Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Halloween, Etc.

A busy October wrapped up with Halloween (of course) and a few other Halloween-related events.  For the first time in several years we didn't go to our usual pumpkin festival, but Luke's class took a field trip to a nearby farm for a fun day of games, rides and activities.  Both kids had lots of Halloween fun, but especially Luke as this was the first year that he was really excited for Halloween and trick or treating.  Enjoy the photos!

Dad and Luke carving the pumpkin

Dad and Maddie with pumpkin scoops poised and ready

Luke on the "cow train" at the farm

Luke finds the perfect pumpkin in the pumpkin patch

Jumping on the air pillow at the farm

Astronaut Luke and Mom

Luke and Maddie (a.k.a Hermine)

Ready to go

World's cutest astronaut

Maddie and friends gather before trick or treating

Pumpkin carved by Dad, Maddie and Luke!

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Camping October 2013

Our annual 3-family group camping trip last month was one of the best ever!  The weather during the four-day, three-night outing was nearly perfect (although a little cold the first night - 39 degrees!).  But even better, it was Luke's first camping trip (successfully) sleeping in the tent!  If you'd like to remember Luke's previous camping trips:


This year our whole family slept in the tent together (like a camping trip should be)!  Leading up to this trip, Luke was so excited. He got his very own sleeping bag and headlamp just like the big kids.  He had such a great time and he LOVED sleeping in the tent.  In fact, not only did he sleep great in the tent all night, but he took great naps every day too!

As usual, Maddie had four straight days of non-stop fun with her girlfriends.  With all of the girls getting older now, they really enjoyed their "freedom" to wander away from the campsite on their own (but not too far) to play in the creek, visit the campground cats at the campsite clubhouse or play on the playground.  Luke played some with the girls, some with Mom, some with his big-boy friend Jack, and mostly with Dad.  As soon as we got home, Luke was already asking when we could go camping again.  Since Luke did so well and had so much fun, we're considering a spring camp trip early next year!


Luke and Jack play in the dirt - boy fun!

The girls get ready to play in the creek

Even at night, it's never too late to play with the toys

Maddie swings out over the water at the "Tarzan hole"

Camping - it's not our home... it's theirs!

Mom and Luke sitting by the nighttime fire

Dad and Luke walking in the creek

Maddie and Audrey swing at "Tarzan hole"

Dad and Luke looking relaxed

Luke looking REALLY relaxed - napping in the tent

Dad and Maddie in the great outdoors

Maddie and Kate on the big swing

Maddie and Luke walking back to camp

Four girls... four days... lots of smiles

Family photo - 2013