P is for Pumpkin Patch

Saturday we had a super fun time at the Easy Orchards Pumpkin Patch with Andrea and her boys and grandma too. Grandpa opted to stay home and watch a football game.  

I asked Olivia to count them all. I think she was a little overwhelmed.

She did find the perfect "baby" pumpkin.

Charlotte took a chance to do some perfect posing.

Logan and Cam were busy hauling a load of extra cute pumpkins into town.

Unlimited pony rides-does it get any better than that!

They had a few of the wooden variety too.

There was a mini petting zoo with some precious baby animals. I left wanting to turn vegetarian.



This is obviosuly the crazy farm.



Olivia insisted on sticking her head in every cut-out at the farm. Here she was making the sweetest little "oink".

This is what you get when you tell charlotte to make a horse face.

Waterpump rubber-duck races-so fun!

Tractor races!

Apple orchard races.

The girls conquered the haystack pyramid.

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Showing off her pumpkin face paint.

Charlotte opted for a butterfly.

Mom had a great time watching the kids and going for a hayride.

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We managed to escape the rain and played for 3 hours! Evreyone had a blast! Didn't get a picture of the fresh cooked pumpkin donuts-they were so good.   

Silver Falls

We took advantage of a beautiful Fall Saturday and went to Silver Falls. It was so fun to take the girls to a place that we visited every summer as kids.

It was 80 degrees out with no wind-a completely perfect day!

The cool part is you get to walk behind the waterfall. Not much water was falling since it hasn't rained all summer.  

 After the big fall we took them another few miles to see a different fall. The girls were troopers.They did end up on our backs eventually. That was probably the last warm Saturday of the season. So glad we made the most of it!

Fun Week

First Ballet Class! I found an inexpensive studio in Albany that offers Saturday classes; perfect. She really loved it and did very well for her first class. I use to have scrawny legs like that!

First Day of School! Charlotte started Kindergarten last week. She's been loving it of course!  

She is so grown up these days.

Riding the bus is her favorite part. Only Kindergartners think the bus is fun.

You can see she looks nervous and excited. She couldn't sleep that first night.

Well, here's what I've been up to at "school". Yup, that's a post-it note mural a co-worker and I put up for "spirit week"

The further away you get the cooler it looks. Go Beavers!

On Saturday we went to Salem for Kevin's 26th Birthday. Here he is decorating his cake.

Kev was kind enough to share his birthday fireworks with all of us. It was quite the show!

You can see he was enjoying them.

We enjoyed Sunday dinner this evening on my beautiful "new" China. Mom gave it to me; it belonged to grandma Steffen. It is very pretty and so fun to have.   

The flowers are courtesy of Dad's flower garden. Aren't they cheerful!

Carousel Dreams

The girls have been waiting to ride the Salem Carousel since our very first day in Oregon. It didn't disappoint! They each took four rides. Here's Charlotte on Big Sky.

Riding Tropical Breeze

There was time for some posing.

This is the dragon from the Albany Carousel. We were excited to learn that they are building an old-fashioned carousel right here in Albany. The girls enjoy going to the workshop to see the creatures in progress and pick up a handful of coloring sheets.

This carousel is going to be a menagerie with lions, bears, deer, dogs, a rooster and plenty of horses and other cool animals. It is going to be amazing!

This circus horse is my favorite. Her name is Kiwi and she will be a white horse with black spots and lots of bright pink, turquoise and yellow. So pretty.

Now we just have to wait for 5 years when the project is projected to be finished.

And two cute girls ready for church this morning.