Carving Time

It was pumpkin carving time today! I laid out the newspaper, plugged in Spongebob, cut open the pumpkin and put Dawson to work. As we were carving, a few more friends came over. They went out and bought some more pumpkins to join in the festivities. We ended up cooking out, carving pumpkins and cooking the seeds. Three hours later, our pumpkins were complete and ready for Halloween Trick or Treating...which for us is Sunday!

Standing, in her socks, stirring up the seeds and pumpkin insides!

Pulling out the seeds so mommy can cook them! She didn't seem to mind the slime factor!

I wonder what's inside that big pumpkin?

Our final pumpkins...Logan's, Jordan's, Kennedy's, Dawson's and MINE!

Boo....

At the Zoo 2009

As I looked outside early this morning, I noticed a beautiful Fall day. The sun was shining, the leaves are all different colors and the temperature was supposed to get up to 60. I made a last minute decision...how about if we head to Boo at the Zoo! It could not have been a better day for trick or treating. It was a little different this year than last. First, Dawson really looked around at everyone and everything just trying to take in what was happening. She was not scared, just observant! She walked the entire time and went up to each station by herself. Of course, I was only a few feet behind her because she was a little hesitant.

Cinderella with her crown she would not keep on and her wand.

Walking up to get a treat.

Here she is looking over the fence at the horses. As we were walking through the zoo, Dawson kept saying "I see more animals." She is so familiar with the zoo that she stopped at every animal and told me what they were. She enjoyed looking at the animals more than the candy! It was just our summer routine...going to the zoo all the time!

I love this picture. I was hiding down in the hay maze and she was trying to find me.

Another one of my favorite pictures...Cinderella holding up her dress so she could get through the hay maze.

Finally we took a break and had a few chips and a chocolate cupcake. Finally all our walking and work paid off!

Stellaluna

Girls day out to the theater...KIND OF.....Lynn was sick so it ended up three girls and Kyle! A theater near us had a children's series that looked just perfect for Dawson. The package consisted of four shows through out the year, each one about an hour in length and an optional behind the scenes craft and discussion after the show. Today's show was Stellaluna. A story about a baby bat that is dropped by her mother (due to an owl attack). The tiny bat lands in nest of baby birds but, only on the condition that Stellaluna will act like a bird not a bat. . Soon, Stellaluna has learned to behave like a good bird should – she quits hanging by her feet and starts eating bugs. When she finally has an opportunity to show her bird siblings
what life as a bat is like, all of them are confounded. Anyone who has ever been asked to be someone they’re not will understand the conflicts – and possibilities – Stellaluna faces.

The show was "OK." The girls listened and paid attention for the first 30 minutes and then they lost interest...so did everyone else! The puppets were not quite large enough for everyone to see so the kids kind of got tired of watching. My whole purpose of taking Dawson to the theater at this age is experience. When we got in the car, she told me all about the play. She even described the characters and called them by name. She also said "I see show again." Dawson really did pick up a lot of information from just a short show experience. It always amazes me what she can remember. We can't wait until the next show..."The Very Hungry Caterpillar!"

A School Trip to the Farm

Today was Dawson's first school fieldtrip to the pumpkin patch/farm. I sent my good friend Gretchen with her since I was unable to take off work this week. I not only sent her with Dawson, I sent her with my camera of course! I'm taking off next Wednesday for her Halloween party since the teacher thought this would be the better function to attend. My girl loves animals. Gretchen said all she wanted to do was pet the animals!

Running through the hay maze...

Hanging out on a pumpkin...

Unfortunately, this is our first and last fieldtrip with this school. The program is run by the city and just got cut! (they cut all children's preschool programs in the entire city). About a month ago, the city cut fireman and policeman and then came the preschools. Our teacher, Miss D, is so sad because she has been teaching at this school for the last 26 years. Why don't our children come first? I'm so made at our city for not thinking of the children! Well, on a positive note, we have one more event next week...the Halloween party and we are looking forward to that!

A Busy Fall Weekend

Never a dull moment around here on the weekends! On Sunday, we went to the annual Fall Festival party with my parents for a day full of fun! Of course, we needed our friend Grace to join us to make things more fun! (Lynn too!!) Lynn and I had the girls wear matching clothes last year. This year, it was just coincidental that their outfits complimented each other. I must say it made our pictures look better!

Desserts...don't these look sooooo good!

The girls had so much fun this year just running around and laughing out loud. I wonder what they were saying to each other?

Running, running, running

More running....

Crunching through the leaves...

This year was so much different than last year. The girls actually interacted with each other and had a blast. Dawson has never loved horses, nor hated them. If she sees someone riding one, she will get on. Otherwise...forget it! I had Grace go first because she loves horses and I knew Dawson would follow her. If you remember, last year she screamed. How things change in a year!

I think I like horses but, I'm still not sure. I'm trying to smile........

Papa and Dawson hanging out by the scarecrow....aren't they cute!

Down on the Farm

Last night we headed out to a local farm with some friends for a pumpkin picking hayride, some apple picking, a few fall snacks and a roaring bonfire for making some delicious smores. The farm was built in the late 1800's. It's still a working farm that raises corn, pumpkins, soybeans, gourds and has a pick your own apple orchard! The kids were free to run around the grounds and inside the big barn. In the barn there was a wall of hay to climb up on and many places to peek into. The bottom level of the barn had pigs, chickens and two baby cows. The cows seemed to be a hit with all the kids! (I didn't like the smell at all but, it didn't seem to bother the kids.)

A view of the pumpkin patch as the sun started to set.

It's getting pretty cold out here mom...where's the fire!

Peeking down to the lower level of the barn. Just a bunch of big tractors and other farm equipment was down there!

Grace, let's pick some apples and eat them!

Now this is a good apple!

Running up and down the orchard rows.

Dawson, Grace and Mayna

Headed out with Tommy to pick a pumpkin.

Our awesome ROARING fire!

Dawson getting ready to make some smores! MMMM Good!

The two girls were just playing around in the wagon talking to each other. They kept laughing out loud but, I'm not sure what about. Just having some good old fun together!

Fall Festival

We headed out today to The Annual lakeside Fall Festival. I took Dawson last year but, she really was able to enjoy the event much more this year. We spent time shopping, eating cornbread, getting a balloon and watching the Indian Pow Wow! The Indian Pow Wow is a big attraction to this event and is really amazing to see. Dawson really loved the drums beating and the Indian dances. It was quite mesmerizing. In fact, she was watching it like it was a movie...popcorn and all!

And to end our nice Fall day...here is a face I had never seen before today. Where in the world did my sweet girl learn this???? YIKES!!!