So Long Summer, Hello Fall!

  

We did not have any plans for Sunday so Baylor and I took a trip to the creek.  We have not gone since late Spring and it was a well over due adventure.  On the way out we saw another mantis.  We have collected a lot of luck this Summer.  

When we were at the creek with Tara and Lucas it was after a heavy rain and there was no creek bank.  This time, the bank was broad and filled with lots of rocks needing be thrown in the creek.  

But it was also warm so we played in the water and walked almost all the way across.  We saw 19 kayakers and even helped on get over the rocks at the shallow bend in the creek.   

Baylor still loves to throw rocks and can throw handfuls for lots of splashes.  

We had a really good time playing together, walking in and out of the water, throwing rocks, collecting rocks and just being together.  I love those afternoons.  

Apples and Oktoberfest

We took our annual trip to Hollabaughs for apples and corn bin fun. Baylor loves his superheros and today he was a mini Superman.  

Who roped the crate calf from a barrel pony.  

And made corn bin angels.  

And a new corn bin friend named Daniel.  They had a good time playing together.  

And bringing me corn pies for some lunch.  

We did the annual photo in the school bus. 

And he was game for the other photo boards as well.  

He wanted me to watch him race down and back up the hill.  He won the race hands down!  

He did the ring toss game for a few tosses and just ended up asking for his photo taken there.  

It was a beautiful early fall day and the mums were just gorgeous.  We bought just one bag of apples this year.

We picked several kinds of apples focusing on varieties that dry well and are good for eating.  We only bought one bag because I was not interested in canning any sauce or pie filling this year. We picked a good mix of apples, some cider, and a few snacks for the drive to the next event of the day, Oktoberfest at the Franklin's home.  It is part pot luck and I had found some beer mug pasta and made pasta salad.  

But I was originally going to make apple strudel and I ended up making the strudel anyway because I was looking forward to the whole strudel making process.  I have only made it a few times before but I love making the dough and stretching it to cover almost the entire table.  Like a strudel tablecloth!  When I left the fest I picked up my salad that was mostly full and an empty strudel tray.  I felt like I had just won Best in Show because there were a lot of desserts to choose from!  

I talked with Steph and Tierna for most of the time and it took Baylor about an hour to warm up and start socializing with the kids there.  He kept asking me to play with him, race with him. Um, racing would be a big fat no, but playing corn hole was OK with me.  But eventually I steered him to the boys and he was off having fun the rest of the evening.  And eating pretzels and other snacks, but no beer of course!  Not even a root beer!  

And Superman wore pearls as part of his evening wear! 

Cake Roll Fail

This morning was the Aunt's meeting at Kathy's house and I had made a nice Fall Apple Cake Roll.  It split in so many places it would not stay together at all.  

I woke up early and found a recipe for a Chocolate Turtle Cake Roll and I had most of the items to make that one and the items I was missing I could make do.   Well, this one split when I tried to roll it up but I figured the filling would almost keep it together and it was getting to be time to leave.  

So I rolled it up, plopped it on the plate, drizzled the chocolate sauce, caramel sauce and pecans on it and called it a cake roll.  It tasted great, it just did not look very good. I smashed the rest into a container and called it Turtle Trifle when I served it to Gloria.  The baking goddess must be angry with me as it was not my only baking failure lately!  I will have to think of something to do for her to make her happy again!  

A Trip to the Dentist

It was time for Baylor's six month check up and I was able to take him this time. Which I was happy about because I had questions for the dentist.  I picked him from COF and we headed to the dentist.  He loves the play room and was able to play a bit before the cleaning.  

He wanted me to go back with him so I sat on the stool and kept them all company.  He did with the cleaning and we are doing a good job brushing his teeth at home.  He has one slightly wiggly tooth in the bottom row.  I guess I better get to sewing a tooth fairy pillow.  

I asked the dentist about him grinding his teeth at night. She said most kids do that and he has not ground down any of his teeth yet.  And I asked about his funky breath. She said it could be bacteria in his tonsils.  I was talking to Megan at work and she said her daughter does not have her tonsils and she has bad breath too.  I don't know what is causing it but apparently it is normal.  We will be back in April and apparently with some new teeth!  

LA Fall Festival

After picking Baylor up at COF we headed to the elementary school for the Fall Festival.  We had to bring a side dish so I had made four boxed pasta salad mixes (because they had box tops on them) but I doctored them up with fresh tomatoes from the garden, a cucumber and Ranch dressing.  We had watermelon, cheese poofs, alfredo noodles, a taste of lasagna and a few meatballs.  We shared a table with a coworker and her family and another family of three.  Then we went outside.  Baylor played for a bit and then wanted to go on the hayride.  Perfect time for a selfie.  

While I was sitting talking to my coworker friend, Baylor started to take about a boy from his class.  He does not talk about many kids from class just mainly from COF. But one name I hear often is Kartikey.  At first I thought he was saying the name wrong but he has been saying for weeks now.  As I turned around to meet him the women on my other side asked me if I was Baylor's mom.  Turns out Kartikey talks about Baylor as well. I was glad to hear it was not a one sided friendship!  And in a sign of the small world, my coworker and Kartikey live in the same neighborhood.  They see each other at the bus stop. As we were talking and the boys were playing, in their own little world with dozens of other kids all around them, Carson's parents showed up.  I had met his mom at the Superhero party and her husband and younger son were there as well.  The five of us parents were able to talk some as we trailed the kids.  First they wanted to get their faces painted and then the went to have a sack race.  

Baylor and Carson asked for 'tigers' and Kartikey asked for the hulk.  It was more like a green smiley face but we tried to make the best of if.  

Baylor fell asleep on the couch and rolled over once and clenched his hands.  It was so sweet.  

Grimm and Eddy were on the floor together and I had to catch the peace in the kingdom. 

Grimm was next to me getting some late night lovens and took a nap on Baylor's legs.  I spent years sleeping with a cat on my legs and I hope Grimm eventually takes to sleeping with Baylor.  Until them I love giving Grimm his lovens.

Superhero Baylor

When I picked up Baylor I saw the buliton board had changed and there were new pictures there.  I found Baylor's family picture and it even had Eddy and Grimm.  His people are becoming more rounded although we are all bald.  

My superhero wanted to go to the park near the daycare and since it was such a beautiful afternoon we went.  He wore his new Spiderman hoodie that morning and it pulls over his eyes and the white eyes are mesh so he can see through them.  

I pulled him in for a few selfies because he is so handsome! 

And strong, just like the a superhero should be.