On Thursday, Mylo and Lola helped us pick a bucket of apples off one of our trees. Yep, the one I swore they tasted like cardboard. They did, I swear. Last year.

They’d been sitting on the counter waiting to be used until today. After nap, we got out the canning things and the apple peeler/slicer—which drew ooohs and aahhs from the peanut gallery. And then some pushing and shoving. And then some time-outs. But once we’d taken care of the necessary steps to start a project, we were ready.

Mylo saw the peeler/slicer and that was it. He had to run it. His life would not be complete to this point unless he ran the apple peeler. Guess what? He’s a champion apple peeler. And he peeled apples for a good hour!

In the end, we have 7 jars of apple pie filling, and one small jar of leftover sauce, one happy boy and a little girl who found an opportunity for unadulterated baby-doll time. Success!

We decided to take the kids to the Red Barn Farms Harvest Festival this year to pick out pumpkins.

This amazing little farm had all sorts of vendors, from bbq to housewares, a bouncy castle, a hay maze, a tractor hay ride, kids crafts and a balloon twister. Mylo, of course, was in heaven and made a bee-line for the castle. Next, was the hay maze, where our brave boy went in all by himself.

And then got stuck. He’s such a creative thinker.

Lola wasn’t so much into the idea of the maze.

Mylo didn’t care.

We posed as a sunflower while Lola played with her stroller.

And then, on to the pumpkins. Of course, we had to make a quick pit-stop at the “pumpkin house” to play.

Mylo wanted them all. Lola didn’t want a single one.

So Mylo picked out one for Daddy.

And then one for Lola…

Who was obviously impressed with the whole process.

Really…

really…

impressed.

Mylo was thrilled with the haul. Which was even more impressive to Lola. Trust us.

But then we went to the balloon bender, which became a total mind-bender for baby #1.

“How you do that? I want a orange dinosaur!” And the balloon-bender was more than happy to oblige with the typical dog shape with a really long tail. Which made for one super-cool dinosaur and a very happy #1.

Lola got a princess crown. Doesn’t Daddy look pretty?

Yep, we had a good time. A goooooood time.