Fall Harvest: Must Haves

Where did October go?  I'm panicking because I can't believe how incredibly fast this month has flown by.  I still have to get the rest of Nash's Halloween costume in order.  Fall is my favorite time of the year.  I love sweaters, jeans and scarf weather (well, really you can wear a scarf even in the summer but it's nice to wear it for it's "true" purpose).  It's the time to get outside while you still can before it's freeze your tongue to a flagpole weather.  Oh, and what's with all the holiday commercials already?  Between all the campaign adds and Target forcing December down my throat, not sure which is worse.  I think I might vote for the candidate that would bar retailers from marketing holidays to vulnerable moms.  Back to the topic of Fall Harvests!  This post contains everything that I love about fall.  Apples, adorable out-fits and good friends.  So many apples orchards, so little time.  We took the one in Jordan by storm!  Super disappointed that we didn't make it to the states largest candy store.  Next year.

I see it, I see it!

Tractor!

Adorable Simon. Adorable Des.

Tractor Ride

Farm to Mouth

I love how we tell the boys to hold hands and they will
pretty sure our days are numbered on this request.

You thought getting a good pic. of two toddlers together was hard.
Try getting the husbands to cooperate!

Six Months Together

Today marks six months together as a family of three. I.can't.believe.it. Mostly, I can't believe how much I remember from this past six months (I have an awful memory). How often have six months gone by and you don't remember much? I bet often, and certainly before Nash, there might be years of my life I don't remember much of. I know what your thinking...I remember college. Well, mostly remember college. But over the past six months, I think I've just mentally told myself, you can never forget this moment, this feeling, this super adorable thing that Nash is doing, etc. Of course, you can never remember everything. It helps to write things down (opps, I didn't start filling out Nash's baby book till month no. 3...sorry, Nash. Mama does not really remember your first word, but I'm pretty sure it was apple).


I spend a lot of time blogging about the families goings-on. And really not much about Nash...himself. So, here is what he's been up too. I plan to look back at our year anniversary and see how everything has yet again changed.

Nash continues to be a curious, independent, active, spirited, bright, inquisitive little boy. He loves to play with trucks, read books about trucks, and talk about trucks (scoopers, diggers). His language skills over the past month have exploded. He will repeat everything you say, and say anything you ask him too. Common sentences now include "where'd daddy go", "mommy I did it!" or "more mommy please". His coordination and balance amaze me. The kid runs everywhere, rides a 3 wheel scooter, pedals with authority on his big-wheel and climbs anything that is in front of him. Speaking of balance, he loves to walk around in my high-heels. He can walk down stairs with them better than his mama (see below for proof). He is also freakishly strong. Lifting a gallon of milk and carrying around his ride-on cars. He loves to read books before bed and is learning his colors (red, blue, green, yellow). Nash is very social and continues to love school. He came down with a fever this week and he cried for 1/2 hr. the morning we told him he couldn't go. A mother's dream, right?

Of course, over the past six months I'm also reminded of the challenges of parenthood. Balancing motherhood with a career, finding time for date-nights (we've been averaging about once a month, pretty happy with that). And just being a parent of a two-year-old, which is hard navigating these unknowns for the first time.

I know I'll blink and it will be six more months gone. Poof, just like that.

Chuseok-Part 2

I realized that although the Chuseok is a very important holiday, I only have enough "Chuseok" material for one last post (instead of three total like I represented).  So we took my Japchae and we headed to a friends house to celebrate the holiday with old friends and new.  The photos really speak for themselves.  We are so lucky to have connected with other families who look forward to celebrating this holiday with their kiddos, too.  Everyone had a blast, adults included.  So much so that we are planning an adult night out to a Korean cooking class...to get ideas for the next holiday perhaps.

The boys are suppose to be "cooperating" by holding up
their artwork!  

Nash was loving the food.

He barely was coming up for air.

Time to burn it off!  

Monkeying around on Simon's bed

Nap time?  Ha!  Right.

