Playin with the dolphins

My dad was here for two weeks but we were so busy working we didn't have much time to play. so the last day he was here we went to Shedd Aquarium. We have annual passes and go quite a but this was the coolest day at the aquarium ever because it was empty.

We were the only people in the shark exhibit and I took full advantage of it taking lots of really cool pics- some even with the flash but shhh don't tell any one.

We noticed all sorts of things we had never noticed before since it is always packed.

Then we headed to go see the dolphins and the whales and I fell in love all over again with my camera. Seriously, some of the coolest pics I have ever taken. I think I am finally starting to get the hang of it.

How cool are these?

Jacboy was loving it being empty as much as we were and had a great time playing on the ledge and pretending to swim like the dolphins.

My favorite!

Then we went up stairs and watched the new show which was pretty cool and then came home just in time for lunch and nap time. We had the best morning! Thanks Mom and Dad for coming out. We had a great time and Jacoby is still asking where Paka is at least ten times a day.

Carving Pumpkins with Mamma and Paka

We were so excited to have my parents in town to carve pumpkins with us this year. My dad was in town for two weeks doing some remodeling on our house and my mom joined him at the end of his trip to enjoy a few days with us.

I thought for sure that Jacoby would love to carve the pumpkins and get all dirty this year. He really liked it last year. He was not a big fan this year. Even with us trying to convince him to stick his hand in the pumpkin he was happy just watching and using a really long spoon. He really liked playing with the seeds and I am still finding them all over. He is an expert hider. Jacoby did love when they were all lit up. He was mesmerized.

Apple Picking 2

The weekend of Jarod's birthday we went back out to the apple orchard but this time we went with Ben and Stephanie Johnson and their little guy Ty. Steph's brother Sean and Joy and Johnny Condie.

Jacoby showed Ty the ropes through the pumpkin patch and this time he discovered how much fun it is to play with a wheel barrel. We had a great time but in the few weeks since we had been there the apples were very picked over but we did finally find some and had a great time doing it.

Pumpkin Patch

The first weekend in October we drove out west to Crest Hill, IL to hit up the pumpkin patch. We had a great time looking at the animals and exploring the pumpkin patch. Not to mention the choo-choo train. He was so excited to ride on the train and I love the picture of him with his big smile. He was in heaven that day because we also got to ride on a tractor out to the pumpkins.

Jarod told Jacoby that we had to knock on the pumpkins to see if they were ripe- I don't even think that is true but it was hysterical to watch Jacoby go around and say "knock, knock" as he knocked on the pumpkins and then put his ear up to them to listen. Jacoby picked up this green starting to rot baby pumpkin and that was the one that he really wanted. He packed that thing around all day until finally he put it down to wash his hands and the guy that worked there picked it up and threw it away. Good thing Jacobes didn't see that.

On the way home we saw this little Mexican food restaurant in a strip mall and stopped. The food was amazing! It was so authentic you had to order off a numbered menu because they did not speak any English but man it was worth the drive just for the food. It was so good and writing this makes me want to drive out there right now.

Apple Picking

Every year we go and do some apple picking. I look forward to it every year. This year we decided to head south to Indiana and found an amazing spot. That I think will be our new spot. Jacoby likes it too but I think the reason is different than mine. They have a tractor!

We took the tractor out to the orchards and then Jacboy got to help pick the apples in the back pack.

He thought it hilarious.

Pretty soon he started eating the apples. This picture makes me crack up. He is chowing down.

He also helped bu pointing out where all the apples were.

and he even shared a few bites with me.

It was a beautiful fall day and the leaves were all stating to change. Sometimes living in the big city it does my soul good to get out to the country and open spaces. That day was one of those days.

On the way home we stopped at a thrift store in the middle of no where and I scored BIG! I brought home a new lamp that I ended up making a chandelier out of along with another lamp that I redid. After our shopping adventure we went to Cici's before heading home for pizza. One of Jacoby's favorites.

