Maryland Renaissance Festival

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is the largest in the country and not too far from where we live. We enjoyed it a couple of years ago with the Oberts and decided to go back again this year with Reagan. The weather was beautiful and we had a great day!

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Our little princess

Aunt Kim, Uncle Nathan, Princess Reagan, & Daddy
Princess Reagan, Daddy, and Mommy
Reagan liked her hat and probably would have worn it a lot longer had it fit well enough not to fall off. She wore it more than we anticipated, however, and absolutely loved the wand from Aunt Kim, until we lost it... :(
Upon Uncle Nathan's suggestion Daddy took Reagan down the big slide. She giggled the whole way and when she got off she kept saying "more, more, more." lol :)
A closer look at that huge smile :) Reagan also enjoyed the smaller slides in the kids area - she has absolutely no fear and practically threw herself down the slide each time. What a little goof ball! lol :)
Playing on the pirate ship
After lunch Daddy and Reagan found wood carvings of a mommy and baby bear. Reagan loved the baby bear and gave it lots of hugs! :)

Watching a show
Reagan discovered strollers are good for pushing as well as riding yesterday
Lounging in the stroller watching the knights joust

http://www.rennfest.com/

Prayers for Strangers

I don't know how many of you monitor other people's blogs but I follow a few of families who are struggling with serious diseases. I don't know these families I have just found them and others through links of family and friends blogs. Many of the blogs are so inspirational. I can't imagine how the families stay so strong in their faith or how they are able to openly share their feelings with strangers. These are two families which in particular seem to need some additional prayers at the moment for the situations they are going through. If you have time, you might want to take a few minutes to check them out. If nothing else, these sites always help me gain perspective on whatever issues I may be dealing with and feel so thankful to have a healthy and happy family. My thoughts and prayers are definately with the Lawrensons and Zauggs right now and I pray and hope a miracle presents itself for both of these families.
http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/
http://www.whynotaidan.com/

Package from Grandma Karen & Grandpa Jim

Grandma Karen and Grandpa Jim sent Reagan a Halloween package with a variety of gifts this week. We throughly enjoyed opening and inspecting all the gifts including those pictured below. Thanks so much for everything!

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Packing peanuts are extremely exciting!!!

Adoring a new Elmo
A cool new Thomas the Tank Engine Book!
Reading to Elmo
Back to the packing peanuts
Even packing peanuts need some love! lol :)
Thank you for the flashing pumpkin for trick-or-treating and the camera too!
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Thank you also to Grandma Karen for the cute outfit Reagan has on! :)

Cox Farms

We took advantage of the gorgeous weather this weekend and visited Cox Farms in Centreville, Virginia to do some fun fall activities including picking out pumpkins. We had a great time with Miss Reagan and can't wait for Miss Kennedy to join us next year!

Reagan at Cox Farms in September 2007 - 5 months old

Pumpkins

Reagan loved picking out her pumpkins this year. From little to big I think she takes after her mother and loves them all! :)

Reagan preferred the small white pumpkins to the orange ones

Selecting gourds
Large pumpkins are too exciting for words!!! Reagan had everyone around us laughing at her facial expressions as she checked out the pumpkins. lol :)

Literally loving and hugging the pumpkins

Pumpkins apparently make pretty good benches
So sweet - I just love this pumpkin
Here is a picture of Reagan enjoying the Pumpkins at Cox Farms in 2007 when we visited with Aunt Arla

Cornmaze

After a couple of hayrides and visiting animals we decided to head into Reagan's first cornmaze. while she insisted on being held she did seem to enjoy all the fun/silly things they had in the maze.

Reagan thought these mirrors were pretty funny.
The mirror she particularily liked was the one that makes you look compressed. She giggled, and giggled, and giggled. It was so cute and funny! lol :)
When she opened up this door she said "Pa" which is what she calls Grandpa Ted. We didn't think it looked much like him but you all can let us know what you think...

Goat Village

Next we headed to the Goat Village to check out and feed a bunch of goats.

Getting brave enough to help Daddy feed the goats
For some reason Reagan started out quite shy and clingy at Cox Farms. It took two hours and this building for goats to climb up and down for Reagan to decide it might be okay to walk. She ran poor Tim up and down I don't know how many times. He's such a good sport and Daddy!!!

Gonna Getcha! lol :)

After Goat Village Reagan had an awesome time running up and down this bridge of sorts by some calves. After a while Tim started pretending to come after her and she thought it was hilarious!!! :)

Then she started sticking her tongue out as she ran back and forth - what a little goof ball - she reminded us of Boss Dog with that big old tongue hanging out!

Fun at the Farm

Reagan wasn't sure what to think of hayrides to begin with but after the first one she insisted we immideately get in line for a second ride.

Cox Farms has all sorts of farm animals to visit, including pigs. While Reagan does and has been doing just about every animal sound for months we can't get her to oink. She has started making this pig face which she was nicely demonstrating while we watched a sow with her piglets.
This was a giant frog slide (you slid down his tongue and out of his mouth) and Reagan thought it was lots of fun! :)

Singing & Dancing Bear

Great Grandpa and Grandma Gensler gave Reagan a singing/dancing bear for her birthday. When they originally gave it to her she wasn't sure what to think. In fact, she cried. It's been sitting on the bed in Reagan's room as a decoration since her birthday and she rarely pays attention to it. Over the course of the last couple of weeks, however, she has become interested in it and whenever she gets up from her nap insists on seeing the bear. As you can see from the expressions below Reagan now LOVES her singing/dancing bear. Thank you Great Grandma and Grandpa!!!