Pumpkin Patch

         Last weekend, we made our annual trip to the pumpkin patch.  I love the pumpkin patch and it's something we all really look forward to each fall.  I was so excited for Graceyn to experience all of the fun too.  We have been meaning to go all month, but last Saturday was the first Saturday where we didn't have other plans. 
     We headed to the Pumpkin Patch first thing in the morning.  The weather was absolutely perfect.  It was a great fall day.  We had so much fun finding our way through the corn maze.  This year's theme was Mickey Mouse and friends.  The kids loved that.  We didn't get a chance to find them all because it was a lot of walking for little feet.  We still had a great time. 
    We took a snack break and had piping hot apple cider and home made pumpkin bread.  We finished our visit by picking out pumpkins.  What a great place that pumpkin farm is we enjoy our visit each year.  It truly doesn't feel like fall until we have gone to the pumpkin patch.  We are now ready for fall!

Gracie dressed in her Halloween gear.  Her shirt says "Auntie's Sweet Treat"

Such a pretty place

Dawson likes to run

They loved this tractor

Ashlyn decided to be extra festive and wear a pumpkin headband

Down the slide

They were so excited to go down the slide

Gracie couldn't play this year, so she just took everything in

What a smile!

Ashlyn's doll had to join us

They always like to take their picture here

This looks like a picture from an ad

They loved the corn pit

Which way to go?

So excited

Taking a quick break

Joey takes a picture every year of the kids being thrown in the air.  The corn was so tall this year thanks to all the rain we have gotten. 

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Once Jameson saw Ashlyn getting thrown in the air he insisted it was his turn

Gracie felt like posing

Such a great fall picture

The boys got suckers as a very special treat

Our attempt at a family shot  Its funny we can never get a good one 

Taking a pumpkin ride

Pizza Night

      Things have just been beyond busy and hectic around here.  First, we have a very mobile baby who you have to keep an extremely watchful eye on.  Since she is learning all sorts of new skills, her sleep has not been the best.
     A few weeks ago I began tutoring reading at my old elementary school.  So far it has been a great fit for me.  I still get to work with kids and work on reading which I love and is my strength, but I am only gone a few hours a week.  Joey's schedule allows for him to watch Gracie while I go so we don't have to find childcare.  I am gone during the majority of her nap time so she doesn't even hardly miss me.  I love working with the kids and its nice to get out of the house a few hours a week.
      Ashlyn's activities have also been keeping us very busy.  She is still in Cross Country and will be finishing up this week.  She has also started gymnastics one night a week.  In addition to gymnastics, she is also taking piano lessons.  She loves both and looks forward to them.  I took piano for about 10 years growing up and got pretty good.  My parents even bought me my own piano.  Being a typical teenager who doesn't think past the next hour, I decided to quit when I was in high school.  I regret that decision all the time.  My parents gave me my old piano and now it sits in our living room.  The kids and I have had a great time playing with it.  I have even been trying to reteach myself my favorite songs.  Ashlyn is so excited to play songs and I can't wait to see her learn and grow on the piano.
     Even though we are so busy and have something almost every night, we still keep our Friday nights open for our family movie nights.  Ella comes over each week to join in the fun. The kids have so much fun together.  Last week we watched Hocus Pocus and made witch hat cookies.  This week was a very fun one.  We decorated a spooky house and then watched the movie Monster House.  We have been having so much fun with our Halloween theme nights.  I will be sad when Halloween is over.  I am thinking Christmas theme nights will definitely be in order. 

Eating pizza

The house before

Decorating.  I can definitely tell you that way more candy went into their mouth then on the house.

The finished house. 

Gracie on the move!

    Our little angel is on the move!!! She has become so mobile.  She is full on crawling now.  She still prefers the army crawl, but can crawl on all fours when she wants to.  Graceyn cracks me up because she constantly amazes me how she literally does things overnight.  She wasn't sitting up by herself, and then overnight she could like a pro.  Same thing with babbling.  Just yesterday she starting pulling up and standing up.  Its her new favorite thing to do.  She always has the biggest smile on her face when she does it .  Now that she's mobile we have to really baby proof and get some gates. 
    Graceyn turns 7 months old tomorrow, and I will do a full post then.  For now here are some adorable pictures of our sweet girl. 

Daddy was being silly and put her in my work bag

So proud of her new skill