McCall's Pumpkin Patch

What an amazing day yesterday; we truly couldn't have asked for a better day. DJ, Cole and I, along with three other couples and their families, headed to Moriarty, NM for the annual McCall's Pumpkin Patch. What an event they put on - from corn bins, hayrides, petting zoos, cow trains, to shooting pumpkins like canons - you name it, it was like the state fair! Of course Cole enjoyed himself, maybe we even pushed him passed his limit a bit, but the adults were having too much fun to call it quits. Cole would often find things to do besides the event at hand. For example, while others groomed the goats he tried climbing the wire fence or he'd collect rocs and sticks while others went to Bunnyville. This is an event the Luscher's will do every year!

Cole @ Montessori School

Cole is very fond of going to school. He loves Ms. Rosemary and Ms. Denise as well as all of his friends. He enjoys it so much in fact that he cried yesterday when I picked him up from school.

Fridays are my day off so I usually try to plan something fun for Cole and I to do. Last Friday, we got up, let Annie out and gave her her morning biscuit (Cole has to hand it to her.) and then headed to get dressed. As we were leaving Cole's room from getting dressed he started fussing and pointing all the way down the hallway. I figured he was hungry and so got him a sippy of milk. Of course that wasn't what he wanted and he continued fussing and pointing on the counter. We finally figured out that he wanted his lunch box. Cole loves his lunch box and to be in charge of it each day. He likes to carry it to the car and hold it in his lap to and from school. Anyway, I set him on the floor with his lunch box thinking he wanted to play with it. Nope, wrong again. Cole fussed and walked over the garage door and stood there crying with lunch box in hand. Try explaining to a 15 month old that you aren't going to school! We ended up having to make a visit to the school that morning anyway because we forgot his jacket there.

 

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Cole  had a "full" agenda this last weekend. Friday afternoon we went to the Los Alamos Homecoming parade with friends. Cole sat on the curb like a big boy and watch the floats go by. He also caught on quickly to the candy being tossed into the crowd; he ate 3 suckers. My friend Stefani was placing her candy in her stroller. Twice Cole was caught taking candy out of her stash! :)
Saturday morning Cole and I headed to Albuquerque to begin the fun weekend. Dad came later after finishing his 12 mile run in the Big Tesuque Trail Run. Go Dad!!! Cole and I met up with a good friend Alison and Kate for a morning at the Corrales Pumpkin Patch and then lunch. Cole enjoyed walking through the corn field maze but would get upset if we got to close to the corn and it brushed his face. He also was more interested in the dirt piles than the pumpkins but loved the tractor ride. He sat in silence with big eyes as drove around the corn fields. We also got to see pigs, ponies, llamas, and a couple calves. (Thanks Alison for an awesome day!!!)
Saturday afternoon we met up with Dad and headed to the hotel for a nap and pool time. The pool ended up being a flop as it was outdoor and not heated. So cold!! We packed our bags and were off to the Twilight Twinkle Glow at the balloon fiesta. Unfortunately, the wind was too strong and the balloons were unable to be up. Cole didn't mind as he got to ride on a school bus twice! (We rode the bus from the hotel to the fiesta to avoid driving and parking.) He was memorized. He had to look over the seat in front of us our out the window at all times.

Sunday started very early for us. The mass ascension usually takes place at 7am so we got up at 5:15, got dressed and headed out again for the day. Again, Cole was completely in love with the bus ride. This time we got to sit in the front so he was able to look out the front window! (Why didn't I take pictures of this?) We started the fiesta with hot chocolate and breakfast burritos and then headed out to the field to watch the balloons fill up and take off. We were nervous that Cole as going to be scared because of the size of the balloons and the sound of the flames - but, he really enjoyed he. He studied every thing, pointed to them as they took off and watched in awe like the rest of us.

Catching Dust

This afternoon Cole, Annie and I were hanging out in my bedroom. I stepped out for a few moments and when I returned Cole was sitting on the little patch of sunlight on the floor. He was bouncing up and down on his knees grasping into the air. It only took me a few seconds to figure out that he was trying to catch the dust particles floating around in the air. Of course I didn't have the camera close by so this was the only picture I was able to get - it almost looks like he realized he was defeated. (Mom too since I did just dust and vacuum yesterday.)

