Pumpkin Patch

The Sunday before Halloween, we headed to a pumpkin patch. I always see all these people posting these amazing pictures from pumpkin patch visits. In our 8 years of having kids, we've never visited a pumpkin patch. So we decided that this was our year. After church, we changed clothes and then headed out for lunch and a pumpkin patch visit. It had rained the day before, so it was still a little muddy in the pumpkin patch area. The kids did have a blast with all the activities, but getting an awesome pumpkin picture was a huge failure. (I don't know why I expected anything less?!?!)

They had a rope climb, which Jake deemed impossible to climb

Some tire swings

A few slides

Tire mountain

Race track

They had 3 tunnel slides - a slow one, a medium one & a high fast one. Hollon started with the slow one and liked it.

Jake came down the big one and thought it was awesome

Slow --- Medium --- Fast

So of course Hollon wanted to then go down the long fast one. She got scared at the top, so brother went down with her.

Deciding on their pumpkins

At this point, the battery in my large camera died, so the rest of the pictures are with my iPhone. I HATE taking pictures with my phone.

Hayride back with our pumpkins

While Rob went to put our pumpkins in the car, I attempted to take an amazing pumpkin patch photo. FAIL! I have approximately 500 pictures similar to the one below.

So I gave up. Jake spotted some hay bales for jumping

It was $10 to get in, and then there were some free activities (the ones posted above), but then several other ones that of course cost additional money. We told the kids they could each pick 1 thing that costs money. Most of them were for little kids, so Jake decided on purchasing cotton candy and Hollon choose the pony ride. They had what I thought was 2 ponies. As I was signing a waiver (which should have been a WARNING sign) and paid, Rob was getting Hollon setup on the "pony". By the time I get to the fence, I realize she is not on a pony, but a horse! No helmet, no parent standing beside her, no harness to keep the horse from running off. Just a guy walking the horse around with my 3-year-old holding on to the saddle. Hollon had a blast but that "pony" ride could not end fast enough for me.

After I regained consciousness, we checked out a few more things in the freeby section 

Jake tried putting this on his Christmas list

Our yard is the size of a matchbox, but Jake was certain that Rob needed this lawn mower

On our way out, I spotted some more pumpkins and we attempted a picture one more time. This is just going to be as good as it gets!

Hollon Fall Festival / Lake Afternoon

The Friday before Halloween, Hollon's school had their annual fall festival that morning. 

Hollon is in 2 different classes, a M-W-F class and a Tu-Th class. She attended the fall festival with her M-W-F class, but they still wanted her picture in the Tu-Th class. I walked up right as they were finishing up the picture. From my angle, you can't even see her. But she was there!

And this is her M-W-F class

Her best buddy Christopher

They "bobbed" for apples

Shot soccer balls

Played a little skee ball

Hollon's favorite - digging for treasures

After the fall festival, Hollon and I headed down to Lake Martin. Our neighbors were there for the day at their families new lake house. We took a fun boat ride.

Best Friends

Hollon got her first tubing experience. The first ride, Merrin didn't want to go, so it was just Collins and Hollon. I was just wearing jeans, so I was very grateful Corrie, who was wearing shorts volunteered to ride with the girls.

Hollon kept saying to go faster!

We did a little exploring at a beach area and then convinced Merrin to ride back to the lake house on the tube.

The girls played and Corrie and I hung out. The weather was perfect! We grilled out pizza that evening and then we all headed back to Birmingham. It was a wonderful day spent with great friends!

Jake's Field Trip - Desoto Caverns

I helped chaperone Jake's class field trip to Desoto Caverns. It was a fun day hanging out with a bunch of crazy wild 3rd graders.

First up was archery. (Jake is in the 2nd stall)

Pretty good shot by Jake!

Then some air gun shooting

And a spinning bucket ride

They did a maze with different check points

Jake and one of his best buddies Hayden

And then it was time for the cavern tour

Jake & his pal Mason

And they ended the day digging for gold

Jake & Baker

It was a fun day and I had a blast spending it with my favorite 8 year old!

McCallie Reunion Weekend

Back in October, we headed up to Chattanooga for Robbie's 20 year high school reunion. They had an alumni tailgate at the school Friday afternoon and then that night was the McCallie/Baylor football game.

Saturday the guys hung out and watched football and the girls went shopping. Then that night was the big reunion.

Robert Charles Bush & Robert Charles Page
Yes, they are best friends and yes they have the same first and middle name and nickname

Class of 1997

The kids were at my parents. Doing things like......

Dressing up as a guitar playing my little pony bride

Playing with cousins

And being babied by her big girl cousins. My dad is still in recovery mode, so no nerf gun fights or wrestling matches with Jake. But Hollon was in Heaven. She had her 2 older girl cousins there to braid her hair, dress her up, paint her nails, rock her. Needless to say, Hollon cried until she fell asleep when I came to take them home.