Fall Festivities

Perhaps I'll just be doing seasonal posts from now on?  Four posts a year?  Would be easier that way. 



We enjoyed our very FIRST trip to the pumpkin patch!  I really wanted to go last year but knew I needed to wait until the kids were a little older to enjoy it more.  We purchased that KC Pumpkin patch Groupon and joined the Heine's for the adventure.  Tangent: we LOVE hanging out with the Heine's.  I was thinking the other day how Jessica and I have been friends for over 10 years and we still just have so much in common.  She always knows fun things to do around KC for kids, and is just a rockstar in general.  She's one of those people who you just love being around.  She's awesome at life but not in a "make you feel crappy about yourself" kinda way.  She's inspiring, thoughtful, and all in all what a great friend should be.  I'm so thankful for her.

And our kids adore each other as well!

Reese is such a dare-devil, she didn't think twice about going down the big slide.  And Cade didn't think twice about NOT going down the slide. 

Cade loved the sandbox with all the trucks and the train.

We took a quick spin around the zoo one weekend when they were offering hay rides and random fall activities.  The hay ride was the highlight as we saw NO animals out and about while we were there.  (Shocker!!) But we did have an up-close encounter with a smelly monkey.  (Shocker, again!!)

One October weekend we had the privilege of joining Matt's family in Topeka as Matt's dad was inducted into the Washburn Hall of Fame.  Cade even got to go onto the field with him!

 

Another Fall highlight was attending Lawson's first birthday party, which was football themed!

 

Now, bring on the holidays!  I'm definitely decorating for Christmas within the next two weeks.  Because if I'm going to store all those blasted decorations and go to the effort to get them all out, I'm leaving them up as long as possible!  (Not a big fan of holiday decorations here, could you tell?)

 

We've had a fun fall so far, we look forward to Thanksgiving with family (it really will be here before we know it!), and we hope for a winter filled with snow days off of school!!!

Tricks and Treats 2013

We had a wonderful Halloween with our sweet fairy and fierce Ninja Turtle!

The day started with both Matt and I getting to attend Cade's "Harvest Festival" at his preschool. It's the first "party" they've had so I debated about whether I should wait to take off work to attend a party later on in the year, but once I thought about it, I decided I'm probably going to attend all parties. Why not? I'll set aside a day off and take it 2 hours at a time to attend the special events at his school. As a working mom, I often feel guilty that I miss out on the little things like dropping Cade off and picking him up from school. But I'm thankful that Matt has the flexibility to be able to spend that time with Cade. So I will join them for the parties and be appreciative of the opportunity to do so.

A peek into Cade's classroom.

Trick or treating is such a strange concept, if you think about it. Knock on doors, take their candy, move on. The kids started off a bit confused because they always want to go in people's houses and hang out. They're a social bunch.





We made it around our culdesac, then headed over to join some good friends for the fun. Cade loved getting to trick or treat with his friends and felt like such a "big kid." Reese just loved getting candy to put in her bag, which she wore like a purse. Once it got dark we headed up to the gym as the Pioneers had their first game! I was a little skeptical but it was actually well-attended and was fun to see all the college students in costume.

 The kids were pretty tired but we made it until half-time and then made our exit. I'm not sure why I go into each basketball season thinking it will be easier to corral the kids...each year it definitely gets harder. Reese loves to move all around the bleachers, up and down the aisle and in and out of chairs. Luckily I have a lot of help from some of our favorite Pioneer fans!

And, note to self, no full-body costumes next year...Cade definitely had to pee in someone's yard (after dark, behind our car, it's fine, Mom) and poop TWICE at the game.  Live and learn.