Birthdays and Pumpkin Patches

October has been full of excitement because of birthdays and visits to pumpkin patches.  The day after we got home from Hilton Head, we celebrated my mom's birthday at her house.  We all played like kids at the party.  I really enjoyed that she decorated with streamers and balloons, planned party games, and even had party favors for the kids to take home.  She really knew how to please the kiddos--and the adults.

We played a game where we each tied a balloon around our ankles and tried to stomp on each other's balloons while trying to protect our own.  The last one left with an unpopped balloon was the winner.  Matt was the winner!

Matt and Norma during their show-down at the end of the game.

The tension builds

Then we played Pin the Tail on the Donkey.  Reagan was the winner, and believe me, she was so proud to beat all the adults and kids without any help.

Kirsten getting ready to put her tail on the donkey

Reagan getting ready for the win!

Uncle Brian didn't do half bad.

Daddy was the farthest away.  He put his tail on the light switch!

Norma didn't do half bad either.

Grampa was silly.

The next day we went to the Fun Run PTA Fundraiser at Kirsten's school.  The kids dressed up as Super Heroes, got their faces painted, and got crazy colored hairspray put in their hair.  We ate pizza and cookies.  It was a nice time.  Kirsten showed off her amazing running skills during the Kindergarten run.

Kirsten getting her face painted

Reagan getting her face painted

Kirsten crossing the finish line

Kirsten with pink, sparkly hair

Reagan with pink hair

Sisters

 Later that week on my mom's actual birthday my dad watched the girls, so that I could take my mom to lunch.  We went to eat at a Chinese Restaurant on Main Street.  It was yummy and so fun to get to spend my mom's birthday with her.  I haven't gotten to do that for years.  When we got back to my house, we decided to take the girls to Jaker's Pumpkin Patch.  Jaker's is a couple blocks from our house, and admission only costs two dollars.  It's such a good deal, and there is so much to do!

We played in the corn box

And went down the tunnel slides

Climbed the haystack

It's really rather high.

 There's a hayride, a little haunted house, a petting zoo, a big corn maze, and a couple of smaller mazes.  Jaker's can keep us busy for a couple of hours.  I love that it is so close to our house.

On Saturday we went to another pumpkin patch in Santaquin with Norma and some of her family. That pumpkin patch had some more fun activities.

Kirsten loved going down the slide.

So did Reagan and Nana

Reagan is driving a fun go-cart

Matt and Kirsten out for a drive

We took a picture in front of the Red Barn prop.

They gave us apples, and the girls loved them.  I've never seen them eat apples with such vigor.

Reagan eating her second apple.

 After going to the Pumpkin Patch, we ate lunch at Del Taco with my mom.  It's kind of funny, but our girls like Del Taco cheeseburgers the best.  So, that is where we go for cheeseburgers.  One time my mom took the girls to Burger King, and afterward Reagan told me all about their trip to Del Taco.  I think it is funny that they associate cheeseburgers with a taco place.

The girls had to have this picture, but refused to smile.

 Last week we played with some friends at the park.  It was so cute to see these girls play together.

On Friday last week, I volunteered to go on the Kindergarten field trip to Jaker's Pumpkin Patch.  It was fun to get to go with Kirsten and her class.  Kirsten was in heaven to have her mommy along.

The kangaroo in the petting zoo was sound asleep.

This was the little group of Kindergarteners I got to take around the pumpkin patch.

This is Kirsten's class.

 On Saturday we went to the Rec Center, and afterward we saw that the Provo Fire Department was putting on a Fire Safety activity in the parking lot.  So, of course we had to go check it out.

Kirsten loved this remote control dog named Patches, but Reagan wasn't so sure about it.

Kirsten got to climb out of a burning trailer.  It was pretend smoke, no worries.

 Sunday was my brother Brian's birthday.  So we went to their house for dinner, games, and presents.  It was a fun family party!