Apple Picking and the Pumpkin Patch

One of our favorite fall activities (even before Henry came along) was to go to an apple orchard.  With a little bit of research from the olde internet, we found a fantastic place.  It did not disappoint, in any way!  We had a great day - beautiful weather, amazing apples, and Auntie Kels was able to join us!

Henry and I survey the pumpkin patch.  There was a tractor and wagon that took you from the pumpkin and store area to the apple orchard.  Henry was obsessed with the tractor and couldn't wait to take a hayride.

"I like this one mom!  It's just my size!"
Yup, we think he's pretty darn cute.
Really, we all are.  Fall color coordination?  Nah, it just happened that way.  Kidding!  Yes, some thought went into our outfits.  I can't claim that we look this good effortlessly.
Hey!  We're riding to the orchard.  Auntie shows Henry about hay.
We were each allowed to eat one apple while we picked our bushel worth.  Henry enjoyed his immensely!
"Twist and gently pull!"
Another family shot.  Henry was again very taken with the tractor in the distance.
Auntie and Henry enjoy their freebie.
The aforementioned tractor.  It was a huge hit.  Again, anything with wheels.
Petting and feeding the goats.
It was the perfect day.  What made it even more perfect was that Luke found a $20 bill on the ground right next to Henry in this picture.  No one was around, so we took ourselves to lunch at a hotdog stand!  Seriously, that's what we did with the cash.  Obviously, wealth is only given to those who truly know what to do with it.

Great Granny and Great Grandad's Visit

Great Granny and Great Granddad headed east on their way south and stopped to visit us in Boston!  If you are scratching your head about the geography here, that's okay!  They hadn't had a chance to see the northeast, so the Boston Andersons were a good excuse to circle up their wagons here and do some exploring.  We had a great time with them, and they truly explored Boston from all angles.  Being here in early October, they saw some beautiful scenery on their drive out here and got to explore the beginning of "leaf peeping season".

Every visit must begin with a trek to the gorgeous park right by our house.  A friendly New Englander (these aren't too common) took our picture and chatted about cameras with Granddad.

Granddad and Henry made friends quickly, bonding over their common love of things with wheels.  Or, in Henry speak, "w-eee"!

Luke is fortunate enough to have many, many vacation days (Hooray, Harvard!) and was able to take one for some sightseeing.  We explored the Freedom Trail with our friend Dotty the Ladybug.

Park Street Church.
Taking a break along the trail.  Granddad and Granny were nice enough to let me play "social studies teacher" for the day.

Above is the Old State House, and below, Henry plays in a flock of pigeons.  No dirty city birds were harmed due to Henry's chase.

At the Paul Revere Statue near the Old North Church.

Paul Revere's House.

Even though it was October, no trip to see New England would be complete without a look at the Atlantic Ocean.  Henry is proud to have found some seaweed.  Anyone up for sushi and some seaweed salad?  All we need are sesame seeds!
Henry is not disappointed by the chilly breeze and even chillier water temperatures.  Granddad and Granny, on the other hand, hightailed it to Florida after this trip to the Atlantic!

Dining out, Cape Cod style!

Checking out the harpoon with Granddad.

After 8 days of exploring and interacting with a  1 1/2 year old, Granddad and Granny were ready to keep on keepin' on!  Here's hoping they have a relaxing winter planned in Florida!  Knowing these two though, that's not all that likely...  They make us seem lazy!  It was great to see them!

Alisha's Visit

Kelly and Luke's college friend Alisha came to visit.  Luke was in Minnesota for Uncle Drew's football game for most of her visit, so it was Henry and his harem, once again.  ;-)  Some highlights were Henry's huge grins in the self-portraits he and Alisha took, a rainy walk under a beach umbrella with former New Yorkers Kirsten and Peter, and Henry's adorable interpretation of "A-li-sha", "SHA!!!!"

An update - a long time coming.

I'm currently working on blog posts with the following titles: 

Alisha's Visit

Apple Picking and the Pumpkin Patch

Great Granny and Great Grandad's Visit

Grampa's Visit

Henry's First Trick-or-Treat 

Please stay tuned!  Hopefully "better late than never"!  

Grandparents Visits

We have been blessed by seeing most of the grandparents in the past few weeks!  Grammy came through Boston due to a last minute trip to Connecticut, and Granny and Grandpa Gary were able to spend an entire week tagging along on our Boston adventures.  We are anxiously awaiting Grandpa's visit in October, and hopefully Gramps will get to return sometime soon as well!

Grammy gives Henry a "horsey ride".  Her rhyme is a family classic - this is at least the 3rd generation of use!

In addition to getting a horsey ride that day, we took a swan boat ride in Boston Public Gardens.  It was a gorgeous day!

Henry tried to swipe the camera.  He wanted to take more pictures of ducks.  We think...

Grammy's musical abilities inspire Henry as he tickles the ivories.

Next, Granny and Grandpa Gary visited!  We had tons of fun exploring the city and otherwise enjoying ourselves.

We packed a picnic (there is a theme with picnic packing in this blog!) and headed to Amherst.  Yes, discing was involved.  As was Emily Dickinson.  A perfect match.

Here we are exiting the Emily Dickinson tour.  For an hour and forty-five minutes we heard about the life and times of the famous poetess.  Grandpa Gary, meanwhile, wrangled a sleep-deprived Henry.  I don't know who was in more agony.  Just kidding, English and poetry lovers!!

Because it was within a month of the actual date, we decided to celebrate Auntie Kelsey's 22nd birthday with a Petsi Pie!  Yummmmmmmm!

Henry is anxiously awaiting the next grandparent visit!  Hurry, Grandpa,  hurry!

End of Summer Fun

It's hard to believe that this summer is drawing to a close.  Before it does though, we decided to squeeze in a few last adventures before the leaves turn.

Auntie's first trip to Walden Pond.  Henry, like that "other" Henry from the region, has a great deal of passion about Walden's sandy banks, tree-lined shores, and pebble carpeted paths.  He also likes to eat pretzels, just like Henry David Thoreau.


Any Labor Day/End of Summer activity must involve Disc Golf in some shape or form.  This was, of course, no exception.  We all packed up and headed to Borderlands State Park for some picnic-ing, exploring, and discing.

I promise we were enjoying our lunch!  This is a very interesting moment of mastication, evidently!

Henry loves a good "grinder".  (Grinder -  informal another term for submarine sandwich .)

A boy and his lovey, alone in the wilderness.

Before it closed for the season, we decided to check out the spray park.  Henry LOVED it!  We will definitely be heading back there next year.

Because he enjoyed the spraying and splashing so much, Auntie let him experience a more Walden-esque version of the spray park in the gutter.

Henry loved all of our adventuring this summer!  Thanks for following along!

Peach Picking

Who knew that peaches grow in Massachusetts??  We picked an entire bushel of them, and though I intended to freeze most, peach cobbler, crisp, pie and of course peaches for eating consumed them all in about a week!  

Auntie and Mama took turns carrying Henry around the orchard in the backpack.

A bushel of peaches gets heavy!  But not as heavy as the Henry-man.

Henry's best friend, Anna (aka "NaNa"), examines the fruits of our labor.  

The farm has lots of fruit (we have been there to pick blueberries, peaches and raspberries) and they also have goats to pet.  Henry was very intrigued by the goats.  He especially enjoyed feeding them and feeling their tongues tickle his palm!