Fair season is here!

Fridays have unofficially become our family fun day. Casey usually only works for a few hours in the morning or not at all so we've been getting out of the house and enjoying the beautiful autumn weather that we've been having!

Two Fridays ago we packed up and made the hour and a half drive to Unity, ME to visit the Common Ground Fair. I've always loved the Common Ground. It doesn't have the rides and the typical midway that you'll find at the other fairs in the state. We hadn't been since I was pregnant with Boden so we were excited to let him run around and see everything the fair has to offer.

It was a perfect fall, sunny day and Boden loved it! He played in the hay and with hula hoops in the kids area and ran around everywhere. We ate fresh tacos and french fries and looked at all the animals. We arrived at the fair at 1:30 and didn't get home until almost 7! We had fresh blueberries and fresh apple cider and brought home a bunch of veggies from the different farm stands. Towards the end of our visit B lounged back in his stroller and kicked his feet up (literally). He was a tired little guy and was content with looking around from his comfy little chariot.

The rest of the weekend we played, ate and the boys watched football on Sunday. Casey made a mega meal from all of our fresh goodies from the fair and all three of us ate to our hearts content!

 

The change of seasons has us all out of whack so I've been off my game getting things posted. Sleep schedules are off, molars are still coming through and it's wreaking havoc! There's also lots of good stuff amidst the chaos and there's definitely more to come; stay tuned!

-Nicole

 

 

Fall is in the air. And so is dessert.

We've been moving a little slower than normal this past week. Chalk it up to the seasons changing, but we've definitely been dragging a bit! The windows are all closed, the L.L. Bean slippers are on and the throw blankets are back in rotation. I've honed in on the cozy little chaise part of our sectional and have utilized it during many of B's naps this week. I've hit up the library and am diving head first into a few different books. The Leopin household is slowly starting to hunker down.

This past week we celebrated my dad's 66th birthday. Nine of us enjoyed a great dinner at Byrnes' Irish Pub in Brunswick and then hit up the Brunswick Mall for some football. (The Town Mall is a park that runs alongside part of Maine street.) Dinner was fun and eventful, which it always is with a toddler, and the fun in the park was much needed to help digest the copious amounts of food we all ate.

 

We played at home a lot but did manage to look at some trucks, get to the playground and a hike and also went to a wonderful dinner at Casey's parents house. Our Aunt Patty was heading home to South Dakota and our Uncle Mickey was heading to a new job in Arizona. So...we ate (what else?) to all connect before they both headed out on their cross country travels.

 

We also took Boden apple picking which was so much fun. It was a beautiful day with the hint of Fall in the air. We picked out pumpkins and apples and ate homemade donuts, straight out of the oven. It's been just a few days and the apple pie Casey made is almost polished off. Oops! (And I apologize in advance for the plaid overload. He was just too sweet that day. I could eat him up.)

 

 

We capped off the week with a last minute date night, courtesy of Auntie Kiki. She offered to come and put the big B to bed so we could have a night out. It was a much needed, pleasant surprise. Thanks Kiki!! We got drinks at Joshua's Tavern and had dinner at one of our favorite places, Little Tokyo. We obviously had to get Gelato afterwards. I mean, come on. It's next door for crying out loud. Oops again! And note to self: never go on a date during football season to a place with a television.

Busted watching football.

 

Fall is in the air and football season is officially upon us. I joke about football season and how I lose my husband for those six months, but it actually forces us to slow down and relax and has come to be something we all enjoy. Fall Sundays have always been a "thing" with Casey and I for as long as I can remember. We've always stayed in our sweats and slippers, made a big meal, cuddled on the couch and puttered around. Boden has his Patriots gear ready to go! I pulled out the crock pot this week and made my mouth watering chili and also some chocolate chip cookies. Casey just whipped up a hearty vegetable lasagna and an apple pie from our freshly picked apples. We gotta eat, right?!

-Nicole

 

Summer winding down

We arrived home from Moosehead Lake and found ourselves in the middle of August and ready to make the most of what was left of summer. Boden and I also found ourselves back up in Acadia, visiting my parents in their second week-long trip to the park. We hiked St. Sauveur mountain, which was a strenuous and steep climb. My brother, Nate, carried Bodie on his back. Reaching the overlook earned us an unparalleled view of Somes Sound that we'd never seen before in all our years of visiting the region.

Weeks before, I had dusted my bike off and purchased a bike seat for B, which we strapped on the back of the car and brought with us to the campground. It was pure joy for Boden. (Especially when he had a snack for the ride.) The bike was great for when B got restless in the campsite or we needed to buy a few minutes before a meal. Strapping him into the bike seat instantly pleased him. He also enjoyed wandering aimlessly around the campground with Grampie and playing in the tent with Grammie. He's the definition of a happy camper!

Somes Sound

On top of Cadillac

The trip to Acadia was our last camping trip of the year. We actually had one more planned but decided to back out and have a "staycation" instead! We hadn't enjoyed our backyard or the beaches around us very much. In the last few weeks of August we hiked Morse Mountain in Phippsburg, went to Popham beach multiple times and spent an afternoon Small Point.

Best buds walking Popham Beach

Loving the waves at Popham

Playing with daddy

Morse Mountain/Seawall Beach

GQ pose on Seawall Beach

Yee-haw!

I love corn

Daddy buried my toes!

This summer was the best. It was the first summer we've had with Bodie where he was walking on his own and able to play outside!

We swam in the pool, the ocean, lakes and rivers. We hiked mountains that led to beaches and to scenic overlooks. We played in the dirt, the mud, the grass and the sand. Boden slept in a tent, on an island, on my back, and on an air mattress. He had sleepovers at Grammie and Grampies and ice cream cones in multiple states. He walked around "the block" at Mamie and Grandpas and went up Cadillac Mountain, twice!

Boden was a busy little bee and was, for the most part, a joy to be around. The infamous "terrible twos" have reared their ugly head a few times and we are ready for whatever they bring. (I say that now...sucker!) We are looking forward to Fall and pumping the brakes on our "go, go, go" lifestyle of the summer. Apple picking, hayrides, crock pot cuisines, pumpkin carving and leaf peeping are on our agenda and we couldn't be more excited. I'm officially saying "Au revoir" to sweet summertime and "Hey, how are ya!?" to Fall and the crisp, cool air that it brings.

-Nicole

 

 

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