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. :)
Sunday we went to the Cumberland Fair, and just started looking at the cows when we heard someone calling Payson's name. Turns out Alison had noticed Payson from across the stables and was calling out for Payson, but then Stacy had to chime in because Alison was too quiet. We didn't know the Smiths were going to the Fair as well, so it was great for the girls to run around and check out all the animals together. We also ran into the Farringtons, and it was great to catch up with them!
Up close and personal in the petting zoo area.
Monday we took Auntie Leesha for her first apple picking experience. The trees were so low Payson could reach! We picked half a peck of our favorite eating apples -Macouns. Yum!
Payson enjoyed sliding around the deck in this very expensive and technologically advanced toy. Perhaps it also has a special cooling feature. 
Labor Day weekend we went to my friend Jami's parent's camp on Sabbathday Lake and enjoyed our last swimming of the summer. I even got to go waterskiing! Payson and Braydon, especially, enjoyed getting splashed by Braydon's Buppa on the beach (I did not, as you can see).
Braydon loving the water!
