Christmas Week

Happy Friday!  This was a "short" week for us.  While Chris was back at work on Tuesday, Noah didn't go back to school until Wednesday.  While we spent the first three days of 2017 lounging around in our pajamas, we were very busy the week between Christmas and New Years.  Noah's cousins were visiting for the week and we definitely stayed busy with lots of fun activities!  So today I thought I would do a Five on Friday recap for each of the five days!  

Monday

After spending Christmas weekend with both sides of the family, we thought it would be fun for Noah to run around and get some energy out.  Noah's youngest cousin (who's just a week older than him) wasn't feeling well, so we met his two older cousins at our local bounce place.  Usually Noah is begging me or Chris to go in the bounce houses with him, but this trip he was happy to just follow his cousins around! We ended up splitting up in the afternoon.  Some friends from college were coming by for a visit, Noah got to play with his many new toys, and the older cousins went to see the new Star Wars movie!  

Tuesday

We met up with my parents and my brother's family for a morning movie.  We've been excited to see SING! for a while now and we've been having fun collecting the Happy Meal toys at McDonalds.  The movie was really cute, though Noah didn't last past the previews sitting with his cousins.  A preview with a "monster" came on and he freaked out and wanted to sit with me and Chris for the rest of the movie.  SING was really cute and not scary at all, but I still got lots of snuggles when Noah wanted to sit on my lap halfway through.  

We had hoped Noah would nap after the movie so that he would be refreshed for a Flinn Cousin Party, but we had no such luck.  I was shocked he didn't fall asleep on the 45 minute drive there!  Thankfully he was in a good mood and had fun playing with some of Chris' cousin's kids.  And with 7 aunts and uncles, he definitely gets spoiled with gifts! 

Wednesday

We were up bright and early to head into NYC with my brother, sister-in-law, and the two older cousins.  It sure was cold, but we didn't let that stop us!  It was the first time my niece and nephew had been to NYC, so we rode around on a double decker bus to give them an overview of the entire city.  If we are able to plan another trip, I think we will spend more time in one place rather than try to do everything in one day.  

Noah was losing steam faster than his older cousins, so we split up.  My brother took his family to look at a few more sights, while we made a quick trip to Rockefeller to see the tree before heading home.  I have to say that the tree this year looks pretty pathetic in the day time.  The tree is so sparse! Next year I want to head in later in the day with hopes that Noah will last until it gets dark.  

^^^ we bought some pretzels before getting on the train home.  Noah loved the pretzel, but was over taking photos!

Thursday

After a long day in NYC, we welcomed a more relaxing day.  Noah played with Chris at home, while I met my sister-in-law and niece at the nail salon.  We each got a manicure and pedicure, and I love that my 9 year old niece picked a bright magenta and bright blue for her nails... ahh to be young again!  We then met up with everyone for pizza and ice cream.  Later that night, we met up again for an early birthday dinner (my sister-in-law and Chris have the same EXACT birthday, same day AND year!).  We met at Outback and then headed back to my parents' house for ice cream cake and singing.  My mom even got little cupcakes so each of the grandkids got to blow out their own candles :) 

We really had a great time spending the week with my brother's family.  While we've been seeing them more often now that the kids are older, it's rare that we get a full week with them.  Noah really got used to seeing them every day and was a little bummed when they had to head home.  

Friday

We celebrated Chris' 39th Birthday!  We sang to him over a stack of pancakes.  While Chris' official gift was the set of golf clubs he ordered a month ago, I made sure to wrap up a little something for him to open.  I found some "Happy Birthday Daddy" golf balls online and knew they were perfect!  We then met up with Chris' parents and brother for a birthday dinner.  Two years ago we went out for hibachi and thought it would be fun to go again.  While Noah isn't a huge fan of the fire, we weren't expecting him to be as scared as he was.  We had gone in Turks and Caicos and again this summer and he had done okay, didn't LOVE it but he was fine.  But this time he freaked out as soon as he saw the hibachi stove.  Even though we and the restaurant promised him the chef wouldn't do "fire", he was genuinely scared.  Per Noah's pleas, I ended up hanging out with him in the "lobby" doing activity books until "all the food was made".  Not exactly what we expected, but I think it's safe to say we won't be getting hibachi anytime soon.  

