Pumpkin Patch Partyyyy (minus the pumpkins)

I get so excited to go to the pumpkin patch with The Henderson's each year.  It is one of those things that makes me so happy and there really isn't much to it.  Look at the pumpkins.  Paint a face.  Enjoy the weather.  Simple.  But, they are my favorite family and it is a tradition I treasure, and this year, Year Four, was the most fun yet!  Our first pumpkin patch with all FOUR cousins.  

We went to a new place this year and it was awesome!  The girls really enjoyed it and I think the parents had perma-smiles.  (Well, it was a litttttle pricey, so Ross and Derek might have let those smiles slip just a few times, haha).   These three were raring to go.

 This one had to rest up before she got going.  Hard for a little toot to keep up with the big girls.

 

I don't even know what was the best part of the day, so I will go in order.  The girls loved jumping in the bouncy house and Amelia was pleased there were "no wild boys or big people" in it.  

Elise was the hardest to coax out of the bouncy house and surprisingly, a bribe of face painting got her out.  She has always been scared of getting her face painted, but was as brave as can beeee this time. 

Amelia chose a ladybug and a leaf

Ingrid chose a beautiful butterfly

HAHA, started out a little nervous, but sissy held her hand

Elise chose a bee and was VERY proud of it.

Perhaps the surprise of the day for me was how much the girls loved the corn maze.  Amelia and Ingrid just took off running and laughing, taking us in circles. 

 They had a fun little playground area that the girls loved and some animals in little cages.  Liv looking at the baby calf was hilarious.  She was giggling and mooing--such a sweet girl.

The little blue train was a hit too, but I was worried about Elise because they had no seatbelts. She didn't move a muscle though and kept saying, "Eese yikes this ride!"  Amelia decided she didn't know if the driver would bring her back so she wanted me to walk alongside the train.  LOL.  I did :)

The big girls all wanted to ride a horse and they LOVED it.  I am scared of horses and always have been.  However, the girls showed no fear and it was the first time any of them had ridden (Aunt Steph included).  I didn't get a picture of Ingrid riding because I was trying to explain to Amelia that we didn't have enough money to ride the horse over and over and over, haha. 

We ended the night with a hayride and a beautiful sunset.  Ahhhh perfection.

 

So thankful for another great year with great weather.  I ended the evening with a FULL HEART.

First Field Trip

 Amelia had been very excited for her class field trip since she first learned there would be one.  So, back in August.  The day finally arrived and thankfully, Aunt Jen watched Elise so that I could just spend some time with Amelia.  Here she is when we arrived to meet her class at the Rutledge Wilson Farm Park.

This sweet face just sums her up.  So much passion and zest and zeal and emotion.  We were to meet at the playground and it was MAYHEM.  There were three buses there and about a zillion kids with far too few teachers.  Amelia was panic-stricken.  She was so upset that there were big kids on all the equipment and so many wild people everywhere that she just began to cry.  I know she had pictured her own tiny class playing together and she was so sad when the idea in her head didn't play out  (the same thing her mother still does).  That lasted about 15 minutes and then we moved on.  Literally, moved to a different area to start touring the farm.  And the fit was over and the smile was back on.  Whew.

Amelia and Madyson looking at the bunnies

Checking out the goats

By far her favorite "farm animal" was this barn cat.  She followed it everywhere.  Just like her Aunt Steph.

Petting the cow with Olivia. 

The whole gang

Wheeee

I am so thankful the day turned out to be great and that I was able to go on her first field trip with her.  I am cherishing these moments where she wants me close by for every single thing!  Then we took lunch to Jen and Leese and had a lot of fun playing there too.  Successful day.

Bergman Fall Festival

 Two weekends ago we went to "Aunt Steph's School" for the Fall Festival.  We have been each year since Amelia was born and she has more and more fun each year!  First we met up with Gam on Friday at McDonalds for some lunch and a little shopping in town. 

Then on Saturday morning Amelia and Elise helped Meme make banana bread and they had such a great time.  I love this picture because I still remember very vividly Meme teaching me to break an egg. I prayed and prayed that Meme and Pop would be alive, well, and healthy enough to enjoy time with my children.  It is a blessing that I do not take for granted.  It still chokes me up to see them playing with my girls and pouring all their energy into being the same Meme and Pop that my young self remembers.

 

Then we headed to Steph's to play with Ing and Liv.  Or, if you are Amelia, try to hug and smother sweet little Liv.  It makes my heart soar to see how much Amelia loves these two cousins of hers.  

After naps it was finally time for the Fall Festival!  Face painting, pick the ducks, Plinko, spin the wheel, they had it all.  The girls did so well despite the crowd and had a blast.  Thank goodness for Mom and Dad because we needed everyone, haha.

 Leesey got to be a lot more into it this year and she was so cute picking out LOADS of candy when they said, "Grab a piece out of the bucket."

Flashback: Amelia in 2010

Life's Little Pleasures

Our town square has the MOST delicious cupcake shop, Stacey's Sweets, and when we stop for a treat, the girls always want to go to the gazebo and "play."  They really do nothing other than smile at each other, sit on the benches, laugh hysterically, and stare at the dirt.  It cracks me up, but it is one of those small pleasures for them. 

 

And a small pleasure for me is when this girl busts a move in the morning when I am snapping pictures.  My dancing queen.

Who am I kidding?  All of the things I get to experience with these kiddos during the day are pleasures. Big and Small.

Playing at the park.

First leaf throw of the season.

First homework assignment- an Amelia original.

LOVE