It really is...

The most...wonderful time...of the year...

Tryptophan Delight

Who doesn't love a long weekend filled with food, drink, friends and family?!?! We started in Toledo, back to Columbus, off to Lancaster, back to Columbus, off to Somerset, and back to Columbus. Phew!

Everyone starts the weekend with a little shirtless billiards, right?

The OFFICIAL start to the holiday, the Macy's Day Parade!!!

Feasting with four generations of Zielinskis...Great Grandpa Z reminded us that Emerson is his only namesake! So happens, that Emerson is the only male Zielinski grandchild to carry on the name. No pressure!

Em LOVED playing "got 'yer nose" with his Great Grandpa Z

Putting Dzia Dzia to work

Full bellies...good times with the choo choo...

  

And on Sunday, we headed to Somerset for Berlynn's baptism...



And despite appearances, our little monkey was very well behaved in church.

Quite a weekend. I wish we could say we're back to routine, but Emerson has been sick since Sunday afternoon.



Thirty Schmirty

Some people celebrate birth days. In my family, we celebrate birth months. Our cause is helped by the fact that Jessica and I were born two years and three days apart. And my best friend, Terra, has a birthday nine days before mine. For these Scorpio sisters...November is kind of a big deal.

Celebrating in Lancaster with THE hat.

Sisters and a Mia.

We must love each other...we even share a cake!



Celebrating Terra's birthday! Andrew surprised her with four tickets to Chelsea Handler. Good thing Jason and I were there to use the other two ;)



Jess and Jason rented Callahan's Pub for the OSU vs. Iowa game to celebrate my thirtieth. Gotta love those Barkers. And a victory always makes for a good party!

Siblings that drink together...

Such a fun place!

The original Scorpio sisters.

Emerson enjoyed all the birthday celebrations too...

He loves the singing...and the icing.

And apparently, so does Jason. He's still plotting just how and when he'll get Andrew back for this one.

The last of the leaves...?

Raking, raking and more raking! We have beautiful trees in our yard, with beautiful leaves. Now, if they could just get it together and fall all at the same time, we'd be in good shape! With the timing of their "fall" we've been raking almost every weekend. Emerson loves to help with the raking. He always takes the best rake. And, of course, he loves to jump in the leaves. We've realized that when raking with a toddler, we have to rake faster than he can jump, or we'd be out there all day!



Sunday Mornings for Two-Year Olds

"Early dawning, Sunday morning...It's all the streets you crossed, not so long ago..." (The Velvet Underground)

I remember Sunday mornings growing up so well. It's all about a yummy breakfast, relaxing and reading the paper, and playing all sorts of games.

If these pictures don't epitomize what a two-year old boy should be doing on a Sunday morning, I don't know what does.

Pumpkins. Pumpkins. And more pumpkins.

This is our favorite time of year! Jason and I love the fall. Football, the cooler weather, the beautiful trees, pumpkins...everything about it!

When Emerson was just 2 months old, we took him to the Circleville Pumpkin Show. We try to get there every year. We go for the food, the sights, the parades, the pumpkins! The drive that's normally about 40 minutes from our house took more than three hours this year. I know, insane. Luckily, Emerson's Mimmy and Dzia Dzia were with us and kept him entertained during the drive. We had such a great time once we got there, though! Steak on a stick. Cheese on a stick. Lemon shake-ups, elephant ears, fries, hot dogs, pumpkin funnel cake. Need I say more? Emerson sat through the parade and waved at every single float, clown, and princess. Who knew there were so many "princesses" and festivals in the area! There must have been two dozen parade entries with princess-of-whatever. Everything from sweet-corn-festival queens to tobacco-festival-princesses. Emerson waved at every one! We left satisfied, tired and with very full stomachs!

Monopolizing on a pumpkin-filled weekend, we headed to Jacquemin Farms to pick our pumpkins, another annual fall tradition for us. Emerson had a ball! He ran through the field, and found some great pumpkins to take home. He also really enjoyed the "jump-jumps" and mazes. Jason and I really enjoyed the apple cider slushies and pumpkin- and apple-flavored donuts! And it was great to have Ted and Mary with us! Such fun memories for Emerson!

We love the fall, but it sure can be hard on our waistlines.

Raking with Dad on Saturday...soooo much help!



Mimmy and Dzia Dzia came into town for a night!

On our way to the Circleville Pumpkin Show! Had a great time...but could have done without the 2+ hour traffic jam the last 10 miles!

There's a lot to look at in this picture. I don't think I can caption it appropriately.

Emerson LOVED the parade! And had a great view!



Emerson's working hard selecting his pumpkins!



The family. Oh, that "cheese!" face. What do with it???

I mean seriously...that face!!!

Cheeburger. Cheeburger.

Catching up a bit, and figured I'd better get my Halloween post in before the next holiday rolled around! We've had a whirlwind couple months! Halloween was great! Emerson is really starting to get the concept of these holidays. It helps when they revolve around candy.

Waiting, patiently (?), for me to figure out the new camera.

"Eeeeee-eeewwww."

Crying, hard, because he couldn't have a knife.

Result! (Still working on figuring out the camera.)



Berlynn is a skeleton, and Emerson is a Lineberger cheeseburger.



Before we headed out! Berlynn is a diva. Two costumes! She went from being a skeleton, to being a bear cub.

This cheeseburger is done. Well-done. We made it to about 8 houses. Not bad! Emerson wanted to "oh-pan" each treat before we got off the porches.

The fun doesn't stop! Emerson had a Halloween party at school, and got a picture with his two best buddies, Vibha and Ryan.

Go Inkees!

This child of mine hasn't fallen far from the tree. We all know what a huge Yankees' fan Jason is. He watches every game like it's his first. The best day of his life was when we went to the old Yankee Stadium. (He'd say it was our wedding day, or when Emerson was born...but we all know the truth.) He has 42 NYY hats that, to me, are identical. He loves his Buckeyes, but I don't think they come close to his love for his Yankees.

Emerson has picked up on this not so subtle fanhood of the New York Yankees. He has a couple Yankees shirts (I buy sizes up when they're on sale) that he insists on wearing all the time. He has a Yankees baseball cap that his Uncle Gary came across before he could even crawl, that he insists on wearing regularly. We often can't get out the door until he has this hat on.

In his batting helmet, a first birthday gift.

Hanging with cousin Kendall on July 4, wearing his favorite hat.

Heading to school in the shirt he wore to bed the night before. Yep, I choose my battles.

Had to wear the big shirt since the other was dirty. Paired with his favorite pajamas that he refers to as his "Boopba hats" (translation ~ football hats)

So, with the cold weather upon us, we realized we needed to get Emerson a cold-weather Yankees hat if he's going to stay remotely healthy this season. I mean...if you can't beat 'em...GO YANKEES!