I'm linking up with The Farmer's Wife and September Farm for "Oh Hey Friday" and with Smidge of This for "Five on Friday"!

*affiliate links may be used...  see my disclosure for more information

Diggerland in October

This weekend we took Noah to Diggerland.  For those of you who haven't heard of it, it's an amusement park located in South Jersey, with a bunch of construction vehicles turned into rides.  Basically, it's a boy's (big and small) dream amusement park!  While it was our third time going, we just so happen to always go with families that are visiting for their first time.  So each time we go, we get to see it through a newbie's eyes.  And while we have operated our fair share of diggers at this point, it is pretty spectacular when seeing and experiencing it for the first time.  

Our first two visits were in the Summer, and we just so happened to go on super hot days.  When we made these plans with our friends to go in October, I was really looking forward to going and not sweating like crazy in the hot sun.  Well I definitely didn't sweat... instead I froze!  Not only was it cold, but it was really windy and rained on and off.  We persevered because we didn't have an alternate date that worked for both families and the boys were really looking forward to it.  So we packed every coat we own and hoped for the best.  We were starting to second guess our decision on the drive down when it started to pour, but we "lucked out" that once at the park, the most we had was a light drizzle.  

I wouldn't describe myself as a person who is always cold (maybe Chris will disagree).  I'm constantly asking for the air conditioning to be on (and lowered), even in October.  But there I was, with more layers than I've ever worn before, shivering.  I'm not joking when I say I had on a long sleeve shirt, a sweatshirt, a quilted vest, a quilted winter jacket, topped with a rain coat and a scarf, and I was still cold!  If I had to pinpoint my biggest mistake, it was not bringing gloves.  Noah had on a winter coat and a rain coat and he wasn't bothered by the weather at all.  He occasionally said his hands were cold, but nothing his pockets couldn't cure.  He either isn't affected by the cold like I am or he just didn't care since he was having so much fun!  On the bright side, the park wasn't crowded at all and we never had to wait in a long line.  

Noah's raincoat

We went on all the same rides we normally do, like digging with the excavators, driving the skid steers, and riding the trains.  But this time, Noah did something for the first time... he drove the mini land rovers all on his own!  The first time we went, Noah wasn't tall enough to do it.  And even if he was, I wasn't really confident that he'd be able to drive the car all by himself and stay on the track.  But this time, it looks like they moved some of the rides around the track is now a little smaller and more manageable (not as many turns).  And since Noah was tall enough and eager, we let him give it a try. I definitely think it helped that his friend was doing it too... an example of when peer pressure is a good thing :)  It was kind of strange for me to see him ride the car all on his own and it reminded me that he's really growing up... he is going to be 4 in a few weeks after all!  We were all so proud of how well he did, including himself!

So while the weather was less than ideal, we still had a really fun time.  I just made sure to spend the rest of the day under the covers ;)  Maybe next year we will manage to go on a day where the weather isn't even a discussion!

Our past visits: June 2016, July 2015

Halloween on Sesame Street

While we've gone to Sesame Place multiple times (this summer and last), this was the first time we've gone for "The Count's Halloween Spooktacular". Not only was it fun to see the park decorated for Halloween and the characters in costume, but it was a nice change of pace to go when it wasn't super hot!   I also love it when we get to go with Chris.  It's always fun doing things as a family, but it's also great to have a second set of eyes on Noah and it means I can take and be in more photos :)

When we go in the summer, we usually spend a good chunk of time on the water rides.  Since they were obviously closed, our agenda was a little different this time.  Where the water slides are located, they had a hay maze set up that ended with finding Abby.  They also had little trick or treat stands set up throughout the park with workers handing out treats like pretzels and juice boxes.    

