Fall Bucket List

We partied hard all summer so we're keeping our Fall Bucket List fairly simple. I also feel like fall is a fast season around here (after our nearly non-existent spring) and the leaves are already changing.

A visit to a pumpkin patch, apple picking, our traditional fall family photos, some pumpkin baking, maybe we'll catch the peak leaves this year, there are three movies coming out in November that we'd love to see in the theater, and then the highlight will be trick-or-treating on Governors Island (hopefully weather cooperative). Family themed costume to be anticipated!!

Happy Fall kick-off!!

Vintage Storybook Land

Mandy told me that my black and white photo posts are boring...party pooper!

So I used a vintage filter on my phone to make these Storybook Land photos look like they are from the 1960s which is fitting since the entire park has a very nostalgic vibe.

Enjoy! (or be bored)

Weekending it

Happy first day of fall!!!

For all you autumn lovers wrapping up in thick sweaters, drinking hot beverages, and making soup...it's 86 degrees outside!!!! So hand the season back to us summer lovers! We've still got some scorchers ahead!

This weekend we decided to take advantage of the heat and head back to Storybook Land for a final summer treat. We had so much fun back in July, we thought who could pass-up a free weekend with glorious weather.

Not us!

It was bliss. I can't even really explain why this place is so cute except that it's just charming and Kip is the perfect age for it. It's not crowded, we never waited in line for more than 5 minutes, it's shady and enclosed and we felt comfortable letting Kip roam without fear of him peeling off into the street. It's not overstimulating and it's not a magnet attraction. It feels like a well kept secret and having it 2 hours outside of the city certainly helps.

We were hoping Kip would nap in the car on the way there but he didn't so we braced ourselves for some meltdowns. He had a few moments but was mostly super happy. We did all the rides we did the first time and found some others we had missed in July.

The entire place was decorated for fall and each kid got to pick a pumpkin and decorate it (included with admission). We got there around 11:30 and stayed until 3:30 and Dan, Mandy, and I all felt like it was a perfect toast to summer.

Kip zonked-out as soon as we got in the car and napped for a solid hour on the drive back. Since it was a late nap we swung-by Chick-fil-a and ate dinner at Mandy's apartment, gave Kip a bath there, changed him into pajamas and when we made it back to Brooklyn we just had to put Kip right to bed.

I personally can't wait to go back next summer.

On Sunday we headed to church. It was Kip's second week at Sunday School and I stayed with him the whole time. It's rough. He's not used to a classroom setting and so he wants nothing to do with singing, or story time, or a craft. He'll focus for snack, but otherwise he is all over the place. Thankfully, his behavior is on-par with all the other 2-year olds so we'll just wait for him to adjust to the novelty. I did his craft for him.

It was also the last weekend for some friends in the church leadership and Kip's only little girl pal. They are two-weeks apart in age and I'm sad they won't get to grow-up together. But, this is New York and by nature it is perpetually transient. Dan and I have gotten used to friends leaving and while it makes investing in deep relationships difficult, we both understand that's the way it is.

After church Kip napped in the car and then we headed to a friend's house to obsess over their matchbox car collection for two hours.

It was a jam-packed weekend!

Summer Bucket List Recap

I think we really knocked this summer out of the park. The weather was wonderful practically every single weekend and we truly made the most out of every moment. I think 2019 was my favorite summer of my adult life so far! Kip was a great age for diving into adventure. I'm not sure this one can be topped, it was pure bliss.

We checked every single thing off the list!

Picnics

We had multiple picnics during several of our other adventures.

Central Park

Going to CP was the first thing we did on our list. It wasn't even really summer yet! And we hit-up the zoo as well.

Splash Pads

I think we can say that Kip went to at least one splash pad every week this summer. It's just easy when they are at nearly every single park.

Governors Island

We made it out to Governors Island twice this summer and we loved it both times. We're hoping to get out there again this fall before the season ends.

NJ Pool

We made it to the pool twice this summer too!! Two scorching hot days. Thanks to Mandy for a membership!!

Beach Day

We went to Staten Island beach again this summer but I think we can count our little stop at the beach in the Hamptons as well.

Hot Dogs at Coney Island

Gosh this feels so long ago already! We got hot dogs on the boardwalk over Father's Day and Kip got to ride his first amusement park ride.

Bike Rides

Dan gets credit for the bike rides this summer. We went on a surry bike at Governors and bikes the second time we went as well. But Dan actually got his bike out of storage and took Kip a couple of times during the week. We also went as a family this past weekend so we definitely checked that off.

Toy Story 4

We saw Toy Story back in July and it was Kip first time in a theater.

Drive to the Hamptons

We squeezed this one in last minute but we're glad we made the trip.

Anniversary Trip

Dan and I loved our time in Cape May and I cannot wait to go back. It's a super summer happy place for sure.

Kansas and Colorado Vacation

I can't believe on top of everything else we also got to visit both of our families this summer as well!
Lots of memories there.

Park Hop

Our park hop day was a big hit with Kip. We made it to four different parks in one afternoon. We may even try it again this fall. 

Storybook Land

Dan, Mandy, and I all talked about our favorite thing from this summer and we all agreed that Storybook Land was the best. It was a spontaneous trip and a truly magical memory.

All this plus so much more!!

We celebrated birthdays, saw some Broadway shows, ate lots of ice cream, went on walks, Mandy and I enjoyed my summer Fridays from work, we saw family, had visitors, Dan and I went on city dates, we hung out with friends, and lived at the parks. We didn't tire and we didn't stop!! I'm close to conceding to fall but only because we really had the best summer. Hopefully we can carry some adventures into the next season and eagerly anticipate the return of my favorite time of year.