End of Summer/Mid Fall Update

I seem to be getting worse and worse at keeping up this blog!  I can't believe I last updated in June, when Andrew was 17-months old, and he's now 21-months old!  

[DISCLAIMER: This post will probably be L-O-N-G]

We had a fun summer, and Andrew has been keeping us SUPER busy!  Here's what we've been up to:

We took a trip to the Columbus Zoo on July 2nd.  It was Andrew's first trip ever to a any zoo, and our first trip to Columbus Zoo.  We all had a wonderful time.  Andrew LOVED looking at the animals!  That big day really tired him out!

Arriving at the Columbus Zoo!

Pointing out the polar bear to Daddy!

Checking out the elephants!

Staring in awe at the colorful fish.

Andrew got to experience 4th of July this year unlike the previous year when he was little(r) and less aware of what was going on.  Our neighbors had some FANTASTIC fireworks in our cul-de-sac, which was like having our own personal professional display in our front yard.  Our neighbor's display went on long past Andrew's bedtime and felt and sounded like the rockets were taking off and exploding.  I knew Andrew would probably be awake and upset in his crib.  I was surprised to find him awake, but content.  I can't decide if Andrew ended up enjoying them or not.  First he hated them, and cried and cried and cried.  Then he liked them and would clap.  Then a roman candle started shooting at us, and he got upset again.  Haha!  I'm sure that at some point he will start to love the fireworks! 

Purchasing fireworks that *ahem* we took out of the state within 24 hours.

Daddy showing Andrew a sparkler.

Andrew is not nearly as excited as Mama about the sparklers!

One of the many professional grade fireworks in our neighbor's display!

A big achievement over the summer was finding out how much he LOVED slides.  Shoup Park is our favorite, although it's a little far away, we tried to go once a week.  

Crawling through a tunnel on the playground.

Weeeee!  Slides are fun!

Especially double slides with Daddy!

My best friend, Lynn, and her family stopped to see us on their way home from a road trip, and we were so happy to see each other!  It had been four years and three kids (between the two of us) since we last saw each other!  We used to talk about having our kids play together, long before either of us were married or had kids, and it finally came to frutition.

The Sibigas and the Hagues!

I took a solo trip back to Florida at the beginning of August for my 10-year high school reunion.  I can't believe it's been ten years since I graduated!  What was great about this trip was Lynn, was also coming, sans husband and children, so we got to have a girls weekend, just like old times.  We had such a great time!  It was nice to see some friends we hadn't seen since graduation, and of course, visit the beach (which I have so dearly missed!).

In the plane above the clouds.

Dinner at Monterrey Grill with my parents and Godparents the night I arrived.

The beach with my BFF!

All dolled up and having a drink at our 10-year reunion.

My good friend Jen, and her son Sam, who I hadn't seen since he was a baby!

Mom and I checking out the renovated ERAU campus.

YUM!  Dad and I at Zaxby's (my FAVORITE!) before my plane left.

At the end of September we took our first road trip ever to North Carolina to visit Grammy & Pappap for the week.   We had SO much fun!  Andrew did surprisingly great sleeping in a new place, and he the new scenery and meeting new friends!  We will definitely be back!

A picnic at our long-time picnic spot.

On the porch at the Mast General Store.

Feeding Mr. Pickles the pig, on the Apple Hill Farm tour.

Exploring the farm with the family!

Seeing our good friends, The Chubbs!  They hadn't met Andrew, as we hadn't seen them since our wedding!

Pappap helping Andrew up the rock wall to Daddy on the playground!

Spreading corn for the wildlife (i.e. turkey and deer and whatever else).  Andrew did NOT like it!

Swinging on the front porch with Mama!

With his new friend, Beckham, on Beckham's outdoor playset!

Enjoying a beautiful sunset with Grammy & Pappap!

Meeting Petunia the pig!

The whole family + Gene at Woodlands BBQ!  (Been going there since I was a kid!)

On a special hayride that Grammy & Pappap set up for us! 

Lastly, we just celebrated Halloween, and our Andrew was a pirate.  He had a lot of fun, and received many compliments!  He thoroughly enjoyed grabbing candy and putting it in his bag, as well as helping us hand out candy, by putting candy in other kids' bags.  We attended several events which he got to get dressed up for: Halloween Extravaganza at the mall, All Souls Bonfire/Trunk-or-Treat at our church, Trick-or-Treat at AFIT (Matt's work), and then Halloween night at our home.  The weather on Halloween was less than desirable for the second year in a row, but we made the best of it, and made some really good memories!

Arrrgh!  It's Andrew the pirate!

Checking out the other kids at the mall and wondering why they're dressed up.

Mama and Andrew at our church's All Souls Bonfire/Trunk-or-Treat.

The bonfire at church, so warm and cozy!

In line for treats at the trunks!

Daddy and Andrew the pirate, near the pirate ship at AFIT!

The boys doing a "I'm not going to look at the camera" pose.

Another pirate let Andrew borrow his sword for a picture.

Andrew and his friend James after collecting candy!

Trick or Treating in our neighborhood in the wind and rain.

Our set up at home handing out candy!

Soaking wet after being caught in a downpour while trick-or-treating!  Good times!

 So, that has been our last several months!  He has gotten so tall lately that he can reach the doorknobs and set (or grab) things on the countertop.  He is becoming such a little boy nowadays and I wonder where my baby has gone!  I will try to update more regularly (I'm sure I say that every time!)  

Pudding face!!

Love and blessings to all!