It’s been a while since I shared many “family life” photos here on the blog… so since Fall is my favorite season of the year, I figured it was time to share.
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The leaves are starting to change color!
I got our new family pictures up on the wall (see how I made the wooden mount here).
Nora grew pumpkins at my parent’s garden… yeah, she’s just a little excited!
Although I didn’t do much decorating inside, I did deck out our front porch with the pumpkins Nora grew in my parent’s garden, a few Mum plants I got from the grocery store, corn stalks from our vegetable garden, and straw bales that we’ll use for ground cover in our garden next spring.
A (long overdue) 4-generation picture taken a couple weeks ago.
We’ve been getting bundled up and doing lots of walking and swinging. Nora asked me what it meant to “get all bundled up” and why I used the word “bundled”. Seriously, do you know how long it took me to explain that one? SO many “whys”.
The other day, I was doing dishes and all of a sudden, I saw Dave and Nora riding past in the new cart we got for our mower. Even though Dave was going super slow, Nora thought it was one of the most fun things she’s ever done!
Nora made a “leaf bouquet” and then asked me to take a picture. When I saw the picture, I couldn’t help but think that in another 20-some years, she could be carrying a different bouquet.
Then we pressed these leaves in a book to make them nice and flat.
This is probably the best actual “Simon Smile” I’ve gotten on film 🙂
Bath time for Simon is in the sink now since our blow-up bathtub recently popped.
Apparently the big kitchen floor grate is a popular place in the morning.
Nora picked the last of the veggies and we pulled out the garden. Hopefully we’ll have a little bigger/nicer garden next year — but if not, we’ll at least try to grow beans, tomatoes, peppers, corn, and zucchini again.
And speaking of zucchini — I’ve been doing a lot of baking with zucchini lately. My favorites are still probably these chocolate zucchini brownies or apple zucchini bread (pictured below).
Oh, and we got a piano — for free! We paid $170 to have it professionally moved (because they are a huge pain to move) and it fits perfectly along the blank wall in our office that has been waiting for a piano for almost 4 years now!
I still can’t even believe it’s the middle of October already. Just the other day, I saw a bunch of Thanksgiving blog posts and I thought “seriously, Thanksgiving already”. But then I realized it’s only 6 weeks away!
I haven’t been to any stores (besides the grocery store) since mid-August, but I’m told the Christmas decorations are out already. Crazy! I’ll take crisp, cool Fall days for as long as possible — and since we’ve already decided to pay for plow service this winter, I’m estimating we will get very little snowfall 🙂
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As I looked back through all the pictures above, I realized that nearly every one of them was taken at home or around our neighborhood — and yes, that’s because we rarely ever leave our “bubble”!
We didn’t go apple picking, we didn’t go to the pumpkin patch, we didn’t go to the farm or the zoo or the Critter Barn. I haven’t planned any fall crafts or activities for Nora outside of pressing a few leaves in one of Dave’s old math textbooks. We haven’t gone for a long leisurely “color tour” (although it is stunning here in West Michigan right now) and we don’t have plans to visit the beach this fall or winter. In fact, we didn’t even go to Art Prize — which is almost unheard of where we live.
This may all sound very boring to many of you; however, I’m sure some of you can relate to the fact that getting out and about with an almost 3 year old and a 7 month old isn’t exactly “fun” for two parents who much prefer to just stay at home. It often seem like a ton of extra work just so we can snap a few pictures to say “we did that, we are good parents.”
Maybe in a few more years we’ll enjoy doing those types of activities together as a family (or maybe not!) But right now, we’re all just as content to stay home, pick pumpkins and veggies from our own garden, drink apple cider from the store, snack on my favorite candy corn snack mix, and point out all the pretty leaves as we walk around the neighborhood each afternoon.
THOSE are the memories I want to remember… and thankfully, I’ve captured many of those mundane every-day moments on film this year!
Loretta says
I Love staying home!
I am not a mother, I am single with no kids, but I so enjoy being at home. (My Bubble)
Some of my friends can’t understand how I can not leave my house for days at a time.
If I have enough food and beverages, there is no reason to go anywhere!
