Fall = Vala's Pumpkin Patch!

I love fall! (I hate my allergies, but several things trump that.) I love the smells. I love the colors. I love that there isn't so much humidity and heat, but we can still be outside playing a lot. In fact, it's probably more enjoyable being outside than it is in the summertime now. And...I love that Vala's Pumpkin Patch is open! (The sign at the top of this chair reads "Vala's Pumpkin Patch Rocks!")This ginormous piece of land is open 5 weeks out of the year...that's it. These people make their living (and a pretty good one, I'm guessing) having this huge operation open 5 weeks out of every year. It's not JUST a pumpkin patch though; it's much more. First and foremost, it's a retreat from our everyday routine...and that right there is worth the cost of a family pass. In fact, we were there 3 times this week alone. It's a place for the kids to be outside and run and run and run and do different things. So, I will include lots of pictures in this blog from our three trips, so you can get a small glimpse of what we do while at Vala's. The first trip was with Lainey's pre-school class on Monday. Tuesday we went with my cousin, Sheila, and her kids Alison and Connor. My cousin, Melissa, her husband, Joe, and their kids, Cohen and Savannah, joined us later in the day. Today (Friday) it was just too beautiful not to head out there. So, we picked Lainey up from pre-school, got Lunchables and went out for 3 hours. The kids have a blast and we manage to make it out of the park without spending a dime. There are plenty of things to do without spending any money (and several things to purchase once inside as well...pony rides, food, pumpkins, etc.) But, the kids know that we're there to have fun not buy things...and they are just fine with that! (On rare occasions, we do have to splurge on a small bag of kettle corn...a treat for the kids, you know.) :-) Anyway...here you are...hope you're enjoying this beautiful fall weather as well while it lasts.


Monday - Wee Lambs Field Trip

The kids took a train ride around all of Vala's. This you do have to pay for (so we usually don't do) but was included in the field trip so was a special treat for Lainey.

Each child got to pick their own apples from the orchard after taking the tour.

Lainey and Sophie enjoyed the huge slide...all 20 times they went down!

They have a tricycle track that kids 6 and under can ride all around. The girls have a blast and can ride and ride and ride...

Sawyer LOVED being out there too...just watching all that was happening!

Some of Lainey's pre-school buddies (and Sophie too).

Tuesday - Sheila, Alison & Connor Rempe - Joe, Melissa, Cohen & Savannah Dirks

Lainey, Alison, & Sophie on the hayrack ride out to the pumpkin fields. Cohen and Savannah were on the hayrack too. Cohen goes because he LOVES the tractor ride. The kids didn't actually pick any pumpkins while in the patch. But, we did search for them and let them pick all ladybugs they wanted...and there were lots. They had a blast!

Lainey, Melissa and Savannah on the kiddie "train."

Sawyer was fascinated by the goats, sheep, camels and other animals they had there. He was SO excited every time he saw one.

The girls jumped and jumped on the big pumpkin bounce. We went at the perfect time on the perfect day too. There were hardly any other kids there.

Lainey wanted me to take their picture at every wood cut-out there was. :-) There are lots and lots to choose from. :-)

Friday - Just Us

This is Zander, a mechanical dragon, who likes to eat pumpkins. They have a few different types of shows throughout the day. The girls REALLY wanted to see Zander today as we missed him the other two times this week. Lainey was very proud of herself that she wasn't afraid at all this year. Sophie was a little apprehensive of the friendly dragon still.

Lainey LOVES the bikes!

One of the girls' favorite attractions is the pig races. They race baby pigs around 5 at a time, each with a colored bandanna around its neck. They have little jokes throughout the show as well. We watch this if we catch it in time each time we're there.

Poor Sawyer had just about had enough today. One bad thing about Vala's is the lack of nap schedule that we keep. It's not too bad...except for Sawyer. Of course, he couldn't dare fall asleep in his stroller. None of my kids could ever do that. They're too afraid to miss what's going on, I guess. (I think they get that from me.)

This was several failed attempts at getting a picture of the kids in the pumpkins. Any idea why they would put goats right next to a photo op area??? (I thought about turning the camera on me to show what a sweaty mess I was after this little ordeal but thought better of it!)

Love the fall colors!

I just couldn't resist this one!

Birthday Parties

We went back to Kearney and celebrated Sawyer's 1st birthday and Sophie's 3rd birthday on Sunday afternoon with our families and Sawyer's Godparents. I don't know what I was thinking when I only rented the facility for 2 hours (including set-up and clean-up) to celebrate 2 kids' birthdays. :-) It was total controlled chaos, but the kids had fun. It was a beautiful day. Sawyer was fairly oblivious that the day was about him. Sophie took full glory in the attention. She was a hoot...pumping her arms at her gifts and taking bows when opening panties that she received (because she used to take bows when I would mention she was potty-trained to people.)

