Preschool pumpkin patch

Graysen had his first field trip while in preschool this year and we went to a cute little pumpkin patch.  He was so excited to be go with me for a little mommy son time.
Graysen wanted to take a picture with his face poking through the pumpkin, and actually had me take one of him in each hole.  He is silly, but I love him.

We went for a hay ride which he thought was so cool, and we got to see the whole farm.  He just wanted to snuggle up next to me the whole time which was adorable.  I will take any snuggles I can get.

We stopped at the pumpkin patch and the kids got to get out and pick out their own pumpkin.  Graysen chose a small one since he is small, and I think it's perfect.

His favorite thing was the slide.  He was afraid to climb up the hay stack at first to get to it and actually go down it, but once he saw the other kids doing it he had to try it and I couldn't get him off after that.  Hopefully he won't be one of those that succumbs to peer pressure right?

He also was really enthralled with the water pump which you did by hand and tried to get rubber ducks to the other side with the water. If it wasn't for the bigger kids coming and crowding him out he would have stayed there for a while.

We went through the hay maze and looked at the animals they had there.  There was a big box filled with wheat  instead of a sand box which Graysen of course had to stop to play in.  He loved just filling buckets and then dumping it out.  He could have played there for hours.

It was really fun and I am glad we got to have one on one time and do something fun like this.  Of course I had to get him a peanut butter m&m cookie to top it off, which he loved me for.  I am not opposed to bribing my kids with food to make them love me even more...haha.

Pumpkin Patch

Our annual tradition of going to Lake View Farms has come and gone.  It is so fun to be able to have traditions with my own family, and i look forward to those traditions every year.

The kids always love riding on the train through the spooky tunnel and going to the pumpkin patch to pick out their pumpkins.  They love trying to help with the wheelbarrow of course too.

I was so glad it wasn't raining when we went, and actually so far every time we have gone it has been pretty nice.  I love getting pictures of the kids and capturing those fun memories.  They ran through the hay maze and loved playing on top of everything and just running around.

We took the boat back to the other side and for the first time, the sea monster's didn't pop up for us so the kids were a little disappointed but they soon got over it when they got to go ride on the barrel train.  I love how much fun they have on it and they feel so big since they get to ride it by themselves with no parents.

We had a lot of fun and we were glad we could spend it with grandma and grandpa Allen and Aunt Melanie and Kennedy and Connor.  We also had to go to McDonald's afterwards and get our traditional ice cream as well.

Yay for traditions and pumpkin patches and yay for getting to spend time with family and have fun with our kids.

My little Kitty and Cow

For Halloween this year McKenna decided she wanted to be a cat.  I am just surprised she waited this long to be one since she has been obsessed with cats for a while.  She looks so cute though, and it just fits her.

Graysen wanted to be a cow, he picked he costume out himself.  I love it, and he looks so cute in it.  He has the perfect face for something like that.

We had a trunk or treat at the church and chili feed the night before Halloween at the church.  We ate and then headed out to the parking lot where they loaded up their pumpkins with all that sugar.  They had fun though and they loved seeing all their friends.

On Halloween grandma and grandpa Allen and Aunt Melanie Uncle Tyler and Connor and Kennedy came to go trick or treating with us.  We had pizza for dinner and they brought doughnuts for after trick or treating. the kids were all gunge ho and were having a great time looking at all the decorations and getting candy.  They were so polite and always said thank you which I appreciated.

They got tons of candy, but Graysen had it and so we decided to call it a night.  He didn't even want to finish the houses on the way to the car he was so tired.  He kept saying his legs hurt.  McKenna was pretty good but was ready to go home too.  It's nice when your kids are the one to cut it off then you don't have to and look like the bad guy.
Of course the best part was dumping out all the candy and sorting it and seeing what kinds they got.  We had doughnuts and visited and then it was time for bed. It was a really fun time and I am so glad we have family around to be able to share it with.

Surprise

So we found out what the baby was going to be, and boy was I surprised.  I went to the ultra sound appointment by myself since Travis had school.  My mother in law was kind enough to come down and watch the kids for me while I went.  Since the kids were really excited to find out what we were having, and the fact that Travis couldn't be with me, I decided to wait to find out what we were having until Travis got home from school.  I had the ultra sound technician put it in an envelope for me so I couldn't see it.
I gave it to Travis mom when I got home and she made a cake and put the corresponding color of what the gender was in the middle so we would find out when we cut into it.

