T.V., Pneumonia, and Major Bummer

    Last week was full of excitement and chaos.  First of all, I had parent teacher conferences at school.  I had to work a different schedule than normal which really seemed to throw our routine off a bit.  Thankfully, they are over and we got through the week with lots of babysitting help from my mom and sister.  I like getting the chance to meet with parents, but conferences are exhausting and I am always a little relieved when they are done with.
     Last Monday, Ashlyn had a big day.  A friend of mine does the marketing for a Chick Fil A in town.  That location was doing a special promotional week for the Flying W Ranch that burned down in the Waldo Canyon Fire this summer.  She asked me if the kids would be interested in coming for an event that was going to be filmed by the news.  I asked Ashlyn, and of course she enthusiastically said, "Yes!".  I knew that Dawson was still a little young to be a part of something like that, but I knew Ashlyn would do great.  They had one of the Flying W Wranglers talking with the kids.  There were several other kids there too.  Ashlyn did a wonderful job of sitting and listening.  Three of the local news stations came to record it.  They actually filmed over about 45 minutes and I was very pleased with how well Ashlyn did.  Afterwards, the kids and I got to order anything we wanted for lunch and the kids had a great time playing in the play area.  We recorded all the news broadcasts that night.  One of the channels really showed Ashlyn well and you could see her beautiful smiling face.  It was definitely a very special opportunity!!!
     Dawson had a very rough week last week.  Last Friday, his babysitter called me on my way to pick him up to tell me that he had a fever.  His fever continued over night and I decided that he should go to urgent care on Saturday because I was convinced he had an ear infection.  Well, they said his ears looked fine and that he just had a virus.  He did a little better Sunday, but by Monday he still wasn't his usual happy self.  Tuesday afternoon I had to work and my Mom watched the kids.  I got home before he woke up from his nap.  He woke up just miserable.  He had a high fever, he was lethargic, clingy, and what concerned me the most was that he was breathing rapidly.  I called the doctor's, but by that time only the after hours was open.  Joey took him in and they determined that he had an ear infection and pneumonia in his left lung!!!  As usual my mother's intuition was right and I just knew that there was something big going on.  They immediately put him on some very strong antibiotics.  Joey stayed home with him the next day and he said he was already doing better.  He has been very slowly getting better.  He has been cranky and very clingy the last few days.  I think he is still fighting the tail end of that viral infection that antibiotics can't do anything for.  Today is the first day that he has been more like his usual happy, sweet self.  I pray that he continues to stay healthy and has no more scares like that!
     We also discovered this week that the flash to our camera is no longer working.  This is a huge bummer for me!  I take that camera everywhere and I am always taking pictures to put on the blog.  It is very poor timing with Halloween and Ashlyn's birthday around the corner.  Luckily, Joey got the extended warranty, so we were able to send it in.  Who knows when we will get it back.  My sister as offered her camera for Ashyln's birthday party.  The blog might be a lot more sparse with pictures for the next few weeks. 
    Ashlyn's birthday party is this Saturday.  It's her biggest party yet and I think there are around 12 kids coming.  She is so excited and I knows it going to be amazing!  I will be sure to take lots of pictures.

Ashlyn's Field Trip

      Today was Ashlyn's field trip to a pumpkin patch.  Her preschool only does one field trip during the school year, so it was a pretty big deal for her.  She also got to ride on a bus with her friends which was the neatest thing ever for her.  Joey took the day off so he could come along.  Thankfully, the field trip was on a day that I don't work.  Joey, Dawson, and I followed the bus and got to be a part of the field trip.  I think parental support is paramount in a child's education.  I'm very glad that Joey and I got to be there and experience what she experienced with her.  She told me later that it meant a lot to her that we were there. 

    I had never been to this particular pumpkin patch before, and I liked it.  There was a lot for the kids to do.  They had a lot of different animals for the kids to see.  They also had hayrides, a slide, a swing, a hay mountain, tires to play in, a huge bouncy thing, and duck races.  Ashlyn's teacher is awesome and made sure that they went to every activity.  Ashlyn had a great time with her friends and Joey and I had a wonderful time watching Ashlyn interact with her peers and have such a good time.  

