The Turners and the Simmons take Hungry Mother State Park! Fall 2014

A beautiful fall day and a great way to enjoy everything the day could offer.  A hiking trip with your buddies!

The gang was well prepared complete with backpacks and camel packs.

And hiking sticks that were also used as spears, swords and guns I think.  The Turner girls were great sports with all the boy play.

The first two cutie pies to make the summit!  Almost a 2 hour hike.  I was beginning to wonder if we would ever get to the top and then would the kids be able to make it back down.  Thankfully, the hike back to the car was downhill and the kids practically ran the whole way.  Once again I was proven wrong.  The kids are so much tougher and energetic than I give them credit for.

The beach at Hungry Mother.

Beautiful signs of fall.

Group shot!  Even sweet Ibis made the hike and the picture!  I just realized that we are all looking in the same direction, including Ibis.

Perfect sword swinging!

Now it looks like they have turned the sticks into bows and arrows.  I love the way their imaginations work.  They have fun with everything they do.  We need to take note of this simple play and imagine more ourselves.

Not to be out done by everyone else he is going to climb and jump off the tree as well.  Complete with camel back straw in mouth.

The next few pictures are all the same but these kiddos are so stinking cute I had to add them all!

Aren't they the cutest?

Not as successful with the group shot at the summit.  We made it!

Family shot!  Thanks Matt for taking this for us.  We take a ton of pictures of the kids but often we forget to take picture of us with them.  We need to remember to do this more often.

Love.

Sweetness.

Decent.  It took 2 hours to get to the top and about 45 to get down.  Such a fun day!  I love our home, our family and our friends!

Sinking Springs and Fern Valley Farm!

 First, it was FREEZING!!  The kids never mind the cold.  The animals don't seem to mind the cold but the parents were freezing.  We all had a wonderful time visiting Farmer Larry and Farmer Lynn and all their furry friends on the farm.

 Who knows the 5 rules at the farm?  If you do, or think you do, I can literally hear you saying them in your head!!!  I bet my kidsvwill know the 5 rules for this farm for their lifetime!

Butterscotch, the special 3 legged bunny. 

We are cold and we have seen all these animals like a hundred times, so lets run around until the tractor rolls three feet over here to pick us all up.

I like feeding the sheep.  I love the sheep, they are my personal favorite at the farm.  Their silly BAAAAAs and throaty noises crack me up.

Farmer Larry and Lynn have been working very hard on the farm since they first established the place.  Not only are they building their own log home overlooking the farm but they have just recently added this nice new green house and outside garden.

Daddy and pumpkin carving

Mad men and their skills at work.  Nuff said.

LAST TRIKE A THON!!!!

 I have been blogging about the trike a thon for years and I believe this is the last one.  It is bitter sweet in ways but after seven years I am ready to move on.  I can let this one go, and to be completely honest I am ready for Lucas to lose the training wheels and ride with the rest of us.  I do realize that saying this means that I am letting go of my baby.  But, like any other mom, no matter the age these boys will always be my babies.

 Waiting patiently for the signal to start.

 Off he goes.  Around and around.

 And around.

 And around again.

 Until it's time to get off for snacks.  He is so stinking cute!

 These two enjoyed taking a peak inside the police officer's car. 

 Little Larkin's last go at the trike a thon.

He rode for a really long time.  It was fun as usual out chatting with the other preschool families.  I will miss some of that time we all spend together while our kids were so young.  It will be interesting to see how our lives grow and change together or apart as our kids get older.