Family Pumpkin Patch Gathering

Every year my family members who live in town get together and go to the pumpkin patch at Thistledown farm. (Kim and Kelly wouldn't stand up, but they are sitting on the wagon behind everyone else)

We ride the wagon out to the pumpkin patch and everyone gets to pick out pumpkins.

My dad helped me carry my kids' pumpkins since Alan wasn't here this year. Actually, he had to carry mine too, since I could barely lift it! :)

Luckily there were carts to carry the pumpkins once we got back from the field.
The kids enjoyed the free hay maze. Apparently Grandpa thought the sign didn't apply to photo ops.
They also had a fun corn maze that we played in.

The kids (and a few adults) enjoyed hiding and jumping out to scare people as they walked by.
We look forward to our annual night out every year. We always have a really good time.

An Afternoon At Lone Pine

Kim and I decided to take our families to Lone Pine farm for Halloween pictures and play time. It was windy, but sunny and nice. The kids had a great time.

My little pumpkins.

My three little witches.
The apples of our eyes

Travis wanted to be up and looking around with everybody else.
They had a lot of fun on the playground...

at least my kids did. Kim was a bit paranoid about everything Hailey tried to climb or do, as she is convinced the child is doomed to accidents :) (Luv ya, sis!)
Emily made a friend on the playground.
It wasn't much of a pumpkin patch, but the picture props were great!


Leilani wanted to stop for a little snack.
Benjamin was VERY excited to play on the tractor. He couldn't wait for his sisters to leave so he could play on it all by himself!

They also had a good time feeding the goats. Aunt Kim was nice enough to buy food for the kids to feed the goats, and they had a lot of fun.

It was a good day.

Aki Matsuri - A Fall Festival

Our school held a carnival to celebrate fall and Halloween. All three grades wanted me to work in their booths, but I only signed up for 5th grade food booth (because it was a fundraiser for the 5th grade Japan trip. I don't know if Leilani will go or not, but I figure it can't hurt to raise money towards it.) I worked in the booth from 5:30-6:00 and left my kids with Grandma. Then I went and picked up my kids, picked up Leilani from gymnastics and took them all to the carnival. I even brought Hailey along for good measure. (I was pretty proud of myself for pulling off that schedule so smoothly, since I had chaperoned a field trip and had a presidency meeting earlier) The kids really had a good time.

Leilani liked the dart game.
Emilyanne made a really cute frame for the picture we took (at the top)
Benjamin and Hailey are such good friends. They did all the games together and tackled the big slide together.
Benjamin really liked the bean bag toss.
Hailey liked fishing.
The 5th grade was running the slide, so Leilani was excited to help out and slide down it unlimited amounts.

The big slide was a favorite of all; especially Elisabeth. Benjamin was pretty proud of himself for doing the slide all by himself. We had a good time, but wished Alan was here too!

Kindergarten Field Trip - Pumpkin Patch

I was able to go with Elisabeth on her field trip to the pumpkin patch. It was a beautiful fall day and we had a lot of fun.
We rode the tractor pulled wagon out to the pumpkin field.

Then we all went out and found a pumpkin to bring home.

We ate a snack at the playground area and then played for quite a while.

Elisabeth made a new friend while we were there for the day, but I wouldn't let her bring him home! :)

Eugene Celebration Parade

Emily was excited that her class got to carry the school banner in the parade
Elisabeth's class got to carry fish kites.
Leilani got picked to wear a kimono and carry an umbrella. She was VERY excited!
Since Alan wasn't here, Grandpa consented to march in the parade with them (they are supposed to have a parent). He got to carry an origami shape and wave it.
Mom, Benjamin and I watched the parade. The kids joined us after they finished the parade, and I made everyone watch until the Star Wars garrison had gone by and then we left. It was actually a pretty good parade this year.

Here the kids perform the song they sang in the parade.

Rock Climbing

Emily's school class took a field trip to the rock climbing gym. They had a lot of fun, and gained confidence in their abilities.
The kids started out free climbing (without ropes)
Then they learned how to put on the harness.
Emily was nervous on her first try up the wall, and didn't make it very far before she asked to come down.
After that, she took off. She climbed to the top of every wall, and she and another boy were the only ones who made it to the top of two of the walls. (If you are curious, the red line is the limit for free climbing. If you go above it you have to have ropes and a harness.)
It was neat, because every time one of the kids got near the top the other kids in the class would stop and watch and cheer them on to the top.

Then the kids got to jump and walk backwards down the wall. It was cute, because Emily turned to me and said, "Aunt Kim was right in her lesson yesterday (primary), if you use your talents, you DO gain new ones!" She definitely seems to have a talent for rock climbing. Who knew?!