Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

This is the first year since we've been living in Arizona that I didn't take my girls to Schnepf's Farm during the fall.  Luckily, Olivia went with her class on her first first grade field trip.  Somehow, I dodged a bullet and got out of going which was a little sad and kinda great all at the same time.  I know the kiddos had fun, and thankfully a couple really great moms updated me with pictures, but I was glad to escape the downpour that drenched the kids right as they were loading back up on the buses to go back to school.

I did my best to make sure Olivia had fun on the trip even though I wasn't there.  I packed her a cute pumpkin themed lunch that she was super excited about!  And, somehow, her teacher knew to put her with her best buddies.

➹ She ate both of those PB&J sandwiches! It's a miracle! ➹

See ya next year, Schnepf's!

Roooaaaaaaddddd Trippppp!!!!

My friend Sheri and I decided to take a little "Girls Only" trip up to Prescott over fall break.  And, by girls only, we mean girls of all ages {except for babies, I guess, because we left Reese at home}.  We convinced Nana to go, because who doesn't love fairs and pumpkin patches?

This was my first time to Prescott, and I've got to say, I was really impressed.  The weather was much cooler than the temperatures here in the valley, so maybe I was just blinded by the weather.

We hit some traffic on the way up and got to the fair a little later than we originally planned, but I think it worked out perfectly.  The girls had a blast riding the smaller carnival rides, and after checking out the animals, we sat in the stands of the arena and watched a little bit of a rodeo!  The girls got a little antsy because they could see the fair rides, so we let them ride a few more before heading to the hotel for the night.

➹ They LOVED that kettle corn! ➹

➹ Sydney was defending "her" bag! ➹

The next morning, we had breakfast in the hotel, and then went to an event for veterans around the town square.  Sheri's friend is in the Honor Guard and was performing there.  The girls had a nice time running around and collecting candy from all the booths.  While we were there, we met a veteran who fought in WWII!  

➹ I don't even know what is going on in this picture. ➹

After we left the Prescott, we headed towards home and made a pit stop at Mortimer Farms Pumpkin Patch.  The entrance fee sort of made my eyes pop out of my head, but the girls were able to do just about everything without additional costs once they were inside.

➹ She looks so big on that little pony! ➹

➹ They are all supposed to be pointing in different directions! ➹

➹ This picture breaks my heart.  She was upset with Olivia because Olivia was trying to tell everyone where to sit and how to pose and she wasn't listening to any of the suggestions Sydney was making.  She ran off and cried and then got back up on the hay and asked me to take her picture.  Bless her heart, she is trying to smile so big through her tears. ➹

All in all, I would say it was a wonderful 30 hour road trip!  The girls were filthy and exhausted when we got home.  I'm thinking we just started a yearly tradition!  ;) 

Farm Living is the Life for Me

I'm SO behind on blogging.  I'm helping out with Halloween parties for both girls' classes, and I've been using my before bed computer time to sort stickers and send emails and, okay, watch a little tv.  So, sorry.

My camera was also not working and so I hadn't been taking too many pictures.  But, that didn't stop us from pretending that it's fall out here (when it is so clearly still summer -- 93 is the forecasted high on Halloween!!)

So, yeah, we went to a couple pumpkin patches, including our favorite Schnepf's Farms.  And, we did the usual pumpkin patch stuff.  First off, I made my girls (and Brooke) wear overalls and cowgirl boots.  Because, HELLO!

And that was before we even left the house.  We also posed in front of hay bales and pumpkins, we rode little trains, we went down slides, we watched the pigs race, we watched Nana call a pig, we roasted marshmallows, and just generally had a good time.

Want to see some more pictures?  I thought so.

As if that farm life wasn't enough, we went a few days later with some friends to a different farm/pumpkin patch.  And, I guess we had so much fun doing that same stuff (minus the pig races and marshmallows) that I only took a few pictures.  But, I promise that we really did go and we really did have fun!

And, you guys, this was from like 3 weeks ago, so expect some random catch up posts coming your way in 3, 2, 1.....

Oh, You Know, Another Pumpkin Patch

You know, sometimes you get a taste of something good and you just want more of it.  I guess that's how we feel about pumpkin patches because a couple days after going to Schnepf Farms, we decided to hit up another pumpkin patch with the girls.  Cute photo ops, bounce houses, petting zoos, what's not to love?!  All other pumpkin patches pale in comparison to Schnepf's, but the girls had a good time nonetheless.  

➹ I wanted this alpaca to come home with us. ➹

➹ Riding some sort of train made from plastic barrels. ➹

This particular pumpkin patch was located in an area where there are horse stables and open arenas for rodeos and horse training.  As we were leaving, we saw a teenage girl working with her horse.  Always the inquisitive one, Olivia walked over to talk to her and ask her a million and one questions.  Her family was there with her and they were all so sweet and kind and patient with Olivia.  They answered every one of her questions and even gave us the name of someone who would possibly do lessons with Olivia.  {Someone I had called a couple months ago told me to wait until she was 5 or 6.}  

While Olivia was doing her interview, Sydney and I walked over to see some of the horses in the stables and one was spotted just like a giraffe.  She kept saying, "giraffe, giraffe" over and over.  When we walked back, I told the lady what she had said and she asked if we had seen the real giraffes on the other side.  Giraffes? Whattttt?  Well, sure enough, the neighboring field had two giraffes, two zebras and a few donkeys just grazing in the yard.  It was too dark to get any good pictures, but we definitely plan on going back to check them out again.  And, as for Olivia, she just told me that she wants to be a horse trainer when she grows up!