Taste Test

Tim and I have made it our mission to find the BEST pumpkin beer out there. We have been purchasing different breweries' version of a pumpkin beer, and decided to do our own taste test this past weekend. We only tasted 4 of the above, so there will be a round #2. We had fun tasting the different varieties. We left out Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, because we already know it's a hit. We tasted:

Southern Tier Pumking - Loved it!! Heavy, and rich and I don't think I could drink more than one whole bottle of this but boy, was it tasty! I read on another blog that it was what the author imagined "Butterbeer" from the Harry Potter books to taste like, and I wholeheartedly agree! Buttery and delicious. The only thing that got to me after awhile was that it smells like a pumpkin candle, and as I was lifting the glass to my mouth, I occasionally felt like I was drinking a candle :)
Schlafly Pumpkin Ale - Yum! Loved it!
Williamsburg Alewerks Pumpkin - Good, but not as good as the above two
Post Road Pumpkin - I remember this as one of the original Pumpkin Beers to emerge on the scene. Now it seems every brewery is attempting a pumpkin ale, but years ago when I first had pumpkin beer, this was one of the only few around. This was actually tastier than we remember it being...

Stay tuned for Round #2!...

Apple Picking...in 80 degree weather

Saturday, we found ourselves in Baltimore, with no plans, no obligations, and nothing on the agenda that needed to be done. So we decided to take advantage of the last days of September and take Ryan apple picking. We hopped in the car and headed to Baugher's Farm, about an hour away. Ryan is clearly a traveler, and used to the hectic pace we kept this summer - as we got in the car, he asked me if we were taking a long trip! We arrived at Baugher's Farm and were excited to find out that a tractor carries the apple pickers to the orchard for picking, so we got a bonus "hayride" as well. We picked a peck of Red Delicious apples, although Ryan had more fun eating the apples, than actually picking them! After apple picking, we bought several homemade delicacies at the farm store on site, including some of the BEST pickles we have ever eaten! Yesterday the apples went right into apple pancakes and apple crisp - Yum! We had a lot of fun with a new activity that we hope to make an annual fall tradition :)

I wanna hold your hand

Today on the ride home from apple picking (pictures to come later!), Tim and I were holding hands in the car, when we heard a little voice from the backseat say "Mommy, I want to drive so I can hold your hand. Daddy can ride in the back - in the carseat!" Love this kid :)

Guilt

Last night we were driving home from work/school and I asked Ryan who he thinks is coming to his birthday party next month. When asked this in the past, he has listed off all of our adult friends, since to him they are just as much his friends as ours. He surprised me by saying "All of my cousins!!" This shouldn't have been too much of a surprise to me - We just got back from 5 days in Albany where he spent a lot of quality time with his cousins - Andrew (16), Rachel (12), Kayla (10), Colin (7), Alec (5) and Lizzie (almost 3) - Not to mention, he absolutely adores all of them and when they are all together, they truly act more like siblings than cousins. It amazes me, as they only see each other a few times a year, yet when they do they fall right back into playing together as if no time has passed. There is no shyness, no hesitation, no unfamiliarity, and there never has been. So when he mentioned wanting them at his party, I should have seen it coming. I explained that they couldn't come because they live in New York, and it's too far away. "But my big cousins can come, they can drive." I told him again that it is too far away, but Grandma and papa will be coming. "But Grandma and Papa live in New York too and they are coming. I want my cousins to come!" I told him they can't come, because they have school. "Why do they have to go to school on my birthday?" The entire conversation tugged at my heartstrings and just brought a ton of guilt to the surface.

My parents live in Massachusetts, and Ryan is their only grandson. They are definitely still close, they see him several times a year, and Ryan loves his Nana and Grandpa. But it's not the same as living close enough to see each other once a week, or even every few weeks. Same with my in-laws and all of Ryan's cousins. They live in Albany, NY and we see them even less. Although we all make a lot of effort, busy schedules prevail and it's not always that easy to just hop in the car for a 6 hour drive. And once Ryan is in real school, those weekend trips will become harder and harder. He doesn't know what he is missing out on, as he doesn't know any different. He loves the time he does have with both sets of grandparents and his aunts, uncles and cousins. Last weekend was a true example of that - Seeing him with everyone warmed my heart. And I know he is happy here, he loves his school, city life, his friends and our friends. But I know what he is missing out on. I grew up a 10 minute drive from my grandparents, and within about 30 miles of my entire extended family. I see how close my Dad is with all of his cousins, and I want Ryan to have that as well.

