Fall Break

To sum up fall break in two pictures, it would look something like this:

Whew, we survived quite the fall break. I had been looking forward to this week off to relax and recharge our batteries, while having a little fun. Instead, we kicked off the week with a very scary accident with you Wiley, followed by a double dose of hand, foot, and mouth disease - that even caused us to miss out on trick-or-treating. Instead, we headed to Tse Tse and Zsu Zsu's so you could at least say, "trick-or-treat," at two houses. You were too sick and grumpy to even bother putting your costumes on (yet at the last second, decided to throw on a combination of dress-up clothes!). It wasn't quite what we hoped for, but thankfully it all happened on a week I already had off of work, so that I could be home with you.

 

 

General Butler: Trick-or-Treat

Every October, we head up to a nearby campground to join Pappy and Carl at their campsite for a night of family, fun, and trick-or-treat. This year was no exception. Last night, we headed up for a fun night spent with your cousins, playing and trick-or-treating. Family traditions seem to get a little more fun as you guys continue to grow, getting excited about these traditions too.

 

 

 

 

 

Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular

For the past few years, the Jack-o-lantern Spectacular has been on our radar as something we have really wanted to do, but just never have. This year, we finally went, thanks to Aunt Boo! Together, we walked through the park viewing incredible pumpkins, with a variety of themes A-Z. It was a little overwhelming in the beginning when the crowd was thickest and it was difficult to see anyone. But once the crowd thinned out, it was really neat to see such detailed and talented work. I just love October and all of the ways we celebrate the start to the holiday season!

 

 

Pumpkin Picking

One of my favorite, and longest running, fall family traditions is our trip to Mulberry Orchard. We pick a Saturday in fall to enjoy a hay ride, pumpkin picking, corn mazing, and playing on the playground. It's been fun to watch these pictures change through the years as you boys (and now Charleigh) have grown. This year we had a beautiful day and found the perfect pumpkin for carving!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boo at the Zoo

Boo at the Zoo has quickly become one of our favorite Halloween traditions and a fun way to kick off the October festivities. This year, you boys were finally brave enough to meet the characters and get your picture taken with many of them (the ones you recognized and were excited to see). Like kids ourselves, it made your Daddy and I very excited to one day take you to Disney World. The magic in your eyes meeting some of the characters was wonderful. I love the innocence and wonder you kiddos make me stop and notice on a daily basis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Painting Pumpkins

Expectation: enjoy a beautiful afternoon outside, jamming to Halloween themed music, painting our three little pumpkins like we do every year.

Reality: paint spilled all over the kitchen before even beginning to paint pumpkins, paint spilled on the deck three different times, a couple breaks for a timeout, and pumpkins left "unfinished" (deemed by you boys) because it was just time to call it a day.

Oh well, that is parenting toddlers though! You hope for the best, plan for the worst, and roll with however it all seems to go. We will strive for the expectation again next year! Until then, we at least snapped a couple cute pictures this year where we can pretend like all went well.

 

Field Trip

Every year, your school takes one "field trip" to the local pumpkin patch. Sadly, the patch we typically go to closed down. So this year, we headed to the pumpkin patch our family always visits. It was a gloomy, warm day, but lucky for us the rain held off until right as we pulled away (just like last year!). Pumpkins were picked, apples munched on, and hay rides given. All in all, a fun day for the 3-year old preschool class!