pumpkin patch tour

We grew a GIANT pumpkin this year. We scratched the boys names into the pumpkin when it was small and got to watch their names grow all summer!

We have been on the ultimate pumpkin patch tour! They are so much fun!
Here the boys are at the very top of a fabulous straw bale pyramid.

The famous "moo" train...yes each car is a cow with a name.

The boys and friend Jonah getting a tractor ride to another pumpkin patch.

Dad was thankful that the inside of the slide was smooth!

Then we also harvested our patch of sunshine squash (looks like a pumpkin and tastes amazing!) Dylan is happy with his bounty.
There's more! Dylan went to another patch on a field trip with his class. He's got this whole pumpkin patch thing down!
The one perk of this pumpkin patch was the juice and homemade doughnuts the farm provided.
Dylan had his finger in the hole of the doughnut and was spinning it around as he ate the outside.
Now the trick is to figure out exactly how to arrange all these pumpkins...
...without blocking the door!

Apples, Apples Everywhere!

We went apple picking this weekend and were all very excited about fresh picked local apples. You've never tasted as good an apple!

Dylan was happy about having an apple to eat in each hand...

Deep contemplation on where the next perfect bite should be taken from.

I feel like I intruded in this intense, almost sneaky bite!

Cole enjoyed getting all the way in the apple trees to pick and play. It was especially nice because most of the trees were smaller and had easily reachable apples.
We are talking all-the-way-in!
Come on Dad couldn't you find a bigger apple than that!?
Bobbing for apples and we didn't even get wet!

Nana loves soccer

Nana came for a visit last week! We lucked out and had perfect bike riding weather.

The boys were excited to show Nana how fast they can ride!

We also went u-picking grapes which was so much fun to pick huge bunches...but that activity doesn't last too long because you sure can pick a lot of grapes in a little time!

Then unfortunately we all got sick with a bad cold/flu and are all still recovering after a week.

So we spent lots of time cuddling and reading stories to each other! Thanks Nana!!
Nana did get to see the boys at their first soccer class.
The boys have been asking for quite a while to go to a soccer class...so mom and dad finally broke down and signed them up. Now they ask everyday if it is soccer class day!! They want to go even if they are sick they love it so much.
Cole is cheering for Dylan to kick the ball hard!

Painting Done!

Mom and Dad have FINALLY finished painting the outside of our house. It sure did take them long enough! Sure we did go on a week long trip after we started and it did rain for 2 weeks in the middle of the project, but really!? Oh yeah, I guess we also refinished the deck and replaced 3 older windows too!

Here is a before shot.
A during shot.

And after.

I like to call it coffee ice cream walls with a chocolate door. mmmmmm