to drive. The entire time I was thinking that Lenny would be upset and worried. It was completely different. I got to the office and they said that he was in his classroom. We headed back to his classroom and he was playing and not worried at all. It made me feel so good that he wasn't upset.

So then the next week, it was even worse for my little Bo Benny. The bus arrived early and I was still on the other side of the street when it got there. I started walking across as the kids were unloading. Lenny will not get off the bus if I'm not there. One time I was by myself without Brooke and Nathan. Lenny didn't know for sure if it was me. He stood at his seat in the bus and said, "Mommy. Are you mine?" It was adorable. The bus driver smiled and said, "Yes, she's yours."

Back to my story. The kids were unloading as I was walking across the street. Then I hear another mom telling Lenny that I was there and she was showing him where I was. He then took one step down the stairs. He tripped on his coat that was in his hands and he didn't hit another step. He landed flat on his face on the pavement. My poor little guy didn't even try to stop himself with his hands. I got there just in time to see him hit the ground. I wanted to cry. I was so afraid to see his face when I picked him up. He had a red and swollen face, a huge bump on his forehead and a bloody nose. He looked terrible.

He just kept saying that he wanted to go home. I think he was embarrassed. While I was helping Lenny, a few other moms watched Brooke and Nathan for me to keep them out of the road. Then we all walked back home. It's a little bit of a walk too. Lenny was crying and each time a tear rolled down his face he said, "Mommy, is that blood?" He did that a few times on the way home. All the while, he was screaming very loud and I'm sure the neighbors probably wondered what in the world was going on.

We got home, I cleaned up his face and put a band aid on him. He kept asking for one and I didn't want to put it on the wound so I just put it in the middle of his head. Below is a picture of him.


So Lenny's experience with the bus wasn't the most exciting the first few weeks of school but he still loves riding the bus. He is very careful now when getting off of the bus and he can tell you that his bus number is 253.