Apple picking and Pumpkin Party

Last weekend we hit the apple orchard with the kids--the boys were determined to pick the same kind they did last year, so we got honeygolds and harrelsons. They were pretty enthusiastic about it, although the novelty wore off somewhat and they really wanted to ride the wagons behind the tractors the most (they took us to the orchard on these). The boys were too heavy this year to lift high in the tree, but Kylie still got the pleasure:) We actually saw Pat and Julie Kromendyke (sp?) there and enjoyed visiting with them over dinner--Julie works at the hospital that I will deliver at--and in OB and might actually be there the day I deliver! They also have a 4 1/2 year old son named, Bennett--the highlight our our Bennet's day. Now just like Caleb met another Caleb when we were camping he got the same experience! They had a great time playing around together!
Kylie reaches for an apple.
Her pride in getting the best one is quite evident by her face:)
Bennet wanted to buy a pumpkin for our upcoming party and he had several picked out that he wanted to take home.
The kids have become quite bored with mom's idea of taking organized pictures--they had no interest and really just wanted to run around and look at pumpkins.
This weekend, we decided to host a pumpkin party at our house--all the planning and preparations gave me something else to think about besides the baby stuff:) We had a great time--as always it went much too fast. The parents enjoyed some fellowship amongst the 10 excited children running around. The mom's also had to be involved a bit because I decided to make pumpkin cookies for the kids to decorate and the kids got to paint pumpkins for themselves. Allison also brought a pumpkin video along--so we got at least a little "down" time:) The weather was wonderful, so we actually weren't in the house much at all. The kids quickly ate and then enjoyed playing around our street--a novelty to those downtown MNPLS kids:) we live in the quiet suburbs you know:)
Our little princess on her throne:)
Caleb, Hailey, Bennet and Andrew enjoying the "appetizers"
Cookie time!
Hailey was smiling showing me her cookie, but the camera delay couldn't beat her desire to take a bite:)
This is what most of the cookies looked like--all sprinkles--I failed to realize the sprinkles didn't have any "sifter" on top--rather it was an open hole. . .Details. . .
the frosting of the cookies adventure!
No stuffing needed for my costume:)
Two pregnant pumpkins:)
The guys. . .Dan's pumpkin bag was the "extra large", but he needed some stuffing. Michael refereed a lot of little kid action.
Ahhhh. . .the parents quiet talk time:) Our kids all zoned out (at least the video was educational--word world pumpkin theme of course!)