More corny toads

Before we drove over to the pumpkin patch, we made a pitstop at a cornbox. Everyone enjoyed the corn so much they didn't realize it wasn't sand.

Journey to the bottom of the one hundred foot slide

Casey, Gavin, and Liam are no strangers to slides at the playground. This slide that they were about to use, however, was something entirely new and special. Built on the side of a steep hill, it was one hundred feet long and waxed with pledge every week (said the woman in the orange shirt). Each boy had to sit with either Mama or Dad on the way down.

Gavin smiles with Mama before his turn down the slide.
Casey giggles as Dad tries to get a good grasp of him before his turn.



After a couple of slides down, we decided to takes some video clips to show our adventures.

Fire Truck climbers

Another feature that Casey, Gavin, and Liam enjoyed at the pumpkin patch was a fire engine with a slide built on the side.
To get to the slide, everyone had to climb hay bales.
Liam leads the way to the top, staying true to his risk-taking nature.

When I pressed down the shutter, Casey was facing me. He really does flip around fast. His preferred method of going down slides is actually on his belly.

Gavin slides down, just a wee bit scared.

Liam heads down the slide with a little help from Dad.


At the top of the firetruck, everyone admires the view.

Pumped up for Pumpkins

At first, Casey found a pumpkin that seemed pretty good.
But then he had his doubts. Better sit down and test out the pumpkins.
Pat! Pat! Tap! Tap! Casey checks this one out for the proper hollow sound.

Nya! It's okay.

Liam examines one pumpkin a little more closely.

Liam scans the pumpkin patch for the best gourd. You may be wondering why he looks like he's a little more dressed up than Casey or Gavin. Well, let's just say breakfast did not agree with him this morning.

Gavin finds it really handy that the pumpkins have stems. It makes for easy maneuvering in and out of the pumpkin patch.

Gavin is becoming a seasoned pumpkin picker. Here he dives right into the patch to search for the best one.

At first, Gavin stared at the pumpkins and said, "Ball." You can see why he would make the comparison, because both pumpkins and balls are round.

How do you like them apples?

Yeah, I know I'm a handsome little man!

And good looking from this angle, too!




























The boy and his ball: Gavin loves a ball. Lucky for him, since we forgot to bring one into the festival, Paco made one for him out of foil. And, if you look closely in the background, a hungry Casey stuffs himself.

MMMmm! Hungry, Casey? That sandwich is bigger than you are!






















After moving to a new location, Paco and I have been trying out all that it has to offer. This weekend we decided to try an apple harvest festival. Nature walks, scarecrow making, face painting... Well, most of the activities were a bit beyond what Casey, Gavin, and Liam could enjoy at this time. So we relied on one of our favorite activities: the outdoor picnic!

Block Party

Soon after we arrived home from our trip, our street held a block party. We celebrated the official end of summer as the kids took each other on mad wagon rides.

The biggest family portrait so far

Whew! This one took a lot of takes.

From left: Chrissy, Brian holding Liam and Casey, Terry and Marcia (Chrissy's parents), Uncle Jamie holding Laura. In front from left: Gavin, Erin, Meghan, and Aunt Liz.