^^^ we always let Noah pick out a little stuffed animal (or other souvenir) from the gift shop whenever we go.  Usually we do it at the end, but this time he wanted to get it at the beginning of our visit.  This time he chose Ernie and was having fun showing him all over the park.  

This visit, we had made plans to meet up with some of our family friends.  We got there a little earlier than they did, so we ended up doing the maze on our own.  When they arrived, they told us that people were lining up right outside the gates for the hayride.  We went out to meet them, and while we didn't make it on the first two tractors, we were first in line for the next round of rides.  At first we were bummed that we missed that second tractor, but then we realized we were really lucky, because it meant we got first dibs on seats when it was our turn.  As a result, we got to sit next to Ernie for the entire hayride.  What a happy coincidence that Noah had just picked out Ernie at the gift shop! 

After the hayride we explored the park a little bit more and then headed to lunch.  We had reserved a table at "Zoe's Monster Mash Party" where we had a buffet lunch, followed by photos and a dance party with some of the characters!  While the food isn't anything special, the kids love it.  I definitely preferred the time we went in the summer though, because it was way less crowded.  But because the park is only open on the weekends in the Fall, it was at full capacity.

After lunch, we met some more characters and went on some rides.  Noah isn't the bravest when it comes to rides, but he was a little better this time.  There's a ride called Elmo's Flying Fish where you can control if it goes up high or if you just stay down low the entire time it goes around and around.  Usually he is adamant to stay at the bottom, but this time I was able to talk him into going up high!

We ended our visit with the guys taking the boys into this netted climbing gym.  My friend and I stayed outside with her younger daughter.  We got to chat for quite a while since the boys were having so much fun and didn't want to leave.  I think it's safe to say that it tired them out, because Noah fell asleep almost immediately in the car!

Who's your favorite Sesame Street character?

Farm Fun - Pumpkins, Hayrides, and Slingshots

One of our favorite fall traditions is to go to the farm, that's why it's on our bucket list every year!.  Last year we weren't able to go to our regular farm, but this year we went back to our local farm that we go pick strawberries and apples.  Not only is there a lot more going on in the fall, but it's also more crowded.  In addition to the normal fruit picking there are also hayrides, corn and hay mazes, and a pumpkin slingshot!  While we had planned to go when my brother and husband were visiting, the weather wasn't really ideal.  So instead, Chris and I took Noah on our own Monday after school.  

One of the main reasons we love our local farm during pumpkin season is the pumpkin slingshot they have!  While we have never managed to hit any of the targets, there's something really fun about slinging pumpkins through the air!

After the slingshot, we headed over for a hayride.  The tractor took us around the perimeter of the farm, with a pretty amazing view at the top of the hill.  The hayride ends at the pumpkin patch where every rider gets to pick a "free" pumpkin.  

While part of me wishes they had a legitimate pumpkin patch, I don't miss having to carry a heavy pumpkin back to the parking lot.  Instead, we got to pick a few small pumpkins from the field and then go buy our big pumpkins from the store.  

^^^ pumpkin smiley face!

When we got to the farm, it was a little windy and Noah wanted his jacket on with the hood up.  We finally convinced him that it had warmed up and it was no longer needed.  

^^^ while it looks like he's picking out a pumpkin, he's actually complaining about something in his shoe!  

At this point Noah was getting tired and asking to be carried.  We talked him into showing daddy the hay maze and picking out some pumpkins.  I think the promise of an apple cider donut definitely helped!  

Even though we didn't spend that long at the farm, it was another great year filled with a lot of fun!  The combination of the morning at school and then the afternoon outside in the sun, Noah was totally worn out.  Carrying him and letting him play with my hair (his soothing technique) definitely helped, and he fell asleep as soon as we got in the car.  

Interested in some past "Fall Farm Fun" posts??? Here's 2015 & 2014!

Is a trip to the farm a must for you in the Fall?