October 2010: A hike at Cutler Park, visits to 2 apple orchards, a trip to New Hampshire,
and Halloween made for a very busy month.
October 2, 2010: A beautiful fall day!
We went on a short hike in Cutler Park, less than 15 minutes from our house. We never
even knew it existed until we went to Lance Ozier's photo show at the Roxbury Library (all the photos
in that show were taken at Cutler Park at dawn...a time when we will almost certainly never see the
park in person!). As you can see, even in the woods, the iPhone is a handy navigating device. Aurora
enjoys the walk so much that on the way back to the car she passes out in the kid carrier.
Later that day, Aurora checks out a park along the Charles River in Watertown.
October 3, 2010: Apple picking at Honey Pot Orchards. We first took a hayride from the parking lot to the
general store. Outside the store, there was farm equipment and animals to look at and feed. Aurora seems a
bit suspicious of the scarecrows.
Back on the hayride. Everyone pouts!
Aurora really gets into apple picking!
Video: Picking apples
What could be better than eating an apple you just picked off a tree?
Video: Avoiding the sand
Back on the hayride to go to another part of the orchard.
I can help Mama carry the bag! (if only it wasn't so full of apples)
Spotted in the orchard - a sighting of the climbing Aurora up in the trees!
Helping Baba carry the ladder.
Reading the sign to see where the different kinds of apples can be found.
Back to the store again to show Baba around.
October 5, 2010: Dancing in the living room is a favorite activity.
Video: Moa li hua
October 9, 2010: Another great fall day, another apple picking adventure. This time, we
went to Nashoba Valley where we met up with Amy, George, Greer, Andy and Rebecca.
Video: Baba's stealing the apples!
After all those apples, there's still room for ice cream.
October 10, 2010: Aurora gets to explore another (new to her) playground.
Video: Swinging 1
Video: Swinging 2
Video: Ring around the pole
Video: Banging with Baba
October 13, 2010: Baba's birthday! While he was at Mandarin class, Aurora and Kathy went
to Dairy Queen in Natick to get him a special cake.
Video: Happy birthday Baba
October 14, 2010: The very next day, Jon gets dumber. (he got his wisdon teeth out, finally)
October 16, 2010: Aurora got her flu shot that morning and she didn't cry at all. In fact, it
was over so fast and all she could think about was going to the Fall Festival immediately afterwards.
There were all the usual kiddie rides - cars, giant slide, train, alligator coaster...she tried them all!
Video: Down the slide
After all those rides, we had burritos for lunch.
Video: Burritos
October 24, 2010: A portion of almost every fall weekend is spent cleaning up the yard. Aurora
enjoys helping whenever possible. Of course, she still has the attention span of a toddler, so
she quickly finds non-traditional ways to "help" us with our big piles of leaves.
Video: Leaves 1
Video: Leaves 2
Video: Leaves 3
That evening, she still had plenty of energy to dance. She LOVES to
wear her pink tutu, especially for dancing.
Video: Dancing 1
Video: Dancing 2
Video: Dancing 3
Video: Dancing 4
October 25, 2010: More dancing!
Video: Dancing 5
Video: Dancing 6
Video: Dancing 7
Video: Dancing 8
October 29, 2010: After school, Aurora's daycare had a Halloween party for the kids. At
the end of the crazy evening, all Aurora wanted to do was find a quiet corner to look at books.
October 30, 2010: After the party, we drove up to New Hampshire for a weekend get-away near
Lake Sunapee. We got a great deal on a mini suite, complete with living room,
kitchen, fireplace and balcony. Here Jon is introducing Aurora to her first bran muffin - she
seems a bit wary of it.
Later that day, we drove up to Hanover to check out the Dartmouth campus.
Video: Following the lines
After naptime (during which Mama got a massage at the spa), it was time to hit the pool.
Video: Swimming 1
Video: Swimming 2
October 31, 2010: Aurora had such a great time in the pool, we headed back the next morning!
Video: Jumping into the deep end
Video: Splish splash
After checking out of the hotel, we went to visit a historic estate called The Fells. In the woods,
children are encouraged to make a fairy house using found materials.
Video: Crunching leaves
Video: Climbing a rock
After the short walk in the woods, we explored the extensive gardens.
On the way home, we stopped in Contoocook and checked out their covered bridge.
