Our Halloween was certainly a day-long event! Layna and Brayden wore their special Halloween outfits to school. Layna wore her "Boo" onesie (with matching bib and hat).
Brayden's class made tie-dyed pumpkin shirts a week ago in preparation for today. They all wore them to school for their party and trick-or-treating around the church offices. After he got home, he celebrated his loot:
After dinner, it was time for some serious Halloween fun! The kids took on the bug theme, Layna as a ladybug...
...and Brayden as a spider.
And let's have one more of Buggie with her hat.
Then it was time to hit the streets and earn some candy! Brayden learned all the right things to say at school, and now it was time to put them to the test. He took to the task like a pro, walking up to door after door with a cute "Trick-or-Treat! Happy Halloween!" and "Thank you!" It was great!
When we got home, Brayden checked out all he'd gotten. He was most excited about the lollipops!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
P-U-M-P-K-I-N
To continue the fall theme, here are some pictures of the pumpkin carving when we returned from the Old Baker Farm.
Now... one story I didn't tell you yesterday was about Brayden's incredible spelling. While he was "pontificating on a pumpkin" at the farm, I asked him how to spell pumpkin, fully anticipating going through the word letter by letter just for fun... when low and behold, he spelled it! Before I knew what was happening, he just rattled off the letters: "P-U-M-P-K-I-N, that spells pumpkin!" Holy mess! We were blown away. The funny thing was that he acted like it was no big deal... I suppose to him it wasn't!
So, when we got home, I caught it on video, along with another recent spelling addition. (The video is covert, so the angle is weird... otherwise he doesn't like to "perform")
W-O-W.
Now... one story I didn't tell you yesterday was about Brayden's incredible spelling. While he was "pontificating on a pumpkin" at the farm, I asked him how to spell pumpkin, fully anticipating going through the word letter by letter just for fun... when low and behold, he spelled it! Before I knew what was happening, he just rattled off the letters: "P-U-M-P-K-I-N, that spells pumpkin!" Holy mess! We were blown away. The funny thing was that he acted like it was no big deal... I suppose to him it wasn't!
So, when we got home, I caught it on video, along with another recent spelling addition. (The video is covert, so the angle is weird... otherwise he doesn't like to "perform")
W-O-W.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Farm livin' is the life
We had so much fun last year at Cox Farms that we went hunting for a fall festival-type place so the kids could have some fun with the pumpkins. We found a few, but the Old Baker Farm sounded like the real deal... and it was.
In fact, we happened to visit during the (I'm not kidding) Cotton Pickin' Celebration. Yes friends, we went to the farm. The OBF grows corn, pumpkins (for real, you'll see), and cotton. Kids can come harvest all these things during the year, so it made for a farm used to hosting families.
We started off visiting the baby animals in the barn.
Then the fun began... remember I mentioned that they grow cotton? Well, they put all that cotton to good use by lining a trailer with the stuff and letting the kids run free. Think of it as a country Moonbounce!
(You know I couldn't resist a video!)
After the cotton bounce fun, it was off to conquer the HUGE mountain of hay out in the cow pasture (no joke). Brayden loved it! Here he is at the top:
After watching a staged shoot-out (loud!), we hopped onto the hayrides out to the pumpkin patch.
Then we saw it -- the (real) pumpkin patch!
We finally reached the gathering of quality pumpkins... and it was time to pick out our gourds!
We loaded the honkers back on the return hayride. Once we were back in the heat of the action, it was time to take a spin round the Hay Maze:
And not to be outdone, the Corn Maze got some love, too.
Now... I've saved the best for last. Before we headed home, Brayden just had to listen to the live band playing near the food tables. He loved seeing the instruments and proceeded to dance along to song after song. Here's some great booty shaking! (warning: bluegrass ahead!)
Stay tuned for pictures of pumpkin carving fun! (and some phenomenal spelling, caught on tape!)
In fact, we happened to visit during the (I'm not kidding) Cotton Pickin' Celebration. Yes friends, we went to the farm. The OBF grows corn, pumpkins (for real, you'll see), and cotton. Kids can come harvest all these things during the year, so it made for a farm used to hosting families.
We started off visiting the baby animals in the barn.
Then the fun began... remember I mentioned that they grow cotton? Well, they put all that cotton to good use by lining a trailer with the stuff and letting the kids run free. Think of it as a country Moonbounce!
(You know I couldn't resist a video!)
