Happy Halloween

In our house, we paint pumpkins.  That way, the kids can have creative free reign and also we can cook up and eat the pumpkin later.

 So we painted...

 Grace had a great time and did a wonderful job.

 We painted some more...

 Glen did a great job, but in the picture he was crying because he wanted to play with the mailbox.

Happy Halloween from my very cute bat and giraffe.

Apple Orchard

Two years ago Matt and I met up with our friends Vitaly and Violetta at an apple orchard near Winchester.  We had so much fun, and we see those friends so seldom, that we decided to do it again.

 Grace naturally ran to the play ground to have some time on the pirate ship.  It had rained right before we got to the orchard, but the weather ended up being wonderful while we were there.

 My little apple dumpling, as an apple...who knew!

 Vitaly got a work out.  It seemed that all of the best apples were at the very top, and only the kids could get them.  Or maybe he was trying to recreate some pictures from two years ago.  Or maybe he just likes hoisting large amounts of weight over his head....I am not sure :)

 But the kids enjoyed it!

 I have no idea how many apples Grace ate while we were in the orchard.  She loved them.

 Glen just liked running up and down the grassy paths.

 Matt also got into the weight lifting...oh sorry, child lifting.

 They both had a great time.  Matt and I had a great time seeing Vitaly and Violetta again.  A great time was had all around!

 More fun on the playground.  And yes, Glen found the tractor...he seems to gravitate toward those things.

We will be back, in a year or two.

Safari Park

In the fall Mom, Amy, Mike, Austin, Adam, Jason, Matt, Grace, Glen, and I went to visit the Safari Park that is located about an hour from our home.

 We all (minus Glen and Jason) had gone about two years ago.  It was fun so we wanted to go again.

 Glen was loving to watch all of the animals.

 We went on the wagon ride (rather than driving our car through the safari part).  We fed llamas, camels, ostriches, and so many more animals.  Some had large scary horns, and other liked to steal the feed buckets, it was an adventure that was very fun!

 Part of the reason for this trip was my kids, so that they could experience the animals.  Another reason for this trip was Jason, so that we could give him another experience that he might not have at his home in China.

 The kids had so much fun, they wore themselves out completely!

Another great trip.