Happy 2nd Birthday, Payson!

Unbelievably, today is Payson's second birthday. Hard to believe the time has passed so quickly. Below are some pictures of Payson's actual birth day, her first birthday, and her second birthday (as well as some cute recent pics).

Happy December!

We're alive, but extremely busy. I hope to make a more thorough blog update in late December, but for now, we've been busy working, going to daycare, planning for second birthdays, holiday parties, Christmas, and thirtieth birthdays (eeek!).

Here's a picture from this year's holiday photo shoot:

Caption: Don't lose your head this holiday season!

We hope you are enjoying the little moments that make December such a special month... we certainly are! We look forward to celebrating Payson's second birthday in a week and Christmas soon thereafter. Happy holidays to you and yours!

Leaves & Pumpkins Galore!

Things just don't slow down 'round here! We've been having such a fun fall, although as I write this it feels like the "leaves & pumpkins" part of fall is behind us - now on to turkey and holiday shopping! As you'll see, we soaked up every last bit of our New England fall, enjoying pumpkin festivals, hayrides, and the crunchy, colorful leaves.

We headed to Wolfe's Neck Farm with Christine and her two girls, Delaney & Allie, for a great pumpkin festival, complete with lots of animals, as always, as well as face painting, an oceanside hayride, pumpkin decorating, and more! It was a gorgeous day and tons of fun.

The hayride stopped at a pumpkin patch, where all the kids could get out and pick their own pumpkin. I love Wolfe's Neck Farm!!!

Payson's been getting very interested in reading to Zoe, and tucking her in with a blanket. She even jumps in from time to time - poor Zoe. First Payson comes and takes all her attention, and now she has to share her dog bed. She puts up with it suprisingly well.

This would have definitely been our 2008 Christmas card picture if only Payson's stubborn streak didn't emerge. She would NOT lay down to partake in this photo (maybe I can't really blame her...)

A couple of weekends ago Stacy and I went on our first ever girls' day trip since the girls were born - a promised birthday gift for Stacy from last April! We only got to it 6 months late, not bad. We went to North Conway for some shopping, lunch, and a little sight-seeing - and it was fantastic. The girls and daddies had fun all day, too! We'll try it again soon since it was such a rousing success.

You know you're a Mainer (read: Redneck?) when... your daughter thinks it's just about the coolest thing in the world to play in the back of daddy's one ton! This is just about a daily event. Who needs toys?

After working his keester off for so many weekends in a row, Matt took a Monday off to spend with us girls. We decided to go apple picking... but got to the orchard to find they were closed = picked out! What a bummer - but they were great, and told us to walk around and enjoy ourselves. So we had an absolute blast playing in the leaves of a big ole sugar maple!

We all got buried...

(love this pic of Matt!)

Zoe trying to catch the leaves.

We went on a (freakin' FREEZING) trip to Pumpkinland with Payson's daycare. Apparently every year they go it is freakin' freezing. This year was no exception, and although we had a little fun, Payson was freakin' freezing and just not herself. We went on another hayride (that's 3 this fall!) and got to pick out another pumpkin in the pumpkin patch! As you can see, Payson's running towards me because it was so freakin' FREEZING.

Jami & Braydon in the patch, after Braydon tripped over a pumpkin and log-rolled across the row of muddy pumpkin, laughing the entire way.

Did I mention Pumpkinland was freakin' freezing?! Payson looks cold, even in this picture! Poor kiddo. Pumpkinland itself was really cool (pun unintended) and we'll look forward to returning next year in hopefully warmer conditions.

My dad and his partner, Pixie, came to visit a couple weeks ago and we headed to another pumpkin festival (who knew they were all the rage?) in Saco and had a blast. Carved and painted pumkins lined the street, and there was a dog costume contest, petting zoo area, kids all over in costumes, food, and a band - a great way for dad and Pixie to soak up New England in the fall.

One of the many displays of pumpkins. I wish we could have stayed later when they lit them all up! Maybe next year.

Know you already marveled over Payson's Halloween costume. Alright, alright, I know it wasn't all that elaborate, but I failed to mention before that Matt and I made the tail and horns. Matt did the tail and sewed it on to Payson's pants, and yes, I - meaning ME - sewed those horns by hand. So there. Aren't you impressed, or a little more, at least?

