Tolmachoff Farms- Pumpkin Picking

After much scouting and planning, we finally decided to ring in the fall season with a trip to Tolmachoff Farms in Glendale, AZ. It's a smaller farm and we worried that the kids would get bored easily...wrong! The Fridard-Dahn families rode out for another adventure together and it was a blast! Although honestly, these five girls (and let's face it- their parents too) could enjoy watching paint dry. As long as we're all together.

 

Treasures!

I am the absolute worst at downloading pictures from my iPhone. That's why all of my digital memory is used up, holding some of the most precious moments of the last few years! Luckily my husband keeps us "current" by updating his phone. And today I found these little treasures!

 

 Sleeping beauty was watching Cinderella in grandma's bed.

 Ali's first solo ride on the carousel horse!

 Hippie chick at the train park.

 Unleashing these two upon Scottsdale Fashion Square ("the big mall")

 My littlest unicorn. <3 p="">

 Mini-Hippie Chick.

 Daddy was left in charge one weekend, came home with a Slip-n-Slide.

 My girls love their trains!

 Not her first haircut, but the first time she would sit alone. Sniff.

 Peyla's restaurant choice...Chuck-E-Cheese.

 Picking out her first piñata for our little 4th of July party. The look on her face!! lol

 Hood River, Oregon

 Sister snuggle time.

 Mermaids under the sea! -Sea Life Aquarium, AZ

 

 We took daddy for his first visit to the Children's Museum!

 Mommy and Ali

 OK, where's the beach??

 Art time in an incredible studio!

 I'm in a pickle!

 Me too!

 Oh dear. She loves trains AND motorcycles. Be still my panicked heart!

 Daddy's caption:  "Teacher's Pet"

 Ali's first tiny ponytail.

 The beloved Miss Julie's storytime at the library.

 dos dedos (two fingers)

 

 Cheerio break on our fall day-trip to Flagstaff.

 Where there's a Pooh, you will find my Aliyah.

Friends forever!

Summer recap

We spent a lot of time in the pool this summer in hopes of furthering Peyla's swimming skills. She took a class at our local YMCA and definitely made some progress. Although she still can't swim unassisted, she knows to kick/paddle, "monkey crawl" around the edge, pull herself out and.....JUMP! That was a big accomplishment this year as she's been too scared to try in the past. But by the time summer ended, all she wanted to do was jump in and have daddy catch her!

 Ali is canvassing the pool, making sure everyone is safe!

 You want ME to jump?! No way!

 She rocks those goggles! lol

 "Ready mommy?"

 Jump!

 I don't know who's happier, Peyla or daddy?

Proud Papa!

The big transition

It finally happened! After three years, we transitioned Peyla out of a crib and in to a toddler bed. Honestly, I would have been content with sending her to college in a crib! It made my life easier during nap time and saved my sanity by giving me a few extra minutes if she woke early/didn't nap/etc. But it was time...probably way beyond! She loves her "open bed" and actually handles the freedom quite well. 

 They found some winter boots while daddy set up the new bed.

 "Cheeeeeese" says Ali.

 We love hugs.

It's their new hiding place/meeting space/play area too!

We love to be home.

Our little family loves big adventures, but our favorite time is just being home together.

 randomly playing with an oven mitt

 cozying up to watch pre-season football with daddy

 mommy's phone is like Ali's little jukebox. she plays the music everywhere she goes.

 cutie one

cutie two