After the cotton bounce fun, it was off to conquer the HUGE mountain of hay out in the cow pasture (no joke). Brayden loved it! Here he is at the top:
After watching a staged shoot-out (loud!), we hopped onto the hayrides out to the pumpkin patch.
Then we saw it -- the (real) pumpkin patch!
We finally reached the gathering of quality pumpkins... and it was time to pick out our gourds!
We loaded the honkers back on the return hayride. Once we were back in the heat of the action, it was time to take a spin round the Hay Maze:
And not to be outdone, the Corn Maze got some love, too.
Now... I've saved the best for last. Before we headed home, Brayden just had to listen to the live band playing near the food tables. He loved seeing the instruments and proceeded to dance along to song after song. Here's some great booty shaking! (warning: bluegrass ahead!)
Stay tuned for pictures of pumpkin carving fun! (and some phenomenal spelling, caught on tape!)
Monday, October 27, 2008
Disney World!!
Our day at the Magic Kingdom was wonderful. The kids were filled with yummy vittles from the character breakfast and ready to get to the park... so off we go!
One of the first things we did in the park was to recreate a picture from my childhood. One of my favorite pictures as a kid was standing on a trashcan on Main Street with the castle in the background... so:
We ran around getting Fastpasses, and while we waited for the rides, Brayden played in Mickey's Toontown Fair, and we walked around in Mickey's house! (btw, the button he's wearing says "1st Visit" so that he got special attention from characters and staff)
In case anyone was wondering... it was very HOT day! Even Layna needed some refreshment!
Off we went to ride as much as we could:
(For the record, I was a little wary about riding IASW because I've heard from other parents that their kids hated it. But no worries, Brayden and Layna absolutely loved it! They danced and sang all the way through!)
We took a quick break for lunch and caught this picture
Then on to more rides...
Finally, we reached the piece de resistance, the ride that Nicole had been waiting to tackle since we planned this trip: DUMBO!
Whew... what a day! We hopped onto the monorail and headed back to the parking lot, but there was time for one last park picture -- in their new Mickey ears!
...and this is what happens to kids after a full day at Disney:
One of the first things we did in the park was to recreate a picture from my childhood. One of my favorite pictures as a kid was standing on a trashcan on Main Street with the castle in the background... so:
We ran around getting Fastpasses, and while we waited for the rides, Brayden played in Mickey's Toontown Fair, and we walked around in Mickey's house! (btw, the button he's wearing says "1st Visit" so that he got special attention from characters and staff)
In case anyone was wondering... it was very HOT day! Even Layna needed some refreshment!
Off we went to ride as much as we could:
(For the record, I was a little wary about riding IASW because I've heard from other parents that their kids hated it. But no worries, Brayden and Layna absolutely loved it! They danced and sang all the way through!)
We took a quick break for lunch and caught this picture
Then on to more rides...
Finally, we reached the piece de resistance, the ride that Nicole had been waiting to tackle since we planned this trip: DUMBO!
Whew... what a day! We hopped onto the monorail and headed back to the parking lot, but there was time for one last park picture -- in their new Mickey ears!
...and this is what happens to kids after a full day at Disney:
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Breakfast with Mickey
Before we left Florida, we took Brayden and Layna to Disney for the FIRST time!! To kick off the day, we scheduled breakfast with the characters at Ohana in the Polynesian Resort... and Mickey was promised to be there!
When we arrived, we were all lei-ed to get in the spirit. Layna loved hers:
Once we sat down for breakfast, I started to get Brayden excited about meeting Mickey! ...and then...
...and then...
We were also treated to visits from other characters, including Pluto and Lilo.
This breakfast was not only a time to warm the kids up to the greatness that is Disney World, but it was a family celebration of Nama's 80th Birthday! Mickey gifted her with a special birthday shirt and gave a great photo-op. How many people can say they celebrated their 80th birthday with Mickey Mouse?!
Stay tuned for pictures in the park!
When we arrived, we were all lei-ed to get in the spirit. Layna loved hers:
Once we sat down for breakfast, I started to get Brayden excited about meeting Mickey! ...and then...
...and then...
We were also treated to visits from other characters, including Pluto and Lilo.
This breakfast was not only a time to warm the kids up to the greatness that is Disney World, but it was a family celebration of Nama's 80th Birthday! Mickey gifted her with a special birthday shirt and gave a great photo-op. How many people can say they celebrated their 80th birthday with Mickey Mouse?!
Stay tuned for pictures in the park!
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