Trick or Treat!

The pink cat and the little lady bug, ready for their first night of Trick or Treat!

The little lady bug looked a little confused at first - she wasn't sure why she was wearing a big black hood and carrying a pumpkin bucket. The pink cat and the little lady bug joined two silly cows at Nana's work to be cute and get lots of candy.

After scoring a large amount of chocolate, there is nothing better to wash the chocolate down with than your first ever juice box.

The little lady bug and the little cow, taking a break from the festivities.

Two nights later, it was time to join the neighbors for another fun night of begging for candy.

The babies had a sweet ride!

Claire is ready for some candy!

Can we please stop taking photos and do some Trick or Treating??

Hmmm. Which house was handing out beer?

It's Official!

The photo is in - I am officially a kindergartener now!

Pumpkin Chunkin

Once again we ventured to the Oregon Dairy for some good ol' Lancaster County autumn fun. This was the first time that Claire could pick out her own pumpkin.

First rule of pumpkin pickin' - try to pick a pumpkin smaller than you!

This one was more her size :)

Second rule of pumpkin pickin' - lift with your legs, not your back

Third rule of pumpkin pickin' - quickly try to find Daddy so he can carry your pumpkin :)

Once you have chosen the perfect pumpkin, sit on a hay bale for the required photo for Mommy (try not to fall off of the bale)

Proceed to the crowd gathered around the crazy guy with the pumpkin chucker.

Hand the crazy pumpkin guy a huge pumpkin, pull the lever and watch your pumpkin soar through the air!

After watching everyone try to hit the wagon half a mile away with their pumpkin, it's time to play with some corn!

Playing with corn is almost as fun as eating it!!!

Time to make the pumpkins look pretty!

Ta da!! Another great Family Fun Harvest Day at the Oregon Dairy!

Pumpkin Cookin'

To help welcome the Halloween season, Drew and Reed came over to bake Halloween brownies. We each got to pick our own shape, and surprisingly we didn't argue about it! Drew chose the pumpkin and I chose the cat. After a few leg amputations of the poor kitty brownies, it was time to decorate!

Our hard work paid off!

They looked almost too good to eat. Almost - they were Halloweenicious!

Good enough for the cover of Martha Stewart Living?! :)

Who Needs a Bus?

DPS

These days, it seems as though everyone has a GPS to figure out where to go. On a recent trip to the Oregon Dairy Corn Maze, I brought along something better - DPS (Daddy Positioning System)This corn maze was shaped like a huge cow. We received a detailed map to find ten flags located throughout the maze. We had to shade the number for the flag on our paper to prove that we had been to each one (the prize for finding all ten - free chocolate milk!!)

Daddy only had to look at the map once and knew immediately how to find his way around, but he was very patient with me. He stopped at each flag to help me figure out where we were going next.

Claire wasn't concerned at all - she knew that Daddy wouldn't let us get lost :)

Even though we had Daddy with us, Mommy always kept the maze manager in sight. He was there to help anybody who got lost!

Whenever I was unsure about which way to go, Daddy always showed me where we were on the map. Who needs a GPS?! I have a DPS!

Mommy did try to help me once. Just once.

We made it to all ten flags and found the exit!! Bring on the chocolate milk!!

When we were finished, I couldn't resist riding one of the karts at the hay track. I think I made Daddy proud!!

First Day of Kindergarten!!

She started school this morning, and she seemed so very small.
As I walked there beside her in the Kindergarten hall
And as she took her place beside the others in the class,
I realized how all too soon those first few years can pass.
Remembering, I saw her as she first learned how to walk.
The words that we alone made out when she began to talk.

This little girl so much absorbed in learning how to write.
It seems as though she must have grown to girlhood overnight.
My eyes were blurred but hastily, I brushed the tears away
Lest by some word or sign of mine I mar her first big day.
Oh how I longed to stay with her and keep her by the hand
To lead her through the places that she couldn’t understand.
And something closely kin to fear was mingled with my pride.
I knew she would no longer be a baby by my side.

But she must have her chance to live, to work her problems out,
The privilege to grow and learn what life is all about.
And I must share my little girl with friends and work and play;
She’s not a baby anymore –
She’s in Kindergarten today.
--author unknown

Today us the day I've been waiting for - MY FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!! After a yummy breakfast of homemade waffles with whipped cream and strawberries, Mommy, Daddy and Claire walked me across the street to my new school.

I gave Mommy a big hug...

...and I gave Daddy and Claire a big hug, and I was ready to go! Mommy walked me into my classroom, I blew her a kiss and away I went!

Before I left the house, I told Mommy that Claire would play with my blankie and Ninny if she missed me. I never let ANYONE play with them, but I knew that Claire might be upset that I was leaving.

Mommy said that Claire looked for me a lot while I was at school, so Mommy showed her that I was right across the street :)

When it was time to leave, Mommy and Claire waited outside to pick me up - they had to hold up a sign with my name so the teacher knew who I belonged to :) Mommy had to wake Claire early to get me, so she was not too excited about holding up the sign!

We have to line up outside before we are released to our mommies and daddies.

I had so much fun on my first day!! It's too bad that Claire wasn't as excited...

To celebrate my first day, Drew, Reed and Aunt Amy came to our house for lunch. When lunch was finished, we went to the Oregon Dairy for ice cream!!

Drew will be starting kindergarten next year - I hope he has as much fun as I am!

Claire finally snapped out of her fog in time to enjoy some ice cream - big surprise!

After ice cream, Drew and I spent some time in the playground. It was such a fun morning. I can't wait to go back tomorrow!!