Wedding

My normal wedding date (otherwise known as Sam), was out of town this weekend, so I got this cutie to go with me instead:

Our good friends, Kristen and Jeff got married in a lovely fall wedding this weekend:

Michael was there to help carry Olive's backpack into the reception:

Michael and Emma:

A big perk of this wedding was the attendance of so many old friends that we don't see very often. This was the first time Olive met my good friend, Carrie:

The newlyweds:

Emma and me:

Delicious dark pink frosting (yikes):

My good friend, Carrie (we made sure we still have our signature dance move...don't worry, we do):

Crazy dance monster:

A quick moment with the beautiful bride:

The bride and groom danced. Watching these two dance made me think about the time when we were all just a bunch of crazy kids on a ski team together. If we'd been able to push the pause button then, and been told that 14 years later I'd be married to Sam, standing with my daughter watching Kristen and Jeff get married, we would have all had a good laugh. But here we are, here they are:

These crazy girls danced:

Added a tiny crazy girl to the mix:

And some crazy boys danced, too:

Did I mention the dancing? Olive danced for about 3 hours straight. She danced with people:

She danced alone:

More solo moves:

And in the middle of the crowd:

I have never seen anyone dance as much as Olive did last night. She danced until she could dance no more. Then she talked about all the dancing until she could talk no more.

Apple Orchard

We had a lovely (if chilly) time at an apple orchard/pumpkin patch this weekend with Matt, Jessica and Oscar.  

Olive wore her fun new hat, which I think makes her look a little like a muppet, or a swamp person, or something:

Olive was very good at picking apples and enjoyed filling her own bag very much:

Sam and Oscar on the hayride:

Cousins:

Family portrait:

Olive sat on some pumpkins:

Oscar growled at some pumpkins:

Olive fed some animals:

Played in the hay:

Jumped off haystacks:

A major highlight was Olive's first ride on the cow train.  She chose the one named Georgie ("just like my friend George!").  We assumed it was a short ride around in a circle or something.  I asked the driver if she was big enough and he said yes, so in she went:

Off they go!  And they just kept going.  The train rumbled down a path and disappeared.  For 10 minutes.  It was more than we (or Olive) had bargained for but apparently she did just fine on her solo cow train adventure:

And the cow train returns, thanks goodness:

After they got back the driver said, "she did great, just sat up straight and looked around the whole time!".  So maybe he was worried she was too little for this ride, too.  Turns out she wasn't.  She's a cow train champ.  "That was fun!".

*Editors note: in the video, don't miss the full grown adult who took the cow train (three from the back).  I assume he thought it was a funny photo op with his friends and didn't realize he'd be stuffed in that tiny seat for a 10 minute ride with preschoolers. :)

Fall Cookies

This weekend Nana and Papa helped Irene and Olive bake some fall cookies.  They were quite excited (all of them):

Olive rolling her dough:

Papa helping:

Irene tried her hand at using a can of whipped cream instead of a rolling pin:

Pumpkin, ghost, cat, leaf, and a gingerbread boy (not sure where he fits in):

The bakers:

Sprinkling orange sugar and sprinkles on:

Done and ready to eat:

Technical Difficulties

I have tons of great photos from our trip to Chicago, and a computer that won't cooperate. It seems our current computer has seen better days and we will be replacing it in the very near future. Hopefully then I can download the pictures and do a proper post!

Until then, here's a picture of Olive at the top of the Sears Tower (taken with my phone):