apple picking

This is going to be one of the hardest things about New England to give up. This was our third straight year of going to this particular apple orchard. We had one or the other set of grandparents with us the past two years. It's always been magical and sweet and crisp and crunchy.

We will also miss fresh, hot apple cider donuts. So. so. good.

And finally, here's a kiss from Levi.

cranberry festival

I've decided to not worry about posting all our adventures from May to September. There were many, and we had a great time. Now on to fall.

We went to the Cranberry Festival in Wareham at the A.D. Makepeace Farms in early October. Levi was thrilled to ride on a school bus to get to the cranberry bogs.

We bought hot dogs from the Boy Scouts for lunch and then took a tractor ride around the bogs to see how they worked. It was a beautiful area and I feel like I had a better sense of what the landscape was like for the pilgrims as this wasn't far from Plymouth.

We tried some plain cranberries- which the kids both spit out- built a cranberry bog in a cup, and then watched the kids climb up and down and roll around on this giant sand pile. 

We finished up with bouncy houses and train rides and another bus ride. And got McDonald's on the way home. 

And after we went apple picking the following weekend, we made a delicious apple cranberry crumble. Which is why I love fall in New England.

photo dump catch up: april

Look at how little he was just six months ago!

 Levi did these funny little scrunchy eyed smiles for a while

Basket Beds!

Anna reminded me these were called "Sticky Beds" because Daddy was not supposed to slide them across the floor. They were stuck to their spot.

I know I've posted this one before, but it's a favorite. They're such good little buddies.

Some of Anna's early letter writing attempts. She just kind of jumped into it.

Painting day- so glad we hung on to rolls and rolls of packing paper

Ballet class with her teacher

The great Cheerio spill of 2012. this happened when, you guessed it, I was in the shower.

Self-portrait

...and one of Mom.

Happy Easter!

And finally, here is our family in all it's primal glory. I think the crowning touch is the tag still on Sam's shirt.