Pumpkins!

Callie had so much fun that we just had to go back to the pumpkin patch, and this time we took along Dad, Grandma and Grandpa. Even though it was raining, Callie enjoyed it as much as the first time, and the adults had a pretty good time too. I think Callie's favorite part about pumpkins is standing and hitting them. We think her "hitting" is a sign of affection, or at least happiness. She only hits things when she is happy, and when she hits something, she hits it over and over and over. This time we bought some pumpkins to carve.
After much careful deliberation about which pumpkin Callie would be able to stand in, we picked a big one and a smaller one. We also purchased and assortment of small gourds for Callie to play with. She loves all the different textures. The bumpiest one is her favorite. And on the way out, of course Grandpa and Dad had to try their skills at the pumpkin sling shot. Needless to say, they did not win another pumpkin, even with multiple attempts.

And then the pumpkin carving began! Callie was in just a diaper (and yes, we know it is a little too small and looks a little bit like a string bikini, but it was all we had for disposables, and washing a cloth diaper covered in pumpkin guts just didn't sound like fun) and we let the good, messy times begin. We quickly realized that Callie did not like cold pumpkin guts but as soon as they warmed up she was all about feeling them. She enjoyed the ice cream scoop that we were using to scoop out the guts most of all. Now it was the part we had all been waiting for, putting Callie in the pumpkin. We had already learned our lesson about cold pumpkins, so Mike put some warm water in it for a few minutes, then dumped it out the the bottom wasn't so cold. She stood in the pumpkin for about 15 minutes having a blast. Then she decided to sit down. Not only was the pumpkin not big enough for her to sit down, we had only warmed up the bottom of it. As soon as her back touched the inside of the pumpkin, she started crying. Stood up, and tried it again. Still that cold pumpkin touched her back, and at this point she was really crying. We stopped laughing long enough to get her out of the pumpkin, fill it up all the way with warm water, and give it another try. She still couldn't sit down, but was happy to squat and chew on the edge of the pumpkin.
Standing in a pumpkin is pretty cool.
Not so sure about trying to sit.

I'm sure now, I don't like this.

Fall is FUN!

Our weekends have quickly gotten REALLY busy. And Callie is loving it! We are back into swim lessons. And of course the class we got into was Saturdays at 11:30. Right in the middle of the day. I was worried about how it would affect our day, and so far it is working well. She still loves to swim, and class seems to be even better than just swimming with Mom and Dad.

We have still been able to visit the park regularly. Now that it isn't hot, the park isn't so crowded. Callie got to play with the water features at the spray ground.

Last weekend we took Callie to the Puyallup Fair. I don't know which she enjoyed more, looking at the animals or looking at the rides. The rids had lights, so I think they may have won. The whole time she had her serious, intent look on her face. The look when she is taking the world in. I don't think we had a smile the whole time. But non the less, she had a blast.

Looking at the goats.

This weekend Callie and I went to visit a farm on Saturday. Mike had to work, so it was a girls day. Callie spent over twenty minutes standing at the pumpkins and feeling them. A few more smiles with the pumpkins, but mostly the serious, taking the world in look.

Feeling all the different textures of all the pumpkins and gourds was very enthralling.

A pumpkin for each hand!

This pumpkin was serious business! She kept going back and worth between the pumpkin and the corn. Both held her attention for a while. Until she tried to chew on the pumpkin stem and I decided it was time to move on.