Fall is Here!

Fall is here and we are happy at the Brown household. I love the crisp cool weather and changing leaves and Matt is enjoying hunting season (which by the way has already started 1 month ago). We have been busy the last few weekends so I will try and update you the best I can.


Grandma and Grandpa Brown came over and played dress up with Lyla before bedtime. She already loves dress up at 18 months old!

Black eye, cute pigtails and trying to hide from momma!

Weekend Hike

A few weekends ago during the big flooding in Portage, we decided to take a drive around to see the Wisconsin River and go take a hike at Devil's Lake. This was 2 weekends before our big Devil's Lake weekend so we had to take a quick peek of the changing leaves and hiking conditions!

Packer Time!

My brother came home for a week (for Devil's Lake weekend of course) and to visit family and friends. Brett and my dad went to the Packer Game and my mom, Lyla, Colin (our nephew) and Matt stayed back to cheer for the Packers.

Lyla in her cheerleading outfit....luckily the Packers won this time or I would have had to headline this picture as "The Packers Loss and I'm Upset"!

Lyla and Colin playing in their Packer gear. Last time Lyla saw Colin she didn't want to play with him but this trip, they were both interested in each other and played well with the animal farm/tractor.

Go Pack Go!

Devil's Lake Weekend

We look forward to Devil's Lake weekend all year long! We had great weather, company and of course great food! The goal of the weekend is typically to hike, eat, rest a little, hike again, eat again, and so on (I think you get the point). I was able to climb the rocks this year which I haven't been able to do the last couple years. We also keep adding more kids to the group every year so it's fun for our group of 40+ family and friends continuing to grow. We are already adding 2 more next year with Cullen Heaton (just born Oct 12th) and my cousin Jody who is due in Feb.

Lyla wanting to climb the rocks already

Aunt Megan, Colin, Uncle Brett and Lyla

Family picture

One of our big hikes...as you can see the leaves were beautiful! Lyla and Anne (my cousin Jody's daugther) is 3 months younger than Lyla and they are starting to become buddies.

Lyla and Anne holding hands!

Sleepy hiker

" The Men" with the kids! Jason, Bryce, Anne, Jeff, Ruth, Jon, Matt and Lyla

Group of hikers! Jaime, Bryce, Jason, Jody, Ruth, Jon, Lyla, Jill, Matt, Anne and Jeff

Girl's Weekend in La Crosse

This weekend, momma got to get away with a few of my good friends from La Crosse for a weekend of fun. We had a great time seeing the changes of UW LaX, shopping and had great food. It's crazy to have a quiet meal with friends and not having to feed/take care of a busy toddler! Thank you Matt for allowing me to get away for a night!

me, Mickey, Dana and Mandy

Have a great week!

To The Apple Orchard We Go

Lyla and I went for a trip with Grandma and Grandpa Knox to Edwards Apple Orchard this weekend. My brother and I would go all the time when we were younger and I decided Lyla might like it this year. Plus I love their apple cider donuts!

Lyla drove a couple tractors, went to the petting zoo where the calf was giving her kisses, played on the train and of course ate apples! She wasn't a fan of the apple cedar donuts at first but now she loves them! I figured it wouldn't take her long.


Driving my tractor!
Playing on the train
Crawling through the train

Picking out pumpkins in Grandma Knox's garden

Pretty pumpkin

Here we are!

We have a few things to report since I slacked on posting for a while.

Vacation:
We rented a cabin in Northern Wisconsin for a week the end of August. We wanted to get away, not travel too far and not worry about camping! We have only gone on one camping trip this summer but it was a chore! Trying to baby proof a campsite is impossible.

We had a great time sightseeing around the area, going to apple orchards, wine tasting, day trip to Duluth, MN, went to one of the Apostle Islands (Madeline), swimming, boating and etc. It is just over a 5 hour trip to Cable, WI and we stopped every 1 1/2 hours for Lyla to get out and run around. We were worried that she wouldn't handle being in the car for that long but she did great! Most of the trip I sat in back to read books and play to keep her occupied. That does make a world of a difference.

Get me out of this car seat! Too much driving!

Family picture at a waterfall

View from our cabin

Ready to go swimming!
Playing in Lake Superior
Eating a pickle at lunch...nice face!

Wandering around the ferry.

Riding the ferry to the Apostle Islands

We unfortunately had to come back in the middle of our vacation for a funeral for Great Grandma Brown. She was well known in the community, was a great person and is going to be heavily missed.

Back home:
I thought Lyla looked so cute in these Pj's. Here she is dancing to the music on the TV.

Close up!

Looking like a big girl in my Pj's

Wedding:

We went a family friend's (Auntie Kristi's sister) wedding on Friday. The wedding was outside in the Rotary Gardens in Janesville. They couldn't of had a more beautiful day.

Walking with Daddy in my fun sunglasses
Family picture

Lyla loved dancing at the reception. I couldn't get her off the dance floor! When we came back to the table for a break, she cried and pulled me back to dance!

Picture with Auntie Kristi and momma

Playing with Grandma Knox

Picture without Lyla? Doesn't happen often!

Have a great week!

Hot summer days

We continue to have a busy summer. With it being so warm and humid lately, we have been staying inside more than we like.

Last weekend we went down to IL for the County Fair. Lyla loved seeing all the farm animals along with people watching. I forgot my camera both days so I can't share any pictures! Auntie Kristi is not happy that there are no pictures of Lyla and the goats!

This weekend I started to get packed for our vacation up north in a week! We rented a cabin for a week and plan on relaxing, boating, fishing, shopping and relaxing once again! I think Matt and I both need a break from work!


Pics of Lyla:




Everytime I tried to take her picture she smiled big and closed her eyes!

Loving Ella

Lyla was playing with all of her toys one morning. She decided that all of them needed to be in a big pile in the living room and she kept trying to stack everything on top of each other!

Smiling with momma

16 months old today!

Lyla is 16 months old today! I thought this was a classic picture of her to celebrate! She loves to show us her belly button and she posed nicely for me.

Updates:
It's been a couple weeks since my last post and need to update you on Lyla's 15 month appointment. She is 31 inches tall (60%) and 21 pounds 6 oz big (40%). She is still right on track so that's great!

Goddaughter's baptism:

Matt, Lyla and I went up to the Green Bay area for our goddaughter Allison's baptism. My friend Stacey came up from Florida to have her triplets confirmed. Here are her triplets (Allison, Tanner, Jasmine) along with Mason and Father John.

Allison, me, Matt and Lyla at the party afterwards!

Lyla's best buddy Natalie was along as well. Lyla and Natalie play during the week at our sitters and she was at the baptism too (her parents are godparents to Tanner). Of course I can't get any pictures of children looking at the camera!

Trip to IL:
Last weekend we made a trip back to IL to see my family. We finally got to meet our nephew Colin for the first time too!

My cousin's threw a party for my aunt and uncle's 60th birthday and my mom and I threw an Open House for Brett, Megan and Colin the following day. We got to see a lot family and friends!

Here is Lyla and Anne (my cousin Jody's daughter). They are only 3 months apart but this is as close as we could get them for a picture on the couch.
Lyla and Colin.

Lyla and Keira (my cousin Nick's daughter) played at the open house.

Great Uncle Jon with Lyla and Anne. Now they are warming up to each other.

More pictures of Lyla:

Showing off my teeth. I now have 7 and the 8th one is coming in shortly!

Smiling pretty

Playing dress up with my sunglasses and backpack

That's it from us! Enjoy your weekend.