Busy few days....

This weekend and today are part of the reasons why we love living in the States, and also having Emma around, so we actually get to see all these things too.

There is never a shortage of things to do with your kids.  From storytime at the library, the variety of parks to play at, different music classes going on and other festivals that happen throughout the year.

This weekend we were busy with the Lego Expo and Hillridge Farm.  Lego was more for Rod, but we knew Em would love it just the same, being able to build with lego and see all the amazing creations these lego people come up with.

I haven't seen so many lego pieces, they had different stations - duplo, monochrome bricks and then regular lego stations, where pieces were just dumped on the floor and everyone is free to build.  Then other theme related areas where you can explore and build some more.  Em seemed to enjoy the smaller pieces than the duplo.

 

  

amazing attention to detail

We also went to Hillridge Farm for the Fall Festival.  Held every year, but this was our first visit.  So great that Em is at an age that she can enjoy it.  This farm is like an amusement park with so much for the kids to do, from jumping castles, to playground equipment, pony rides, farm animals to see, bunnies, mazes, pumpkin picking, hayrides, train rides and more....  It far exceeded my expectations, we couldn't believe how many people were there already when we arrived and the line to get in.

kids maze

Pony ride which Emma requested she go on

almost 3 feet

 To get to Hillridge was almost an hours drive, Em fell asleep just as we got there and probably a good thing she did, as it gave us more time to enjoy it there.  Em had a blast.  She was most enthralled by the hayride and seeing the masses of pumpkins on the ground.  This farm does not grow their own pumpkins, so we didn't get to pick our pumpkin off the vine, but still fun nonetheless searching thru all the pumpkins for the perfect one!  Funny how everyone is looking for the biggest to get their monies worth. 

Emma's reaction to seeing all the pumpkins from the hayride

so exciting

Ben and Emma

I had just got Emma a book about the Fall, which mentions hayrides and pumpkins etc, so I think for her to see it in real life was great.  She was quite excited to pick her own pumpkin...we would ask her which pumpkin she'd want and she would point and say, "this one, this one, this one...." then be so adamant that she carry her pumpkin, but when she did and realised how heavy it was, she'd say, "daddy carry".

Emma's friend, Ben and his folks (Avi and Tom) joined us, so it was fun to see both kids enjoy themselves.

We were all wiped out after this....Em had a great 3 hour plus nap and Rod and I managed to get a good hour and a half nap too.

Then today, we met up with Avi and Ben again at Duke Gardens - we (Avi and I) were a little unsure how much fun the kids would have, since there are no jungle gyms to climb.  But with all the space to run around, water fountains to see, fish and ducks to see too, the kids had a grand time.  We had packed a few snacks and were able to have a small picnic, so it was another funfilled day

Another good napping day for Emma, over 2 hours!  Bliss, gives me time to kick up my feet for a bit and have a nap of my own.

This video is from today at Duke Gardens - Emma just being Emma and having fun.  It's so amazing to see the little things that we take for granted, being enjoyed...like walking up a step, jumping down a step, venturing up a hill and running back down, chasing a bird....really makes you realise to stop and smell the roses every once in a while.