Summer's Farm Festival and Corn Maze

Josh has been working overtime for the last several weeks in order to meet a deadline on October 15th.  Well, he made it so I convinced him to take Friday off (heck, he'd already put the hours in), the boys didn't have school and we all went for a family day to a farm in Frederick.  We arrived to a crazy zoo and almost went home because of the line just to get in.  But luckily we stuck it out and had a wonderful afternoon.  It was great to spend time together as a family on a beautiful fall day.

 

King of the hay bales!

 

In honor of the 200th anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner the maze included the American Flag, Fort McHenry, and fireworks.  We had the hardest time getting out of Fort McHenry.  After that I cheated and pulled out my phone for this picture to use as a map.  (Don't judge, I have small kids that can't live in a maze indefinitely)

Sam left a trail of corn kernels behind us through the maze.  Didn't exactly help us.



attempt at a family picture.  Ben didn't want to cooperate.  Typical

Elsa suffered the major tragedy of the maze.  She found the biggest mud hole and slipped into it entirely.  Of course the diaper bag was in the car so we resorted to using corn husks to wipe her (and Josh) down.  This is the aftermath.  She was quite a trooper though!

We spent an hour+ in the corn bin (think sand box but with dried corn kernels).  The kids had a blast and Josh and I got to kick back and just soak it all in. 

but also join in burying Elijah. 

This is one of the two HUGE slides they had.  The kids loved them.  Ben was a little cautious at first but warmed up quickly.  Elsa just couldn't get enough.

We ended up staying at the farm for almost 5 hours (really?) but we couldn't leave without seeing the animals.  A kind lady gave us the end of her feed cup, but by that time most of the animals had had their fill of feed.  That didn't stop Elsa and Ben from trying (and trying and trying).  Elsa particularly love it.

They had two alpacas, both with crazy hair cuts :) And the best photo opportunity I MISSED!  Apparently Elsa went up to the goat and kissed it on the nose.  Can you tell she had a wonderful time?!?

Elsa Bug

Elsa was out helping Ben and I rake up leaves the other day and just plopped herself down on the driveway.  Luckily I had my camera handy to catch her total cuteness.  She's grown up so much! She is my cute little girl with loads of sweetness and personality.

 

Trunk or Treat 2014

Our Ward Trunk or Treat was last night (October 25th).  The peeps were all excited to get dressed up in their Halloween costumes and actually willing to let me take their pictures.  We have two scientists (one of which is on the mad side -think Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), a ninja, and a ladybug [girl].  Sam was particularly hamming it up for the camera. 

 

 

Spring Break: Assateague Island

Charis (Josh's sister and my freshman roommate) and Craig and their three adorable kids came to visit us for Spring Break: April 11-22, 2014.  It was a fabulous, wonderful, busy trip full of playing, site-seeing, and bike riding not to mention Easter and Lucy's birthday.  It was so fun to see all the little cousins together (7 kids under one roof for 11 days, phew!).  They all got along really well and other than poor little Charlie getting a cold there were no major hiccups.  Oh how I wish we lived closer!

We love going to Assateague Island on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  It's about a three hour drive through beautiful country (and over the Chesapeake bay bridge) and makes for a rather long day but we love to do it whenever we have new visitors.  The day we went was a gorgeous day, not hot and not too cold, and it wasn't crowded. 

Elsa was not so sure about the sand.  She refused to walk in it for a long while after we got there.  Eventually she warmed to it.

Love those little sand covered toes!

Everyone into the COLD water.  Elsa did not approve.  The other kids it took a little bit of time but before long they were drenched.

 

Sisters

 

Charlie was fascinated with everyone's shoes.  And couldn't manage to keep the sand out of his eyes.

Elijah spent a majority of his time digging a massive hole in the sand.

By the time we left it was big enough for him to curl up in completely.

 

I think we brought half the beach home with us. 

 

And yes we did see wild horses (even a baby one) while we were on the island.  We just weren't crazy enough to get close to them for pictures.  Some people sure were!

We finished the trip off with a yummy dinner eating blue crab and broiled shrimp, both smothered with the Maryland famous Old Bay spice.  It's a rather disgusting process to have a table full of people chowing down on all you can eat crabs and shrimp with all the legs and body parts strewn across the table, but worth doing once in a while and is sure tastes good!