Maldoff Family: Fall Fun

My favorite time of the year is here! I have worn boots officially three times, my granny sweater is back in the rotation, and I have eaten a Pumpkin Muffie at Panera. What is a Pumpkin Muffie you ask? It is actually a muffin top. I could not believe it at first and thought I was in one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes. Just enough if you ask me. You only need the top.

I am not mentioning my muffin top (see granny sweater above). I need this and other various vests and sweaters to hide the traditional fall layer that naturally happens to the bod. Come October every year the jeans get a wee bit tighter in the ol' waistband. Like clockwork. Every year. No matter what I eat or how much I exercise. I have come to terms.

GeeMa and Grandpa came up for a visit this past week to see the boy before his big 2nd birthday. Nana and Gramps will be here next weekend for his official party. This boy is so loved!

Grandpa teaching Henry all about fishing.

GeeMa and Grandpa offered to keep Henry so Marc and I could celebrate our 5th anniversary in style. I was so excited! I never get to dress up so I planned my outfit out to the last detail.

I chose the black strapless ruffle dress I got at Ann Taylor for $10 on sale last December (yes, $10) and a faux fur vest that I had splurged on at Marshall's that day. And by splurge, I mean $29.98. I was concerned it might start shedding or molting or whatever cheap faux fur does out in the elements, but it actually still looks "real". To top it off, I wore my vintage statement necklace I bought at Freshley's, black tights, and black booties.

"Everyday I'm shufflin"

We started the night at LaVecchia's for steak and seafood. I had the sea bass and Marc had the filet. Everything was amazing! Since it was our anniversary, the dessert was on the house and we chose...drumroll please....FRIED CHEESECAKE.

It sounds horrible. Like something you would get at the county fair. But by "fried" they meant wrapped in crispy phyllo dough, which was surprisingly light and fluffly. I will never forget it and I am more of a salty girl. It was that good.

Marc could not wait to give me my gift. The man gets nervous with jewelry. He handed me the box as I am pulling up my pants in the bathroom. I am not exaggerating.

After I stopped laughing, I opened the box to a beautiful aquaramine ring in a white gold setting with diamond accents to wear on my right hand. The boy did good! Did I make the right choice or what? :)

I got to show off my new bling at a total of three after dinner hot spots if you will- Dandelion Market, Howl at the Moon, and Suite. I kept waiting for the paparazzi to show, but no dice. We stayed at the Marriott in uptown. Had a blast! No responsibilities, no kid, no alarm clock in the morning, breakfast buffet with unlimited bacon- awesome.

Henry got his first birthday present- his own riding John Deere tractor! He's not interested in riding it yet though, only climbing it and putting dirt in the truck bed. He'll get there.

Grandpa made a dirt pile construction site in the backyard. Hours of entertainment.

We took our annual trip to Hodges farm to visit the pumpkin patch.

"That boy sure is a running fool."

More tractors!

A trailer full of pumpkins. More excited about the trailer.

We took a day trip to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway up through Boone and Blowing Rock. Driving up, everything looked rather green so I wasn't sure how pretty it would be. I shouldn't have doubted! Once we got up to Blowing Rock, the colors turned breathtaking. It never gets old. I was pregnant with Henry the last time we came up and forgot how amazing it is. This was Marc's first time riding the Parkway and he was blown away. One of the most beautiful scenes from nature you will ever see.

When Nana and Gramps come up next weekend, the colors should be peak where we live so we'll get a double dose of the foliage to see with all the grandparents!