Pumpkin Patch 2011

This was our first year (since 2004) not going to Hawks' pumpkin patch in NC. I have 2007, '08, '09, '10 documented here on the blog in case you're interested. I was feeling sad about missing that tradition and the Dixie Classic Fair, so I wanted to do something really fun with the kids. Dan had a Saturday off a couple of week's ago, and we headed to a farm in the city after Elena's soccer game. We were all exhausted after.

The hay ride:

We saw some Chincoteague ponies:

At the pumpkin patch they had some fun stuff:

I love these kids!

Posing with our pumpkins:

Then we took a hay ride over to the petting zoo/picnic area. Kevin kept running up to the goats and asking them how they were doing and what their names were. He seemed sincerely disappointed when he didn't get any responses. Also, he asked me if he could ride one of the goats.

Elena takes a more cautious approach:

There were lots of wooden things for the kids to play on. Besides the tractor, they had a train, a monster truck, a couple boats, and a castle. There was another bounce house in this area too.We had a great time and are excited to carve our pumpkins tomorrow. They've just been sitting on the porch looking pretty for the last two weeks. Happy (almost) Halloween, everyone!

October, how I love thee...

As a kid I hated fall because it meant the end of going to the beach each day and the start of school. As a mom, I love the weather, the colors, the holidays, traditions, and helping to teach Elena's preschool. There is so much going on. I didn't even realize how busy we'd been until I downloaded the pictures.

Dan had a birthday:
Our preschool class and some friends/siblings went to the botanical garden on a gorgeous day:
Shelby (she's having a baby a few weeks before me) and I were able to take our kids to the zoo together:
We visited a pumpkin patch, but that will be a separate post. Also, we've been enjoying a lot of time outdoors at parks. Today we flew kites with friends (Brooke and her kids Sydney and Carson):
We also had an ultrasound and found out that we are definitely having a boy! We now have to spend the next four months discussing names. Girl names come to us so easily. Kevin's name is perfect, but I have no idea what to name another boy. We'll see what we come up with. For now, don't ask. :) This picture is of me today at 21 weeks:
It's been a great month. The only thing missing was a visit from Whitney. We soooo enjoyed having her visit last fall. I hope you all have enjoyed your October so far!

Jungle Golf

Thanks to my mom's Groupon which was about to expire, we got to go to a Putt-Putt place by the beach. We purposely waited until tourist season was over and it wasn't so hot out. Perfect timing because we were basically the only people there.
My sister Bethany came along and the kids got to golf for the first time. We are dressed like it's freezing, but the weather was great. It was one of the first nights were it was in the high 60's and we were so used to temps in the 90's that it felt nice to bundle up a little. :)

Taking her best shot:

Cutie boy getting some help. He teed off at all 18 holes and then ran to scoop up his ball before taking a second/third putt. He loves all things blue. I was worried that he wouldn't give it back.
It was such a great night! Thanks, Mama for treating us. :)

Playing at the Children's Museum

I laughed so hard when I took this video. It's just my two kids, but Elena moved around a lot.

We went to the museum on September 30th because that was the day that my year-long pass expired (we originally bought it to use at the museum in NC). I wonder how long we can go without buying another one. :)