Pumpkin Patch

I have been bugging Shawn for the last couple weeks to go to the pumpkin patch. He's been really busy, but found some time this last Friday to go with us. We would have gone to the pumpkin patch we went to last year until we heard of one that had a train. A train? There was no question about where we were going this year. Lakeview Pumpkin patch… and it was awesome!

We went on a good day, there were probably 5 people there… including us! It was great. We bought our tickets and boarded a ferry which took us across a lake. There was even a shark and a lochness monster that came out of the water. I wish I would have gotten a picture, but I was too busy consoling Grant who thought they were real.

The ferry brought us over to a massive field of pumpkins… look at 'em all!

I won't have you be fooled, though. The majority of them were rotten. And Reagan pointed out every single soiled one to us and said "CAH-CAH".

The kids were able to find some good ones.

Here is Jefferson with his pumpkin… he had to use 2 hands to hold it.

Shawn put her down to take this picture with me…. She was NOT happy!

After we picked out our pumpkins, the kids spent some time running through this haystack maze. They really enjoyed it.

For those of you who missed it, I zoomed in on this picture to catch a glimpse of this wonderful smile of his. These are rare to find. Trip worth while… evidenced here!

Then we hopped on the train and it took us back.

And we pet some farm animals before heading home…

I love fall! I love going to the pumpkin patch. This is one of my favorite family traditions. I love that the kids got completely muddy head to toe and I had to do a load of laundry when we got home. You won't hear me saying that ever again… until next fall at least!

Homemade-Best Ever-Yogurt Cupcakes

Recipe by Reagan

Follow these directions for a tasty treat

Ingredients: Yogurt, (preferably Yo Baby Organic Strawberry Banana)

After batter has been prepared (opened), spoon into muffin liners.

Place liners into mini-muffin tin

No baking required!!

Simply delight in your accomplishment, walk around the room and offer your delicious treat to everyone!

Yummy!

Wee-oo Wee-oo

2 weeks ago I got the kids all psyched up and ready for a trip to the fire station. We got there and found out I had the wrong date. If you have a 5 or 3 year old boy you know what a huge mistake that was.

Yesterday I got the date right!

They had tours of the station, firemen, and every sort of rescue vehicle you could think of. They even got to ride in a fire truck through the streets of the town.

Whenever Grant is really happy about something he tries his hardest NOT to smile. We call it his "no-smile smile."

Jefferson shows his excitement right on his face! Reagan is in the back holding onto me for dear life. She was freaked out.

Then the boys got strapped up and loaded into the buckets of this electrical truck for a ride. "It was AWESOME" - Jefferson

Here is Reagan sitting on a police motorcycle. "Wee-oo, Wee-oo" is her word for fire trucks….. she said it all day.

Jefferson is getting tired, we should go home.

Fun day complete!

P is for Pumpkins (and Painting)

We took a trip to the local pumpkin patch. Or should I say, "pumpkin pile"?


This is a sign that I have completely lost my spunk. What a boring mom...

This afternoon the boys and I painted some mini pumpkins…. To redeem myself of course.

Conference Craft

This last weekend was Conference. We sat on the couch for two days. I couldn't take it, I had to be doing something more active, so I thought I would get a craft done. I have been wanting to make a family tree for my home. I found one on the blog, Sutton Grace and totally had to make it. I have a problem with needing to make things I see online. You should see my bookmark list, seriously. This project was so EASY, you could make one in a weekend like I did. Or one day if you don't have kids bugging you. Sutton Grace had the templates and instructions, everything, it was amazing.
I cut out my tree.

And leaves.

I couldn't decide what color to do the leaves, (green with green, or green with blue).

I chose the greens.

I wrote everyone's names on the leaves and glued them on. And Viola!

Total project cost: $3 paper, $3 glue dots, $5 goodwill frame = $11

I keep looking at it thinking I should paint the frame, but I don't know, what do you think?

By the way…. Conference was AWESOME!

According to ...

After I tell him I'll have to look something up on the computer...

Wow, computers sure are smart. They know everything. You just ask it a question and it knows the answer. They're so small, I wonder how they got so smart. I think they go to a special computer school. I think you should send me to the same school that computers go to so I can be as smart as them. Then you could just ask me all the questions and I can tell you the answers.

Ian the Airman

Our trip to Texas was so fun!

Jefferson was excited to go on the plane to say the least. We had a layover and he and I had lunch together. What? You have a 2 hour layover too with a 5 year old? Just pick up one of these at the Dollar Store, it will take you the entire 2 hours to put it together, promise!

Anyways, he cracked me up, as we were getting ready to catch the next plane he tells me how much fun the day was, it was his favorite day ever! He thought we were catching the plane to head back home..…Like it's totally normal to just take a plane trip for the sake of flying. So, he was pretty surprised (and a little confused) to see my mom and dad waiting for him when he got off the plane in Texas. Highlight… sitting in the cockpit and actually steering the plane.

Visiting Lackland Air force base was the first time I've been around SO MANY service men, it was overwhelming, and awesome. The only experience I have with military bases is in the movies. And they really do yell at those guys. I would have lasted 48 hours, tops! Buy they've treated Ian well, he was happy and couldn't stop talking about his experiences. He loved it. There were close to 500 graduates (and they do this ceremony every week, amazing!) Ian's flight was honored to carry the American flags and State flags. Ian carried Florida. If he hadn't had been carrying this flag, we NEVER would have been able to find him in the bunch.

Ian hugging his proud Mom

Jefferson leaped into Ian's arms. My uncle is cool

Ian and I

Ian and his girlfriend, Clarissa

Ian and my dad

(Needs a really great caption) it's late and I can't think of one, but it's a cool picture.

The hotel had a pool so I knew where to find Jefferson at all times

The deep-thinkers

Quote of the day: "look, I can do push-ups too… now I can go to BOOT SCHOOL like Uncle Ian"

Ian got a "town pass" and was able to leave the base, yeah. We all went down to visit San Antonio. The city was great. Seriously, I might just have to take another trip down there…..might. One day just wasn't enough to soak in all the history that that city has. The river boat tour was fun, though Jefferson looks bored.

All I cared about seeing was the ALAMO. I think Jefferson was confused as to why I was so excited to see it and spend an hour walking around, but he was a good sport.

Come on mommy….. let's go

I love historical sites, love love
love.

Jefferson standing next to cannon actually used in the Alamo.

Jefferson was spoiled rotten for 4 days. We all went to Red Lobster. He wanted to try a lobster…. Why not? My dad bought him his own lobster. Luckily he didn't really like it and I got to eat most of it for him, one of the perks of being a mom is you get first dibs on all leftovers.

Lobster Love

This trip was all about this guy. It was a blast. I'm so thankful I could go, that Jefferson could come with me, and that I came home to a spotlessly clean house!

Ian is off to tech school now, for 15 weeks, where he'll learn to do his new job…. Put bombs onto airplanes. I'm sure that's not the technical term. Good luck to you, Ian. You'll do awesome, we expect nothing less of you.