The kind of fall I long for

Fall just might be my favorite season.

It's a tough competitor to summer, but you can't beat these crisp fall days we've been enjoying.

Wagon rides.

Pumpkin patch trips.

Driveway playtime.

K-State football games.
Pumpkin spiced lattes.

Impromptu park dates.

Crock pot cooking.

It's exactly the kind of fall I long for.

Fall is a wonderful season, isn't it?

Kansas City just experienced three days of intense rain, but the sun is finally shining today. Just in time for trick or treating tonight.

We're pretty excited to take our little monkey around the neighborhood for the first time. Last year, our not-yet-walking boy just wanted to dump the candy out on the front porch.

This year, he could care less about the costume and candy, and be completely content with a ball.

Soccer ball, "Back-et-ball", any ball really.

The kid loves balls.

He recently decided he doesn't like it when I pull the camera out. iPhone or DSLR, I get the hand if he's not in the mood.

 

Let's hope he lets me get at least one photo of him in his monkey costume tonight.

Scratch that. 

Let's hope he will even wear the monkey costume tonight 

(no such luck all week even getting him to try it on).

Fingers Crossed.

A day with Deana

I've told you before how much we love Deana Rose. She's plain awesome. 

And always brings the biggest smiles.

These two cuties (of course I'm talking about me and Amy, not the kiddos) enjoyed her recently on one of most beautiful weekends in Kansas City. 

Can you believe it's October and we're still getting almost 90 degree days?

Warmer weather means the hat is still around. Seriously, how can a kid be so obsessed with the same hat? 

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm sort of looking forward to the end of warm days. Just so that tattered, no-longer-a-fedora, worn-out hat can go buh-bye.

But I will miss the hat.

Seeing his face light up at its shear existence. And how he says "hat" and begs to put it on.

The way his little ears fold over while wearing it.

Yeah, I'll miss that.

While feeding the goats, my innocent boy expected them to have the same independence as himself.

He walked right up, placed the bottle down in front of him and just waited.

I could hear him saying, "Here's your ba ba goat, drink up."

 He was under amused with the feeding part, but what can you expect from an independent toddler who has a five second concentration span.

But he did like petting the animals. 

And pulling their ears.

 

This little miss just looked cute on the sidelines while her cousin ran rampant everywhere.

She even practiced posing for Innocent & Precious Babies Magazine.

Soon enough, they'll be causing trouble together.

Then, Brian and I won't be the only parents climbing claustrophobic barn shafts filled with gobs of kids to get to the top of the slide.

But, these smiles are worth it a thousand times over.

These two. The Angel and the Monster.

 Just kidding. Carson's isn't a monster, but Maddie is definitely an angel.

They make a pretty cute pair.