Great Green Pumpkin Picking

Last year I took this picture at the "Happy Apple Farm" where we went apple picking. Unfortunately, due to the late hard frost we had this year, there were no apples to pick. All was not lost, however, since they had a pumpkin patch that was available for us to pick. Because it's a little early in the season, we went for the green pumpkins which will ripen off the vine as long as the stems are left. (Who knew?)

Still has that "baby" look Kids not cooperating...at least Rich and I look good!

A little dreamy
Is that a pumpkin or a watermelon?
He's growing up!
Pumpkin Pride

What a view!
Such a serious Paige
Do they know I'm in dirt?
I just need a desk
Is this all there is to do?
Michelin Baby
Rug Rat Pack
That's my tractor!

Horsing Around

On a most fantastically beautiful Wednesday, we accepted an invitation to our neighbor Megan's Grandma and Grandpa's house to visit her horse, Tress. Their horse farm is in Black Forrest (a little north of Colorado Springs), and right now they have 16 horses (at one time they had 45!). We were also joined by our other neighbors, Jaiden and Madi (and of course their mommy, Jamie, and Megan's mommy, Maggie).

Ms. Dana (Megan's Grandma) talking to Jack

Paige taking it all in
What's that horse have to drink?

Is this enough hay?

Taking turns feeding the horses

Little Sweethearts

Jaiden riding Tress
Little Cowboy
Brave Madi

Megan the Pro
This is no big deal!
The highlight of the trip (at least for Jack)

Jack did get on Tress for a few seconds...just wasn't his thing, but I don't have a picture of him on her. Later that evening he got on his rocking horse (it's actually my old rocking horse), and informed me that he was riding Megan's horsey. It was just a perfect day: the kids were very well behaved, experienced new adventures, and made some fun memories!

A Little Naked Time

While changing Paige's diaper and clothes, she got up and started playing (we actually have to hold her down with our legs to keep her still). In the spirit of what-goes-around-comes-around (taking naked pictures must be a form of hazing that all parents and children go through), I thought these rompings would make some excellent photos (and blackmail for later on). I did a little editing because for one thing it's just funny, and also since I am posting on the Internet, I should use a little caution (don't want any creepy people looking at my family for the wrong reasons!).

I wonder if someday she really will have a butterfly on her tush

Bright Eyes!
Nothing like housecleaning in the nude
Just a little mischief
How dare you put me in clothes!

The Morning After

The kids slept in a little this morning (yay!) after our wild and crazy night (it was a late one-- 8:45 pm).

Little Polk-a-Dots

"Fargies" and a Lollipop...breakfast of champions!

Jay Hawk Party

Last night, we went to our Jay Hawk loving neighbor's house to watch Kansas play Southern Florida (well some of us watched the game, but the little ones just dressed in the KU colors and ran around like little maniacs).

Baby Luke
Left Out (or in)
Miss Madi

Safe Haven
Someone grab a winch
Little Max and Jaiden
Jack is supervising Max playing with his cars
Oh Boy, he's doing it all wrong!

Some Girl Talk
Rich and Luke
Woohoo! I'm finally in a picture.
They really aren't being punished

Sous Chef

I think that our love of the food network is finally showing some results, as you can see from Jack stirring the "soup-sauce" as he calls it. We were making one of Paula Deen's recipes which was a bread pudding with glazed donuts, and Jack was helping to make the rum sauce. Hmm, first thing he cooks involves alcohol? I hope this doesn't set a precedence!

A Little Teamwork

In hopes that Jack will redirect his enegry in kindness towards his sister, I have been encouraging him to help me with care giving tasks for her. He usually asks to wipe her fanny during diaper changes (if he isn't busy playing with Green Ramone...from the movies Cars), or finds a binky for her if she is crying, and even takes unsafe objects from her (his definition of unsafe isn't always the same as mine, and I think he enjoys this task a little too much). Lately he has been wanting to sit on my lap when I feed Paige, so I thought why not offer him a chance to feed her. Reluctant at first, he soon got the hang of it, and now I may have a new helper at meal times. I may be just making more work for myself, but if it can help Jack use his powers for good rather than evil, it will not have been in vain.

He did get a little out of sorts when I wouldn't let him keep her sippy in the cup holder part of the tray at his every whim, but he quickly got over it. Someone has control issues!