.....in between nursery school three afternoons per week, renovations to the apartment, refinancing paperwork that has me married to the fax machine and redesigning our new closet/storage space last week, I got a call from my neighbor who asked, Are you free ALL day tomorrow?....because if you are, let's drive to New Jersey and visit the corn maze and pumpkin patch....sold.....anything to take a lazy day with my girls and our good friends and have some festive bliss to kick off our fall season.....still a bit humid and hot here in the northeast, but fall officially has started....which means it's time to get in the pumpkin latte, honeysuckle, apple picking and warm colors kind of mood....
....and we are ready.....
....the corn maze was the first thing we chartered towards....after a long drive in the car, we were ready to let the littles run free.....
.....and as the toddlers ran wildly, it dawned on me that it could be a very bad thing to lose your child in a corn maze.....
....the stalks are tall and the babes are miniature compared to them....
.....the corn fields run forever....
.....so I picked up one free spirit so we only had to chase after two.....
....and Callie does not like being stifled from being with her sister and her dearest, William.....
.....and to say I got my cardio in during our corn maze adventure is an understatement....ever tried to chase two toddlers sprinting through a bumpy and winding corn field pushing a double stroller and carrying a 27 pound little on your hip?....it's quite the workout.....
....when we finally did make our way out of the maze, Callie insisted on a snack.....my girl must have worked up quite the appetite riding the adventure on my hip.....
.....it took all of my will power not to scarf that banana down and hand her some week old graham crackers at the bottom of the stroller......
.....but it was a breath taking adventure and my first corn maze experience....one that I will certainly do again.....possibly when the kids are a bit older and we can all run and chase each other through the maze at dusk on a breezy, brisk day.....
....but the children's corn maze was well equipped with a look out tower which gave us an opportunity to breathe, note our achievement and document the entire experience.....
.....emerging from the maze, there is nothing sweeter to the eye than spotting a tractor with a hayride for some tired Mommas who needed a moment to recharge the batteries.....
.....another first for the toddlers.....and they absolutely loved it....
.....they sat patiently, appreciating the beauty.....even at this young age, they know when they are out of their beloved city.....they notice the green grass, the colors of fall, the smells of the earth.....
.....and they relish in the joy and peacefulness of it....
.....and I relish in watching them inhale their special moments....because they ponder, adore, enjoy and delight in life fully.....and I love that about both of my girls....
.....they are always up for an adventure.....
.....they cherish their friendships....
.....and as Mommas, we simply try to document this wonderful time in our lives.....
.....we try to give our children fabulous experiences that will stimulate them, excite them, teach them so many of the life lessons that there are to learn....we try to surround them with beauty in the world.....we spend time with compassionate and warm people that will help develop their innate ability to do one of the most important things that will matter in their lives....
.....the ability to build relationships with other people....
....and whether that be family, friends, coworkers, or schoolmates....life is more precious and meaningful if you have others to spend it with..... people that can share in your zeal and zest for life.....
.....and I will keep documenting away at our little blessed life.....because it excites me to know that my children can look back at these times....these remarkable times....and see that they, just like their Momma, just like their best friends.....all savor the grandness of each moment....
....and capture them in their own, unique way....
.....and there are many more of these fabulous fall days ahead of us.....
....the season has just begun....
Photography by Sara Blackburn
All images are property of Sara Blackburn.