Sweet Shot Tuesday: Jack-O-Lanterns

We went to the annual Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at the Roger Williams Zoo this week.  As usual, it was impressive and beautiful (though last year was significantly better).  Here are 3 of my favorite pumpkins:

Simple Things Sunday: Catching Grasshoppers

There's a cute little nature trail just down the road from our home.  Last week, we found out that it is a haven for grasshoppers. Like any you boy (or child, really), Mr. No loves grasshoppers!  This place is like heaven to him.  He could spend every afternoon there catching grasshoppers and never get bored. And there are sooo many to catch...probably a hundred or more or all sizes.  It's a great way for Mr. No to run off some energy after school and a perfect way to spend some uninterrupted time together.  Of course I am a Mom who catches grasshoppers...and caterpillars and frogs and lizards and katydids. If it's cute, I'll pick it up.  If it's icky, he's on his own! ( It's seems that the trick to getting them to sit on your hand for a bit is to hold them rather high up from the ground.  Most only jump when they are close to the ground.)

Flashback Firiday: Baby No Fashion Show

We were obsessed with cute outfits for Mr. No when he was a baby.  He hung around the house in little one piece outfits most of the time but the majority of them had to be super cute, too.  Here are a few of newborn to 3 month old Mr. No's cute outfits that I found on the computer today.

              First trip to Natick Mall Rocker Baby                       Adorable Owl visiting outfit

 favorite bear outline sleeper                                                    dragon heart 2 piece pajamas

 my favorite Mr. No sweater                                           jeans outfit and fancy button down shirt
                                                                                         for pop's birthday

Where Have We Been #3: Westview Farms Creamery

It's that time of year again!  Pumpkin picking time!  I absolutely love picking pumpkins! It's my favorite fall activity.  It's actually a bit hard to find a pick your own pumpkin patch and we tried a few different places before ending up at Westview Farms Creamery.  We all love it there! We're heading back again this week which will make it our 4th year of pumpkin picking there. It will be easy to see why.

This is the view that greets you when you start into one of the pumpkin patches!  Absolutely gorgeous.  We always snag a wagon and head to patch on the right.  There is another patch to the left but we've never really traveled that way.  Not really sure why.  The view is gorgeous all around. 

We can honestly spend more than an hour picking out pumpkins.  Half of the time is spent just meandering down the paths enjoying the view.

 A quarter of it is spent looking for critters such as caterpillars, grasshoppers and worms. One of the many joys of adventures with a little boy!

I love that you're not rushed, that no one bothers you and, if you go during the week, it's rare for you to even see another person in the patch.  I like to be able to wander and just be as indecisive as we typically are.  There are always so many amazing pumpkin to choose from.  We always spot one, remember where it is and then promptly forget about it when we spot an even better one minutes later.

Mr. No loves the tiny pumpkins and gourds which they sell in crates by where you pay and you can also find in the patch if you're lucky.

There are plenty of open spots to take adorable family photos while picking...not that I like doing that at all...

And yes, there are port-a-potties.  Anyone who travels with children at all knows how important available bathrooms are!  They do have cute little goats and you can buy a food filled ice cream cone for them. Mr. No loved feeding them when he was little!

They have a restaurant but we've never actually eaten there so I have no idea how the food is. But we have had their yummy ice cream.

Last year they had added some playground equipment and Mr. No spent a little time poking around over there.  Not sure if it's still there or if it has changed.  We all go to enjoy the fields of pumpkins and maybe an ice cream. It's one of my and Mr. No's favorite traditions!  

It may be a little out of the way in Monson, MA but it's absolutely worth the drive.  Can't wait for our trip this week.  Just hope the weather cooperates!

Sweet Shot Tuesday: Spotted Salamander

I promised Mr. No I would share the photos of his last creature box critter of the year.  We still have 4 cocoons and 1 live caterpillar in there but this was his last non-caterpillar critter...the spotted salamander.  He was certainly a cute one!  I'm sure all the frogs, toads and lizards in the backyard are thrilled that winter is coming and they won't be spending any more random nights in the box.  (Any critters caught cannot stay more than 2 nights. Luckily for Mr. No, and unfortunately for them, we have a backyard full of critters to catch.)