Pumpkin Patch Adventure | Remlinger Farms

This year we finally made it to the pumpkin patch!

This is something that we've been trying to do with Ryder ever since he was born, but for whatever reason we just weren't able to make it happen. So I was super excited this year to finally take him to a proper pumpkin patch to pick out his very own Halloween pumpkin! 

But first things first. 

I mentioned recently that we discovered an amazing place called Remlinger Farms. It's located basically right in between our house and our super good friends, the Sehner Family, so we thought this was an excellent opportunity to meet up with them and spend the day there.

We had such a great time!

Ryder started off with train and pony rides.

Then he and Hazel moved on to some of the other rides, like the canoes.

And finally they were ready for the more exciting carnival type rides! 

There were also some more family friendly activities that everyone was able to go on...

These two buddies always have such a good time together.

After we were done at the park, it was finally time to take a hay ride over to the pumpkin patch!

Choosing the perfect pumpkin is very serious business, but we finally made our selections and headed out. 

Yes, that little pumpkin is what Ryder ultimately decided on.

We were surprised that he didn't want a bigger one, but this kid marches to the beat of his own drummer, and it was important to us to let him decide on his own. We did get some big pumpkins for the rest of the family, though!

I am SO happy that we've finally been able to make this pumpkin patch tradition a reality! 

I have the best memories of tromping through the mud as a kid to pick out the perfect pumpkin, and now my kids will hopefully have the same treasured memories. 

Many thanks to the Sehner Family for being there with us on our adventures, and for helping to make them that much more fun!

Here Comes the Boom

After waiting patiently for months and months, it's finally here... 

The Seattle Seahawks Home Opener!

After becoming season ticket holders in 2012, spending our Sundays tailgating and attending football games together rapidly became one of our very favorite activities. And although we do plan to include our baby Seahawks in the festivities someday, for now Stew and I cherish our "adult" time cheering on our favorite team.



But that doesn't mean we don't still deck out the littlest Hawk fans in their game day finest!



The first tailgate of the season always feels a little bit like coming home again. We love our Hawkwagon Tailgate Family so much!

Also, tailgating gives us the opportunity to get a babysitter and act like kids again ourselves for a few hours... This particular Sunday featured keg stands!

And sitting back in our seats, it always feels like we never even left as we rise with the 12s to cheer on the Hawks.

We have high hopes for the Seahawks this year, and we know that they won't disappoint.

Either way, we're looking forward to spending our Sundays with some of our very favorite people.

Let's do this, Hawk Fans!

Dear Kiley... Seven Months

Dear Kiley, 

It's been an exciting summer for our little family of four, and we've really tried to take advantage of these last sunny days over the past month. 

You enjoy all our family adventures!

In mid-August we took you for the first time on one of our very favorite annual camping trips to Mayfield Lake. You have continued to tolerate car trips like a champ, and didn't at all mind the drive down. Once we arrived, we settled in, and you were content to just hang out with everyone for the weekend. We were fortunately graced with super nice weather, which meant we got to try out our new "Shade Shack" for the first time down at the beach.

It was awesome!

It really is amazing how much baby camping gear is out there these days. Your best friend Jane was nice enough to share her portable jumper with you, which was a nice change of pace from being held or sitting in your balance chair, since you weren't sitting independently yet.

Daddy was excited to take you swimming.

But the water was a little cold for your taste, and you weren't a huge fan.

Back at the campsite, everyone was happy to just hang around and hold you.

Later that month we met up with our good friends the Webb Family for a sunny afternoon of wine tasting. 

We sat outside on the patio in the shade, and there was even a fountain for you to dip your toes in when it got too hot.

 Your big brother Ryder has a membership at the Hands on Children's Museum in Olympia, so sometimes when Nana takes him for a visit you get to tag along. It's such a fun place to learn and explore!

We officially closed out summer with our annual trip to Priest Lake in Idaho with the Alway Family for Labor Day Weekend.

You got some more use out of the Shade Shack.

And when you once again weren't a fan of the cold lake water, we set up a little baby swimming pool for you in the shade. 

For whatever reason, you decided that this trip was the time to implement a nap strike, although you did occasionally snooze in the shade.

One evening you got dressed up and went out to dinner with the family.

You liked hanging out outside with Uncle Mark and Daddy while we waited for our table to be ready.

When wildfire smoke rolled in and we were contained inside for part of the trip, you didn't mind a bit.

 Back at home, you have continued to work on some of your skills, like rolling over.







Ryder is always happy to help you practice.

You're getting better at Tummy Time and don't mind it as much anymore...

This month we worked on helping you learn how to sit up, but for the most part you still prefer lounging.

However, right around seven months old you finally decided to start sitting up independently!

At night you still sleep in your Pack 'N' Play next to Mommy and Daddy's bed, but you've graduated from swaddles to sleep sacks.

For a period of time you were struggling going down for bed at night. Finally I realized that you desperately wanted to roll over onto your belly. Once you did, you were out like a light.

Morning and afternoon naps are still in your Rock 'N' Play, because it's where you sleep the best, and we figure if it ain't broke, why fix it?

You've been trying more and more solid foods all the time, and so far you seem to prefer the baby food purees to anything that I cut into chunks and serve you.

You love hanging out in your high chair, especially when I'm working around the kitchen or when the rest of the family is eating a meal.

And you're a big fan of your Jumperoo! This is great for Mommy and Daddy, because you'll play happily in there for up to 30 minutes at a time, which is a nice break for us and such fun for you.

You love, love love your Daddy, and he can make you laugh almost instantly.

This month, as the NFL preseason kicked into gear, you also learned that your family and friends are made up of a bunch of crazy Seahawks fans!

You were happy to join in on the fun, and boy do you look cute in your baby Hawk gear!

You continue to be just the sweetest, happiest, best-natured little girl!

At your last doctor appointment you were 26.25" long (54th percentile) and weighed in at 16 pounds, 15.3 ounces (60th percentile), right on track at double your birth weight. You handled your immunizations like a champ as always and we were so proud of you. After a few more weeks of prescription topical creams, we finally seem to have your skin issues under control. And although it has seemed like you've been teething for months, we don't see any signs of actual teeth yet. 

As the summer draws to a close we're looking at some big changes like new childcare providers and your big brother starting pre-school. And then, soon enough, we'll launch right into the holidays — our first as a family of four. But we'll get to that soon enough...

For now, welcome to Fall, little Munchkin!

For a fun comparison, click here to read about Ryder's Seventh Month.