Picking Pumpkins!

Wagon time, taking a cruise around the pumpkins!

The best part of picking out pumpkins was watching Ella with the one she selected for herself above.  She must have thought is was ball and kept launching it across the lot!  I don't how many times, Bob and I went chasing after that thing!  As you can see in the picture she is gearing up for another big throw, tongue out and all!  As we headed back to the car, she gave her poor little pumpkin one last big throw and successfully cracked it all the way around!  The lesson learned: Stay out of Ella's way if she is anywhere near a pumpkin - she will take you out!

Ella picked out a baby pumpkin for her baby brother or sister!  Thank goodness she was gentle with it, unlike the abuse her own pumpkin encountered!

Ella and daddy with their funny looking squash!

We went to pick out pumpkins the other day.  After we selected our normal looking pumpkins, we decided to go through and find some funky looking squash.  Ella found this green one and kept saying "duck"!  Well she is correct, it does look like a duck!  (Nana, check out her moccasins!)

Zoo Time!!!

Somehow Ella still had energy to swim after the zoo, so daddy took her swimming at our hotel.  One of Ella's favorite activities is swimming with her daddy! 

We must have caught the tigers during nap time, every single one of them was sleeping!  Ella would point at them and say "nap" as we went by their cages.  However when we went inside to see the large male lion, he was very much awake and roaring!  The lion sound was the first animal sound that Ella learned many months ago!

Grammie and Ella watching the penguins (Grammie's favorite). We were lucky and got there just in time to see the staff feed the penguins! Since we have been back home, when we ask Ella what a penguin says, she replies "waddle waddle waddle" and then will waddle around the house!

Ella and daddy making fish faces in the aquarium!

Ella kept trying to kiss the fish through the glass!

Ella pointing to the mommy gorilla.  It's hard to see in the picture, but she had a little baby gorilla in her lap, so cute!

Checking out the elephants!

Inside the rainforest watching the monkeys.  This was our first stop at the zoo, Ella was in awe! 

We enjoyed a mini getaway a few weeks ago, by spending the weekend in Omaha and enjoying the perfect weather!  We met Grammie there and stayed at a hotel Friday and Saturday night.  On Saturday we spent over 6 hours at the Henry Doorly Zoo, Ella soaked up every second of it!  She loves animals and loves to make all of their sounds!  Since we have been back home, she has been reading her animal books even more.

Family Pictures

We had family pictures taken a few weeks ago, knowing it would be a challenge with an 18 month old!  We failed to get even one picture of Ella by herself during the session, she is simply to busy to be bothered by taking silly pictures!  We were able to get a few pregnancy shots though. 

Pumpkin Patch!

We visited Center Grove Orchard in Cambridge this past Saturday!  There were so many fun things to do and the weather was amazing, we can't wait to go back!  We were able to do all kinds of activities and enjoyed a hay rack ride.  At the end of our time there, we stopped in the store to pick up some goodies such as apple cider, homemade caramels and our favorite, jalapeno jelly. 

 There was an apple sling-shot station that Bob was all over!  It was by far, our favorite part of the afternoon!  Bob tried out a few different techniques, before long, he was on his way to the apple sling-shot hall of fame!  His girls were there cheering him on! Go daddy go!  It was awesome!

Ella and I feed the horses some treats. 

Although she enjoyed feeding them, she did not enjoy them licking her!  

Ella helped Bob feed the goats and turkeys.  I think maybe she was more comfortable with the small animals versus the ones that have heads the same size as her entire body!

Ella and Bob took a dip in the corn pool!  They had a huge area where the kids (and parents) could "swim" in the corn.  Look at my princess not wanting to mess up her pedicure!  Yeah right! 

Fall Park Pictures

Ella playing in the park

 on a recent beautiful Sunday afternoon.