Schnepf Farms

Every year since Addie was born we've gone out to Schnepf Farm's Pumpkin Patch.  I love it and the kids do too.  Pumpkin patches aren't Dave's favorite but I think it's grown on him ... note the jack-o-lantern shirt ;)

The kids love petting the goats.  It creeps me out.  I was surprised Dave went back in this year ... last year a goat peed on his foot.

Addie is so happy around animals.

The jumping pillows were a new addition this year - big hit!

The bee ride used to be the kids favorite.

Grammy Janet came along this year.

The kids got to participate in a dog show ...

Addison had no idea the dog had jumped over her she was so focused on the ants crawling on the ground.

Now the rollercoaster is the fav.

 

 

Happy Fall!

Go Jacks

Last weekend we went up to Flagstaff to celebrate NAU's homecoming.  The kids' favorite part of the weekend was watching the parade.

Once Cam realized there was candy being handed out he stood with his hands through the barricade like he was waiting for communion the ENTIRE parade.

On our drive home we stopped just outside Flag for a little hike.  Addie just kept asking if we were "in the real forest".  Apparently we don't get out of the desert often enough.

Cupcakes

Today Danielle came over to decorate Halloween cupcakes with the kids.  They turned out so cute!  And Danielle was very kind ... she brought Raul home the cupcakes she made (sterile) and not ones the kids had made ( sticky, spitty fingers).

Addie's cat.

Cam's monster.

 

Nana

Last week we went to visit Nana so she could see the kids in their Halloween costumes. 

 

The kids taught Nana how to play Candy Land.

 

And Nana read to them from a new bird book she'd gotten for them.

 

The kids are fascinated by how 'old' Nana is (she'll be 90 this December).  I can't remember what we were talking about the other day but Addie finished our conversation by saying, "You know Nana sure is old but she's really smart".  I'm glad we weren't at Nana's when she said that and I'm glad Nana doesn't read blogs :)

 

Random Pictures

 

I am not a morning person but Cam has been waking up around 6 AM for the last few months.  One morning he was up a little after 5 AM.  As the sun came up we decided to take stroll around the backyard.  Glad we did, these are the blooms we found on the cactus.

 

 

 

 

Addie has always loved pancakes.  She has a Curious George book about a pancake breakfast and in the pictures every one's pancakes are in a perfect stack, with a perfect square of butter on top and a nice puddle of syrup.  We now have to recreate the look every morning.

 

While Cam loves Mrs Marks he's not so into the 'academic' side of school.  He usually won't even hold a pencil for me at home.  Out of the blue a few weeks back he started writing letters.

 

This is what I found on the couch when I came home from work one day.  I know it's just killing my dad that his grandson is wearing a tutu :)

Relay For Life

Earlier this month we participated in the Relay for Life in Goodyear.  This year our team raised nearly $2,000.00 for cancer research and support services.  This was Addie's second year coming with me and Cam's first.  They had a blast.

This is our tent with the quilt my mom made.

Jenn and her son James participating in the survivor lap.

Jenn's daughter Kylie and Addie showing off the cupcakes they decorated at a nearby tent.

Cam out walking on the track ... he was super excited for the costume lap!

Kylie and Addie out selling tickets for the quilt.

Santa

Camden has had his eye on a set of matchbox cars from the CARS movie for several months.  We visit it every time we go to Target.  The other day I suggested that he put it on his list of things he'd like Santa to bring him for Christmas.  He like the idea and that night we wrote it down.  After finishing he wanted to get in the car and drive back to Target.  I was lost.  After a long line of questioning I figured out what he wanted to do: take the letter for Santa to Target and hang it up so that the next time Santa was running his errands at Target he would see Cam's note and pick up the cars for him.  Ha!  Addison had been listening to our conversation and decided to throw in her two cents.  She told Cam that Santa didn't buy toys from Target, he made them at the North Pole with his elves.  Cam was totally miffed.  He looked at her and said, "Why would Santa have to make the toy when it's already finished at Target?"  Excellent point Cam.

Super Hero Ice Cream

The kids love dressing up so I bought their Halloween costumes back in August thinking it would be nice for them to get lots of use out of them.  Clearly a tactical error.  Cam's costume is WORN OUT. 

 

 

They wore their costumes out to ice cream the other night and a little boy asked Cam why he was wearing an 'old' costume. Cam looked crushed. The ice cream turned him around though.

My Pumpkins

A couple weeks ago I was the mom helper in Cam's class.  Cam LOVES school and LOVES Mrs Marks.  While Addie still tears up every day when we drop her off Cam just runs into the classroom and doesn't even notice when I leave. 

Singing songs with Mrs Marks

Pumpkin hats were the days' craft project