The Pumpkin Patch Post

This year our pumpkin picking experience included a corn maze, farm animals, and Elsie getting clotheslined by an excited 8 year-old boy running for a tractor ride. Both boy and Elsie are OK.

Soren training for the World's Strongest Man Competition.

Elsie finds the perfect pumpkin and carries it by herself - thank you very much.

Margot scoping out the scene. I think it looks like she is perfecting a danceline move. Maybe she will follow in her mom's footsteps.

Our fearless leader. Elsie guided us through the corn maze. It took forever and I got a little nervous after 15 minutes of dead ends.

The ultimate staredown.

Girl Got Style

I can't decide what's more outrageous, the huge flower in Margot's hair (which she demands to wear) or the sunglasses. Obviously, her fashion sense comes from her mom.

A is for...

Anne, Alligator, Awesome, and of course Apple. We had lots of fun at an apple orchard near our house and as Elsie would say enjoyed the prettyful (pretty + beautiful) season of Autumn.

Here Elsie leads Margot around the hedge maze. Is this a trust exercise where the little sister has to close her eyes and hope she doesn't get led into disaster...or is this just another photo of Margot with her eyes closed?
Elsie puts the apples in and Margot takes them out.

Elsie looks for the perfect apple.

A happy moment for Margot. Minutes later she tripped on the apples and gave herself a good bump on the head.

The Rain Watchers

Sometimes you have to get your kids outside even if they can't actually go outside. Genius Mr. E distracts the girls so I can have five minutes to clean the kitchen and drink wine.

State Fair Time!

Sören and his family are State Fair pros. Growing up Sören’s family would arrive before daybreak and leave after the fireworks. We did a modified State Fair trip with the girls this year. Six hours on a 90+ degree day was long enough. We had a great time, ate tons of food, went on rides, and saw some animals. As we were leaving the fair Elsie says “When are we having lunch?” In the mind of our 3 year-old it’s only lunch if we are sitting at our kitchen table.

Margot looking slap-happy tired at the fair. Her silly parents thought she might lay down in her cozy stroller and take a nap, but there's way too much to see and eat to waste time sleeping.
An Erickson favorite...fruit sundaes from the dairy building.

Elsie would like some fries for her ketchup addiction and Margot would just like to get out of the stroller and pick up cigarette butts!

Elsie did a solo trip with Soren to the fair last Friday. She took a snooze with her new friend Corndog. Soren adopted him from the billards game.

Elsie LOVED the Ferris Wheel. If Soren were in the picture he would not be as smiley.

Summer Snack

Our little lady has never been shy when it comes to snacking! This summer a favorite treat has been tomatoes. She can't wait to pick one from the plant, give it a quick rinse, and bite in.

Party Time Part Two

We had a second birthday party for grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. We are party animals in the Erickson household.

Elsie had three cupcakes, but ate or wore only the frosting.
You guessed it...I made this turtle cupcake too. What is happening to me?!

Quick Margot, open your gift before Elsie gets to you.

Here we are in our party dresses.