Fall is in the Air

...at least in my foyer.  I might have a slight addiction to Glade Plug-ins and my house smells deliciously like apple cider.  I'm saving the exceptionally fall-scented "Pumpkin Spice" for next month.  The weather hasn't seemed much like fall with temperatures in the 90's last week (right after all the pools and spray grounds closed!) and 50's now.  Add in some rain and it's been a pretty icky couple weeks.

We did squeeze in a playground visit:

Some time in Congress Park:

And a 5k that Bob and I ran in:

sitting in a fire truck wasn't as fun as it looked.

With a playground stop afterwards:

But then during the weekend before last, MiniM.E. really wasn't herself (seen here looking utterly unimpressed with everything):

I had one of my worst "Bad Mom of the Year" moments Monday before last when I took MiniM.E. to the doctor after a couple weeks of extra fussiness to find out she had screaming ear infections in both ears.  Arg.  It was a rough couple days nice, relaxing break to lie on the couch with a cuddly, exhausted, sick toddler (even though I felt awful that she felt awful).  Unfortunately, it took her a while to get back to herself (I'm still not sure she's 100%) and we had a couple play dates we had to leave early and a couple activities that we started last week that she definitely wasn't excited about.  Hopefully this week will be better.

Last weekend we drove to NH for H.'s 2nd birthday party.  Remember his 1st?

We didn't plan much for the weekend since I made the cake this year and it took up a lot of time, but we did get to see my sister's new puppy "Crumpins" (named by MiniM.E.).

MiniM.E. helping to bake the cakes

Hi Crumpins!

THE CAKE!!

A playground break 

At the party

Crumpins in MiniM.E.'s kiddie pool

Summertime Fun!

The end of July was incredibly busy.  We were going places or hosting visitors or I was making birthday cakes (more on that later).  But it looks like we might be in for a lazy August!  Until then:

fun in the backyard turtle pool

swimming at the Peerless Pool

baby-bathingsuit model?

we had it all to ourselves!

best photo of the summer

watching the horses warm up at the track

West-side Rec sprinkler park

throwing rocks in the stream at Congress Park

on the horse on the carousel

and in the sleigh

A Weekend With Meamaw and Grandpa

Last weekend Meamaw and Grandpa came to visit all the way from North Carolina!  It's been a while since we've seen them, I think since before MiniM.E. could walk, so we were pretty excited they were going to get to see her again!

Of course, while they were here, we had to do the typically Saratoga-y things that MiniM.E. loves like ride the carousel:

seriously, she looks miserable here, but the "sleigh" is her new favorite thing

 feed the ducks

Sit on the steps at the History Museum (?)

with Meamaw

 And throw gravel in the fountain

Bob and his parents also made it to the track, but I was home nap-sitting, so no photos :(

Meamaw and Grandpa also brought MiniM.E. a piggy bank which she lovingly carried everywhere, cuddled in blankets, fed milk to, dropped lots of change in, and called "a cow" or something "kind of like a goat".

playing with Grandpa

Friday morning while Meamaw and Grandpa caught up with their friends, we played in the yard and went to a playground.

Then Friday night we all went to the Saratoga Winery, which, if you live around here and haven't been to, is awesome.  Definitely child-friendly with a great deck and patio and live music and food on Fridays.

playing while waiting for dinner

dancing

 Saturday we spent the morning at Lake Moreau, our favorite swimming spot for the sand and warm water.

And Sunday we made it to brunch at the Iron Roost for brunch.  Despite a 45 minute wait for a table, MiniM.E. was well behaved and we all got to have some great food.

The rest of the day was rainy, so we took a quick trip over to Meamaw and Grandpa's hotel to swim in the pool.  MiniM.E. had a blast and we kept busy until dinner.  They must have worn her out because she went to bed early and we said goodbye until Thanksgiving.  

Thanks for coming Meamaw and Grandpa!