October Fun

October is always a busy time around our house. So many Halloween events to attend, Olivia in soccer, more school responsibilities, and general life can really add up! Here is a bit of what we have been up to.

We attended the Broom's Orchard Pumpkin Festival (located in Carlinville) in early October, with grandma and grandpa. We found way too many "keeper" pumpkins that Joe had to go back for a second wagon. Here are the kids actually getting along for a picture.

Ethan was very interested in finding pumpkins "the size of my head". Every time he did find one, he would put it in the wagon. A few feet later Joe would take the pumpkin out of the wagon, only to have to repeat this cycle numerous times.

Ballet in the pumpkin patch.

Pumpkin snowman.

Happy pumpkin hunting!

Hauling back our finds of the day.

Broom's had many other activities that day as well - a small petting zoo, a corn maze for big kids, a hale bay maze for little kids, and, of course, riding a pony. Ethan thought he was a great cowboy!

Olivia named her horse "Spottie".

And, the highlight of the pumpkin day - shooting pumpkins out of a diesel powered pumpkin cannon. Here was Olivia's turn shooting the cannon (I'm pretty proud of myself for getting the pumpkin in the picture!).

And Ethan's turn...they told him that his pumpkin went about 4/10 of a mile.

Yet another beautiful fall day in Springfield was spent at the Henson Robinson zoo. While this zoo is really nothing special, it does entertain the kids for an hour or two. Throw in a picnic at the zoo and they are thrilled. These monkeys were being especially active the day we went.

Feeding the goats, swans, and fish are always a highlight at the zoo.

I had to put this picture in the blog since it looks like Olivia has a sprinkler coming out of her head.

Last weekend we attended the Jack Spectacular at Washington Park event with grammy. The kids were thrilled that they were able to wear their Halloween costumes for the first time.

Olivia is a Go-Go Dancer. I think she really wanted this costume for the wig (which is really strange to see her in as it completely changes her look). However, halfway through the event she confided that the wig was very itchy and didn't seem to be as thrilled with the costume anymore!

Ethan finally selected Super Why for his costume (he is a superhero who teaches kids how to read - it is a show on PBS).

At Jack Spectac was a fog machine and light for kids to play in. Obviously it was a big thrill for them! Never mind the 2,010 fantastically lit pumpkins right behind them!

Posing in front of the Carillon.

Ernie pumpkin! Ethan's favorite Sesame Street character.

"Look mom! We get to sit between the pumpkins!"

Happy (early) Halloween! And yes, that is a fishbowl with a real fish inside the pumpkin.