Our lil punkin

On Sunday we made a trip to the local pumpkin patch. Last year we did it very close to Halloween, this year we decided to do it early in the month while the weather was still wonderful!

Once we arrived at the pumpkin patch and got out of the car, Karsten wasn't too happy about the sunshine in his eyes. I had his sunglasses in the diaper bag so we decided to try them on. I was so surprised that he actually left them on!


They had this cool old truck (druc says Karsten) set up as a photo opp with pumpkins. Karsten thought he was pretty cool sitting on the running board of the truck.






Next he wanted to check out some of the playground. The boys headed over to check it out.


He LOVED the slide - Grandpa would put him at the top and Scott would catch him at the bottom. He giggled and giggled - thought it was so fun!


They had tire swings that looked like horses. We weren't sure if he would hold onto it and swing but he thought it was fun.


But the horse ride was shortlived, then he took off with Grandma to check out the witch and her cauldron.


So much to look at!


They had a corral where the kids could 'ride' on wooden bulls and horses and try to lasso things. No lasso for us this year; and he wasn't too into riding the bull.


Hmmm, do we want one of these pumpkins?




Grandma and Grandpa on the hayride to go pick out our pumpkin in the field.


Karsten had a great time exploring the pumpkin patch.


Once Grandma picked out a pumpkin, Karsten tried to lift it up for her. Very helpful isn't he?




Then he spotted another pumpkin that he thought we might all like better!


Karsten was saying 'I want this one'.


Picking pumpkins is hard work, he had to stop and rest with Grandma for a minute.


On the way out we stopped at the kids area with tiny pumpkins. Karsten found a few that he liked, but he chose this one. We were standing around watching him choose a pumpkin, then he grabbed one and walked over to a Grandpa like man and handed a pumpkin to him. He evidently wanted to make sure that everyone had a pumpkin.


We lucked out with beautiful weather for the pumpkin patch and had a great time! The next time you see these pumpkins will be in the pictures when we carve them! :)

Fall Fun

Each year, Kenna and Scott along with Kenna's mom and stepdad, Cheri and John, host a wonderful evening for friends, a hayride and smores.

Unfortunately, David had to work so Jen was solo with both kids. Talk about super mom - look at her holding both Eden and Elam!


Scott held Karsten's hand and let him bounce on the trampoline for a bit. Once he was done, he had a good time watching all of the other kids bounce.


Then we decided we would walk over and see the cows! This is Karsten pointing when we asked him where the cows are.


The cows weren't feeling too social so we headed back over to the festivities. There was a parachute and the kids thought it was fun to run underneath it. Karsten saw some other kids do it so he wanted to give it a try too.

Then Seville held his hands - adorable!


He was looking at her with HUGE eyes - I think he was wondering what they were doing. Then she grabbed both sides of his face and gave him a big kiss before running away. She was too fast, I didn't catch it on camera.


Just checking things out. It was a little chilly, so I was happy he didn't fight keeping that hood on.


I think Elam was having a good time - next year he'll be running around with Karsten!


We thought it would be cute to get Karsten's pic on the bench with this adorable scarecrow. No such luck - he was a little leary of the scarecrow and had to keep an eye on him.


Everyone brought a dish to share and our wonderful hosts provided chili and hot dogs. The food was wonderful - I think we went home with a few new recipes!

Eden enjoyed dinner as well!


Karsten got tired of sitting so he was walking around munchin on his pretzel.


Another super-mom manuever...Eden on her sholders and Elam in the Baby Bjorn. Impressive!!


We thought it looked like a great idea so Karsten got to ride on Scott's sholders as we headed out to visit the cows again. Word was out that they were very friendly.


Kenna's husband Scott helped Eden get a closer look at the cows.




Karsten got to mooooooo back at the cows.


We couldn't get him to smile, but it's a cute family pic regardless.


I think he was telling Scott all about the cows...


Eden was having fun feeding the cows.


A quick family pick before the hayride


Elam decided it was time to eat right about the time for the hayride.


Kenna's mom, Cheri, was our wonderful hostess


Say cheese!


Karsten loved the hayride - he had this look on his face the entire time - soooo much to look at and watch!


Hadley and Cooper were watching the big furry bat with light up eyes that was hanging from the tree in the spooky forest!




After the hayride, Karsten decided he wanted to try driving the tractor!


We ended a wonderful evening with smores over the camp fire. Thanks so much to Kenna, Scott, Cheri and John for including us in such a fun tradition!

Happy Birthday Kellen!

I can't believe Kellen is turning 4 - it seems like Liz was just pregnant with him!

When we got to his party, we put Karsten down and thought he would go over and play with the other kuds. We forgot that he likes to hang out and watch what's going on before he hops in. Right after Scott put him down, Karsten went for the nearest set of legs - I'm sure he thought it was Scott or I, but it was Liz's sister Sara. As soon as Sara's daughter, Evelyn, saw that someone else was hugging her mom, she was watching Karsten very carefully.


Karsten was being shy and didn't want to talk much to Liz's mom.


He was finally comfortable with his surroundings and went to play with a car he saw.


Kellen, the birthday boy, enjoying his ice cream.


Karsten had his very first ice cream cone and really enjoyed it.




Ice cream is a little messy.


The boys had a great time running up the stairs and then down the hill. Karsten would watch them as if he was saying "I wish I could do that".


Then Karsten found the sidewalk chalk. He had never played with sidewalk chalk before - he spent a lot of the time carrying it around, but he would occasionally lean down and scribble on the ground.




Kellen opening his birthday presents. His friends all wanted to help him open the presents.


Evelyn had fun riding the trike.


After Karsten saw Evelyn riding the trike, he started to push it around. We tried to put Karsten on the trike but he was having none of it.




Playing with an airplane like the big boys!

Cousins

Kelli, David and the boys only live about an hour away, but we still don't see each other as often as we should - schedules get busy and we just run out of time!

Kelli and the boys came to visit tonight, it was beautiful outside so after a quick dinner we went to the park. Trent and Taylor both wanted to push the stroller, they did a great job keeping up with the stroller because it can get going pretty quick on the hill.



The slide is Karsten's favorite thing at the park.


Aunt Kelli helped Karsten up the stairs and get ready to go down the slide. He wanted to give all of us a scare by walking forward as far as he possibly could on the slide, then sitting down right before he slid down.


Karsten and Taylor