Trip to the Bershire's

A couple of weeks ago, we took a little trip to the Berkshires. It was just a little over night trip to a place that we had been wanting to see since we moved to Mass and since it could be our last fall here (job options unknown) we thought this fall would be a good time to check it out. The Berkshires are only about 2 hours from where we live, so it wasn't far to go, but it was really beautiful and since the leaves were starting to turn it was fun to drive around all the little towns. We did some apple picking at a farm and of course some apple cider donuts to go with them and Oliver and I went on a tractor ride around the orchard. Then we went on a "Scenic" train ride. We thought the kids would really like that. It was fun to go on the train, but unfortunately the scenery wasn't quite what we had been hoping for! On the 1st half of the ride (40 min) we were only going at 10mph which was seriously slow considering that we were basically riding through the underbelly of some podunk towns. You know, where the train tracks usually run-- not through the pretty part of town. And then at the very end we broke out into some countryside for about 10 min. The we had a short break at a station and then got back on to some home. Thankfully on the ride back we were going about 20 mph so it passed much more quickly and seemed more enjoyable. But Oliver seemed to think it was fun for the most part. I just don't think it should be marketed as "scenic" but hey, who asked me?!

The next day we went to a fun pumpkin farm and the kids had fun looking around and doing some of the various activities there like a pumpkin car race and a hay ride. We also drove up to the top of Mount Greylock. Doesn't that just sound cool? And kind of spooky? It did to me. It was pretty at the top and they had a large memorial up there you could climb up. The leaves were pretty and it was a fun drive. We also went to a neat college in Williamstown that was a really cool college town with a neat old downtown where we ate lunch and then went to their art museum which had a really amazing collection despite the fact that it was a pretty small museum. But we made it through without the kids breaking anything, so it was a success!

All in all it was a great trip and fun for us to get out as a family.

(By the way- for parents- I think if you click on the individual pictures you can see them larger.)

Growing Up

Do you ever have those days when you realize your kids are getting big?! I mean suddenly you look at them and they aren't babies anymore, they are just growing up! This has happened a lot to me lately. Oliver and Ruby are doing so many new things and changing all the time and as people always tell you when you have little kids, it's happening all too fast. (Excpet on those days when they are driving me crazy, and then I wish they could grow up a little faster! ha, ha.) So I thought I would do a little update on what they are both doing.

Oliver: He is getting SO tall and he is just looking like a big kid. Since starting Kindergarten he has learned so many new things SO fast. It's kind of amazing. In the last few weeks he is really getting good at writing his alphabet letters and he is even starting to spell some words on his own. His words he "knows" how to spell and write on his own according to him are: I and See. But he actually knows a few more since he likes to ask me how to spell things and then write them down. His favorite topic to do this with is superheros of course. I can't tell you how many times I have spelled S-P-I-D-E-R-M-A-N. He also likes to make Christmas lists a plenty!

He is also working on counting. Wow, there is a lot of counting going on at our house. A common scene going on around here is either Zack or me walking around the house doing something being followed closely behind by Oliver as he, "31-32-33-34-35-36-37-38-39- what comes after 39?" One of us, "40." Oliver, "40. 41-42-....." He is up in the hundreds now with a little help here and there. I can't say that it's not cute, because it is, but after a couple of hundreds following you around it can get on your nerves a little! So usually we have to impose a cut-off limit. Which is usually followed by Oliver saying, "but I just CAN'T stop! I just love to count!" How can you say no to that?

He also loves to have us make up "books" where we do pictures and make our own story. It ususally consists of a story about alien brothers and Christmas somehow. It's pretty cute. He loves to do crafts and art projects, too bad I'm not a more kid craft minded mom, I'll have to work on that! :) He love to play with other kids and is getting a lot less shy about making friends at the playground and places like that. All in all he is just a sweet, loving, sensitive child that loves his stuffed animals and has a real love of learning.

(These pictures were taken at Sturbridge Village near our town. Basically an Old village with all kinds of fun homes, blacksmith shops, general stores, etc....from back in the day. Anyway, Oliver I think had the most fun trying out one the the Children's games rolling the hoop with a stick. He did pretty good with some practice!)

Ruby: Oh Ruby, Ruby, Ruby....sigh. So adorable and yet such a menace! Wow, how 2 kids could be such opposites is kind of mind boggling! She is in many ways the complete opposite of Oliver. She is so snuggly and affectionate and yet she can find or make trouble faster than I can usually keep up with! She too is getting to be so tall, and of course she's always been a little chunky, so we are glad that is sticking around! :)

She loves to sing. Often in the car she will just start singing back there making up her own tunes and she usually sings herself to sleep in her crib. She can sing the alphabet song which is pretty adorable. (I need to get some video of that.) She also loves Twinkle Twinkle and Popcorn Popping.

She LOVES Oliver. Anything he does, she wants to do, anything he says she wants to say. She just loves him. She even loves the cartoons he likes just I think just because he likes them! Unfortunately the feelings aren't mutual with Oliver, but we are hoping that comes with time! ha, ha.

She loves to play hide and seek and of course she loves stuffed animals just like her big brother! She really likes to take off and put on clothes. She can do most things by herself and I often come in the room to find her dressed in Oliver's clothes! Recently she has been trying to jump, stand upside down, and she is such a funny runner which is pretty adorable since she just screams and throws her arms out!

And with all the writing and counting Oliver has been doing, she often has to do her "work" as well with markers and crayons, pens and pencils. She also loves Sesame Street which makes me happy and randomly The Gumby Movie on netflix, she loves that movie?! I don't get it, but that's kids.

She is quick to forgive and even quicker to tell you she loves you. Now if we could only get her to stop being naughty!