Happy Halloween!

Even though this was technically Ainsley's second Halloween, it was the first one where she really participated and was aware of what was going on. We carved pumpkins the Saturday before Halloween. Ainsley was interested in taking the lids on and off, but she absolutely did not want to help pull out the pumpkin guts. Gross!

On Sunday, we took Ainsley to Beachwood Place for the Radio Disney Halloween Party. She might have been one of the littlest trick-or-treaters, but that didn't stop her from joining in the fun! 

Elmo was very popular with the other kids and even some adults. Two Asian women who didn't speak much English asked if they could take their picture with our little Elmo. She was quite the celebrity!

Ainsley was very interested in the goodies being put into her pumpkin bucket; she kept peering inside. And she held on to that bucket the entire time - she wouldn't let Daddy hold it for her!

At 6 p.m. on Halloween night, Elmo was suited up and ready for trick-or-treat.  

Next to the little pumpkin man

We went to about eight houses on our block to the neighbors we know. Our friends Tim and Joy had scary music playing, and Ainsley did not like that at all! 

But then she decided this candy thing was a good idea.

With Joy at Ainsley's very first trick-or-treat house.

Later, we hung out at our house and helped Daddy give out candy to the other trick-or-treaters. 

Mommy's and Ainsley's pumpkins

Daddy's pumpkin

And then Ainsley had to go through her stash to see what she got!  I was a bit surprised that she really knew what this was all about - she kept pulling out pieces of candy and holding them up for me to open them for her. 

Finally!

On October 23, at 16 months old, Ainsley finally took her first real steps!  She had been taking 3-4 tentative steps between Mommy and Daddy for a few months now.  But on Sunday, October 23, Ainsley just stepped away from the couch and started to walk around the room.  Just like that!

Here's a video taken Wednesday, October 26, showing our little toddler doing her newest thing!  I tried to get her to walk around a little more, but she was too interested in reading her Halloween book about Calico the cat.  So this just shows a few steps.  But she is definitely walking all around now!

Pumpkins

We went to Mulberry Corners to get our pumpkins last weekend. We picked out one for each of us, plus two little ones for the porch. Ainsley was a little tired, since we were late with her nap, but I think she still had fun.

Ainsley's pumpkin. She picked it out herself.

Can't wait to see how Daddy carves it this year!

Ainsley loves scarecrows.

Daddy, which one do you want?

A little unhappy by the time we got to the corn maze.
Time to call it a day!

Trip to Mohican State Park

The second stop on our tour of Ohio State Parks was Mohican State Park. We spent two nights at the lodge and enjoyed beautiful Fall weather both onsite at the lodge and in the state park itself. Early October was the perfect time to visit this area, as the trees were in full color. I hope some of the pictures can do it justice.

We drove over to Mohican State Park.

We also spent time just walking around the grounds at the lodge.

Ainsley playing ping pong

Malabar Farm, which is a working farm and a state park in Ohio, is the home of Pulitzer prize winning author Louis Bromfield.  We toured a couple rooms of his house. 

The Big House, Bromfield's residence

We saw a lot of animals at the farm

A view of the farm from Mt. Jeez

We celebrated our sixth anniversary on this trip and started the day at Lehman's, a really cool Amish store.

Amish buggy

Then we moved on to the Harvest Fest at Hale Farm. We saw hayrides, apple pressing and popcorn making.

Apple Picking

This weekend was the 2nd Annual Wills Family Trip to Patterson Fruit Farm to pick apples. It was a bit blustery, but we decided to head out anyway. We braved the wind and came home with two big bags of apples. We also enjoyed an apple fritter, an apple dumpling, and some apple cider at a picnic table at the farm. Lots of apples! I guess it's time to start baking pies!

The pumpkin patch

Colorful mums

Family fun!

Ainsley sat next to Frankie the Scarecrow on our steps.
They're almost the same size!

Play Date

A few weeks ago, my friend Julie brought her son Cooper to our house to play with Ainsley. Cooper is about six weeks older than Ainsley, and it's so much fun to have them so close in age!

They're both starting to talk, but Cooper could literally run circles around Ainsley, since she's not quite walking on her own yet. The kids played really well together and had a good time. We moms only had to chase them around a little bit. ;)

Cooper came to our house last July, too, when Ainsley was only three weeks old. Here's a picture from that visit.

So fun to watch how they've grown and changed, developing little personalities, in only a little over a year. Hopefully we can all get together again soon!