Just a couple of dudes....

Dining on fake corn.  

Chuseok 2012- Part 1

Chuseok is Korean holiday that involves celebrating the harvest, paying tribute to your ancestry and participating in folk games. This is really our first celebration of a Korean holiday together as a family. The holiday is celebrated for 3 days and some compare to the American Thanksgiving. The holiday actually falls on the 30th but we've been busy celebrating! In honor of Chuseok (Chu-sock is how you say it), I'm dedicating 3 blog posts to it.
This first one is all about the preparation. This past weekend we celebrated with old and new friends. I'll talk more about that later but today's post is all about the food! At the party we dined on all the Korean favs, Bulgogi, kimchi, rice, and japchae. I love Korean food but have to admit I typically leave it to the experts at the Korean restaurants to make it. No excuses this time though, I made the japchae. It's a noodle dish made with sweet potato noodles, lots of veggies and often meat. I tried to document the steps.  Not quite the photo quality as the Pioneer Woman's pics, but I tried.....

Sweet Potato Noodles.  Good thing my recipe had instructions on
how to boil because they were in Korean on the package.  I smuggled
these back from a Korean market in Seoul.  

These are my ingredients:  Mushrooms, carrots, onion, garlic, sesame oil, and whaaaa?  Candy corns?
Nope.  Just a cooking treat for this chef.

Replace candy corns with spinach.

The cooked vegtables

Finished!  

Kara + Paul = Happily Ever After

This past weekend, Bret's sister got married!  We were so happy to be able to be part of this intimate family affair.  The event was small and perfect.  The backdrop was the beautiful northern woods of Wisconsin.  The weather gods were smiling down that day, the bride looked beautiful and everything fell into place.  It really was the complete opposite as our wedding, but I just loved the simplicity of it.   The bride and groom got it right, and the wedding fit them perfectly.  We couldn't be happier for them.

I took oodles of pictures but here were a few of my favorite.

Killing us with cuteness

Close-up!

Love.

Add caption

Bear hug from Grandma....no shoes, no tie...getting sleepy

WW: Scooter Gang

Eat.Sleep.Football

It's that time of year again when the family plans revolve around a little team by the name of the Green Bay Packers, maybe you've heard of them.  We bleed green and gold!  It feels like just yesterday (literally, like just yesterday) that we all were planning our Sundays around the big game.  I admit, I've never really gotten the obsession with the game.  But over the years, I've joined in the fun, mostly for the game day snacks and excuse to have a beer on a Sunday.  But this year, the anticipation was all about having Nash join in the fun.  Que the game day jitters, for Bret is was about the kick-off, for this mama, it was about how in the world we were going to entertain Nash for 3.5 hours!    

I've been thinking a lot lately about family traditions (by thinking I mean talking obsessively about it to the hubs).  Football is near the top of this families list.  I want Nash to have memories of all of us gathered around the TV, joined by the bonds of the wins and loses, nachos and touchdown dances (discount double-check).  Fast forward 15 years and I can picture Nash someday having the same Monday morning quarterback conversations with Bret as Bret has with his dad.   Even though the game ended up a bust (they lost), we still have fun introducing Nash to one of our favorite pastimes. 

Introducing the starting lineup!  At wide-receiver, Nash Larson!
(crowd goes wild)

Can you say endorsement deals?  Head and Shoulders and Chunky Soup.

1st and 10.  Coach Larson giving the route.
"Set.Hut."

"Nash Larson runs the route, high stepping over dog poop and weeds."

"Look.At.The.Ball."
(Bad throw by the quarterback).

Time-out for a quick photo-op. 

Going Long!
(like really long, like, come back Nash!)

"Oh and the tackle by the evil purple and gold"

What's a football game without an injury.  Yes, that is Bret icing his foot with a bag of frozen corn.
Don't ask.  

Game day snacks!
Funny story, that popcorn bowl is from one of Bret's ex-girlfriends parents.
True story.  It gets lots of use.

Till next game!