Trick or treat?

Obviously a treat . . .

The Ohio River Valley

Adam and I enjoy visiting our hometown area during this time of year. We traveled to Gallipolis yesterday and could not have asked for a more beautiful day to do so. The green-, yellow- and red-hued leaves on the trees that shroud the rolling hills and line the Ohio River make one ever so grateful for God’s work. As we headed home it was hard not to be hypnotized by the breathtaking sunset.

This fountain is located in the Gallipolis City Park and is a popular place to take pictures before high school dances. Some also take senior portraits here, too. Vanessa liked walking around it and playing peek-a-boo using the columns circling it.

Pickin' Pumpkins

This morning we met up with our friends the Slivkas at Kuhlwein's Farm Market where we went on a tractor-pulled hayride, took a walk through a corn maze and then picked pumpkins. Both Vanessa and Daniel really enjoyed it. Vanessa walked through most of the corn maze but we eventually picked her up to carry her out so as not to leave everyone waiting. She was intrigued by the corn stalks and stopped many times to feel them and the leaves.


Vanessa has a pumpkin basket that she likes to carry around the house and transfer things to. When we first put the basket out this season, she went right to it and tried bouncing it like a ball. Makes sense . . . Anyway, I think her ability to carry the basket around the house encouraged her to try to pick up some good-sized pumpkins in the field today. She gets an A for her effort! :)

Hocking Hills

Old Man's Cave

We spent some family time in Hocking Hills yesterday. We visited Ash Cave and then Old Man's Cave. (There are many other beautiful places to visit if you don't need to worry about really small children, like with the treacherous trail to the Rock House.) Vanessa's mommy and daddy have been several times before, but this was Vanessa's first time visiting the caves. It was a perfect day -- the fall foliage is well underway and the weather was especially nice.

When we arrived at Ash Cave Vanessa was determined to walk the 50 or 60 yards back to the cave. She did really well staying on the path -- she just followed her shadow and every so often glanced up at the falling leaves (which made a beautiful sound as they fell to the ground).

Left: Adam and Vanessa are indeed the ones in the middle of the picture. (I wish a camera could actually capture the vastness of this cave -- I was standing about 3/4 of the way around it when I took this picture.)
Above right: We're at Old Man's Cave at this point and both Vanessa and her mommy are somewhat tuckered out, but they'll make it if they can just rest for a moment. (And yep, Vanessa's still small enough to be carried in the front.)

Vanessa's ride home . . .

To view additional photos from our trip: http://photo1.walgreens.com/groups/blogvisitors

Now She's Cookin'

With help from her Aunt Sally and Aunt Angie, Vanessa received a play kitchen for her birthday. Right now it's often one of the first things she plays with in the mornings, even before eating breakfast. Check her out . . .

What do you mean I have to make breakfast again?!

Vanessa seems to have already figured out the idea of a double boiler. (She made chocolate pudding.)

She also made yummy scrambled eggs -- one of her favorites.

And she even washed the dishes when she finished . . .

. . . but then she rested in one of her favorite chairs. (She climbs into this chair several times a day.)

Bubbles . . .

. . . for a moment . . .

Rachel, Joel and Luke came to play . . .

Last Sunday Vanessa’s cousins Rachel, Joel and Luke spent the afternoon and evening with us. We had a lot of fun together! We took a really long walk to a playground. Everyone was soooooo well-behaved. We couldn’t have asked for a better or more fun afternoon together.

"Brutus on Parade"

If you get a chance, you have to check out the forty Brutus statues lined up outside the Schottenstein Center, named Brutus on Parade. They've been placed there for a new fund-raising program and depict popular figureheads, including Vincent van Gogh and Indiana Jones.

Vanessa and her good friend Daniel got a chance to see and pose with a few during tailgating last week. We didn't see all of them since it was rather busy with lots of tailgaters wanting to snap pictures, but the statues should be there till middle of October, so we hope to go back.

As a side note -- Vanessa is always excited to visit and play with Daniel. Daniel makes a great buddy, even while Vanessa is learning the skill of sharing. The picture with the two of them in front of Woody Brutus shows how Vanessa looks to Daniel for learning new things.