Apple Picking 2012

Last Saturday we made our way to Ramseur, NC for our annual apple picking.  This is definitely one of my favorite family activities.  This was Savannah's second year to be able to pick them herself and she has become quite the harvester.  Let the fall festivities begin!!!!

check out this years crop

She was quite good at finding the apples down low.

inspecting for rotten spots

in case you're wondering, the bandaids are strictly cosmetic 

I think I smell apple cake in the oven and applesauce on the stove :)

My Big Girl Savannah

It's been awhile since I've done a Savannah update and it seems that she's getting bigger and bigger everyday.  In the past couple of months she's done all sorts of big girl things.  First up, at the end of August she attended a morning summer camp at her future preschool.  The first two days were a little rough at drop off (crying, pleading, begging, clinging) but within 5 minutes of my departure she had totally calmed down and had started playing.  By Friday she was skipping into the classroom and giving me a kiss goodbye.  

She's showing me the cubby where she keeps her stuff.

Now she's telling me no more pictures and get out!

On August 27 she had her very first ballet/creative movement class.  Recently she was become very interested in Angelina Ballerina so I thought she would love taking this class.  Honestly I think I was way more excited about this than she was.  This was also her first drop off class.....meaning no more mommy and me classes---woohoo!  Thankfully there were no tears and she was only mildly clingy for a couple of minutes.  Once class got going she quickly joined in but she wasn't too thrilled about taking her shoes off.  Finally with 15 minutes left to class, she removed her shoes.  I was able to peek in at her through a small opening in a window so I could get a few pictures.  She was so excited to see the pictures after class and now she asks me to take some every week.  That's also how she confirms that I'm not leaving her there alone.  I'm hoping she continues to enjoy dance class because I've had visions of attending dance recitals since the day I found out I was having a baby girl :)  

my beautiful little ballerina

2nd class and she's following directions

apparently she follows directions only until she's bored and then she does her own thing

Savannah officially started preschool on Thursday, September 7.  No tears yet again!  I think it helped that she had become somewhat familiar with the school and the playground as a result of camp.  Her teachers are Mrs. Woods and Mrs. Pate who both have been at the school for years and years.  From what I can tell she seems to really be enjoying school.  She may not be leaping out of bed to go, usually I have to wake her sleepy head up, but she's been very agreeable getting dressed and out the door.

My attempt to start a tradition of taking her picture on the first day of each school year--as you can see she wasn't very cooperative.  In fact she refused to stand still under the sign. 

on the way to school. "no pictures, get away!!!!"

walking to her class

at pick up

I can't believe how big my sweet girl is getting.  And I can't believe I'm already having to plan her 3rd birthday party.  Time is going by way too fast.  And just think....in less than 3 months we'll be starting all over with our little guy.    

Next up she will be attending her first wedding this Sunday.  I pray that the bride didn't make a mistake in inviting us.  We'll see.....

1st Visit to NC Coast

Over the Labor Day weekend we visited Emerald Isle off the coast of North Carolina.  Our good friends, the Millers, invited us to spend the holiday at their family beach house.  This was our first time on the NC coast so we didn't really know what to expect.  Despite the rough waves we had a wonderful time.  Savannah wasn't able to stand on her own in the water so unfortunately she had to be held most of the time.  And because of this mama's growing belly, she and I had one major wipeout; however, nothing stops that little girl for long.  Within minutes she was back out battling the waves.

Steve riding the waves

Charmaine's turn

such a beach girl

searching for shells

the sand castle masters at work

Steve's position here is the reason his back got terribly sunburned 

We had such a great time with the Millers and we even got to spend a little bit of time on Sunday with Michael and Rachel---fresh off the news of their engagement :)  

3 Glorious Days of Disney

I just realized that I never finished this Disney trip post.  I uploaded the pictures almost a month ago but then I never went back to officially publish it, so here goes.....

On Friday, August 17 we woke up bright and early for our flight to Orlando.  We arrived around 10 am and by the time we retrieved our luggage and the rental car, Grams had arrived.  We went straight to Disney Studios and immediately grabbed seats for the Beauty and the Beast show.  Savannah was so excited to see one of her favorite movies live and in person!  Unfortunately, the show was cancelled at the half way mark due to thunderstorms but she didn't seem to mind.  Oscar ran into a gift shop and probably spent and arm and a leg on ponchos because he wasn't about to let a minor downpour ruin our Disney day.  This was just one of his many actions that led to us naming him the Disney Nazi.

Beauty and the Beast at Disney Studios

typical Florida afternoon rain shower but we didn't let it slow us down

meeting Mickey Mouse

meeting Winnie the Pooh 

walking down the life-like city sets

just like being back in NYC minus the traffic

Savannah splashing in the puddles

watching the parade

After the parade we headed to the hotel to check in and clean up before going to dinner at the Grand Floridian with the Cinderella cast.  Savannah was in awe meeting the storybook characters.  The first character that approached her was Prince Charming who she had just previously called "beautiful".  Of course she played hard to get once he came to meet her.

meeting Prince Charming at dinner

it was like looking in a mirror :)

a little scared of the mean stepmother

stepsister Anastasia

stepsister Drizella

Michael finally arrived at our hotel much later than anticipated due to a missed flight and a couple of no-goes on standby.  At least he made it for our full day at Disney World which began bright and early with breakfast at the park with the Winnie the Pooh characters.  Savannah seemed most excited about meeting this group.

heading into the park

Savannah is totally not into taking pictures

breakfast with Tigger...

and Pooh....

We should eat like this every morning!!

and Eeyore.

She's so happy!!

After breakfast but before meeting Piglet (Disney Nazi at work), we immediately headed into Fantasyland to knock out all of Savannah's rides.  First up was the Peter Pan ride.

first ride of the day---Peter Pan.

You can't tell by our faces but we're really having a great time. 

There's a happy face!

ready for Winnie the Pooh ride

round two on Savannah's first roller coaster---She loved it that much!

More happy faces!

flying high on Dumbo

time for the teacups

the faster we spun, the more she loved it!

meeting Alice and the White Rabbit

meeting Merida or as Savannah says "the new girl"

archery lessons

Savannah instructing Oscar and Michael to wear the safety straps

Lunch that day was the highlight of our trip---Cinderella's caste.  Here she met all the original Disney princesses.

meeting Cinderella during lunch at Cinderella's Table 

meeting Snow White

and Aurora (her current favorite)

and Ariel

and Belle

another parade

meeting Rapunzel

Belle again

third meeting with Cinderella

fun time on the monorail

After a long morning/afternoon at the park we made our way back to the hotel for a little downtime before the dinner luau.

me and Grams all ready for the luau

check out those excited faces

attempting to dance on stage 

happy Michael

happy Savannah

she cracks herself up

such a silly girl

hula time

For our last day we had breakfast at our hotel and then headed to Epcot.  Just a quick note for our future Disney trips......I don't think I'd ever want to go back to Epcot---it was a little boring and reminded me of going on a school field trip.  There were no rides and no princesses for Savannah which all equaled up to a bored and grumpy little girl.  

Breakfast with Lilo

and Stitch

and Mickey Mouse

and Pluto

Epcot

Grams and Michael  

she only appears to be sleeping because we all know that she never naps

Savannah still hiding from the camera

Overall we had a wonderful time and we were so happy to spend the vacation with Grams and Michael.  Savannah still says almost daily, "it's been a long time since we saw Cinderella (Belle/Ariel/etc)....time to go to Cinderella's castle for lunch".  Unfortunately for her, I need a another couple of years to regroup from this trip and Oscar needs another couple of years to save up to do it again :)