Not All Who Wander Are Lost

Today's classic northern Michigan fall fun was brought to us courtesy of #pahlspumpkinpatch. Corn mazes, barrel rides, farm animal feeding, goats on bridges, pumpkins, doughnuts, apple ciser and an obstacle course were some of our highlights! #adventuresofelliottandmatilda (at Pahl's Pumpkin Patch)

So glad daddy is built strong to carry our little monkeys around! (at Pahl's Pumpkin Patch)

Not only did we commit spending the rest of our lives together on this day four years ago, we were also surrounded by the most amazing group of family and friends two people could ask for. Thanks to all of you for making our day so special.

Marriage is not for the faint of heart. You need to be prepared to fall and then get back up together. #happyanniversarylove #4yearsstrong

And then there was this one time you found your Christmas present in Grammy's trunk only one week after your birthday. She tried to cover it up, but you knew better. You batted your eyelashes and said puuulease, and Grammy turned to mush. Looks like there is a dinosaur party in your dreams tonight! (Santa is still watching little man.)

And that's a wrap. Night y'all! #youngwildandthree #tiredbirthdayboy #elliottwild

Birthday party success! (Thanks to all of our family who came and made it such a special day for E!) (at Almira Township Park)

And just like that, he's three! He was an excellent little host today, said "please" and "thank you" and ooh'd and aah'd over all his incredible presents. Thanks to everyone who made his day such a success! Here is a fun story leading up to today... A couple of weeks ago I asked him what he would like for his birthday cake, and without hesitation he said "a fire truck cake". I thought, well game on, mom needs to get creative. A couple days later, I asked him the same question again, and he said "a fire truck cake", but the tone in which he responded secretly said "duh mom, we already talked about thid, I don't understand why you're asking me again". And the several days after that, I asked him again just to be sure, and he unwaveringly confirmed he truly wanted a fire truck cake. Anytime after that, he would refer to his birthday as his fire truck birthday, so he knew what was coming. I asked his dad if it should be a 2D or 3D cake, and he said something along the lines that the only option was a 3D cake. Challenge accepted. So, here is the result of my boys challenging me to do a 3D fire truck cake. I have a new appreciation for bakers, sculpted cakes, and cake decorators. Fondant, sculpting, decorating and all the rest is serious business! (at Almira Township Park)

And the highlight of today? This little man. Today is the last day he is two years old. He woke up this morning and whispered to me "it's my birthday"...it nearly broke my heart telling him he had to wait one more day. But we sure played and celebrated today like it was his birthday! Elliott has had a tough job since he has been on this earth, and that has been to teach Sam and I how to be parents. There are a million books about parenting, but you never really know what it's all about until you start writing your own chapters. He has taught us to love, be patient, laugh, be silly, and dance like no one is looking. He, like many children, has an acute case of selective listening. He is exceptional at using pleases and thank you's in a full sentence, he runs like the wind, loves ball sports, trains, race cars and puzzles. Sarah & Duck, Mickey Mouse and Blippi are his favorite TV shows. He could take or leave food much of the time, but really likes cucumbers, tomatoes, salami, bananas, cottage cheese, and chocolate milk (of course). He's like his mother and uses any excuse not to go to sleep at night, but clings on to as much sleep as possible once morning rolls around. He gets his strong sense of self preservation from his father, and is excellent at assessing the situation before joining in the action. Long story short, Elliott is the best and we are so blessed to claim him as ours! Looking forward to year #3 sweet boy! ❤

More #adventures playing local tourist. We are so lucky to live here. (at Mission Point Lighthouse)

If you've never met this little girl, I hope you get the opportunity to meet her one day. She is an incredible force that her dad and I sit and marvel at (as well as try to comprehend what we are in for as she gets older and starts to out smart us). When Elliott came along, we wondered how we could love a second child as mich as we do him...and then you just do. It's amazing the capacity your heart has to love. #matildabelle (at The 45Th Parallel)

A lovely day to play local tourist...we admired the salmon at the weir, a jaunt through the farmer's market, a chocolate croissant for all was a must, duck feeding at the river, and then ran some more of that energy out over at Clinch Park and the (dry) splash pad. (at Downtown TC (Official))

Some of us take dominoes very seriously in this household.

"Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children." -Alex Haley (I love this embrace with #greatgrandma and #matildabelle. Little Miss M doesn't slow down often for a hug, but when she does you quickly learn it was worth the wait!)

How lucky they are to have time with their great grandma.