When Travis got home the kids were so excited to cut the cake so we gathered around the table and Travis and McKenna cut into the cake.  When they pulled out the knife, there was blue frosting on the knife revealing that "it's a boy!" I was actually kind of shocked because I thought it was going to be a girl, so did Travis.  Graysen was really excited because that is what he wanted, but McKenna was very dissapointed.  It was so sad because she just put her head down and cried saying she wanted a baby sister.  She had her heart set on it being a girl and I just felt so bad.  I think I convinced her that being the only girl had it's up side, so she seemed to be in good spirits after that.

I am so excited to have another little boy though, even though I never would have pictured myself with two boys.  It is nice that I will have two boys next to each other too, so we are all excited here.
Now all that it is left is to decide on a name.

Oregon State fair

My mom came up to visit us for a week and were so glad we got to spend time with her.  The Oregon State fair was going on, so of course we had to go.  I remember going to fairs when I was younger, and I loved it.  There is nothing like the smell of fair food and hearing all the buzz and excitement of the people and the rides.  The best thing is the memories I get to make with my family.

We looked at exhibits and the kids were amazed at the big huge produce that was grown and the awesome cakes that people made.  It was really cool to see all the things people did.  The kids got to make their own quilts on a piece of paper which they thought was the best thing ever.

We got some yummy corn dogs and fries for lunch and then the kids had Hawaiian shaved ice while we had ice cream.  It was refreshing since it was kind of warm outside. We sat on the metal bleachers and listened to the band play as we ate.  The kids were enjoying their time very much.

Since there were so many animals, the kids had to see all of them.  There was a little petting zoo with baby pigs and goats, a huge llama, sheep and even a wallaby.  Graysen and McKenna could have stayed there forever brushing their hair and trying to chase after the baby pigs and goats.  The babies really were the cutest things ever.

In the arena there was some horse shows which we watched for a little bit and then viewed more animals, sheep and cows and we even got to see a Tiger.  We were very fortunate however because we came just as the trainer was telling us that Tiger's could spray up to 30 feet, and what happened but he lifted his tale and this unfortunate man next to us was sprayed and he was wearing a nice shirt and slacks.  My thought was thank goodnesss it didn't happen to me, that would suck, I am sure the guy it happened to wasn't too happy after that.
The highlight for the kids though and what they had been looking forward to the whole time we were there was of course to ride some rides.  They only cost an arm and a leg, so we opted to have them choose only two that they wanted.  They both rode on the plane together, and then McKenna wanted to ride the Tiger roller coaster and Graysen wanted to ride the Helicopter.

 They were both so excited and I loved the big grins they would get on their faces.  McKenna would put her hands up every time the roller coaster would go down, it was so cute.

We had such a fun time and I am so glad grandma could be with us to share in the joy and excitement of it all.  It is always fun when Grandma comes!

First grade and preschool

Well a new school year has begun.  I can't believe McKenna is in 1st grade.  She was so excited to go back to school, and frankly so was I :) We got to meet her teacher at back to school night and her name is Mrs. Tuttle.  I have heard good things about her and she seems to be really nice so I am glad that she has her.  It was fun that her Aunties got to be there on her first day of school.  Auntie Lindsay did her hair so pretty and McKenna picked out her outfit the night before.  Graysen of course had to be with her when we took her to school and even to walk her inside.  She just went right in and acted like she had been doing this forever.  I must say though the thing she was most excited about was to be able to take a lunch to school. I will definitely miss her since she is gone all day.

 Graysen is in preschool for the first time and he was so excited to be going to school just like McKenna.  He loved that he got to take his backpack to school and be all grown up.  He didn't fare so well when I dropped him off though.  He didn't want me to leave, but we negotiated and I was finally able to sneak out and he did great.  My little boy is getting so big.  He only goes once a week which is good because I would miss him too much if it was more.

 I love my kids and am so excited to see what they will do this school year.

Beach fun

My mom and sisters came to visit for a week and we had so much fun!  Since I have moved here 3 years ago I have yet to have a good day at the beach, but this one wasn't have bad, so I will take it.
We decided to go to Lincoln City which was nice.  It was somewhat warm, but foggy which as most of you know is just typical Oregon coast weather.

 The kids still had a blast playing in the water and in the sand.  McKenna got buried by Auntie and Isla. Graysen loved playing in the water with grandma and playing in the sand with the buckets.

  It was fun to be there with my mom, sisters and my niece and nephew.  It is so cool that the beaches and places we used to go growing up are now places we can take our own kids.  It makes it so much more special.