Checking out the horses

Holding her partner, Tegan's hand

On the hay ride.  Dawson LOVED it!

Waving to Daddy

There we go

A nearby farm

Dawson and I checking out the animals

They had a 600 pound pig named Emma.

They had this really neat bouncy thing that they called the "pillow". It was hands down the neatest bouncy thing I have ever been on.  It blew a trampoline or bounce house out of the water.  The best part was that a lot of kids could bounce at once. 

Bouncy girl

Having a great time

Ashyln talked me into trying it out

Dawson running around

Dawson and Daddy jumping

Ashlyn and her class at the top of the hay mountain

They had a little ride that the kids loved

Having a great time

Dawson in the huge tires

On the swing

Going down the huge slide

Trying to find the perfect pumpkin

She found it!

So proud of her pumpkin.

The kids and their pumpkins.

Ashlyn riding next to her best friend Isabella

Backyard Fall Shots

   The weather was so perfect on Sunday, that Joey and the kids went outside and played for a bit while I made dinner.  Joey grabbed the camera and he got some really good shots.  I just had to post my favorites.  

Perfect Fall Day

   This Sunday, we enjoyed  what is one of my favorite family traditions that we do each year.  We went to the pumpkin patch.  We went to the same pumpkin patch that we always go to.  It's a bit of a drive, but I really think its one of the best in the area.  The kids just love it there.  Last year, we didn't get an early enough start and it was pretty busy by the time we got there.  This year, we left early and got there right when it opened.  Bryan, Katy, Ella and Jameson joined us as well.  We were the first ones there and it was nice having the place to ourselves for a few minutes.  We all really enjoyed the corn maze this year.  They always have a different game each year to play.  As you walk through the maze, you look for clues and punch the game card.  Ashyln was bound and determined to get all of the clues.  It took us a while, but we managed to do it.  If you have never been through a corn maze, I would highly recommend it.  I just wish we got to do it more than once a year.  The weather was absolutely perfect on Sunday.  There wasn't even a chill to the air.  We definitely planned our pumpkin patch trip perfectly.

   After the pumpkin patch, we went out to lunch because we had definitely worked up an appetite!  Usually we just head back home.  This year, we decided to do something that I have always wanted to do.  We went to an apple farm.  My parents had been in the area the day before and recommended a good one.  It was perfectly located on the way home.  It was not busy at all which was also nice.  They had a map showing which rows contained which apples and gave you a basket.  We had a great time picking the apples from the trees.  We also sampled and bought some of their amazing cider.  The kids and I love apples and eat several a day.  These that we got are amazingly sweet and delicious.  Ashlyn and I decided to make some applesauce with them that is cooking as I write this.  I can't wait to try it! We will definitely be adding the apple orchard to our fall fun day. 

    Our day just exuded fall fun.  We were so blessed with great weather and we all had a wonderful time.  The cousins enjoyed each other so much and my kids slept really well that night.  We came home with some huge pumpkins, lots of apples, delicious apple cider, and lots of great memories.  I'm already looking forward to next year.

Dawson checking out the pigs

He is always running

They have a huge corn pit for kids to play in.  Dawson and Ella liked that part best.

Getting taller

Best friends in the whole world!

Walking through the maze

Joey always insists on taking this picture each year.

Dawson got to be part of it this year.

Mommy and Dawson

Uncle Bryan and Jameson

Ashlyn leading the way

His little legs got a little tired

Ashlyn checking out pumpkins

Love this fall picture



Dawson riding in the wagon.  They have an amazing selection of pumpkins and we got some huge ones.



Our attempt at a family photo.  It's a challenge to get both kids to look at the camera.

Ashlyn and Daddy

Trying to get a picture of all four kids is even more challenging.  This was the best one we got.

Happy boy

Ashlyn and Dawson ready to go pick some apples

The trees were full of apples

The bucket was getting heavy

Ella



I can't remember what we were laughing at, but I love this shot.