Arboretum Members

Flashback to October 2007 at the Dallas Arboretum Pumpkin Patch.

This year we joined as members so that we can take advantage of the beautiful, botanical gardens for all 4 Seasons.

Jack was way more engaged with the pumpkins this year...but was more interested in exploring than hanging out at the pumpkin piles for very long.
Jack in the pumpkin pile in front of the flower pumpkin.
Me and my little man.
"Look Mom and Dad...a Pumpkin House."
"Why do you keep saying Monkey See, Monkey Do Dad? Now watch...I'm going to stand on this pumpkin like that little boy just did."
"Look Mom...there is Dad outside the Pumpkin House."
Jack was too cute. He was standing on a pumpkin shouting out the window at everyone around.

We found this cute, little bench and I put Jack on it to take some pictures of him...but he wasn't down with sharing the bench with the pumpkins.
So down he threw them...strong little man (must be the steroids).
Satisfied with his work.
But not for long...off to explore some more.
The Relle Clan...quite a difference from last year's family picture at the pumpkin patch. I miss my little comb over baby with a toupee, but love the personality that Jack has now...everyday is so new and exciting as he absorbs the world around him.

The hay maze was probably not the best place to take a boy who spontaneously has flare ups of hives...but fun none the less.
And he is off!
Dead End #1
Frustrated at Dead End #2
Walking around is for sissies...solves it by climbing out of the Dead End.

Time for a picnic. Our spot was perfect looking out over the water.
MY HEART!!!
My heart running to my soul.
Boy...we have a lot of training to do before we go on any big family adventures...making it up that hill was hard for both of us.
"We're members now...so I'm sure that means we are able to pick the flowers."

"Alright Mom..I'll stop."
"For a second :) But I was picking the flower for you."
LOVE
Jack loved the waterfalls.
But loved climbing down the stairs more.

And up the stairs.
And down the stairs. This went on for awhile.
Til we were able to stop the tears by distracting him from the stairs by showing him the fish.
And another Jack sized house.
"Our front yard looks nothing like this...Why not Mom and Dad?"

"How nice would a bench in our front yard be...we could watch the mail man...that's about it though...people don't go in the front at our house...alleys only!"
Jack was so excited that we were able to take a pumpkin home.
Jack was listening to some birds and I thought he was holding his hand by his face/ear like he was trying to listen closer...
But then I realized he was actually just acting weird so we decided to head back to the car. It has been a full morning and all these meds are making him act weird.
We've been trying to distract him from wanting Wub Duck in the car by having toys and books and on the way home it worked...he loved reading the book from Aunt Kathy and eventually fell asleep (the drive is long from the city to the country)...I think we all were capable of falling asleep...which we did as soon as we got home for a good hour and a half.

Jack has been way out of sorts lately. I'm really hoping his odd and tantrum behavior is linked to the steroids...if not...yikes...I hope it is a quick phase....we'll keep you posted.