A Letter to my Precious Girl

My darling Evelyn-

Last month you officially made the transition from baby to little girl.  I can't believe how fast the last two years have gone.  I'll never forget the day you were born.  When you were laid on my chest for the first time and looked at me with those beautiful blue eyes of yours, I felt a peace that I've never felt before.  Holding you and seeing that you were healthy and perfect made my heart swell.  You made our family complete.  I won't forget any of those first moments- the sound of your cries, the softness of your little head, the way you felt curled up to me and my love for you that filled every inch of that hospital room and beyond.  I couldn't take my eyes off of you.

Over the last two years, you have kept us on our toes.  You have shown us from day one that you are an independent, stubborn, strong and intelligent little girl and I love that about you.  You are tough as nails, but still so sweet and loving.  I can rest easy at night knowing you will always march through life confidently with your head held high.  Don't ever lose that spirit.  Your sweet, bold laugh brings a smile to my face every time I hear it.  Your dad and I couldn't have asked for a better daughter and you have been the perfect sister and best friend to Max.  You have brought a joy to our lives that I can't express in words. 

I will devote the rest of my life to being the mom you deserve.  I will love and support you in all you do.  I am your biggest fan will always be in your corner.  I look forward to seeing what you accomplish in life and sharing all the moments, both good and bad, with you.  There will be laughter and tears and I'll make sure my hand will be there to hold when you need it for a long as I live. 

I love you little girl.  With all my heart and soul.  Thank you for lighting up my life.

Love,
Mom

The most amazing girl I've ever met

We Love Pumpkin Patches!

We REALLY love pumpkin patches.  Fortunately there is no shortage of pumpkin patches around these parts, so we have plenty of opportunities to partake in some fall fun.  The first one we went to this year was with Max's playgroup friends at Bauman Farms.  Sadly, it was the first rainy day of an otherwise perfect fall season,  so the kids spent most of the time inside playing on hay bales.  But they didn't know any better and had a blast anyway.  I also have to brag for a moment once again about my brave little princess.  There was a slide (I'm cursing myself for not taking a picture of it) that was an extremely long tube propped up against a tall pile of hay bales.  My slide-loving boy just had to go down it even though the thought made me nervous.  I only saw big kids going on it and one small kid (but still bigger than Max) going down with his dad.  But I let him go anyway.  It was safe and there wasn't anywhere he could have fallen off.  But once Evelyn saw her big brother heading up the LONG flight of stairs to the top, she of course wanted to go to.  Eventually I let her go after the parent of the small kid offered to follow her up the stairs to make sure she didn't fall backward.  I remember thinking I was crazy to say yes, but figured if she chickened out I could just run up and grab her.  But she did it!  I could hear her squealing with joy the whole way down and she immediately wanted to go again.  That girl has no fear.  But back to the rest of the day...

Not too into getting their picture taken

Another small slide

So excited!

He seemed determined to bury his sister in hay

Mini maze!

Fun, fun, fun

Not too excited about getting a picture with mom

I love these little darlings

Buds!

Matt signed up for the Zombie Apocalypse run this year that was at a pumpkin patch in the middle of nowhere.  Matt got chased by zombies for 5K while the kids and I played.  He finished quickly without getting both of his flags stolen by zombies and joined us.  There were fun games, a petting zoo, good food and a live band.  Of course we had a blast!

Off go the "survivors".  They got a 2 minute head start before the zombies were released

Watching the action

I'm not sure which was scarier- the zombies or Evelyn's hairdo

"This train is small like me!"

He made it!

Old tractor.  Max loved it!

A couple of zombies

Apple fries.  Need I say more?

Zombie bride

He wanted to bring it home

Headed to the top of the slide

"Again!"

Kids got to go inside the this and play with the balloons that were flying around

Our last pumpkin patch visit was at the Wooden Shoe tulip farm.  We got to go through a corn maze, shoot arrows, watch pumpkins shoot out of a cannon, ride a train, and go on a hayride. 

The pipe slide.  Not comfortable at all.

Tractor swing!

Weeeeee!

Giant spider web!

Pensive

Evelyn and Grammy

Hi Grammy!

Evelyn helping daddy

The pouty princess of the pumpkin patch

Pumpkin cannon!

Matt trying out the lasso

As I've mentioned before, I LOVE the fall.  October is always such a blast!  I love that there is so much to do with the kids and that we get to create so many fun memories.  I hope the kids continue to have as much fun as they've had the last couple of years and that they never outgrow going to pumpkin patches!

The Marathoning Kocubinskis

It was only about 5 or 6 years ago that Matt would say "There is no reason to run unless someone is chasing you."  Boy have times changed.  He's a very active guy and needs to do something physical to burn off energy several days a week, but he has never been a fan of the gym.  Before having kids, he would go hiking.  He still does sometimes (though not as often as he'd like), but hiking takes a pretty good chunk out the day and he didn't want to spend that much time away from us (awww), so he picked up running because it was a good cardio workout that he could do anytime, anywhere for any amount of time.  And now here it is, fall of 2012 and he recently ran his 3rd marathon.  He got to run this year with his sister Julia, who now has 2 marathons under her belt.  They both finished in their best times yet and felt pretty good when they were finished.   Sue also came to town to hang out with us and watch her two very athletic children run 26.2 miles. 

The kids showing some love

Matt at about the halfway point

I still can't believe she was smiling after 11+ miles.

Finished!

Ready to go out for a celebratory dinner

Sue the proud mom

While Sue and Julia were here, we also took advantage of one of the beautiful fall days to take the kids to fly a kite at a park near our house.  The kids had fun in spite of the fact that we weren't all that successful at kite flying.

We had a great time and I was so happy to see Matt and Julia do so well at something they had trained for so long.  Maybe next year we'll be able to see them complete the NY Marthon.  Stay tuned.