More Pumpkin Farm Fun!

Here is our trip to Dollinger Farm in Channahon. It was a Monday so Rylin was with us that day. The boys Great-Aunt Rose met us at the pumpkin farm for a little while too.


climbing the haystacks

Donovan playing in the boat

checking out the "tent"

Aunt Rose pulling the boys

Camden driving the fire truck

The 3 kiddos- no chance of getting anyone to look at the camera!

My un-photogenic boys




Off to Bengston's Pumpkin Farm... again! We got a great deal on Groupon so we took Grandma Reyelts one day after school. We rode the tractor/wagon "hay ride", visited the pumpkin patch, rode the train (a few times!), and went in the "fun barn". What a fun way to spend the afternoon!

Of course we had to check out the tractor.


Donovan and Grandma watching the tractor pull in

Camden on the train with Grandma

Boys in the corn pit

Boys Weekend

Just a disclaimer, I (Derek) am writing this blog post so it won't be nearly as professional but I'll do my best.

The weekend of October 8 was a boys travel weekend to North Manchester to visit Grandma and Grandpa Ring and to give Mommy the house to herself. The boys had a blast playing cars, going to the zoo, playing cars, visiting with family and playing with cars. We left Friday after dinner so that they would sleep during their normal time in the van and put them right back down when we got to NM. It took them a while to fall asleep in the van which I thought was a bad omen for the rest of the night but they settled down when we got to G&Gs and went right to sleep.



Grandma pulled out my old car ramp from when I grew up, so the boys had a nice surprise when they woke up Saturday morning. We could barely get them to the breakfast table they were so interested.

Then we went to the Fort Wayne Childrens Zoo! I hadn't been there since a grade school field trip and don't remember much about it but the boys had a blast and didn't want to leave. Here's some pictures of the zoo trip.


On our way into the zoo





The 2 favorites were the penguins and kangaroos. They had a kangaroo trail where you could walk through an enclosed area and the kangaroos can hop right up next to you, if they're brave enough. I think the boys were making a little too much noise for their liking.



Donovan peeking out of the train window


The train at the zoo


They had a safari jeep that the boys enjoyed driving.


Donovan petting the goats, always with the goats this kid


Finally got them to stop long enough to sit and take a picture together

After naps it was time for family to visit. After a rough wake-up for both, they finally settled down and, you guessed it, just had to play cars. They even got the great grandmas to play cars with them. They had a blast showing off their cars.


Both boys showing their race car to Great Grandma Grimm



Donovan pushing his Porsche back and forth with Great Grandma Ring

Then finally on Sunday before it was time to leave, the boys enjoyed a morning in Warvel Park. It has a very nice kids area where they could run and play without a ton of supervision, not that I didn't supervise, of course. There was a beautiful waterfall and they were happy to pose for a picture with Grandma and Grandpa.



What a weekend. Thanks to my Mom and Dad for hosting us and I hope that Amy was able to get some nice relaxing time in before the tornadoes returned to Lockport

Fire Station Visit

We spent a very windy Saturday at the New Lenox Fire Department's Open House. The boys enjoyed looking at all the fire trucks and ambulances, playing in the "safety house", and collecting goodies from inside the fire station. The best part though: RIDING on a fire truck! The fire department is directly in front of the train station parking lot so they were giving rides around the parking lot. Surprisingly the boys were anxious to get on the big trucks!

Here is our fire truck- Camden is in the front with Grandpa Reyelts, Donovan is in the back with Mommy.


Off we go!


Camden and Grandpa


Donovan and Mommy climbing down

Pumpkin Farm

We had an unusual burst of warm weather at the beginning of October so the boys and I took full advantage and went to the pumpkin farm. They had such a blast! I really think it's the first time that I've taken them both out (alone) and it's been super easy and they seriously enjoyed themselves. I love this age now!

Unfortunately my pictures didn't turn out so hot because I was playing with a lot of the settings while still chasing 2 two-year-olds... One of these days I'll get it all figured out.






Camden loved the big corn box


Playin on the old tractor




Of course we had to stop at the petting zoo area- Donovan of course wants to pet every animal, even the big camels!



A favorite was the wagon ride behind the tractor.


The best part of the pumpkin farm for the boys had to be the train ride. We rode it several times... by the end they insisted on riding "alone" (I sat in the seat behind them)

Haircuts

Our shaggy boys were sure in need of haircuts! Camden had some serious waves/curls going on in the back!

Before:



After:

A Weekend in Chicago

We headed downtown Chicago the weekend of Sept 23rd to join Derek's parents and his brother's family for a long weekend. We shared a condo in the Lincoln Park area- the best part was it was 3 floors up from a somewhat busy street. Kept the boys very entertained watching all the buses, taxis, and cars.

Our rental condo- the boys lucked out with the master bedroom! Such a shame for that big king size bed to go empty but it was the only room that would fit 2 pack and plays!


Camden and Donovan within 5 min of entering the condo- so excited to watch out the big window.

Story time with Grandma and Grandpa

Derek and his brother Brandon working on breakfast

Amy, Keith, and Alli

Bedtime story with cousin Natalie

One last lunch together- of course for pizza!


Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa Ring for this great weekend in "Cago"