Fall Fun 2013

 We had a great fall filled with fun, family and friends.  We went to Pahl's Market in search of pumpkins and ended up walking through a straw maze and playing in a corn pit. The girls helped each other pick out pumpkins, though Larkyn had a really time deciding on the "perfect pumpkin".  She finally found it and they got carted off to the check out!

We enjoyed The Haunted Woods Trail with our neighbors.  All of the kids were troopers as we waited in line to get on the trail.  Little ladybug and Rapunzel had the best time in the wagon.  Though neither said too much they seemed to enjoy the night.
That weekend we also went to HallZOOween to celebrate Halloween with the animals!

Carving pumpkins was quite interesting.  I cut open the pumpkin and showed them how to reach in and pull out the guts. Neither of them were interested.  So I handed them a spoon. Still acted as if this was the most disgusting thing on Earth!  (Hence the pictures) They are their Daddy's daughters...don't like to get their hands dirty.  Camdyn got a little more adventurous with the spoon, but didn't over do it.  Larkyn found it much more fun to draw faces on the pumpkins rather than scoop out guts and carve them.  Turns out I did most of the work:).

Curly, Larry and Moe...and Daniel Tiger!

Larkyn finished her fall gymnastics session mid-October.  She has worked so hard on keeping her balance, forward rolls, cartwheels, and other gym kid activities.  We are hoping she will be able to continue this in the future to build strength and coordination.  We have seen such amazing growth in her abilities since she began gymnastics a year ago.

Pumpkin Parade!

Larkyn's preschool class put on a 3 minute parade on Halloween day showing off their costumes they made at school.  The kids were given different shape choices and designed their Jack-o-lantern faces themselves.  Larkyn was very proud to show us her costume and all of her preschool friends. Prior to the parade the class had a Fall Party. Larkyn's favorite part was the frosted cookies!

 Brady, Luke, Larkyn and Camdyn

Our little pumpkin!

Buddies!

A Visit from Wisconsin

Charlie, Janny, Kiki and Sis came to visit one Packer Sunday in October.  Kiki was in town from California and everyone wanted to see the girls, the deck, and of course the Big Green Egg.  Larkyn and Kiki had a GREAT time playing outside on the playset, around the garden, touring her bedroom,  playing "party" and "house" downstairs, putting on a puppet show, and reading books. Larkyn couldn't get enough of Kiki!  Camdyn couldn't get enough of Charlie!  She was saying his name, bringing him toys and asking him to read stories with her.  Camdyn also enjoyed "the slide" of Janny's legs.  She kept returning saying "wheee!"  Larkyn and Camdyn both loved riding in Sis' walker while Janny drove them around.  Kiki was setting up road blocks and detours and it became quite the adventure!  A short time together, but oh so fun!  Thank you for making the day trip!

 

Trip to Iowa

At the end of September we took a trip to Iowa to spend a girls weekend with my mom and sisters.  Larkyn and Camdyn worked with Grandma Debbie in the kitchen making apple pie.  

Camdyn really got into mixing!

McKenna and Larkyn got to try some pie after playing with Little People.

There was a UNI football game on Saturday, so we joined my Dad and Vickie for a tailgate their church was putting on.  Courtney came with and spent some "goofy" time with the girls.

"No Camdyn, it is not what you think it is!"

More silliness!

Camdyn and Vickie

Grandpa Jim and Camdyn

(I think she was upset because she was taken away from her Cheetos)

Saturday night we had dinner with Grandpa Ralph and Grandma Barb.  The girls had a blast with the kitchen in the basement.  I have to admit it brought me back to when I was a kid and I'm pretty sure I had as much fun, if not more:).  

 

Grandpa Ralph loved showing off his tractors to Larkyn. She also loved seeing his farm setup.

"Two of these things are not like the others..."

Wisconsin Dells October 2013

Our annual trip to Wisconsin Dells this October was fantastic!  We had a great time with family and enjoyed every minute at the many water parks the Wilderness had to offer.  Our condo was the perfect size to house all of us and give us room to spread out.  Breally, Cayden, Larkyn, Camdyn and Mara continue to play so well together. Their cousinly love for each other is amazing!  What great role models Breally and Cayden are for their younger sister and cousins. 

When we were not eating or laying around, we were on the shuttle (Red Line or Blue Line) heading to the water parks. 

We spent a lot of time going down the kiddie slides (blue, orange, purple and green), jumping and swinging, relaxing on the Lazy River, and listening to May May scream on the Hurricane!

Cubby's Cove was Larkyn's favorite. She LOVED having the independence to go from slide to slide!  Everyone got a chance to experience the various slides. Even Charlie got in on the action!  He and Cayden were breaking the rules as they headed down the slide head first!

Cubby's Cove also allowed us to swim in the big pool, play basketball, and hop from lily pad to lily pad while hanging from a rope net.  Janny enjoyed watching the kids play and keeping Mara warm when she was done.  May May, Larkyn, Cayden and Breally went into the Wave Pool.  They held on tight as the waves came crashing towards them!

Just having a little fun with the floaties...

Also over the weekend...

Kiki, Tim and Sis came to visit on Saturday afternoon.  

Kiki read books with Larkyn.

Sis took a nap on Shea's shoulder.

Janny took her position near the window to watch for our return on the Red Line Shuttle.

Janny was the BEST!  She prepared meals, cleaned up after meals, loved on the grand kids, stayed with the little ones while the big ones went back to the park, and more!

Breally and Larkyn were very sad to leave each other.

We all were very sad to leave each other as we had a great time together!

Apple Orchard

We had our annual trip to the apple orchard in memory of Grandma Bea's birthday towards the end of September.  We met up with Mary, Joe, Sue, Mark and Caroline this year at Fischer's Apple Orchard.  The girls had a great time playing, picking apples and going for a wagon ride.  They loved to pick apples and bring them to Mark, who was holding the bag.  Sue and Caroline also got in on the fun helping the girls pick apples.  The apples were delicious!

After the apple orchard, we enjoyed the beautiful weather as we picnicked by the St. Croix River.  The girls got Sue and Mary to play "Ring Around the Rosie"!

Why not take a family photo by the river!?  We can never have enough!