Carving Time!

Since the beginning of October,

when we went to Avila and got our pumpkins,

Landry has been BEGGING to carve them.

I kept telling him that we needed to

wait until it was closer to Halloween.

He was so excited that today was the day.

Remember that kid who used to HATE the

goop, seeds, and slime.?

Yup...not so much anymore!

Here is our carving supervisor.

She looks like she is waiting so patiently.

She was...for a while. ;)

This was the first year that Landry did 

his pumpkin all by himself!

I cut the lid...and helped him clean

the last little bits...but he did the rest himself.

Remember our supervisor...

who WAS waiting so patiently?

Well...surprise, surprise...

those patience ran out. :)

She REALLY wanted to get in on

the carving action.

Since her pumpkin was so small...

and clearly she wouldn't be able to carve it,

I decided to give her some markers

and let her have a go at it.

You can see that Landry gave her

a big "thumbs up!"

Decorating your pumpkin is

very serious business.

Lexie's finished work of art!

She quickly went from coloring her pumpkin...

to coloring on the table!

This is how she felt when I put a stop to that.

Notice the marker on her face. ;)

And there was just a LITTLE

marker on her hands.

Landry is so proud of his pumpkin!

Here are our three jack-o-lanterns

all ready for Halloween!

Avila Valley Barn Pumpkin Fun!

On Saturday we made our annual trip to the

Avila Valley Barn for some pumpkin fun!

My mom, sister, and I started this yearly

trip when Landry was about 18 months old.

You might remember that he was NOT

a fan of pumpkins...or any part of it, really.

Over the years it has grown on him

and now he looks forward to our fall tradition.

We were all so excited to see Lexie's reaction

to everything...and she did not disappoint!

Have I mentioned that she is C-R-A-Z-Y?

We mad a quick stop in San Luis Obispo

for some Splash Cafe chowder...

and then headed to the farm.

First item of business...

feed the farm animals.

Can you see my little animal trying

to climb out of the wagon?

She was so excited to see all of the animals!

We made a quick detour for an obligatory

sibling pumpkin picture. :)

Then back to the animals...goats to be specific.

When Lexie spied them...

she could hardly contain herself!

She lunged forward, trying to get out of the wagon,

and as close to the goats as possible...

screaming the whole time.

Here is a quick video I got.

She wasn't AS excited about the chickens.

My little farm girl and me.

She might not look too thrilled now...

but she was once she spotted the cow!

She grabbed onto the fence so hard that

I could barely pry her fingers off.

I just knew that cow was going to come up 

and lick her whole face...

but she didn't...thankfully!

This video doesn't do justice to how excited she was.

If she could have figured out a way to get

on the cow...she would have.

I also love how you can see Landry in

the background at one part...

not wanting to get too close to the cow...

my sweet Mr. Cautious. :)

My attempt at getting a shot

of just Lexie with a pumpkin...

She was WAY too interested 

in the pumpkins to look at me. :)

My two cuties and me!

Love them so much!

Lexie having fun with

Nawnie while we wait to pay for our pumpkins.

After we loaded up our wagon...

it was time for a hay ride!

Lexie tried as hard as she could

to eat some hay while we waited.

But she couldn't quite get it

in her mouth. :)

Sibling shot take 1:

take 2...

take 3...

Yup...didn't happen. :(

I love the look on Landry's face, though.

It is like he is thinking,

"Will you PLEASE do something with her, Mom?"

On the hay ride...ready for some fun...

or in Lexie's case...round 2 at trying to eat hay!

She was getting a bit fussy and was happiest when

I sat her on the floor of the trailer...

which gave her lots of opportunities

to grab handfuls of hay...and try to shove

them in her mouth before I could get them.

After the hay ride Landry wanted to ride the ponies.

My little cowboy...boots and all. :)

By the end of the day...

Auntie K.K. was still smiles...

Lexie...not so much. :)

All in all, it was a fun day!

Lexie loved pretty much EVERYTHING,

Landry got to pick his own little pumpkin 

for his room, ride a pony, eat roasted corn,

and drink apple cider...what more could a kid ask for? :)

I am so bummed that I din't get a picture

with all of us together...

but, there is always next year! :)

And just for fun...here is a look back at our previous trips:

Avila Valley Barn 2014

Avila Valley Barn 2013

Avila Valley Barn 2012

Avila Barn 2011

Avila Valley Barn Pumpkin Fun!

Last weekend my mom, sister, Landry and I made our annual trip to the Avila Valley Barn!

It is a tradition that we started when Landry was about 18 months old...he wasn't such a fan then...but he LOVES it now...and we always look forward to our girls' trip...plus Landry. 

So fun to think that next year we will have another girl in the group! :)

The barn always has a variety of animals that you can feed. 

My sister comes prepared...with her own food...and this is the first time Landry willingly fed the animals.

He stuck to animals that were smaller...or the same height as him. :)

Along with farm animals, they have a hay ride out to the pumpkin fields.

While we waited in line...we had a little photo opportunity.

Landry also spotted a tractor that he wanted to "drive."

He was very determined to get it moving...

but...he finally decided that it was "broken!" :)

My little pumpkin!

Our attempt at a "selfie" on the hay ride!

The minute we got off of the hayride...and the first pumpkin that he saw...he decided it was "the perfect one!"

And then there was another "perfect one!"

And another...well...maybe not. :)

He wanted to search the entire field...even though he already had "the perfect one."

He got a bit "upset" when we wouldn't follow him any farther.

So...he decided to take a seat...

and play the drums!

When we were done with the hay ride someone wanted to be "King of the World!"

Handsome and me...plus Baby Girl!

Auntie K.K., Landry, and me

We got some more pumpkins...plus a pie...and an apple turn-over...before we headed in to San Luis Obispo for lunch. As always...it was a great day trip! Here's a quick look back at how much Handsome has grown!

October 2011

October 2012

October 2013...finally a smile!

And this year!