Kristen @ Joyfully Thriving says
Yay for a piano! We got our piano last year, also for free, thanks to a piano tuner friend. It’s so lovely to have a piano at home! Enjoy many years of beautiful music in your home!
Julie says
Hi Andrea,
With you being so close to Canada maybe those Thanksgiving Ads where from the North since we celebrated Thanksgiving in Canada on Oct 13…Love seeing your leaves are changing in your neighborhood too… oh and by the way when Nora say why just say “X” my mom always did with my sister
Andrea says
Thanks for the suggestions Julie — and we’re actually not that close to Canada (about 4 hours) so I think people are just really excited about Thanksgiving around here 🙂
Sandy K says
Your photos are adorable. Thanks for sharing your photos and story.
Ali says
Sounds perfectly wonderful to me!
Sherry says
How do you keep your high chair clean? I have the same one and my son manages to get food in every nook and cranny every meal.
Andrea says
haha — Dave and I both laughed when we read your comment 🙂
The only reason our high chair is relatively clean right now is because Simon really doesn’t eat that much yet. He’s eating a little bit of oatmeal and bananas — but that’s about it (and I feed it to him so it’s relatively controlled).
Once he starts eating more, we’ll remove the pad and straps so they don’t get caked with gunk. I just wipe it down regularly and put the removable tray in the dishwasher daily.
Katie says
I feel like both of your kiddos look so much older every time you post new pictures. That picture of Nora with the bouquet — I can see how you’re already looking 20 years ahead. She’s beautiful! Seeing them both in the stroller reminded me that I’ve been wanting to ask you on a walk-around-the-block-play date before there’s snow on the ground! If that sounds like fun, do you have any days that are better than others? Thursdays and Friday mornings are probably the best for us, but Mondays usually work too. And you are super busy for the next few weeks, that won’t hurt my feelings 🙂 Just thought it might be fun to catch up! Have a great rest of the day!
Andrea says
Thanks Katie — and yes, kids have a way of growing up 🙂
I’ll send you a FB message right now regarding the walk — thanks!!
Becky says
Love the heater grate picture! I remember fighting for a tiny bit of one of those at my grandparents when I was little. Come to think of it I would still do it today! I claim the spot in front of the fireplace which my kids think is very unfair of me but… You do what you have to to stay warm here in Michigan! :). Enjoy all those fun memories and take lots of pictures because that is what they will remember and talk about when they are all grown up! 🙂
Siobhan says
Great photos and couldn’t agree more with making memories at home. Besides going for walks my 5 and 3 year old love helping me bake! Inexpensive, simple and fun 🙂
Kristi says
“All bundled up”…oh my…that would be a fun one to explain! I bet you did a great job though.
Andrea says
yeah… it was practically a 20 minute conversation 🙂
Deni says
You have created such a beautiful, cozy life for you and your family, something they will always remember. I, too am a homebody and love the comforts of home. It’s good to see I’m not the only one 😉 Along with “All things in Moderation”, I think we should all strive to make the most of ourselves and our lives, and you are accomplishing that…simply. Loved the pictures!!!
Andrea says
Thanks Deni! I’m sure some people would think our life was a bit “claustrophobic” but right now, it’s good for us. We’ll hopefully be a bit more adventurous once the kiddos are older!
Tammy @ SkipperClan says
So lovely, truly. We can get so caught up in having a pinterest-perfect fall when all we truly need is to find the beauty in our own lives! I do miss the crisp fall days with tons of color we had in Pennsylvania but at least we are enjoying tons of sunny days since we are back in Florida. I LOVE your outfit in your 4-generation photo, Simon’s smile and Nora’s bouquet 🙂 such joy!
Andrea says
Thanks Tammy! And my sweater in the 4-generation photo has actually been in my closet for YEARS… so I’m glad to be getting use out of it again!
Jen T says
We built our house 2 years ago and now that we have the freedom (kids are old enough to stay home alone) and money to travel, I would rather stay home…since we rarely get the chance to, at least during the week…although I was the opposite when my kids were little…we ran around a lot b/c it tired them out and kept them happy 🙂
Andrea says
that’s funny Jen — now that you have the time and money, you’d rather stay home. I suppose you can save up your money and go on a big family vacation sometime 🙂