Can summer really be over already? Well, if you live in the PNW it never really started. But summer ending does lead to one of the most beautiful times of year up here...Fall. In what seemed to be one day the trees turned into electric colors. Mike has had to start raking, the rain has started pouring and it is finally time to pick out pumpkins!
In what is maybe becoming a tradition Rooney and I went with the
MOMS Club to a local pumpkin patch. Rooney really seemed to enjoy running around through the pumpkins but the tractor hay ride was cause for some concern. We didn't buy any pumpkins this day but I was planning.
Yesterday, in preparation for my birthday weekend Mike took the day off of work and Rooney, he and I went back to the
pumpkin patch. This time we went with a mission. Well two really. Mission 1: Family time. Mission 2: Get some pumpkins! Both were successful. After picking out the most perfect pumpkins (one for each of us plus Courage and Rocco) we decided to brave the corn maze.
Last year when we went, my friend Sherry and I, didn't bother trying to use the map and we just winged it. I am proud to say that we used our survival instincts and obviously made it out of the maze alive but with Rooney getting older (and crankier) it was good to have Mike there to handle the navigation. We took Rooney through the maze on this little cart (only had one spill over; next year I bring the wagon) and he really seemed to enjoy it despite the corn stalks slapping him in the face.
By the time we left we could
feel it was time to leave. Once we got Rooney into the car the waterworks started and he almost cried the whole way home. I don't know if he was just sad to leave or really tired but it was really cute and pathetic either way and I decided to take a
picture.
At Rooney's last MD appointment it was suggested that we start giving him a multivitamin since he is such a picky eater. I was not really surprised that they suggested this but I have to admit, that the prospect of trying to get Rooney to eat something that he has to eat, stressed me out a little bit. We bought some gummi bear multivitamins and tried to get him interested in them. I did the #1 biggest mistake by telling him they were candy! Thank goodness he doesn't have any idea what candy is. Eventually after a few days we got him to eat the multivitamins and he really seems to like them. Who doesn't love biting the head off of a gummi bear? I am very pleased that he is willing to eat them but I am sure that candy comment is still going to come back one day to bite me on the butt. Rooney has been very good about eating them right away but this morning he was definitely testing me. He had one tucked in his cheek like he was on the chaw and the other one (he has to eat 2) he was just fascinated with. He laid on the couch with it, played with it with his toys and toes, and even had him bouncing down the couch. At first I was getting frustrated because I really wanted him to just put it in his mouth but after playing with it on the floor, the couch and rubbing it across the bottoms of his feet it was really covered in dog hair. He offered it to me but I too had to pass.
Speaking of playing around...before Rooney's nightly bath Mike generally plays with Roonster. I think Mike is partially feeling sad because Rooney will at times be very clingy to me and this playtime at night makes Dad the hero. They have so much fun and it's so great to hear Rooney's belly laugh. It's so infectious- just like his smile. He even tries to get the dogs in on his fun and loves to have Courage chase him through the kitchen. He keeps trying to entice Courage by getting in front of him and then starts running. He looks behind him to see if Courage is following. If not, he'll come back, say "Go" and then will try running again. It is so sweet. He has also tried this maneuver with ol' Mom and Dad too! Let me tell you there is no telling this kid you are tired or that he has worn you out. He just keeps saying "Go".
