Last week, we took the boys to the pumpkin patch — what a difference a year makes! They have been enamored with pumpkins lately & love to point them out whenever they see one. When we went to get pumpkins last year, the boys weren't walking yet. This time, it was a completely different experience watching them interact with the animals, climb up hay bails & explore the patch to pick out their very own pumpkins!
Read moreApple Picking: Year Two
Last September, we went apple picking for the first time as a family. I mentioned in this post from last year that I hoped it would become a family tradition for us. I’m so happy that we were able to go for the second time earlier this week!
We visited the same orchard on Mt. Hood & this time, the boys did most of the picking. It was a gorgeous, sunny fall day. Since it is late September & because we were up on the mountain, I was expecting it to be a little chilly but it was perfect! I actually got a little sweaty chasing around two toddlers! 😅
Wyatt & Boden had a great time picking the apples. They were very focused & loved putting them into the bucket. Last year, they ate a good share of the apples. This year, I don’t think either of them took a single bite! They were too busy picking them & it was adorable watching how involved they were.
Now, I just need to figure out what to make with all of the apples we picked! Maybe I will attempt to make my first apple pie?
We can’t wait for year three!
xoxo
Backyard Talk: Part 2
I am happy to report that our backyard is finished! This project was a labor of love this summer. We finished in mid-August & have really loved being able to enjoy it for a few weeks before summer ends. I just read my Backyard Talk post from April & I COULD NOT believe how little the boys look! The saying is so true, time is a thief.
The last time I talked about our yard, it was just a giant dirt pit. Look how far we’ve come! Sean planted the grass himself & it turned out amazing. We went back a forth for awhile whether or not we should seed it ourselves or purchase sod. I’m so glad that we did it ourselves because it turned out perfectly!
Do you remember what my backyard wishlist looked like? We have checked everything off that list, with the exception of a play structure for the kiddos! Here is a refresher:
A play area for the kidsthis will come at a later date! (Let's face it, the entire yard is their play space!)- Raised garden beds
- A fire pit
- Outdoor dining
YAY I got my raised garden beds! These cedar beds were built for us by a local building center & they turned out exactly how I envisioned. We wrapped them in some solar lights & made my fairy-twinkle-light-dreams come true! One bed has flowers planted in it, the other has different shrubs. They are already getting so big! Eventually I would like to start a vegetable garden, but I thought these shrubs & flowers would be a nice start.
The fire pit area is probably one of my favorite parts, it really is so perfect! My dad & Sean built the tiers & Sean built the fire pit. We got the Adirondack chairs & tables from a man that makes them locally & we’ve been very happy with them.
I love, love, LOVE that we have an outdoor dining area now! This table has been perfect & seats ten. I really wanted a long table so we could entertain our family & friends!
Our dining table & chairs are from Article. The table is no longer available but the chairs we have are the Svelti Pure White Dining Chairs.
Having this outdoor space has been such a blessing to our family. The kids absolutely adore being outside, they love playing in the rocks! I’m so happy that they have nice grass to play in now, too. I want to say a huge thank you to my dad who helped map it out for us, helped Sean level the dirt and spread the gravel. Thank you for reading about our backyard! We sure do love it.
xoxo
