Autumn Activities

I love all the different Fall activities there are to do each year.  I really wanted to go to a corn maze this year, and found one about an hour away that sounded good.  We went out to the farm and discovered several different things to do.

They had a huge area with several mini-buildings for kids to climb in, on, and around.  I was impressed by the variety, but also how fun everything looked.  I would have loved this area as a kid.  And the coolest part was that it wasn't just the outside you could climb on.  You could be inside all the structures, some of them with multiple levels inside.  The pirate ship had a hull underneath and a staircase inside from the hull to the helm area.  The bard had a spiral staircase leading up to the silo slide and several levels inside.  Really neat.  There was also a tractor with a trailer structure that I didn't take a picture of.

Pirate Ship

Barn and Silo

Back of the barn where the slide was

A Fort

School Bus.  Emma didn't appreciate what Eric was doing when she saw the picture later.

There was another area with a bunch of rocking horses, but designed after different animals, not just horses.  Emma wanted to try all of them.  The pig was her favorite.  They had a chicken, a pig, a horse, a sheep, a goat, and a cow.  

You could also "pick" a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch.  They had a little mock race track for kids where they'd ride tricycles, but alas, Emma was too big for it.  It probably wouldn't have captured her imagination as much as little kids anyway.   There was also a water pump rubber duck racing area, as well as a pumpkin cannon and sling-shot.  We had fun doing the canon and sling-shot, but I forgot to get any pictures of it.  We hit the target though, so we won a pumpkin to bring home.  Score!

Not a very good angle, but this is the rubber ducky water pump race.  You'd pump water
into the chute and try to float your duck to the other side faster than your opponent.

But what we really went there for was the corn maze.  The maze covered six acres.  We got a map when we entered, and Emma navigated us through.  It took us about 45 minutes to finish.  I loved watching Emma lead us around the place.  She did a pretty good job too!  

Emma was trying look anxious as if she were trapped in a corn jail.

This bridge was at the half way point.

Annual Apple Picking

This year's apple picking was a little rushed compared to years past.  We went out bright and early, waited in line until they opened, and then hurried to pick our apples.  They didn't seem to have as many honey crisps as in the past - I don't know why.   Perhaps it was just my perception, or maybe the crop wasn't as plentiful this year, but regardless, we got the apples we wanted.  We then quickly drove down the road another mile to pick up some delicious donuts at another farm.  So warm and yummy!

We then hurried up to the church so we could make it for the primary program practice.  It was just bad timing that these activities happened on the same day, but we did our best to make it work.  Since I'm in the primary presidency I really wanted to be there to help with the practice.  I'm not just a super dedicated mom who wanted to kill myself to get my kid there for it.  =)  Amazingly we made it in time.  I love apple picking, so there was no way I was going to miss it completely.  It's all about compromising sometimes.  But it's always worth the early morning!

4th Grade

Just wanted to put something on here quick.  It's the usual "I can't believe she's already in 4th grade" spiel, but really.  Upper elementary.  Wow.  She's just getting so old!  Here she is on the first day of school.

Emma's 9th Birthday Party

For her birthday this year, Emma decided to have a much smaller than usual party.  She invited two of her dear friends and we took them bowling and out for lunch at a fun diner.  Emma said it might be her favorite party ever.  I could really get used to having such a small group, and wouldn't complain if she did it again this way.  We'll see though.  On a side note, I can't believe she's nine years old!

I just kept the invitations really simple this year since I only needed two of them,
and made this on the computer and printed it at Walgreen's as a photo.  So fast and easy.

These three had so much fun!  It was hilarious to watch them giggle together and cheer each other on.

Emma's form looked particularly good at the party.

At the diner.  We thought it would be more fun if the girls had their own table.  So Eric and I were sitting at the next table. I forgot to get a picture while they were eating lunch.  Since Emma's not a huge cake fan, we decided to just let the girls order dessert at the diner in lieu of the tradition birthday cake.  They all wanted ice cream.  Fine by me.

For the favors I just got a couple of those reusable plastic cups and filled them with candy.
I almost couldn't screw the lid on they were so full.  I had to strategically place the straw in so it would fit!

I put a few non-candy items in a little sheer bag that I tied to the straw.  In it there were some bubbles, a bracelet making kit, a smily face ball, eyeballs that are worn like a ring, and a sock coin purse.  The sock was the only nod to the bowling activity.  I didn't feel like trying to do a theme favor this year.
 I don't think the girls minded.  =)