Weekend Wrap Up

I cannot tell you how nice it is to be able to post pictures of the boys! I have some ideas for how to show you some of our photos from the last 14 months while not neglecting the present. During the holiday season, I will include some photos of our first year doing some of the traditions we have continued this year.

Dewberry Farm is a local popular attraction in the fall. It provides a full day of family fun including a hay ride out to a giant pumpkin patch and Christmas Tree farm, a petting zoo, pig races, and all kinds of other activities. Last year we went in October so we got a lot of sweet pumpkin pictures. I remember being so nervous the whole day because the boys had only been with us for a month and had no desire to walk next to us or hold our hands in this type of setting. We were so afraid we would lose them in the crowds! Jeff and I both commented on how much more relaxed we felt this time. It is amazing how much progress the boys have made in the past year!

We couldn't fit Dewberry Farm into our October this year, so we went this past Saturday. Most of the pumpkins were sold and the rest were rotten, so we decided to skip the trek out to see them. We still took the hay ride though and looked at the Christmas trees. We also went through the corn maze and I got this great picture of the boys with the hay ride behind them. I may have done a happy mommy dance after I snapped it.
We also got a family picture in front of the duck pond this year. Last year we weren't able to get a picture of all 4 of us, so I was also excited to get this one!
My 3 guys also let me take a picture of them by the barn and windmill.
This picture cracks me up! Look at that grumpy looking cow! I promise Jeff was having fun he is just incredibly awkward in pictures! He says he doesn't know "how" to smile. Ha!
We enjoyed a beautiful sunset over the corn field!
The boys loved trying some new things this year. They rode the cow train, drove some cars you pedal, and enjoyed bouncing on the giant inflated pillow!
We pealed them off the bouncy pillow long enough to take a couple of photos with the pretty sunset!

We ended the day at dusk, just as the farm closed. I am telling you, the sunset was AMAZING! I was not the only one taking a bunch of pictures of it!
Saturday night we shopped for and filled shoe boxes for Samaritan's Purse. Our church is participating in Operation Christmas Child and the kids had a goal of 100 boxes. The boys were excited to pick out toys for their "friend in another country!" Surprise, surprise the boys were determined to include as many Hot Wheels cars as possible! We also put one of their school pictures and their name and address inside. My sister made the suggestion of registering the boxes online, which allows you to track where the boxes end up. I am excited about this part because one of the things we are really working on is the concept that it is better to give than to receive. Check out my cheerful givers! Here they are just before church on Sunday with their shoe boxes.

They went to church with their daddy and I stayed home. We have only done this 2 times in the last year, but I had been fighting a cold for a week and really needed some extra rest. Especially since we had family pictures scheduled for Sunday afternoon that had already been rescheduled once due to rain. We had the photo shot sans Sunday naps so I am crossing my fingers that the pictures came out well! We are looking forward to sharing those photos with you very soon!

Thank you again for all of your sweet comments and congratulations! We are going to print them all out and save them for the boys so they will always remember how loved they are!