Fall in New England

We traveled east last week

It was a long trip - Luke was so excited to fly on an airplane, but said after the first leg of our trip that he didn't like flying (it was "too high and too loud"), and that he really prefers riding in firetrucks to airplanes!

First stop - SacEast in Western Massachusetts, which was absolutely gorgeous in early October (and so much fun to spend some time with our cousins).

Pizza making (for those who are wondering, no, Luke did NOT eat his)

Mia and her Aunt Kate

Apple picking fun with cousins

The reception after Frederick's baptism

Frederick, his godparents, and his truck cake!

Next stop: New Jersey to spend a few days with Grandma and Grandpa

Grandpa took Luke for a ride on the train ... and then we all met them when they got off for breakfast at one of the old stations.

Cousins Jonathan, Stephanie, Courtney, Kelsey, Aunt Michele, Uncle Ernie, and Aunt Chris all stopped by to see us while we were in town - what fun to have so much attention and love!

The babies love Uncle Ernie

And this cute picture of Stephanie and Luke is very reminiscent of another from long ago of Michael and Jonathan - I'll have to post it one of these days.

SacEast

Uncle James, Aunt Kate, Jacqueline, and Frederick visited last weekend from Massachusetts. It was so good to see them and spend some time together - it had been far too long.

I'm not sure how I will put into words or pictures the time that we had here together. Here's an overview of their visit in photos (see separate post on our adventure to Happy Hollow).

To have family like them means the world. I love that we enjoy each other's company, that our kids are close in age and will grow up together, that seeing one another never feels like a chore, that we can all laugh at the chaos that together our families create, and that the kids will one day look back on times that we do spend together and will (hopefully) remember them as integral parts of their childhoods.

Thank you, SacEast, for coming to visit ... we know that it isn't easy to travel so far with two young kids. Don't worry, SacWest will invade your home next time around!

Sprinkler fun

This might have been one of the highlights of the trip in Luke's mind. They had SO. MUCH. FUN.

Oh, and by the way, Uncle James (who created this activity) is now officially one of Luke's favorite people ... ever.