UABC Pumpkin Patch Trip 2015

Our preschool took the kiddos to Brautigam's Orchard this year for a field trip.  Let me say this place has so much charm it's off the charts!!  

Kiddos being asked to DON'T touch while waiting for our tractor ride to pick apples.

Coop surrounded by cute ladies.  Oh my heart. 

Coop and his good buddy Garett!  Too cute :)

Picking an apple!

This orchard is known for their apple cider donuts.  Mr Landon here happen to think they were amazing! So did Aunt Jessie :)

The owner of the orchard and farm gave us a little tour and talked to the kids about the animals.  Then took us to feed cows and pigs!  Here we are feeding the cows from the greens off of some corn stalks.

Coop thought it was awesome and kept going back for more!

Here…a much stinkers animal…the piggies!

They just got into fresh mud and spraying the kids and teachers with the mud.  Some kids thought it was funny…others thought it was not cool at all!!

There was a big area for the kids to run free and play.  Lots to do and fun was had by all!

Swinging on "horses" made from tires with Adele.

Needless to say the pictures speak for themselves!!  We had an awesome day :)  And everyone slept well that night for sure!!  

Homecoming Fun, Messes, Another Park Trip and A Visit from Peyt!!

The first weekend of September we took off with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Josh, Aunt KT and Reagan for the annual Bethalto Homecoming.  The boys call it a carnival…and it brings back so many memories of doing this exact same thing with my Grandma and Pap.  First stop was the bumper cars!

Watching...

This cutie melts my heart!

Owen, Cooper, Grandpa, Greyson, Aunt KT and Reagan are all in there.  And Reagan didn't crack a single smile.

On more than one occasion we had to tell Cooper to sit.

Uncle Josh rode this with the older boys…and I'm glad. It spun a.lot. and I think I would have puked if I got on!!

Dinner time!

After dinner, Daddy, Grandpa and the big boys got a real big kid ride…the sizzler!  It used to be my fave!!

Kids version of the Rush Street Flyer at Six Flags.  The boys had a blast!

After we finished the rides, we took off for a visit to Uncle Josh and Aunt Katie's, then to get some ice cream.  We had a blast!!

One afternoon Coop requested cupcakes…and I try to indulge his request as often as I have the ingredients. When we make them we work together, we count and measure and talk.  We also often knock the mix out of the bowl.  But little hands make big messes!  It's one of those memories I hope he looks back and remembers doing with me often! Anyway, below is the result of said cupcakes.  All over his brother's face!

I took the kiddos to the park one morning early before the heat got too bad…boy did our September get warm!  So we headed to the park around 8am.  We scootered and hit the playground just the 3 of us.  I can't wait to work with Greyson on his own scooter next summer!!

There was a guy fertilizing the ball fields…and Greyson was enamored with the whole process.

That same morning while we were at the park we got a message from Aunt Steff asking if we would like a visitor for the afternoon!  Afternoon visitors this cute can't be passed up!!!  

We ate lunch, played and painted...

Put together puzzles and we even had some chocolate chip cookies for snack!  Thanks for the visit little lady! Can't wait to do it again :)

Kicking off September!!

I am so happy to say that I am officially ALMOST caught up!  It just turned October…and these pics?  Just from last month!  Yay for keeping my memories on track and FINALLY catching up a blog that's been severely behind for at least two years!

Greyson had a followup for his ear tubes the first week of September.  We had to do an interesting dance with the kids to make it work…Daddy took Grey to Children's and I took Owen to school then me and Coop headed to STL to meet up and gather Greyson from him so he could go on to work. Well Cooper and I had some time to kill and ended up at the City Garden waiting for the other half of our crew.  What an unexpectedly fun morning!!!

Petting a bunny.

Following a hill of ants.

Daddy and Greyson arrived!

The fountains at the park were still on since Labor Day was right around the corner.  We did not have swim gear and were completely unprepared.  BUT…we stripped down to our shorts and bare feet and had a ball.

After running wild for a bit, we enjoyed lunch from one of the awesome food trucks that pulled up while we played.  I had a lunch time bagel that was delicious!!  I can't wait to take this in more next summer!  Thanks for a fun day of adventuring City Garden…never mind the $115 in parking tickets we got.  $100 for Jeremy who parked the van in a handicap spot…and $15 for mine because the meter ran out.  Lesson learned…and didn't I mention that in a previous post…it's fun and chaotic being a Linley!!

After our trip to the City Garden, we had Coop's first day of four year old preschool!  He was very excited but got real serious when I asked him to smile.  True Coop fashion!

UABC Preschool is where it's at!  Not only do they have an amazing heart for kids…but for the parents too.  I arrived to a fresh cup of coffee prepared by Pastor Brad. 

After school we were all smiles!

And so was his partner in crime!!

Love this little lady!!

My after-school lunch date!

Welcome September!  It was a great way to usher in our first month of fall :)