And Then There Were Clowns

     Remember how I mentioned I love fall because there are so many things to do?  We decided to try something a little new this year.  Thanks in part to our pediatrician (who gave us some tickets), we went to The Night of the Living Farm at one of our local petting farms.  It was a night-time event so I was a little afraid of how the kids would do with it just being dark, but that didn't seem to bother them.  With all the people I became the nervous mom and didn't want to let them out of my sight (smart mom I was, I didn't put any identifying things for the night-time).  So I ruined their fun of playing in the dark on the playground sets.  But we did enjoy a mildly spooky tractor pull ride through a forest, roasting marshmallows, a bit of trick-or-treating, and posing with various characters.  After we had gone on the non-spooky hayride, the kids decided they were up for the spooky one.  We made our way over to it, but the line was not worth waiting in.  But we did go to the spooky barn.  This really should have had some warnings on it.  I was expecting maybe some fog machines with some eery sounds and a few skeletons here and there.  Instead there were teenagers dressed up in clown costumes out to really scare people.  Although I couldn't really tell you they were clowns as I had Noah clinging to my neck as I made a beeline for the exit.  After the whole evening, all both the kids could talk about was the scary clowns.  Note to self...check out anything labelled spooky prior to taking kids.  Thankfully no nightmares, although Noah has sworn off the farm.  We came home, had the kids showered, and finished the evening with a movie.

Noah was very excited to see Darth Vader.

She wanted a picture with Marvin the Martian

This was supposed to be the Red Robin mascot,
 but um yea, we'll just call him a Jayhawk.

Not sure what he was doing with his hand/wing here.

Ciderfest and Pumpkin Patch

     I love fall!  It just seems like there is so much more to get out and do, especially with the kids.  Recently we went to a local cidermill during their fall festival called Ciderfest.  Really the main reason to visit is fresh, warm apple donuts, and fresh hot apple cider.  Ciderfest is probably their busiest time of the year, but the donuts are so worth the wait in line.  We spent a little time looking around at some of the local vendors (and even made a Christmas or Birthday purchase), before heading down the road to a less busy pumpkin patch.  On one of our visits to cider mill a few years ago someone directed us to another local patch.  That year we went a little later in the season and had to venture way out into the patch to get a decent pumpkin, but we still felt it worthwile to venture back.  This time there were plenty of pumpkins to choose from, but I think the kids had more fun riding in the wagon than looking for pumpkins.  Noah was really cute on the way back up to the front to pay.  He had us stop as he got out of the wagon and went up and picked up a pumpkin that was just for him.  It had a little accident as he put it in the wagon, so after Mike paid Noah thought we shouldn't keep it and threw it.  Thankfully it was savageable and Mike and Noah had fun making it into Cowboy Buzz Monster Pumpkin?  Not sure really what it is called, but he was so proud of his work (which now adorns our front stoop).

Kid size maze.

She was trying to build a sand castle.

He decided it would be good idea to bury his figurines in the sand. 
Yea, that was fun sifting through the sand to find them.

Even though they were squished, they both insisted on
sitting in the wagon with the pumpkins.

Hay ride around the patch.

Look at how intensely he is working on this.

His finished product.  The putty hardened overnight and had
 to be removed before being put on display.

Faulkner's Ranch Take Deux

     We have had such gorgeous weather lately that we decided to get out and enjoy it.  Last year we took the kids to Faulkner's Ranch and had so much fun that we decided we would go back again this year.  I love how they have a variety of activities and they are all so close.  Even though there were a lot of people there, there never seemed to be a long line for anything and the staff are all so friendly.  I think the only "fall" time experience that we miss out on there is the true experience of going out to a pumpkin patch to pick our own pumpkin.  Oh well, the kids once again had a great time and were zonked on the way home.

Milking the cow.

Horse tire swings.

Playing a little broomball.

Hiding in the corn maze.

Wolverine.

Peace Fairy.

Zip line.

This one had me so nervous.



One tired Wolverine.