Disney World!!

Four days after getting home from our trip to California, we packed up again and headed to Orlando. Jarod had to go for work so we decided to make a family vacation at the front end of his work trip.
We stayed at a really cool resort that was near Universal Studios. We took a boat ride over to he universal walk the first night we arrived to get some dinner and hang out.

Florida is NASCAR country so we had to get our picture taken with maybe a future NASCAR driver?

Then we went to dinner at this Mexican restaurant that turns in to a night club way pass the time I go to bed. Anyway, Jacoby was in heaven because they had this huge stage and since we were the only ones in the restaurant at the time we let him enjoy it. He ran circles and sang songs and danced to the Spanish music. He thought it was great. Seriously not sure where his fascination with stages comes from.

The next day we woke up and headed to Disney World!! We had the best time. As soon as we got there we just walked around and Jacoby's eyes were so big and he was so excited. He just sat in his stroller and was taking it all in until he saw the carousel. Then he went crazy because he wanted to ride on the neigh. He had so much fun going on the carousel and I am pretty sure he would have been happy to just do that all day but we had better things planned.

After going on the scary Snow White ride, which he did fine on other than wanting to climb in my skin, we went and got in line to see Mickey at his house. This is Jacoby's face the first time he saw Mickey. He was so big eyed and excited. I am not sure how he knows who Mickey Mouse is. He has a couple of books with him in it but he has never seen a Mickey cartoon or anything like that but I tell you Disney knows what they are doing. My child is obsessed with Mickey Mouse now!

When it was finally our turn, they took us in to this little room with two other families and then let each one of us have our turn with Mickey and Minnie happened to be there too. Woo hoo!! Anyway, when it was Jacoby's turn he ran up with no hesitation and gave Minnie a hug and kiss. I was kinda shocked. I thought he would be a little timid but he wasn't at all.

Then he ran over to Mickey and leaned it for this hug. I love this cute little picture of him leaning in. How cute is that! And then he gave them each high fives and some more hugs and clapped his hands.

He was so excited! Look at him, he is beaming!!! Our trip to Disney World and Orlando was worth it just for this shot.

Then we took the group shot and seriously the people who wear these costumes must be 10. I am not tall but I felt like a giant standing next to them.

Then we hit the train and went over to Pirates of the Caribbean. I was a little nervous because I would think it would be a little scary for a little guy but not for mine he was singing along with the pirates and thought it was great. Now if you ask him what a pirate says he says "ARRRR".

After a very busy morning riding on lots of rides and meeting Mickey we decided it was time for a nap. Jacoby needed a nap and I felt like crap and needed one too. I had a head ache that day that was killing me and I really didn't want it to turn in to a migraine. Jacoby was asleep before we got out of the parking lot. He was exhausted. We went back to the hotel and Jacoby was up and ready to go after only 4o minutes. Thank goodness his dad took him swimming so I could get some sleep. When I woke up we headed back to Disney World.

We got back to the park just in time for the parade. Jacoby was a happy boy eating his carmel apple with m&m's and watching the parade go by.

Then we hit up all the other rides including driving the cars in Adventureland. He loved it!

We had such a fun day and Jacoby was such a good boy. To end the night we headed over for the big firework show. We pulled out the left over carmel apple and Jacoby sat on my lap eating his apples with my hair in his hands. He was a little uncertain of the fireworks at first so he was holding on pretty tight but pretty soon he thought they were pretty and stood up and even did a little dancing to the music.

It was so much fun taking Jacobes to Disney World. We had the best time and I am so glad we had the chance to take him. He was a little young for some stuff but he still loved it and it was so much fun taking my child there. One of those things that I have thought about doing since I was a kid and it was even better than I thought it would be.

Jarod had to be in Orlando all week but Jacoby and I just stayed until Wednesday. I was ready to go home after being home only for 8 days in like 6 weeks. We had an amazing summer and traveled like crazy! Just the way we like it.