Messy Eater

...and this is why I have to give my son a bath after every meal (isn't he cute though)!!!

Pumpkin Pancakes and Parade

Saturday morning we got up bright and early to go to the Pumpkin Festival for breakfast. They have the best all-you-can-eat pumpkin pancake and sausage breakfast! That alone was worth the trip back home! After we gorged ourselves, we went to stake out a spot along the parade route. Practically the whole town of Morton comes out to watch this 2-mile parade (some people even put chairs out a week or two in advance). We waited for a couple of hours for the parade to start, and just as the first fire truck was rolling by, the skies opened up and that was it for the parade :-( Luckily, that first truck threw a ton of candy, so the kids weren't too disappointed. At least we got to spend the day playing with cousins!

Enjoying the pancake and sausage breakfast

Cousins Reagan, Payton, Isaac, and A.J.

The cousins waiting patiently for the parade to begin

At least they were having fun!!!

A.J. and Reagan were getting tired of waiting

Grandma gave A.J. a belly rub while we were waiting

Daddy and Isaac

Part of the 2-mile parade route

Isaac and Payton

Car Ride

A.J. had a great time riding around in Grandma and Grandpa's convertible!!!

Pumpkin Festival

On Wednesday, we went to the opening festivities of the Pumpkin Festival with my parents and sister (we went on Thursday with Andy's parents, but I forgot the battery to my camera, so I don't have any pics). We ate so much pumpkin food...chili, beans, nachos, cookies, ice cream, shakes, funnel cakes...it was all so good! Of course, the boys had to ride the rides. A.J. thought he was too big for the kiddie rides, but I made him take his brother on some of them anyway. Andy and I were thankful to have grandparents there to take the kids on the rides...we just can't handle too many rides anymore (must be a sign we're getting old). A.J. said it was the best vacation he ever had (leave it to carnival rides)!!

Aunt Angela taking Isaac and A.J. on the slide

They had fun!

Isaac loved the cars...A.J. thought he was too old

A.J. on the roller coaster

Isaac loved the train...he always looked for us every time he went around the curve

A big smile says he found us

Grandpa and the boys on the Ferris wheel

A.J. loved the swings

A.J. and Grandpa on the octopus...they kept spinning and spinning and spinning...

The whole family went on the bumper cars

Apple Blossom Farm

On Wednesday, we decided to go to Apple Blossom Farm with Andy's parents. Usually, we go to Tanner's Orchard, but we heard rumors that it was outrageously expensive this year. There wasn't much to the farm, a few animals to pet, some play structures, and, of course, apple cider donuts!!! We still had a good time.

Petting the goats

A.J.

Isaac

The boys on the monster truck

Exploring the ship

Mommy and A.J. racing the pedal cars

Daddy's legs were a little too long to join in the race!

Family pic

More IL Fun!

On Tuesday, we went over to my parents and the kids played outside the whole afternoon. We started off with Steak-N-Shake (another check mark on the list) and then Grandpa brought out the kayak for the kids to play in. After that, we played some baseball, had wheelbarrow rides, and shot bee bee guns. Then we went back to Andy's parents to grill out and roast marshmallows for s'mores...yummy!!

A.J. in the kayak

Isaac in the kayak

Practicing baseball (I miss a huge backyard)

Grandpa taking Isaac for a wheelbarrow ride

(the same one I used to get rides in when I was a kid)!!!

You'll shoot your eye out!!!

My little "angel"

My little "devil"

A.J. roasting marshmallows and Isaac eating straight from the bag

Mmm...s'mores

IL Trip

This past week, we flew back to Illinois to visit with relatives and go to our hometown festival, The Pumpkin Festival. We had a great time and the weather was perfect (a nice break from our 100+ temps). We arrived on Monday. After a long plane ride, the boys were thankful that Grandma and Grandpa D. had a bouncy house to get out some energy! After spending the afternoon with Andy's parents, we went out to dinner with my parents (mmm...Avanti's) and then stopped at the DQ for ice cream...pumpkin pie blizzards are a must-have!!!

T-Ball

A.J. decided he wanted to play t-ball this fall instead of soccer. Saturday was his first game. It was hilarious! A.J.'s first at bat, he hit the ball and ran directly to third base!!! He's not exactly great at throwing or hitting...I think he has a little of his mother in him. I told Andy it really didn't matter because he was the cutest kid on the field. A.J. says he's having fun, and that's all that matters!

How cute is he in his uniform!!!

Fielding some ground balls

Yep, he throws like his mother (in other words, a girl)

Ok, he hits like his mother too!!!

At least he made contact with the ball

Scoring his first run