Grey's Apples

This boy lives for his brothers' apple cores.

Also, he was a total Mama's Boy but that week with out Sean turned him into a total Daddy's Boy. Seriously, he throws a fit if I'm the one that picks him up from his crib in the morning.

Also, he kept sleeping so late while in Illinois that he had several one nap days. The trend's continued since we've been home. Pretty soon it'll be one nap from here on out.

Also, he had his one year check up over a month ago, shall I finally report the stats? He weighs 18 lb 10 oz and is 27.9 inches long. Both are about the 3%ile. He might have been born a chunk but he didn't stay that way!

Corn Maze!

I had to, had to, go to the corn maze one last time. My mom heard about Richardson Farm on the radio while I was in high school and it became a yearly tradition. Until I wasn't home every summer. But I was there this year! The theme was The Beatles and the t-shirts read, "Help, I need somebody." Classic. The maze has 22(?) checkpoints throughout the maze, the trick is navigating to each. In the past, I've proudly completed the whole maze, but this year, with little ones about me, we just did half. We rocked that half. Matty was an awesome navigator! Naomi helped me push the stroller. Grey never let me leave his sight. Liam and Dash were superb hand-holders.

Apple Holler

I mentioned before, the kids and I took one last visit to good ol' Gurnee (a brother will still be living in the village, so I'm sure we'll visit again). Sean joined us for the last few days. My parents still had to go to work (only a little bit longer until retirement and then they're all mine! Oh, isn't that what that means?) so the kids and I had to entertain ourselves.

So we went to the Apple Holler! I could have paid twelve bucks to go apple picking or just three to play everywhere else. The latter, thank you!


Liam and Dash have to stop at every photo-op-face-hole they find.


There were a bunch of little bridges (which bridged nothing but patches of grass) scattered about, which looked silly but, golly, kids do love bridges.


We played under the hay. (I think Grey looks EXACTLY like my one-year-old self here, what do you think mom and dad?)


We played on the hay.


Dash, perfecting his sad face.


Liam, perfecting his sweet face.


Grey, having a snack.


There was an apple tree maze, a corn maze, and a regular wood wall maze. All filled the kids with joy.


One more tunnel venture!


When it's just me there taking pictures, I take whatever face I get.


And off we go, Grey leading the way.

Children's Museum (The Minnesota Version)

One of the birthday presents this boy received was a year's pass to the Children's Museum (lucky boy!). Which, of course, means the family got a year's pass (lucky brothers!).


We haven't yet explored all the rooms, but one of the biggest hits is the water area. Playing in water with clothes on! Novel!


But everything's fun when everything's hands-on.


Mmhmm, this is a perfect place for little boy adventures.