Pumpkin Patch...

 We made our traditional trek to our favorite area pumpkin patch on a lovely, sunny, but warm October day.

 This giant "hamster wheel" was a new addition this year...

 ... as was this pully feeding system for the goats.  Logan spent a lot of time feeding the little guys.

Then it was Monkey See, Monkey Do... jumping off this tallest stacked hay bales.

 Amanda made us all have a blowup horse race around the track.

Then we roasted some kids over an open fire!!!  : )

 LOOK!!!!  Even I got in the photos!!!!

 Eric was the biggest kid of us all!!!

Scout Campout and Trip to Observatory

Eric and Logan recently enjoyed the beautiful weather by camping out with Logan's scout troop.

Logan received some awards for things he completed over the summer.

 After the sun went down, we (including my visiting mother) went to the local observatory across the lake to take a look at the moon.  This was the first time my Monkeys, my self, or my Mother have looked through a giant telescope!

We will definitely have to go back again soon!

Wind Powered Toy Car

How children in the windy state of Kansas entertain themselves!



Then Amanda had to get into the fun with her own design... see the link below or check out the next post to see their race.  : )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=35-7KGlx1lw

Amanda's Wind Powered Car

Deck Stain

The kids helped me stain the deck on Monday afternoon!

It's not perfect, but neither am I!  : )  Thanks, kids, for all your help.

Amanda's Happy (and Not So Happy) Birthday

This morning my  baby girl woke up bright and early... and 7 years old!!!

For her first Birthday request (actually, her second.  Her friend spent the night last night) she asked to go to the doughnut shop for breakfast.

Then she came home and opened some gifts... she got a few packages earlier this week that she had been saving for her special day.

Then we headed out for a lunch of her choice (Sonic... cheap date!) then went to the zoo.

As one of her birthday requests she wanted to feed the elephants... (see next post)

Amanda Feeds an Elephant

(see next video post)

Elephant Painting

... then she got to be a human easel while Cinda the elephant painted her a birthday picture!



Then we all got to touch the big beauty!!!

On the way home from the zoo, she fell asleep in the car.  Then when we got home she kept on sleeping... almost 3 hours!  When she woke up she had a headache, sore throat, and a 102 degree fever.  : (

BY BIRTHDAY GIRL IS SICK!  BOOOO!!!!

(see next video post)

Happy Sick Birthday : (

  **Trying to look happy!  : (  **

Our evening birthday plans are now postponed until our beautiful girl gets better.

After taking a teeny tiny bite out of her requested cake she went back to bed... she's been there now for 2 hours and I don't expect her to wake up until tomorrow.  Poor baby!  I guess we can just be thankful she got to have some fun before the bug hit her.  : (

Happy Birthday, Eric!

When we were in Minnesota this summer, the kids and I saw this snoopy snow cone maker  at a gift shop.  I told them the story of  when their dad was a boy, he asked for this for Christmas but never got it (I'm sure it had nothing to do with being the dead of winter, or anything).

Well, they decided we needed to buy it for him and save it for his birthday.  : )  So we did!  I hid it in my closet and forgot about it until last week when the kids and I were talking about what to get Eric for his birthday and Logan remembered the snow cone maker!  

 Everyone in the house enjoyed an icy treat... of YELLOW SNOW!   

HHAHAAHHAHAA!!!!  

Eric said it was "lemon" flavored, but I don't know...

Then for his special birthday dinner he cooked his traditional meal of crab legs. 

 Amanda thought it was stinky!  

Eric thought it was yummy!!!

 Then we sang him his birthday song and enjoyed some chocolate goodness!  

 We didn't have enough candles in the house for the cake and the kids were very concerned until I decided we would put 3 candles on one side and 8 on the other to represent 38.

**I hope all your wishes come true, my love**