We'll end with this cute picture from last weekend - after Payson covered up Zoe, she rushed into her room to bring back books to read to Zoe. This one's "Down by the Bay," which she sang. She's been really into singing lately - she now does the ABCs without skipping any letters, and also has "Baa, baa black sheep" down pat. Pretty cute!

Happy Halloween

I don't have time tonight to do a complete update since my last, but I wanted to wish everyone a happy Halloween and post some pictures of our little goblin!

We had two cute costumes for Payson this year - a duck, bought by Mimi after last Halloween, and a pumpkin, a hand-me-down from our friends the Heslers. She refused to put either of them on, so Matt and I made her a costume she could wear without feeling like she was wearing anything - a devil! It turned out pretty cute.

Here are some pictures of our little devil. We also tried trick-or-treating with Alison and it went really well! The girls had a blast and everyone thought they were adorable. We agree! :)

Hope your holiday was spooky and fun and I'll do some more updating ASAP!

Autumn Packs a Punch!

Whew! We've been busy lately, packing in a ton of autumn fun! The colors this year have been amazing, as has the weather. We've been fortunate to enjoy sunny, seventy degree days lately so we've been outside a ton. Catch up on our latest below...

To all of our delight, Payson has started cooking - and I really mean it! She loves to sidle up to the counter and help mom or dad, or watch. I first tried this with her favorite weekend breakfast, French toast. I don't even stir at all - she does a great job and it's tons of fun.

We went to a small but fun Pumkin Festival with the Smiths a few weekends ago. This picture's not the best, but it does capture Payson's outfit and continual fashion sense.

Lots of pumpkins!

Having a blast running around between all the rows.

Cookie decorating was a hit...

... as was eating the creation. For some reason, I love this picture.

We didn't prompt them to do this - they are so cute and such good buddies.

Okay, most of the time they are cute, but sometimes they are a little odd... after playing at the playground they spotted a tennis court and proceeded to "sleep" on it. It was funny nonetheless!

No, we're not really potty training yet, but Payson likes to sit on the potty (nothing comes out yet, but I figure if she wants to sit, it's a good first step) and hang out from time to time. She grabbed her book and went for it... notice her feet are crossed too! This will be the picture we show her boyfriends when she's a teenager. I remember my parents had one of me on a potty reading Reader's Digest (ironic), upsidedown. I don't think they were cruel enough to show it to any boyfriends, though.

We met up with the Smiths again and our friends Julie (20 months) and her mom Kate from our swimming class a year ago for some apple picking and hay riding near the Smith's house. Payson chomped an entire apple and loved it!

On the hayride - left to right are Julie, Payson, & Alison.

Working on her second apple and having fun near some pumpkins after the first one bit the dust (literally - she dropped it).

This past weekend Payson and I went on a walk to collect some supplies for some painting. I finally remembered my camera to capture the fall colors at their peak along the Presumpscot River. They are just breathtaking this year, supposively due to our rainy summer.

Some more vibrant colors behind the gunpowder mill you see to the left. These mills were used to produce about one third of the gunpowder for the Civil War and much of the mill village is still in tact. Really cool!

Payson collecting some nature supplies - this could be a rock, or lichen. Once she discovered pine cones the bag filled up quickly!

Using our supplies didn't go exactly as I thought it would, but we still had a blast! Payson painted a card for Alison's birthday party which was the following day.

A nice cold drink after all that work - and before the big clean up!

More painting at Alison's party with the birthday girl herself. Payson called Alison on her real birthday, 10-10, to wish her a happy birthday and they actually had a conversation. Payson also sang to Alison, which sounds like "Happy to you, happy to you Alison Smiph." (her last name is Smith)

A good profile shot by daddy-o.

The birthday girl behind her amazing apple cake.

Enjoying the frosting!

It's hard to believe Alison turned two already. That means Payson's birthday is, now, less than ten weeks away (and so are the holidays... and my thirtieth! YIKES!). It really is amazing how quickly time is flying by. We got to catch up with some friends, the Haniskos, we haven't seen in a long time at Ali's party, which was really nice and we hope to see them again soon.

Payson continues to be a little ball of fire - she knows her colors & shapes really well now and likes to point both out as we drive. She continues to test her limits like any normal 21 month old... and it's amusing sometimes! Both last night and tonight she told Matt, "Daddy, go wash the dishes" when she wanted him to leave her alone. It's hard not to laugh sometimes!

Hope everyone who's reading this is doing well - I encourage you to leave a comment to let us know what you're up to! Take care and I'll blog again when I find the time. :)