Cole's Latest and Greatest:

• Cole's current diet consits of bananas, eggs (hard-boiled), bread, cheese, milk, dirt, sticks and sand. The rest usually comes out with the tongue as fast as it goes in. Occasionally we can sneak in yogurt, melon or applesauce. And, he finally has shown a fondness for sweets! 
• 110% Boy - Cole is wild. He has really grown a little wild side. He wrestles his stuffed animals, pounces on them, rolls on them and throws himself at pillows and/or blankets on the floor. He stands at the fridge and tosses all the fridge phonics magnets onto the floor and is on to the next activity.
• 5th tooth is on its way.
• Learned how to give "High-Five" and likes to give equal turns to mom and dad. If mom or dad is too slow in responding he will hit the back of his own head with his hand.
• Shares bites of food with everyone including Annie.
• Still won't walk independently for very many steps. He does however, insist on holding our hand to get from point A to point B. He gets very upset if he is left behind to crawl. We've tried tricking him into walking but he will just stand, think for a few seconds and decides to crawl - he's smart, we have lots of tile!

 Last night Cole showed us just how fearless he can be. He climbed onto his little rocking chair in his room (the chair was actually mom's when she was a little girl), stood up and started shaking the curtains. It was a good thing Dad was close by!

Cole's Buddy - Annie...

Annie has always been very protective of Cole from day one; mommy number two. She needs to know where he is and what he is doing at all times. We need to be very careful to shut his bedroom door tightly or she will go in and out to check on him - sticking her nose through the slats on the crib. Each morning Annie can be found laying patiently outside Cole's bedroom. You know exactly when Cole is awake by how hard her tail is hitting the door as she wags it with excitement. Cole greets her with a big smile and laugh and Annie is off to get a toy or treat to show off. Annie also doesn't let us go anywhere without her. She is out the door as soon as it opens if we're not careful waiting to get in the car. Before Cole was born, Annie used to watch us out the front window when we left - she doesn't do that too often anymore; especially when she isn't included in the trip. (Sad...)

Over the last few weeks, Cole has really been interacting with Annie. She makes him laugh so hard! He puts food in her water dish and laughs while she fishes it out. He laughs even harder when she makes her crazy laps around the backyard or when she gets one of her stuffed animals out to play. I have been trying to get a video of the two of them for weeks and the timing just isn't right -Annie loves Cole and Cole loves Annie...

Yesterday I took Cole to the doctor because he had been batting his ear and patting the side of his head. He has had 4 ear infections since the end of May and I wanted to keep on top of things. The doctor looked in both ears and said everything looked fine; no infection or fluid. I took him back to the Montessori and his teachers asked me how everything went. I said his ears were fine but that I was still befuddled as to why he has been patting the side of his head. They both started chuckling and said they should have mentioned to me earlier when they sing "No More Monkeys Jumping On the Bed, One Fell Off and Bumped His Head" they pat the side of their head. Now we know to ask the teachers first if he is doing anything different before taking him to the doctor. :)

Camping at Pagosa Springs

This weekend we decided to take Cole and Annie camping in Pagosa Springs, CO. Pagosa Springs is only 2 ½ hours away from home and reminds us both of Montana. So, we packed the car Friday night and headed out Saturday morning.

We arrived to Williams Creek Campground at lunch time and had just enough time to set up camp before the rain started threatening us. It was a quiet weekend for campers and so we were able to find a spot right along the river which was awesome for Annie.  Cole (with a stick in one hand at all times) had a blast playing in the dirt with his John Deere tractors.

Cole did great! He took naps in the tent at naptime and went to bed at his regular bedtime with little to no fuss. He probably would have fussed alot more if he would have know mommy and daddy were eating smores just outside. He fussed a few times in the middle of the night but who doesn’t when they are sleeping on the ground! He didn’t seem to mind that the ground was wet along with his knees and hands. He was so dirty!