I've been promising the boys a big leaf pile for a while.  But usually it's hard for me to get outside to do that with the baby.  So the other afternoon I sent them out to the backyard while I put Emmett down.  I sat and watched Samuel and Owen from the window for a few minutes and decided instead of doing the dishes I would go out and play with them.  When I walked out, Sam exclaimed, "Hey look, it's Mom!" and Owen laughed, "Mommy, what are you doing out here?!"  We played until it was cold and dark, and came back inside covered from head to toe in leaves and dirt.   

Last Friday, Samuel had his first preschool field trip.  Owen and I got to tag along with our good friends Amy, Jacob, and Emily and the rest of the preschool brigade for a fun morning at Pumpkin Land in Orem.  It was a really cute place.  O was mostly interested in scooping and throwing dirt.  Samuel was mostly interested in running around and checking out everything.  We went through a corn maze, saw goats bunnies and chickens, had lots of photo-ops with cut outs and blow ups, climbed played and explored, stopped for a donut break with all the other preschoolers, walked the light alley, and chose from a bajillion pumpkins.

I spy . . . Owen with a death grip on his donut, Sam and his best buddy Jacob, O and his adorable girlfriend Emily, and a little finger that was pecked by a chicken .2 seconds later.

October 8, 2010

With fall in the air, we put together a big group of friends for a visit to South Ridge Farms, aka The Big Red Barn.  The cold and rain parted just as we pulled in, and we had a beautiful sunny afternoon to enjoy our little trip.  It only took about 20 minutes to get everyone gathered, loaded on the wagon, unloaded for several little boys to go potty, and loaded again, finally ready to go on our hay ride.  We took a 10 minute ride over to the pumpkin patch where we were let lose.  There was a little maze, some trucks, a couple photo ops, and lots of pumpkins.  The boys and I went out to the patch, and I told Samuel he could pick any pumpkin he could carry back to the wagon.  He was very deliberate about his choice, and he flip flopped a few times before he found THE one.  Then we rode back to the farm to explore the beautiful barn.  It had a darling store and a giant cooler full of apples and other fruits.  We all gathered in the dining area for our donuts that came with the hay ride.  Each of the kids also got to go home with a coloring book.  It was another great adventure with good friends and fun memories.  I love this time of year!

O in the maze.  He was totally posing for me.  Sam took off and made it through the maze all by himself.

“Uh-llo??”  “Boooooo!”

Desperately trying to get a photo of the two.  It’s truly hopeless. 

Someone shared a snack with Samuel.  But Samuel wouldn’t share with Owen.

The whole group.

Donut time.  Samuel with Gavin and “My buddy Nathan.”

Lunch break with Gabers.

Playing on the hay wagon.  Gorgeous.