Annual Hayride

Last weekend was Kenna and Cheri's annual hayride. We look forward to it each year - it's a great evening of friends and fun. Each year Karsten enjoys the festivities more and more. On our way there, we were telling Karsten that we were going to a farm and that he was going to see cows and go on a hayride and make smores on a bonfire.

When we got there, Jon (Kenna's stepdad) said he would show Karsten the cows and they could feed them. Karsten was so excited and off they went to see the cows. When he actually saw the cows, he was scared by their size and backed away.

He got brave enough to take some hay and throw it in the general direction of the cows, but he wouldn't let the cows eat it out of his hand.




Then he decided it was safest to watch the cows while Scott held him. He wasn't sure about them when they moved around.


Elam watched the cows for a few minutes, then he was ready to go play on the swingset with Eden.


Karsten eventually got tired of watching the cows and headed to the swingset. He really enjoyed climbing the wall into the swingset even though each of the steps were just beyond his reach.


All the kids loved the slide because it's a super fast slide. There was always a parent waiting at the end waiting to catch their lil one as they flew off the slide.

Then we went down to the lake because Karsten wanted to get on the boat. We had Karsten sit on the dock so he would stay away from the edges while Scott got the boat untied. I tried to go down the little ramp to the dock and promptly started to slip so I gave up and waited on the shore.

Karsten looks a bit scared in this picture, but Scott said Karsten had a great time.

Isn't this beautiful?


They were having so much fun!


Then it was time to come back into the dock because it was Eden and David's turn.


And off they go!


Scott showed Karsten how much fun it was to throw rocks into the water.


Then Elam wanted to play and throw rocks too.


How cute are they?


Karsten gathered up a bunch of rocks to throw in the water.

Awww, what a sweet picture!


A huge thank you is owed to Seville for this picture - she stood behind Scott and got Karsten to smile in this picture. YAY - thanks Seville!


Seville came up to say hi to Karsten and he asked her to come play on the swingset with him.


And then off they went - Seville moved at 4 year old speed and Karsten was still at 2 year old speed so she made it to the swingset before we did.


Seville found a huge stick that made a great guitar. Too cute!


Poor lil Jillian wasn't feeling too great this night so she got to snuggle with Amy all evening. What a cutie she is!

And then it was tine for the hayide!


All of the kids were excited to see what they would find when they hayride went into the forest. In the past there has been a giant spider with flashing eyes and even a giant bat!


Round two of the hayride ready to do another loop! Many of the kiddos stayed on the hayride because they were having soo much fun!


Karsten wanted to drive the tractor. Looking good!


As Jon was getting the bonfire started,Karsten was mesmerized with the fire and couldn't take his eyes off of it.




Sampling his very first smore with Dad. He took a tiny bite and said 'I no like it' then opted for a plain marshmellow. That was fine with us, we ate the smore for him. :)


A family picture - I wish we could go back and redo this so Scott's eyes would be open. Karsten wasn't smiling but he was looking at the camera, which is good enough for me. :)


And this was the second attempt at the picture so Scott's eyes could be open - unfortunately we lost Karsten's attention. Oh well.

It was another fun hayride - can't wait for next year! Big thanks to Cheri and Jon as well as Kenna and Scott for being such wonderful hosts!!