Favorite Fall Festivities

With our first trip to the pumpkin patch this season behind us, we had to start thinking about what designs we would have on our pumpkins.  Last year we mastered painting and W was hoping to step it up a notch, but I was not quite ready for the actually carving process, so thankfully Target came to the rescue with "Push-in Characters."  We have a spooky Mr. Potato head and have to buy more pumpkins for Mickey and Minnie (pesky squirrels ate two of our pumpkins).

We also had a visit from some lovely Minnesotans!  It was short but sweet and since they come over a weekend, we had some free time to eat pizza, run in the backyard, and catch up.

Look at those cheeks! I just love 'em!

The artist at work.

Finished Project!

It is always so great to see them and time seems to fly even faster when catching up with a best friend.

Yesterday we ventured out to the Midwest Train Show.  I felt a little like Sheldon Cooper oohing and aahing over O gauge model trains.  We journeyed to 2 Toots for lunch and had our food brought to us by train... is there any better way?  If you are in the Glen Ellyn area, I highly recommend it.

I am not sure how many other people saw the blog with the mom who dressed her 4 year old up as a model and posed him, but I was inspired.  Lucky for me, I already dress Little Man like he is in a J. Crew advertisement, so all I needed was a nice backdrop and my camera.

What do you think? Any takers that want to feature in him in a magazine?

I thought it was fall...?

We had a jam packed weekend, as most fall weekends tend to be.  One difference though was the sweltering heat that we were surely unprepared for at the pumpkin patch.

 Despite our family sun burn, we also managed to score some pumpkins and hay stacks, the essentials to decorate a front porch.



Little Man took his entourage (Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom) and met up with his 3 amigos and their parents to tour a new pumpkin patch.  They had tractor rides, petting farms, pumpkins, and pulled pork on everything, so all and all, it was a success for the young and old alike.

"It tickles!"

Llama Llama, is that you?

There were many highlights to choose from, but the opportunity to mine for jewels, I think was a big hit.  It is furthering the new career choice.  FYI, beware of gem stones if you visit our house anytime soon.

When we were not mining, there was a park to roam, horses to ride, and general merriment to be had.

Choo Choo!

On the lookout!

Giddy up, Horsie!

Thanks again for suggesting this adventure, C family!  

Cougar 5K!

Part of our weekend festivities included a family 5K.  Maybe it was the fact that I had a ball to attend the night before, I know -- Classy, or maybe it was that I only ran about 3 times before this race did not train as vigorously as I should have, but when race day came we decided to just enjoy the fall air as we strolled through the course.  Lucky for us, it was a run/walk.  We did put the jogging shoes to good use for a little while, because W wanted to run.

The highlight for me, however, was when Little Man wanted to run across the finish line.  He ran the last .10 of a mile and everyone cheered for him when he crossed the finish line.  It was a really neat experience for both of us.  I know he is ready for his next race... I cannot quite say the same.  I think I would need to actually run on, at least, a semi-consistent basis.