Jonathan's Field Trip

Jonathan's preschool took their first field trip to the pumpkin patch today. It wasn't the same one we went to, so it was good to check this one out.

Each kid got to pick out their own free 'baby pumpkin'. At both patches, Jonathan picked out pumpkins with green on them, calling them 'Broccoli Pumpkins'.

Baby Pumpkins

Hamming it up again!

They read the kids a couple fall storybooks. This is about half the class. The class is mostly boys!

Chillin' on the haystack

Checking out the pictures

King of the haystack!

Sliding into the corn box

What fun!

Shoveling Corn

Standing tall like the corn

They found a couple caterpillars on the corn. Each kid got a chance to hold one if they wanted.

Jonathan was so gentle with it.

When we left, we stuck them back on the corn.

Clara's class gets to go on a field trip to this pumpkin patch too. I have to be in Jonathan's class that same morning for his Halloween Party, so I can't go along. I'm really struggling with not being able to clone myself to be in 2 places at one time. Unfortunately, since Jonathan's preschool is a co-op, my attendance is mandatory to certain things, so I don't even have the luxury of alternating whose class I go to each time. Chris is home this week, but his schedule is rigorous as he prepares for weapon school, and he can't do much to help pick up the slack either. However, he does get to Clara's class party Friday!

Pumpkin Patch '10

This year's trip to the Pumpkin Patch was sponsored by Lincoln Military Housing. We got to go for free, and even got one free medium sized pumpkin per person. Can't beat that!

My camera has this cool 'color accent' setting. It will focus on whatever color you point it at and make everything else black and white. These turned out pretty good!

Clara

Jonathan

My little Pumpkin, Matthew

Jonathan trying to push the wheelbarrow

They're all looking!!!!

Matthew loved checking out all the pumpkins

Farmer Jonathan

Such a Ham!

So beautiful!

Me and the kids.

Chris keeps getting on me about letting Clara wear these 'mini skirts'. I simply tell Chris it's his fault for giving her those long legs. The skirt is not actually that short. However, Clara has yet to learn the art of sitting like a lady. I didn't realize how she was sitting in these pictures until we had left the pumpkin patch and I was flipping through the pics on the camera. Unfortunately, this is one of the better ones. Maybe we should give the skirts a break for a while!

Thankfully, we did get a pic without the skirt being an issue!

I love this little guy!

Barrel Train Ride

Jonathan

Big Tricycle (there's that skirt again!)

Tire Horsey Swing

Yee Haw!!!!

Swinging

I wish Chris was able to be with us to pick out our pumpkins, but we still had a great time (and lunch at Chick-fil-A!) A perfect day!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!!

Birthday's are never fun around here when Chris isn't home to celebrate with me. Unfortunately, in the 12 years we've been married, it's been more the norm for him to not be home. This year was no exception to that, but the exception this year was how blessed I felt to have such wonderful friends and kids, to make my birthday memorable.

Clara came home from school with this card for me.

Inside, all the kids in her class had signed it for me!

the back

A neighbor brought me these flowers which her 3yr old daughter helped her pick out.


I received lots of calls and some friends pitched in to get me a gift card for Sephora. Clara and Jonathan sang Happy Birthday to me all day long. I felt very special. Thank you to everyone who had a part in making my day!

Clara's Notes

Saturday night in the hotel, I was straightening up before bed and I found this note from Clara written on the hotel pad of paper:

I went to Clara and gave her a hug and kiss. I showed her the note I had found and told her it was very sweet. Clara said, "That was for daddy." I told her it was still sweet, then went on about my straightening up.

A few minutes later, Clara came and handed me this note:

I guess that first note really wasn't meant for me!

Wild Things, Inc.

On the way home, we made one last stop at Wild Things, Inc. It's a small 'zoo' that is open for just one public tour each day. I'll have to say the staff was not very friendly, not a place I'd recommend. Still, it was interesting to see the animals.

A Zdonk - a cross between a Zebra and a Donkey, of course

Siberian Lynx

Siberian Lynx

Siberian Lynx

Lion (no, this pic is not upside down)

He was sleeping like this...

...and catching flies like this!

So awesome!

Another Lion

*Yawn*

Spotted Leopard

African Elephant

Zebra

Bengal Tiger

Alpaca

Alpaca

The kids got to feed the elephant. Unfortunately, I only had my long lens on me, and the tallest elephant was the only one that was eating. I stood back as far as I could, but still cut most of the elephant out of the pic (Oh well!)

African Elephant

Baboon