Pumpkin farm

A week with grandma and papa wore my kids out! We were very busy all week and by the time we got to the pumpkin farm I think the girls were pretty much over it. I am big on sleeping schedules and it's hard (but often FUN!) when that gets disrupted. We had a good time despite the fact that both Maddie and Charlotte were exhausted and it was super cold! I love Hill Ridge Farm because there is SO much for the kiddos to do. It is a bit pricey at $10 per person (even the little ones) and the train is another $2.50 but everything else is included and everyone gets to pick a pumpkin to take home. Plus, for a lot of farms the admission to their fall festival helps to keep their farms afloat, so it's for a good cause! This year we actually went on the huge slide (twice) and both girls loved it! The corn box is so great.....I wish I could make one for at home, but that would require a ridiculous amount of corn and a really big mess. This year Dan went in with the kiddos so I wasn't the one who ended up with corn down my pants! :) My favorite was the hayride....it's a good long ride and the path they take has beautiful trees with fall leaves all around! I really like traditions, and I want my kids to grow up with rich memories of the family time we spend together. As long as we're in the Raleigh area (and the farm continues) Hill Ridge will be part of our fall tradition!

Corn box (like a sand box, but with corn!)

The HUGE slide

Hay maze

Train ride

Tunnel

Hayride

This was the best of the bad. Non-cooperative kiddos!!

Pumpkin delight

Do you see the excitement?

They were officially DONE with the pumpkin farm!

You don't think this is going to put her into therapy do you? :)
Parking lot pee.

HAPPY FALL!!!!!

halloween preview

Dan came home from work tonight excited because the church across the street from our house was having a halloween carnival! Normally I would have passed on the idea of getting the girls dressed up, walking over to the carnival, giving them candy and getting them all hyped up an hour before bedtime, but I decided it sounded like a fun idea! I threw some princess dress up clothes on the girls, grabbed my camera and we were out the door within 10 minutes of Dan arriving home. I'm glad the girls had already had dinner.....candy consumption is more tolerable with food in their bellies. The man and I however had not eaten but it worked out well because there were free hot dogs, french fries, pie, cotton candy, caramel apples and other assorted desserts and candy. The girls had fun "trunk or treating" going on a bounce house slide, roasting marshmallows and of course eating candy. Bedtime was a little crazy tonight, but I think it was totally worth it. Gives us a little taste of what is to come this Saturday. We'll have different costumes for the real halloween, but I didn't go out and buy anything in particular. I'll let them pick from the dress up clothes that we have.....I'm really hoping Charlotte will let me pick the pumpkin costume for her, but we'll see. Maybe Mama and Daddy will get a little dressed up too! It was fun having a halloween test run!

Fun at the fair

We had a delightful time at the fair this year! It's always a chaotic, fast paced, action packed day, but it's always worth it. I'm not sure whether I like the livestock or the food better, but neither disappointed me this year. We actually did pretty good with the food....nothing too disgusting. I had a turkey leg and took the skin off (I'm weird about skin) and a deep fried vegetable platter. The girls had some of my food and shared a chocolate ice cream. My dad got a bloomin' onion which looked pretty grease-tastic, but no one got deep fried snickers or chocolate covered bacon. I always adore seeing the baby chicks and ducks and Charlotte and I share a passion for the cows. I think that I would enjoy having a cow.....or maybe it would be better if like my neighbor had a cow that I could visit. I don't think I'd like having to milk twice a day! Cows are such cute animals! We rode a few rides and walked and walked and after a couple hours Charlotte looked like she was going to pass out from exhaustion so we headed home. A couple of hours is really all that's needed at the craziness that is the state fair! We got our fill until next year.

baby duckies

"I can't reeeeeeach!"

This was my favorite cow. Doesn't he look soft and fuzzy?

Maddie and Papa watching sheep

Looks like the cow is staring her down! (HA)

"Papa is my friend!" -Maddie

Finger lickin' good

She is getting really good at waiting in line for things!

Coaster chicks