Happy Halloween

     
                                                      Happy Halloween!!!

 
                                                     

Our Visit to Lyon Family Farms - Pumpkin Patch

For the last few years, we have enjoyed going to Lyon Family Farms in Taft, TN to their pumpkin patch. We meet up with our friends, Summer and Michael Nave and their little girl, Carly, who is Nathan's age. They pretty much have grown up together. We also try to schedule it with the Warden's (also our good friends) but this year didn't work as planned. They were there when we were, but we never found them before we left. I think we (the adults) enjoy this trip just as much as the kids do. We don't get to see each other as much as before the kids all started school, so it's a good time to catch up and have fun. 

I took a couple hundred pics or so this day, so I thought I would share some of my fav's. 

Here is Lacey, Carly, and Nathan making their way to the entrance. Notice how happy Lacey is to be holding Carly's hand...Nathan, well, his expression says it all! 
              
                                                       This is Michael and Summer...

           Each year, we get them to stand in front of the giant ruler to see how much they have grown.

There is just SO much to do here! This place is AWESOME. They even had added quite a good bit of new play areas throughout the farm since the last time we were here. 

Playing in the corn crib. 

Sneaky grin from Nathan. 

On the pillow bounce - 

I thought this pic turned out pretty cool. Looks like he is leaping out of the picture!

Racing ducks in the water pump station - 

Here's the giant playhouse that Lacey did NOT want to leave...

And this ride...I think it was built for the adults because we had more fun on it than any of the kids, it seemed. A person sits on each end of the tube and it swings back and forth. 

Here's a close up of Summer having a good time.

At one point, we were all on the same one...with Nathan inside the tube.

Recently, I read a blog of a mother who decided that she wanted to be in pictures with her kids more instead of being behind the camera lens. Proof to her kids (for the future) that she was there too, no matter what she happened to look like in it. I've decided to follow suit. I may not always look my best, I may be a few pounds overweight...but I want them to see me the way I am when I was with them. 

On our way out to the pumpkin patch to find and pick our pumpkins. 

He's excited to go and pick his pumpkin out!

We even watched pig races! Ha! These pigs were racing for Oreo's. 

And in the animal petting stable was the shortest cow. It was 31" tall. 

There was so much more, but I think this post has been long enough already. The kids rode the cow train, we went through the corn maze, etc. A wonderful day was had by all. 

Time to carve those pumpkins

After getting our pumpkins, Nathan was anxious to get right on to carving them. 

He chose his pumpkin face design....

Lacey decided to just watch.

Jeffrey did the carving...Nathan assisted.

The kids got restless waiting so they decided to run and play while "Da" did the hard part.

Jeffrey decided to go with his Alabama "A" on the other pumpkin.

Finished products: 

See these three faces?

They are my world!

Fun Run

Nathan's school had their 2nd Annual Fun Run this week. This is the school's primary fundraiser for the school. The fun run was on a trial basis last year. It was so successful that it was decided that it would be done again this year, with it being the school's only fundraiser. (No more selling the wrapping paper, cookie dough, etc. that we all just LOVE having to sell.) I hope you caught that sarcasm there. :) 

Nathan ran and completed all 15 of his laps and raised almost $200. I was so proud of him!

                                          Here is a picture I snapped of his classmates. 

Bama Monkey

Meet Bama Monkey, the newest addition to our family. 

Nathan wanted to go to Build A Bear workshop for his birthday and get a stuffed animal. Well, surprise surprise, he ended up choosing a monkey. Nathan LOVES monkeys. And, the kicker...he names them all "Monkey." Also note that the clothing he chose for it was an Alabama football outfit. He loves Alabama and cannot understand why someone would want to be for any other team, especially Auburn.  After having much confusion by naming him Monkey and also already having four other "Monkey's" he gave in and decided to name this one "Bama Monkey." 

                                      Roll Tide Nathan...and Roll Tide Bama Monkey! :)

Special treats

This....was pure bliss! A chocolate peanut butter cup cupcake from Gigi's. There are no words to describe how good this was.  

                                                               Best. Cupcake. Ever.