Here are some pictures.

Great-Grandpa Hersh and Great-Grandma Edna Sheffield from Wilcox drove down for the party.

Great-Grandma Elaine from Axtell was able to attend as well!

The kids' cousin, Keaton, watching Sawyer opening the gift he gave him...one of his favorite toys at his house...a big Tonka truck. Yeah...a boy toy! Even the girls are thrilled!

Sophie had to have another rainbow cake for this party. I bought too many jelly belly's to make the first one. :-)

Sawyer's first look at his puppy cake...and proud big sister in the background. He makes puppy sounds now when he sees or hears a puppy.

He does like frosting!

Sawyer was just kind of overwhelmed by the whole thing...well, maybe not so much overwhelmed as that he didn't really even care. He didn't really dig into the gifts or the cake. I'm sure next year will be quite a different story.

Lainey was such the little helper at the party...showing off the gifts...making sure everybody knew what Sophie and Sawyer got...helping her younger sibling open their gifts, etc. etc. What a little party planner/organizer I have on my hands. :-)

Doctor Stats

This might not be of much interest to anybody except family members that check the blog regularly. So, for those that want to know...and save me from sending a mass email...here are Sawyer's 1 year stats and Sophie's 3 year stats from their Doctor appointment yesterday morning. (Just for fun, I looked up the stats to compare at the same point from the other kids and wrote them in italics.)

Sawyer (1 Year)

Height: 30.75" (80%)
Weight: 25 lb. 1 0z. (81%)
Head Circumference: 49 cm (98%)

Lainey (1 Year)
Height: 31.25" (97%)
Weight: 25 lb. 2 oz. (95%)
HC: 47 cm (95 %)

Sophie (1 Year)
Height: 30" (75%)
Weight: 22 lb. 3oz. (70%)
HC: 46 cm (75%)

Sophie (3 Year)

Height: 40.75" (98%)
Weight: 35 lb. 8 oz. (87%)

Lainey (3 Year)
Height: 39.75" (97%)
Weight: 39 lb. (97%)

Happy 1st Birthday, Our Dear Sawyer!

I know this is so cliche, but seriously, where does the time go?!?! How is it possible, that we awoke yesterday morning, and our little boy was a year old already? It seems like the girls were just coming down to the hospital in their pj's and slippers to see the newest addition to our family. Even Lainey commented today that she was thinking that it just didn't seem that long ago that Sawyer was only "this big." Now, he is crusin' all over the place...he doesn't have any desire to walk on his own yet...but he gets around just fine...crawling on all fours...or on his hands and feet if out on the cement...walking around furniture...walking behind push toys...climbing up and going backwards down the stairs (it's definitely nice not to have to worry about that anymore!)....testing the limits on just about everything and exploring the world as only he sees it right now. What was our life even like a year ago without him? Happy Birthday, our dear sweet boy. WE LOVE YOU!



It was a BEAUTIFUL Sunday, so we went to the park with Lainey and Sophie and met Cohen (who didn't want to be in a picture so had to be snapped in one running away) :-) and his cousin Madisen. We ate Lunchables and had cupcake cones to celebrate Sawyer's birthday (who really had no clue what was going on). :-)

Sawyer did enjoy his cupcake cone although he ate his without the frosting simply because it was so windy that the sand was flying everywhere....and yes, that is a little shiner on his cheek...it's just one of the many times he bumped his head...just happened that this time produced a bruise. :-) He loved the sand, the kids and climbing on the swing set and was more than ready for a bath and nap when we got home!

Surprisingly, Sawyer really didn't love his cupcake as much as the girls were sure that he would. He shuddered at his first lick of frosting, and as much as the girls tried to get the cupcake into his mouth all he really wanted to do was throw it onto the floor. He did occasionally lick his fingers, but overall, he just enjoyed the mess! (and all the noise and attention from the rest of us) :-)

After getting cleaned up from cake, the girls opened Sawyer's gifts, but that's where their help stopped. He quickly claimed control of his toys...especially his toy drum our neighbor's gave him. He LOVED it!

Overall it was a wonderful day...celebrating Sawyer and the true gift he is to all of us...his bright beautiful smile...easy-going laid back personality...and little person he becomes daily learning and growing and doing new things all of the time! I cannot even imagine what the next year holds in store for you little guy...what an adventure!!!!