Family Fair Fun

Jesse and I went to the Clark County Fair with my parents in August! Jesse loved  seeing and hearing the animals. My cousin Tara was in the fair pageant, and we stuck around to watch her compete. We had a great time, and it was wonderful to get to see so many family members throughout the evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toes in the Sand!

In July, Jesse and I went on an adventure with my mother-in-law, Connie, to Cowan's Gap state park. We spent the afternoon by the lake. What made this trip especially special, was the fact that this was Jesse's first experience with sand. He's never felt sand between his toes before :) At first, he wasn't sure what to think, and he kept trying to stand on our sheet that we spread out to put our towels on. Eventually he braved the sand and stepped out further and further. He also enjoyed splashing around in the lake. He would run and splash into the lake, turn around and run back towards the sand, and then run back and splash into the water again. He got a couple of mouthfuls of sand as he tried to eat some. We had a lot of fun that day, and later in the summer we went up and took my hubby along and cooked out. Love making memories with our baby boy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Memories



I was so excited to have the summer off to spend with my baby boy this year. I knew we would have fun and make memories, but I didn't realize how much closer I would grow to my son by getting to spend so much more time with him. By the end of the summer, he was attached to my hip and both he and I struggled a little with me going back to work. I loved every single moment, even though it meant never sleeping in - LOL! We had many pancake breakfasts, picnics at the school farm, trips to the park, days spent at the pool, play dates and outings with friends, and days spent cuddling, giggling, and dancing around the house. I'm already counting down the days until I can pretend to be a stay-at-home mommy again! Don't get me wrong - I love my job! - but what parent wouldn't want to spend all their time with their child if they could?! This was definitely the best summer ever.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wish we could do it all over again, baby! Can't wait till next summer. Or at least, a snow day or two so we can make some memories in the snow ;-)

 

A Day in Gettysburg

This post is long over-due, but if you lived a day in my crazy, chaotic, hectic life, you'd totally understand why. I barely have a moment to breathe these days, but that's another blog post in itself!

 

Wayyy back in early August, the hubby and I took Jesse on a day trip to Gettysburg. We haven't had a vacation together since our honeymoon (he's not a big fan of going away, I usually just travel with girlfriends). However, with a baby now, I think it's important to set aside time to spend together as a family. Granted, a vacation at this stage of the game isn't quite feasible yet. So, instead of going away for a few days, we decided just to take a day trip to Gettysburg. I've been dying to sink my toes in some sand, but the hubby is a history buff and Gettysburg is much closer than the beach... so, he wins this time!

 

We actually had a great time. We started out at the visitor's center. We watched a film and then toured the museum. Afterwards, we stopped at the gift shop and bought an audio CD for a driving tour of the battlefield. It ended up being the perfect option for us. We leisurely drove from landmark to landmark, while the narrator explain what had happened in that particular part of the battlefield. Jesse enjoyed the ride, and we would stop every now and then to get him out for a stroller ride. We had a great day, just the three of us. Lots of passersby commented on how adorable our baby was. One little girl just couldn't pull herself away from him. Already a lady's man ;-)

 

 

 

 



 



 

 

 



A Holiday Tradition

Every year on Black Friday, my mom and I have a tradition.

 

No, it does not involve getting up at the butt-crack of dawn.

 

No, it does not require waiting in long lines.

 

On the evening of the day after Thanksgiving, Mom and I head to Shepherdstown, WV. Main Street is shut down, all of the neat little shops have their windows decorated for Christmas, a bon-fire is made on the square where people can roast marshmallows or warm their hands, chestnuts are roasted and sold on the street corner, and the Grinch lurks in the shadows of Town Hall while the town gathers and waits for Santa Claus to arrive. There is a magical feeling in the air, and I love how spending the evening in the town puts me right in the holiday spirit.

 

Mom and I before we left for the evening

Main Street in Shepherdstown

Selling roasted chestnuts

Spotted the Grinch

Chocolates! Nothing with lemon though. Darn.

Cindy Lou Who

Bonfire on the street corner

Santa arrives!

My favorite store in Shepherdstown!
 

Momma checking out the goods.

Oh the delights of being pregnant... had to buy the pickled green beans and some lemon drops.

 

Where we have dinner every year! Kung Pao Chicken for me :)
 

 

Santa in the window :)