This post isn't any big announcement - We're not moving anytime soon. But conversations like the one we had last night really make me question in what direction we're headed...And what is best for my little guy...

Whirlwind

Starting Memorial Day Weekend, and ending this past weekend, the Doody family has done the following:

• Spent 3 beach weekends at 3 different beaches with 3 different groups of friends (in 2 different states)
• Spent 4th of July weekend in Albany with a bridal shower and the annual Doody 4th of July party
• Hosted 10 family members as overnight guests over the course of 3 weekends
• Attended our nephew's soccer tournament in the southern MD/DC area
• Attended one wedding in Albany, NY as guests
• Attended another wedding in Baltimore with Lauri as bridesmaid and Ryan as ring bearer
• Attended yet a third wedding, in Albany, NY, with Tim as groomsman, Lauri as bridesmaid and Ryan as ring bearer
• Attended a bachelor party in Cleveland, OH (Tim)
• Attended a bachelorette party in Cleveland, OH (Lauri)
• Spent a weekend in Timonium, MD babysitting friends' 2 kids
• Hosted Tim's college roommate and wife for a weekend in Baltimore
• Celebrated Tim's birthday at the James Taylor/Carole King concert in DC
• Celebrated Lauri's birthday at a surprise birthday happy hour in Baltimore

I know I am forgetting something....But let's just say we had a jam packed summer! We had a TON of fun, spent a lot of time in the car on road trips, and hosted a lot of guests at our little row home. We were even too busy to take pictures, little of the above list is documented in photographs, but we certainly have many wonderful memories of the Summer of 2010. I am vowing to update my blog much more frequently in the fall, I'm sure all of my fans have really been missing the updates :) We're not quite keeping up the hectic pace of the summer, but our fall isn't slowing down much, with all of the following on our agenda: Bachelorette Party, Another wedding, Mini family vacation to Miami, Halloween themed party for Ryan's 3rd Birthday, and 10 days in Massachusetts for Thanksgiving. We know we are so lucky to have such a fun and exciting life, but I know all 3 of us are looking forward to this upcoming weekend with NOTHING scheduled! Maybe some errands, cleaning, laundry, apple picking and just a lot of down time. Happy Fall!!

Are you ready...

...for some football?? Ryan is!

Bachelors

This past Saturday, all of our friends decided to go to Happy Hour at a little bar/restaurant just off the beach. We packed up our stuff around 3 and headed to get Mango-Ritas (Every bit as yummy as they sound). We ordered food for Ryan, but after a full day in the sun, no nap, and nowhere for him to run around, he was starting to get a little antsy. Tim took him back to the house along with our friend, Dave, who wasn't feeling well. Back at the house they played Ladder Golf and relaxed, and we joined them about 90 minutes later. The next day I asked Ryan what they did back at the house while we were still out and his response "We were at the bachelor pad party!"

Good Bye Summer '10!

Even though the weather in Baltimore can stay warm long into October, Labor Day still signifies the "end of summer." And we certainly ended it in style! This summer has been a blur of beach weekends, parties, road trips and just lots of fun! We ended the summer by joining the Smollons, Cardwells and Pizzurros at Amanda's parents' beach house in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Although Hurricane Earl threatened to put a damper on our weekend, the rain was gone by Friday evening and we had an absolutely beautiful weekend! We spent time on the beach, experienced Happy Hour at Mango's (Mango-Rita, yum!), played lots of ladder golf, ate and drank well (Whipped Cream Vodka anyone?) and of course had tons of laughs. These 6 people are some of my favorites, and we always have a great time when we are together. Ryan was the only kid, as he is used to by now, but he still had a great time. He has become part of the crew :) He entertained himself )and us!) all weekend, went to bed like a champ, slept in (well as late as can be expected for an almost 3 year old) and had a great disposition all weekend (despite skipping his nap all 3 days!) Thanks for all of our friends for an awesome end to the Summer of 2010! This will definitely need to be an annual getaway!