Pumpkin Patch

We met a few friends at the Pumpkin Patch on a Sunday morning a couple weeks ago. The kids had a great time on the hay ride, feeding the animals, and picking the perfect pumpkins. Unfortunately, one of the ones we picked wasn't so perfect. After a few days on the porch, it wilted and then we found it completely smashed beside the steps. I think some of the critters that eat my flowers decided to snack on our pumpkin every night until it just fell a part! At least our two bigger ones are holding up!

Emma wanted to take the dog home with us! She hugged all over him and chased him around!

The pumpkin had a sign, "do not sit," it didn't say "do not drum!"

Emma and Drew getting ready for the hayride!

Emma and I on the hayride!

Family shot on the hayride! =) Don't the kids look thrilled... I think they were just getting impatient and ready for the thing to move! haha

Emma loved the animals and had no fear! She'd feed them and reach in and pet all of them. She likes to point at their eyes and say "eyes," so we had to keep an eye on her!

Drew was a little nervous to let the animals eat out of his hand (understandably). But he finally tried it and thought it was pretty cool!

After the animals, we took the hayride to the pumpkin patch and searched for three pumpkins to take home. Emma liked these two!

And here's Drew's pick!

Later that day we attempted pig tails again in Emma's hair!

And here's our big hitter practicing! He likes watching the World Series on tv!

Gymboree!

Emma finally did her month of free Gymboree that she'd won last year in a Halloween costume contest. She loved the class! There's lots of singing, clapping, marching, and music - which are her favorite things. I was very surprised at how fast she picked up on the songs and the routine of the class (they did a lot of the same activities each time, and Emma would know what to do right away and remember from class to class). They let the kids explore around the room, and then when they sound the tamborine, we all meet at the mat for a quick activity. As soon as she would hear the tamborine she'd run to the mat and join in (even if I wasn't over there with her yet). All the kids are mesmerized by the bubbles at the end of class!

They got to climb up things and slide down - while saying "UP" and "DOWN." Now she says "up and down" all the time at home!

Silly girl - she loves the squishy mats! I took her into the gymnastics center (where I work) the other day and she had the whole place to herself - she was in heaven running around all over!

Touch a Truck

Drew got in trouble and got taken away by the police!! Just kidding...we went to the Touch a Truck event! The kids got to climb into tractors, fire trucks, police cars, and all kinds of things.

Here's Chad and Drew with the Bobcats' mascot.

He started pointing at me a whole bunch, and I had no idea what he meant...then he started walking on his hands! (I had a gymnastics sweatshirt on! LOL)


Drew got in Kasey Kahne's race care! The guy with the car said it is the actual car that Kasey is using in his next race, they just didn't have all the interior pieces in it. COOL!!


Yeehaw! It's farmer Drew!

Here's Emma playing with some weird toy from the blood bank truck - what a silly girl!

Giggles!!

HUGE tire on a tractor!

Drew and Emma driving a fire truck.

Sharing the driver's seat!

Drew giving the Panthers' mascot, Sir Pur, a high five.

One last summer day at the park!

One day at the end of September, we had some awesome weather - so we packed up some toys and headed to the park. We brought the baseball bat and sports stuff for Drew and some bubbles and things for Emma. Well... this is mostly how it went. haha!

Wind must be blowing (check out her hair! haha).


Here's Emma running the bases...with the bat and her juice!

This was the first time in a while that we got Drew's bike out...and he could do it all on his own!! I think we were as excited as he was!

Here's a video of him riding his bike. And the next time we went out after this - he could go even faster!

Baby Owen was born!

Grant and Sherry welcomed Owen Houston Nelson to their family on September 20th! We came over to see them a few days later, on the weekend. Emma kept pointing and saying, "baby." And whenever Sherry would take him upstairs, she'd look all over, "baby? baby?" And Drew was so sweet, sitting real close to get a good look, and he kissed him on top of his head several times! It seems like every year we get a picture of the cousins with Olivia's BFF Gracie. The first time we took the picture, Drew and Gracie were 4 and 5 months old and Olivia was just a couple weeks old. Then a couple years later there's a picture with baby Emma in the group (bright red and screaming crying! lol). And now here's another one with baby Owen!

He is such a beautiful baby!

I loved holding him! He opened his eyes to look around a little - but mostly just slept!




Here's Susan and Alan with all FOUR of their grandkids!

We got to their house in time for lunch - the kids were so cute eating together at Olivia's table!

It's hard to beleive baby Owen is already a month old!! My camera wasn't working, so it has taken me that long to upload these pictures!!