Goat Kisses & Cock-a-Doodle-Doo's

Today both Matt and I were off work for Veteran's Day & Matt came up with the idea to head over to Chatfield Botanic Gardens for what ended up being a gorgeous day. 

The weather was perfect and we had the whole place to ourselves!  Seriously.  When we pulled into the parking lot there was only one car there.  Ours.  I have no idea why, it really was the most perfect day.

We didn't waste any time exploring, as you'll see.

Like always, McClellan did a great job of following the trails.

But occasionally she'd decide to blaze her own trail and Matt would guide her back.

 McClellan loved ringing the "dinner bell" at the Green Farm Barn.

The tractors were definitely one of McClellan's favorite things today. 

Look at my girl, she's a natural.  She belongs on the farm!

But there's no discrimination going on...she's a John Deere girl too!

 And just when we thought we'd left the tractors behind...McClellan ran right back to them.

Luckily we were able to capture her attention with some goats.  They quickly became her second favorite thing about the day.

 If these pictures had audio you'd hear "Hey guys...Hey guys" ... she's a Goat Whisperer. They came right over to her. 

And the Goat Whisperer was so proud of her goats that she kissed them.  That's right, she kissed the goat...and the goat kissed her back.  Lovely.

After getting friendly with the goat was over, we headed to the chicken coop and McClellan was fascinated.

However, this was her reaction when one of the roosters let out his very loud

"Cock-a-Doodle-Doo!!"  She let out the most hilarious whimper and then immediately turned around and waited for it to happen again, and again, and yes, again. 

 . 

Today was the most perfect day,

spent with my most favorite people. 

Pumpkin Spice Protein Pancakes

I found a new website this week, Dashing Dish.  After looking over all of the amazing recipes and drooling over the photos, I decided that this would be a great first recipe to try out...and, I was right. 

Not just right,  but really right!!  They were delish!  Matt and McClellan both loved them-so much so that I had no time to take any photos of my own!

You definitely need to try these!

Not only are they easy but they are healthy too!! 

Run to the kitchen and try these...NOW!!

http://www.dashingdish.com/2011/09/pumpkin-spice-protein-pancakes/

Enjoy!!

FestiFall at Hudson Gardens

Today was absolutely gorgeous!  It was definitely warm for a mid-October day but it was perfect for enjoying some fall festivities!

We decided to head to Hudson Gardens to enjoy their Hudson FestFall today & we're so glad we did.  It was a blast!

Of course we had to visit the pumpkin patch and see if we could find The Great Pumpkin.

 McClellan decided to play "Duck, Duck, Goose" with these pumpkins.

Once she found this "ball" it was her's and there was no convincing her otherwise.

Daddy& Daughter in the Hay Bale Maze

 We're not so sure that McClellan didn't think this horse was real ... she kept petting his nose saying "Nice." 

There was an area of "Hay Art" and McClellan found this one particularly interesting.  She stood there and stared for what seemed like forever!

Who would have thought that the cider press would have held her attention for as long as it did?  She watched forever as this guy demo'd the press and explained the process. 

He even let McClellan do some apple pressing with the help of Daddy!  She was fascinated and probably would still be there doing this if we'd let her.

 The Bee Keeper demonstration was another hit, much to my dismay.  I'm not much of a bee fan.  In fact I'm terrified of them, but not my Punky!

You can't tell in this photo but she's dancing.  She loves music and dances whenever she hears it, no matter where we are, no matter who is around, no matter what's she's doing.  She was cracking up everyone up and put on quite the little show.  In fact, she was such the Dancing Queen that the "DJ" that was in charge of the music even came out to give her a little stuffed animal!

Ah...love this little girl.  Today there were moments when I'd look at her, watch her laughing, dancing, "singing", running through the pumpkin patch...and it would take my breath away.  How did I get so lucky?

 After all the festivities it was time for lunch followed by a few minutes of relaxing in the grass...McClellan decided her Dad had a pretty good idea and joined him.

What would a Fall Festival be without carved pumpkins?  How cool are these??  McClellan saw the Lion and Tiger and made her famous "Raaarrr" sound effects.

              ~*I Love Us*~

What a gorgeous backdrop for a pumpkin patch!

 Toward the end of our day we took a quick horse drawn ride around the gardens.  McClellan thought this was pretty darn cool and loved it!

 This was the 1st Annual Hudson Gardens FestiFall ... we're already looking forward to the 2nd!

 Wiped out from a perfect day!

17 months old & a flash back

We celebrated McClellan's 17th month birthday back home in Lawrence at Mimi & Papa's house. 

Just a little different from the photo that was taken in the same chair 15 months ago.

You are such an amazing little girl, McClellan.  You are fiesty.  You are strong willed.  You know exactly what you want and you do the best you can to not stop until you get it, typically until your Father or I interupt your plans.  You give countless slobbery kisses and the best little hugs in the world. 

You love music and you love to dance.  You will stop anywhere you are when music is playing and immediately start dancing.  You love to sing and right now your favorites are Old McDonald, which you have interpreted as "E I Yo Yo" and Itsy Bitsy Spider which you call "Pider."

You talk up a storm these days.  We are constantly amazed and shocked by the new words you're using and that you're starting to put words together and forming two word phrases.

Lately you have come to really love balls.  We have lots of them at our house and you love them all.  If you see a ball or anything that resembles a ball you run towards it, full speed, and grab it.  I'm not sure if this means that you will be interested in sports, but if it does...you'll have your own personal cheerleaders in your Dad and I. 

Books, you can't get enough of them.  You will sit in your room or in the living room and pull out your books and read to yourself.  I've caught you a time or two reading out loud to your "baby" and have yet to be fast enough to catch it on camera or video. 

You know a few of your colors-red, blue and yellow.  Your animal sounds are so cute, my personal favorite is the sound and face you have when you say "cheep" for birds.  You seem to be most proud of your "Baaa" and "Mooo" as those are your loudest.

Looking at pictures you love pointing to people you recognize and saying their names.  "Mimi, Papa, Dare-dick, MaeMae, Key-key"... it's halarious watching you identify them all.

When your Dad was little he called his belly button "Me Moe" ... he's taught you the same funny thing.  It's so cute and so funny...except for when we're in the middle of a store and you try like mad to lift our shirts and point to our belly button and scream "Me Moe!!"  That...that is embarrassing.  Ok, maybe a little funny, but embarrassing.

You continue to be an amazing sleeper.  We're extrememly lucky and you sleep 12 hours minimum a night.  Your night time routine is smooth, bath, story time with milk, teeth brushing and then off to sleep you go.  You always wake up with a smile on your face and if you wake up before we get in your room you just sit there and play with Miss Bunny and sometimes you sing while you wait.

Food: You're a great eater, still.  Tonight you ate collard greens, green beans, bites of a blue cheese burger, green beans, raspberries and grapes.  You are such a healthy eater and love all of the new foods we give you.  With the help of our CSA from Grant Farms and our own garden, we're able to keep you on your toes with different varieties of vegetables every day.

We signed you up for Gymtastics and you start next Saturday with your friend Reese from daycare.  I'm so excited and already have a pink leotard ready for you to put on next week.  Who knows, maybe you'll be the next Mary Lou Retton?  : )

No matter what you decide to be when you grow up...your Dad and I will always be your biggest, loudest, fans.  We love you so much and couldn't be more proud that you're our little girl.