Apple picking

On Sunday, we all headed over to Russell Orchards in Ipswich, our favorite fall stop for apple picking, pumpkins, and, of course, cider doughnuts. It was Finn's longest outing yet, and he stayed awake until the car ride home, checking out everything. It brought back memories of earlier visits - see earlier posts here and here - and was the perfect way to spend a fall afternoon.

Pumpkin patch:

Getting to the apples involved a hayride:

Apple picking: 

Finley kicking

Welcome Finley!

Today marks an important transition for this blog. For over seven years, starting in July of 2006, it featured pictures of and updates about Caden. Today, we welcome Caden's baby brother, Finley, who was born on July 10th, 2013. Thus, the re-titled "Caden and Finn's Blog" will include both of our wonderful boys:

 July 10, 2013

Finn arrived six weeks early and had to spend 45 days in the hospital - born in Beverly, Massachusetts, transferred to Boston Children's for a week, then back at Beverly Hospital until August 24th - before he could come home.

Finn spent a week in Boston being treated for respiratory distress syndrome.

He improved quickly and started growing. The four pictures above are from July 19-25, once Finn was back in Beverly.

Caden got to visit and hold Finn in the hospital.

But being home was even better!

Finley is growing into a smiley, playful baby. He loves being outside, listening to music, and being cozy.

Adjective Parade

Every fall, as Halloween approaches, the 2nd graders at Stanley School dress up as adjectives and parade through the neighborhood. Caden dressed up as "jagged," featuring a lightning bolt with flashing LED lights.

Baseball

Baseball season has started here in New England. Caden is playing in the "instructional", coach-pitch league. Here, you can see him hit a single on the big field - usually reserved for the older players - after the parade and opening ceremonies for the 2013 season here in Swampscott. Caden is a lefty, but initially tried to copy the right-handed batters. Finally, he and his coach figured it out. A big "thank you" to Nana and Boopa for all of the batting practice :).

Moomin Waterwheel

Caden and Dada have been reading the Moomin books by Tove Jansson. We're currently working our way through the third book, Moominpapa's Memoirs. In the book, Moominpapa described how to make a waterwheel using twigs and leaves. Caden was promised that the next time we visited Nana and Boopa's house, where a stream runs past, we would try to build a waterwheel. Here it is in action: