Pumpkin time!

Pumpkin decorating at our house is always somewhat of an adventure...

This year Emma scooped some of the "guts" out of her pumpkin!  That was a first!

Her pumpkin was a special secret we kept from everyone until it was almost done!

 Lucas was really happy with his pumpkin and had fun picking the eyes, nose, ears, arms, etc...

 Holding hands...

 Samuel tried scooping, but was too afraid of getting "yucky stuff" on his hands...

He surprised us all by wanting an "angry birds" pumpkin... How does he even know what that is?

He DOES love it- he just doesn't like to look at or smile at the camera...

Yes, that is what you think it is {in Nathan's mouth}- YUCK!

 IRON MAN pumpkin!

Pumpkin Farm #2

The very next day after Emma's field trip, my Mom and I took the little ones to the pumpkin farm we've gone to each year since Emma was one.  This was a very different day.  It had rained the night before so the ground was a bit soggy, and the high was only near 50.  We had a great time!

Pumpkin Farm #1

Last week we went with Emma's class on a field trip to a pumpkin farm. It was a warm day (near 80 degrees), but very breezy.

The boys loved the BIG slide!

This picture makes me smile 

 We saw a few animals

Emma even fed a goat

We took a wagon ride out to a pumpkin patch and picked our own pumpkins. 

School Pictures

Both Nathan and Emma brought home nice school pictures!

Nathan, 6th Grade

Emma, Kindergarden

Covered Bridge Festival

Last week we took the kids to the Covered Bridge Festival on their last day of Fall Break.  It was a beautiful day to be outside and a fun day to spend together as a family!

The kids enjoying a snack

An example of some of the unique items for sale

We had to visit an actual Covered Bridge!  The kids loved it!

Daddy helping Samuel cross the small creek without getting soaked

Fall is such a beautiful season!

The bridge we visited is one I crossed many times in childhood...

First letter grades

Emma is so happy to be receiving letter grades on her papers at school now.  

The only problem is that after receiving several "A+'s" she's not so happy with "just an A!"

Rock Tumbling

Brian purchased a rock tumbler a while back.  He has fond memories of this activity as a youngster and wanted to do some tumbling with our kids as well.  Throughout the end of the summer they worked on a couple of different sets of rocks, some purchased and some we found on walks around the neighborhood.  It is a lengthy process that involves several weeks per batch, with check in's and changing the "grit" every week or so.  They all enjoyed it.

The First Batch

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

In process:

Choosing:

The kids with some of the rocks from the last batch.  Nathan was very selective whereas Samuel pretty much wanted all of them.  :)

 A closer look at Samuel's: