Pumpkin Patch!

We have a family tradition of going to the pumpkin patch every year. We have been going to Walter's Pumpkin Patch in Burns, KS since Riley was 6 months old. We LOVE it!! We could easily spend hours there! (and we did....3 hours!) There is SO much to do! This year we went with my sister Kathleen, my niece Rachel, and her little boy Ares.

Here are Lily and Ares in the wagon, ready to start their pumpkin adventure!

Yes.....I make them pose all over the place at the pumpkin patch. =)

We measure the kids against this sign every year. The first year we came, Riley couldn't even stand up, Jeff had to hold him up to the sign.....now he almost reaches the 4 foot mark!

The train is always a must!

Ares was super excited about this!!

Lily was not that excited about the train. They have to ride by themselves and she kept trying to get out before it had even left, so we decided that it may not be a good idea for her. So, I made her take pictures by the pumpkins instead. =)

They have a big slide that is inside a hill of dirt. It's called Boo Mountain. They have big plastic pipes that are in the hill and you slide down on sleds. The boys LOVE it! Lily & Ares went down with Jeff & Rachel....I think they were OK with it...but I'm not sure they loved it.

We moved on to the giant pillow trampoline. It is safe for little kids, because it is not up off of the ground, if you fall, you just slide off. All of the kids liked this one!

After that, we headed off to the barn where they have some goats, but the kids preferred climbing into the giant bin of corn and climbing this rope. Even Jeff climbed up there!

Then we watched the pumpkin cannon! They shoot a big pumpkin out of the cannon and it goes really, really far!

This next attraction is Jeff's favorite. Pumpkin' Chunkin'! You put little pumpkins into slingshots and shoot them out over a little creek.

Rachel tried so hard to get Ares interested in this, but he really didn't care...

....he did get excited about playing at the next part. So did my kids. They had a tree swing, a tire mountain with sand, tricycles, and a hay bale maze!

I think Jeff is getting tired of the pumpkin patch here..... =)

Lily didn't let him lay down to relax for long though!

Finally, it was time to head to the actual pumpkin patch! At Walter's, you go into the patch and pick them right off the vine! The boys like to think they are going to get one of these giant ones. Strangely enough, they never do. =)

My boys out hunting for the perfect pumpkin.

All of the kids found one they liked! Yeah!

Ares found two he liked!

Time to head back......

While the adults sat down, the kids played on the playground.....yes, they still had energy!

Lily and Ares didn't have quite as much energy as Zach and Riley though....they had to take a snack break.

Our family at the pumpkin patch!

Firehouse Banks

We went to Home Depot today to attend a workshop. My friend Stephanie has taken her kids and they loved it, so we thought we would check it out. They have them the first Saturday of each month. The kids get to make a project (this time was firehouse banks) and it is all free!

When we got there, we saw firetrucks, state trooper cars, firemen, policemen, and the K-9 dog!!!! They boys were SO excited!!

We went to the firetruck first and the fireman let the boys get in and check it out!

They even got to wear a helmet!

After that, we learned how to be safe if there is a fire in our house and we got to meet Safety Dog.
Then it was on to the project center! The boys each got their very own apron and they got to pick out hammers. (they got to keep the aprons, not the hammers.) =)


They couldn't wait to get started!

Lily was not as excited about the hammering, especially since she wasn't doing it. =)
So, she and I walked around while Jeff helped the boys.

Once she spotted Safety Dog again, she ran toward her. She stood there and laughed, hugged, and talked to the dog FOREVER! Seriously, I had to drag her away so other kids could get a chance. =)

We went back and checked on how the boys were doing. They were doing great!

When they were all done, they got certificates and a cool pin to put on their aprons to show that they did this workshop.

Here are their banks!

When the boys were all done with their banks, we walked over to see the K-9 dog and the State Trooper cars. The policemen were SO nice and talked to the kids and answered their questions.

Then we headed home. We can't wait for the next project!

Stepping Stones

I bought kits to make stepping stones about a month and a half ago.......and then let them sit there on the floor.....until Sunday, when I finally talked Jeff into helping me. I was not brave enough to try to mix the concrete by myself. I was worried I wouldn't get the right consistency, and then the whole thing would be ruined. I actually ended up needing his help with a lot more than stirring the concrete.....it turns out this project was VERY messy. I know! Concrete...who would have thought? =)

Anyway...Jeff helped the boys stir the concrete and then he poured it into the molds.

Then each of the kids put their hands in their mold to make a hand print.

Riley looks super excited to be doing this! ;-)

Here are the cool stones the boys picked out to decorate their stone with.

Then Jeff & I wrote their names and the year in the concrete. They took a little over 24 hours to dry, and they are now in our backyard!