Today was a big milestone for Braeden.  He took his first steps unassisted.  Jolene was washing some dishes.  Braeden was pushing one of his toys he got for his birthday.  He pushed it just far enough away that he took his first step towards it without holding onto anything.  Jolene missed it.  About a half hour later while in the living room he was standing.  Jolene was next to him and he took a couple more steps on his own.

So it begins.  Braeden loves to crawl, and he crawls extremely fast.  He tries to get into everything.  Now he will soon be running.  Johanna started walking alone around 13 months of age as well.  When she did, she skipped walking slow and went to running.  For the longest time she didn’t have the confidence to walk by herself, even though we knew she could.  Once she had the confidence she just took off.  Her muscles were already there.  She too also began to walk at 13 months.  I pretty much expect the same thing from Braeden.  So not only does he look like Johanna, but also following in her foot steps in stride.  We didn’t get a photo or video of his first steps like we did Johanna, but I’m sure we will get some soon.

Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Patch

Today we also visited the Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Patch.  For the past 6 years we have gone every year.  A couple years ago it was the last thing Jolene, Johanna and I did with my sister before everything went to pot.  We have made good memories there.  We have taken Jolene’s sister there, her parents, as well as visited with friends from Big Bear with our dogs.   Each year it gets bigger, and generally better.  This year, not so much.

Years ago you used to be able to go out into a field and pick your own pumpkin.  They did away with that a couple years back.  The entire place has become so commercialized.  Now you can only choose pumpkins from the various stacks.  Although, there are lots of them.  We used to be able to get there early and there would not be very many people.  Now there are thousands of people visiting.  Getting to the parking lot backs the street up to the freeway.  Food is extremely expensive.  $14 for nachos.  Seriously, chips and cheese for $14?  We spent $44 for a hot dog, corn dog, nachos and soda.  I kid you not, Disneyland food is cheaper.  Aside from that we had Johanna go on a couple rides and play some games.  She always enjoys that.  She won a couple cheap toys, but she was happy with that.

We used to buy our pumpkins there, but they cost 4 times as much as they do at our local store.  So now we just go there for a photo op.  This year, we got Braeden with the pumpkins.  He is our dapper dude.

There is a bunch of things to do at the Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Patch. There are rides, gold mining, pet farm animals to pet, a maze, and more. Just expect to spend lots of money.  Braeden did get to feed an emu, but unfortunately the emu wanted his finger more than the food.  Hopefully it didn’t scare him too much.  We hope to go back, but if it gets more commercialized then we might look for another place to spend our pre Halloween rituals.  For those who have never gone, it is worth taking a trip for at least once if you are in the area.

Timothy