Family Fun

Maintaining our annual October tradition (6th year in a row!) of attending a local pumpkin festival, we once again spent a wonderful fall afternoon "down on the farm". As usual, Maddie enjoyed the rides and having Dad chase her through the hay bale maze. Luke enjoyed the dirt, rocks, sights and sounds. He also enjoyed riding on the Honey Bee ride with Mom. We all enjoyed some yummy snacks and the fall weather was beautiful. Once again the setting provided a beautiful backdrop for some photos and a day filled with memories.

Maddie and Luke pose on some hay bales

Dad joins the photo too

All smiles in the pumpkin patch

Luke sits surrounded by pumpkins

A pumpkin is the perfect chair for Luke

Maddie balances as she walks across pumpkins in the field

Family photo... smile Luke!

Maddie Goat and Luke Sheep smile with their farm animal friends

Maddie and Dad get ready for the swing ride

Halloween facepaint art

Luke finds some rocks

Move those rocks Luke... great job!

Maddie feeds the deer some corn

Luke and Mom on the train ride

Maddie rides a swing

Luke explores a playground tunnel

Luke loves the farm soil (a.k.a. dirt)

Maddie by the koi pond

Mom and the kids enjoy the carousel

You might remember that we camped in October 2010 when Luke was a little over 3 months old. Although that trip went fairly well (Luke and Dad spent one night in the local hotel - read about last year's trip here: Luke's First 1/2 Camping Trip), we haven't camped since and it was time to give it another try. This time, we rented a small cabin so that Luke had a quiet (and comfortable) place for naps and nighttime sleeping. We also had our regular tent and gear set up at a campsite for Maddie and Mom. As has become our tradition, we camped with two other families so there were lots of friends and lots of fun!

Luke helps Dad set up the sleeping tent at camp

Luke wants to join the "big" kids in the toy tent

Maddie and friends goof off for a photo by the creek

Let the splashing begin

A brief pause in the fun for a photo

Luke's first creek experience begins slowly at first

Luke keeps a firm grip on Dad as he wades into deeper water

Now the water is REALLY deep

Luke slaps the water and squeals with delight

Oooh... this water is COLD!

These rocks look interesting...

Dad says it's time to get out and warm up... Luke frantically signs "More! More!"

After a little convincing, Luke comes out of the creek... very wet but very happy.

Luke did great and having a cabin for sleeping was a big improvement for him. Dad joined him one day for his nap and Mom joined him another day. Dad slept both nights in the cabin while Mom and Maddie stayed back at the campsite with the other families. When Luke wasn't napping or sleeping, he REALLY enjoyed the camping experience... exploring, throwing rocks in the creek, playing in the creek, playing everywhere... he had so much fun. The "big" kids had fun too. Of course for Maddie it doesn't get any better than camping with her girlfriends. And Maddie and Dad found a few free minutes to sneak off alone to do some fishing!

As it gets dark, the kids get a little crazy!

And there's some dancing and laughing

Two friends wonder, " When do we make smores?"

Luke and Mom eating dinner together

The girls work on a craft

Luke rests in the leaves

Luke enjoying some rock throwing (and splashing) in the creek

Maddie makes a big catch

Luke and Dad see someone approaching...

It's one of the kids... and they have rocks to throw in the river!

Rocks make a big splash... wow, that's awesome!

Raise your hand if you love camping!

A smile starts another day of camping

Maddie and Mom snuggle in the cool evening air

All in all it was a great weekend. Mom and Dad come home from these trips pretty exhausted, but it's so much fun and so worth the effort that it takes. All of the families agreed that next year we'll do it again and even spend an extra day and night! We can hardly wait!