Knowing that we just went apple picking, a teacher friend pulled out several “apple”-related workbook pages for the kids.

Thank you, Melissa!

So the day after we picked apples, we made apple puppets, which Mara (ignorantly) insisted were “apple muppets.” The kids colored their puppets–or, ‘scuse me–their muppets, and Mara was able to cut most of her muppet out by herself. She also helped apply the glue and stick the pieces on the bag.

Micah was fascinated with the glue–I didn’t want him to become too adept at the use of scissors and glue–so I did most of his myself, while he watched.

After the apple muppets were finished, Mara completed a worksheet of apples–one apple for every letter of the alphabet. She had to fill in the missing letters, and she did great! A couple of her letters were backwards, but she is learning, one step at a time.

After bedtime prayers and song, I sat in the rocking chair, snuggling my two-year-old twerp in his favorite navy blue blanket.

It had been a particularly challenging day for the two of us all around, starting at 3 AM when he walked into our bedroom with his blanket and an 101-degree fever.

Throughout the day, he cried often being sick and tired. You moms know what it’s like to have a sick, tired two-year-old, plus the usual boyish antics:

• He put the fish food container in the dishwasher’s silverware tray (glad I noticed before I ran the dishwasher).
• He spilled his milk, while trying to pour it from his cup onto his plate.
• He wanted more “snack” so he went up to the high chair and took poor, defenseless Carissa’s Ritz crackers right out of her hand. (That’s the first time he’s taken food from the little sister! He’s typically looking out for her.)
• He tried to pull the lit candle out of the jack-o-lantern.

I could go on, but you get the picture.

So I held him close and rocked.

“You know,” I reflected out loud, as much for myself  as for him, “I prayed that God would give me a little boy.–And He gave me YOU!” He smiled peacefully behind the thumb stuck in his mouth.

I rocked him a little more and squeezed him a little tighter. “I love you, Micah.”

His eyes twinkled in the darkness. “Kiss Mommy,” he said, leaning forward.

Lately, he’s started this lingering kiss–on the lips. When he started doing this, I laughed so hard, because it was hysterically funny to me. Now I know: Shouldn’t have laughed. I encouraged him. Now he thinks it’s still hilariously funny and tries to kiss me–only on the lips–every time.

“I love you, Mommy,” he gushed, ever so sweetly.

He gave me a moment for that to sink in as we nuzzled noses. I thought about what an incredibly sweet son God had given in answer to my prayers.

Then suddenly he whispered, ever so deliberately, “Go down-steh-dees [downstairs] and eat ice cream!”

“Noooo, we’re not going downstairs to eat ice cream!” I laughed.

He giggled, still pleading his case, “Sometimes after naps, go downstairs and eat ice cream.”

So I’m left wondering if this child really is so sappy sweet? . . . or is he just trying to con me?

As promised, pictures from Pumpkinland!

This place is sooo commercialized! You even have to stand in line just to take a picture on a haybale! But we live in the city, so I suppose it’s worth it every now and then.

I was disappointed that the “How tall am I this year?” sign was not out this year. I was looking forward to comparing the pictures from two years ago, maybe starting a little tradition. . .  oh well. . .

And a lesson learned: You may notice Carissa crying on the haybale. Apparently, it wasn’t just Micah. Seems like none of my babies like the prickly feeling of hay . . .

I let Mara and Micah each pick out a miniature pumpkin, which were $1 each. Micah picked a traditional pumpkin, while Mara picked some kind of gourd, a little more abstract. Of course, Carissa didn’t get to choose—Mara and Micah picked one for her!

There were amazing carved pumpkins! I loved the “Phillies” one. Micah liked “Superman.” And unless Mara had pointed him out, I wouldn’t have even noticed “Elmo.” She liked him.

Pumpkinland was a fun way to finish the day.

Just what you might expect from a 7-month-old!

She sat on her blanket and watched Big Brother and Big Sister. She needed to be changed. She needed to nurse. She needed baby food.

We actually found solitude at our spot in the orchard, so I could nurse and the kids could play nearby.

Micah brought her long-stemmed grasses to play with, and literally bounced apples onto her blanket! She loved them.

She tried to get into the basket of apples–of course, Big Sister was there to protect the apples!

Enjoy some pictures of Cutey-Face!

And a few last shots of everyone . . . yes, those apples are bouncing into the basket!

Notice the group shot where Carissa is sad, after her attempts to pull an apple out of basket were thwarted by Mara Apple Picker. In the meantime, Micah pulled an apple out of the basket, which, of course, also garnered a reaction from Mara Apple Picker.

The very last picture is my favorite!

Good times, apple picking. . .