Fall Farm Camp 2015

I think I usually miss fall farm camp, for whatever reason, but this year we arrived at the farm Friday morning for the start of day two of fall farm camp 2015. Here are the highlights in random order.

1. First up gourd harvest. These gourds will be used for arts and craft time next fall. I have great plans for them, Santas, Jack-O-Lanterns, Witches, Ghost families, snowmen, you name it. Get your orders in now!

 2. The tree house got a few new additions over the weekend including a pirate wheel, a rope/web ladder, a new rope with a pulley from Zach's Grandpa's barn, and another wooden ladder on the way up so no one can fall off the side of the steps. The kids love it and are very grateful to Daddy/Uncle Zach for all his hard work. Zach also has the beams placed so it is ready for a roof to be added whenever we get the tin.

4. The dirt pile. Enough said really. It was left over from mom's front year landscaping, which is gorgeous, and the dirt pile is perfect for digging, finding frogs, and making tunnels. 

These two little frogs were awoken from their winter slumber to take part in frog races.

5. Farm camp shirts from summer farm camp are reused for fall farm camp. The campers wore their shirts to the pumpkin patch in Hennessy on Friday.

Group pictures are a must at farm camp and are getting slightly easier as the little boys get bigger.

  

6. Nature walks aren't just for summer time. This craft was prepared for summer fall camp about three years ago, but we finally got them done this time. After a nature walk the kids put what they found in these fun wreath/looms. I loved the results that decorated the porch for the rest of the weekend.

 7. Cook outs and camp outs!!! Zane and Maggie worked on cooking their own hot dogs and were successful on Friday evening.

 The little boys enjoyed the new kids table though both rarely eat much of anything.

 Friday night the kids "camped" in tents and the tree house for a little bit before ending up camping in the living room. The living room camp out was the firs time both little boys slept in the living room with the big kids.

8. Saturday morning we met Abbey and Brent at Daze in a Maze in the morning for lots of fall fun.

 This big elephant was not in the Jungle Maze which was very confusing to the big kids who did all four different mazes, declaring themselves Maze Masters!!

Ro stayed outside of the big Jungle Maze with Grandma and I, whose feet were hurting from Day 2. Rowan might have gotten a littel concerned about Bobo.

 Not the best family photo but I'm pretty sure the only picture of me from the whole weekend so thought I should include it.

After all the mazes, petting all the animals, and it was time for a ride on a horse.

9. Tractor rides and driving!!!

 Uncle Able took everyone on a tractor ride Sunday evening.

 Ro got a little extra pretend tractor time while we tried to recover treasures from the old house in Uncle David's barn.

 Brendan drove a tractor for the first time on Sunday while the littles napped. He tried hard to keep his game face on, but he loved it.

 Rowan also spent a lot of time on this tractor. In very impressive news he could actually peddle it which most kiddos can't figure out. Maybe it's because he doesn't way anything.

10. Lots of cuteness and family fun!

 Uncle Zach also hung this new fun swing where lots of cousins can hang out!

Ten on Tuesday

1. Last week we went to one of my favorite OKC things of the whole year, Pumpkinville at The Myriad Gardens. We obviously love all things fall and Halloween so this is right up our alley. We get in free with our Garden Pass, so I could add this outing onto our list of fun free activities we have been trying to do as of late.

 The two highlights for my boys, hysterically, were reading books and "writing" letters at the post office. Things we do daily at our house, but much more fun in a fun Halloween setting.

 I personally loved the new tulip chairs in the children's garden. They aren't part of the Halloween theme, but a permanent new fixture that I can see myself spending a lot of time in while the boys play. 

2. After playing in Pumpkinville the boys and I went to check out the big fish, ducks, and geese on the little lake. This is a place we never get time to look at, but they loved it so I'm sure that will be added to our list of fun free things to do as well.

Rowan did get slightly terrified of the geese, but stood strong and said hello to all the geese and quack quacks.

3. This week was the start of the post season which meant we all dawned out Cardinal apparel, desperately missed St. Louis, and started to regret our decision to cancel our cable. Sadly our Cardinals failed hard. Sad face! In good news Zane asked what the Cardinals song is and has been singing Here Comes the King (yes the Budweiser beer song, which is played at all Cardinal home games) all week and was teaching Maggie the words this evening. Love it! "When you say Bud, you've said it all!!!!!"

4. Look at this blue eyed boy. This is Zane's real smile, his real crazy hair, and his truly crazy blue eyes. Love this picture taken at the big pond in our neighborhood.

 5. Yesterday Zane road his bike all the way to the big park and back without any complaint. Once we got there we did some more throwing practice with crab apples. We also watched the ducks come up to eat when a nice little old lady put out some bird seed for them behind her backyard fence. Fun stuff! I might have over done the running/walking yesterday. I ended with 16,000 steps and my feet hurting terribly. Swam this morning instead.

6. On Friday night we finally made it out to a movie in the park, a driving range actually. We had wanted to go all summer but they always started too late and it was always too hot. This weeks showing was of Strange Magic, which turns out is a very weird kids movie with lot of modern music interludes. But the weather was lovely, there were snacks, and Zane loves all movies so it was a great time. Rowan might have spent the last half hour playing in the car with daddy.

7. Saturday was OU vs. Texas which means we switched our clothes from Cardinals to Sooners. We had some lessons on how to make OU with our arms and how to put the horns down. I bought the new Pride of Oklahoma music on my phone and was so excited to finally get to watch the Sooners play on TV. Sadly the Sooners also failed hard this weekend. Side note Maggie and Zane spent a lot of time discussing how all our favorite teams are losing, the Sooners, the Cardinals, the Tigers, and the Falcons (Brendan's baseball team). Zane was quick to remind everyone that the Lake Monsters have never lost!!

8. Today we got to pick up Little E from school since his mother is in DC working this week. E is having a bit of a hard time this year at school since his big sister doesn't go to school with him anymore and he is at a new place. That being said he seemed to be having a great time when I got him and my boys were super excited to see him. They had lots to catch each other up on the ride home and E listed about ten people who were his friends at school so I think he is secretly having fun there. 

9. As I mentioned above we are trying to "pinch our pennies" as my dad use to say. He would also say he was so poor he didn't have two nickles to rub together, which is how I've been feeling lately. So as mentioned above we are trying to find fun free things to do each day I'm home with the boys. Mainly this includes lots and lots of trips to varying different playgrounds. The one by the gym seems to be a favorite to visit after my morning work out. This week Rowan climbed all the way to the top of the jungle gym and was oh so proud. The big red chair swings are also always a big hit!

And of course matching skeleton shirts is a must for Halloween at our house! All the other kids on the playground loved them as well.

10. Lastly, I'd like to thank everyone who has been sending prayers out for the Blackmons and little baby Nolan. As I mentioned in a previous blog Nolan had been diagnosed with multiple heart defects prior to birth and the Blackmons had relocated to Houston until the delivery. Nolan was born Wednesday morning and sadly earned his wings on Saturday evening. Three days was longer than most doctors had given him, as his parents had been warned that fetal demise was likely. His parents got to meet him and hold him and see him off to heaven. His mother is still in the hospital in Houston with complications following delivery. Please continue to storm the heavens for this sweet family who has been through far more than anyone should ever have to bear over the past week.