Pumpkin Carving

 Before...

Ignore the unhappiness.  She was having a moment!

  

During...

After...

Kelsey's first lollipop

 A baby's first lollipop is a moment that must be photographed.  It is so fun to watch their eyes go big at the sweet rush of flavor and even better to realize that they have full control over that sweet stick. It is a moment of pure delight for both baby and mom.  Unfortunately, the sorrow that follows when you must pry the soggy stick from their sticky fingers is just the opposite.
The bishop hands out suckers every Sunday after Primary.  Kelsey has had a few tastes here and there but today she got her very own.  She enjoyed every minute of this childhood wonder and followed up with a great fit of disappointment when it was all gone.

Family Weekend Get-A-Way

Sometimes it seems life takes over our lives!  We have been feeling overwhelmed as a family.  Whith soccer, work, church and all the other obligations that seem to occupy our time we needed a break!  What better than a camping trip!  With a baby my request was to camp in comfort.  That is where the R- Pod trailer came in. We rented it from the military MWR.  Normally I would say gross, but this one was brand new!

Our first stop was Conecuh National Forest.  We had camped there last year in October and it was beautiful.  This time it was just as beautiful.  The boys loved fishing the pond and I loved the bike trail that went around the pond.  We did some hiking, had some smores and played uno in the great outdoors.  What could be better!

Hot chocolate!

Daddy being silly!

Love this tree.

Giving nature a hand.  They were stripping the seeds from the grass
and spreading them around to grow.

using his new pocket knife to strip the bark off his new walking stick

Who doesn't enjoy a bath next to the toilet?

UNO time!

On Sunday, we packed up and went to a new location.  I know that sounds like a lot of extra work and it was but we were scouting out new places to visit next time.  And Top Sail Hill Preserve had the beach to entice us.  It was beautiful weather, 75 degrees.  I thought the kids would just play in the sand but the braves the chilly water and had a blast.  This was Kelsey's first time to play in the sand!  She loved watching the seagulls as they squawked at her to share her food.

Connor's version of kite flying.

First time in the sand!

At the end of the day I just wanted a photo with everyone in it, so I got brave.  I asked a lady walking by, who was carrying a very expensive camera, to take a quick photo. I love it!
This was a trip I will remember!  family time!

Applin Farms Pumpkin Patch

Applin Farms 2011

 We have been going to Applin Farms since Brennan was a baby.  We took Connor as a baby and this year it was Kelsey's turn.  Don't worry, Ryleigh visited a pumpkin patch as a baby as well it was just Apple Annie's in Arizona. I think this is one of my favorite traditions we have as a family. I love fall time and the outdoors so this is just perfect.  I always enjoy the quaintness that the farms present and almost have myself convinced that I should be a country girl by the time I leave. I love watching my kids excitement as they search for their own special pumpkin.  This year Brennan surprised me and wanted a small pumpkin. Connor went for the big one and it was so funny watching him carry it. Ryleigh loved the sunflowers that you could pick.  both the boys enjoyed helping her find the perfect one, that is when Brennan was not running from the bees.  He is still so afraid of them!

Fighting over the sugar cane!

I take what I can get!  I am usually behind the camera!

One of my favorite things about the pumpkin patch is the photo oppportunity.I tortured Kelsey trying to get the perfect picture of her in the pumpkin basket.  I knew exactly how the picture should look.  It was perfect in my head, here is what I got... along with a few other tries.