As seems to be my constant trend with blogging these days I am behind. But, regardless, here are some of the highlights from our fabulous fall:
We kicked off fall by signing up for a honey bee program at the local nature preserve. The boys got to see these live bees, learned about honey bees and helped make a batch of honey. I even tried my hand at sheering the wax off a drawer with a hot knife and I didn't burn anything or anybody!
The boys were a bit disappointed that most of the honey bee program was indoors so we ditched out during the honey tasting (yum) and went on a brief hike. Brett loves the outdoors and was listening to the birds with pure joy.
Auntie Kerry and Auntie Nancy's town has a free fall festival each year. It has become a tradition. Jackson on a pony ride.
Brett at the reins.
Jackson and Sophie on a trackless train ride.
The boys were learning about Johnny Appleseed at school. Jackson said that's what he wanted on his face and the creative teen artist came up with this - he was THRILLED!
Sophie, Peyton, Brett, Caroline and Jackson - cousins hanging out.
Each year we try to go to a pumpkin farm while Grammy and Poppy are visiting. Jackson on the John Deere trikes.
Brett and Auntie Kerry feeding the animals.
The corn kernels are a favorite stop at the farm.
Brett and Peyton in "jail"
Jackson scooping out his pumpkin.
Peyton scooping out his pumpkin. He was so diligent he insisted and did the whole thing himself.
Brett helping scoop out his pumpkin.
Tate and Peyton work on his pumpkin design ideas.
Jackson with his pumpkin.
Peyton and his pumpkin.
Brett and his pumpkin - yep he is sitting on the stair - BY HIMSELF!
HALLOWEEN:
I was all ready for the boys to be super heroes or something along those lines, but they insisted they wanted to design their own costumes. They worked with Auntie Kerry and told her what they had in mind and she drew it with their help until it was what they wanted. Auntie Kerry rocks in the Halloween department and helped make their imaginations come to life. The results were spooktacular.
Peyton called his Spooklia part witch, part skeleton, part Frankenstein, part Dracula, part Scream face , a hood like the headless horseman and part pumpkin. Unfortunately I accidentally threw away the head of the picture, but you'll get the idea.
Peyton's costume with all of its parts.
Jackson wanted to be a pumpkin head but scary with a cape and vines on his legs. He called his Jack-O
Jackson as Jack-O. No masks allowed at school so he wore a pumpkin helmet!
Brett insisted on being a zombie. I wasn't so thrilled about the idea at first and worried about it being appropriate for school. I tried to sway his choice several times and he was unwavering. He wanted to be a zombie. I made the mistake of saying how cute he was - which he did not like. He preferred to be scary and he really was. He was a huge hit at school.
This isn't the best picture - he was so excited every picture is a little blurry.
I love this picture. It shows Brett's makeup and costume and I love the look on his face. Auntie Kerry was a zombie as well.
Auntie Kerry and her creations.
Me and Peyton. I was a tribute to Dia de Muerte.
Auntie Nancy was a minion from Despicable Me and Auntie Kerry as a zombie.
Auntie Amy and Uncle Jackie made their giant minion costumes and the girls were Agnes and Edith from Despicable Me. It poured all afternoon. We decided to just go ahead and head into the neighborhood to trick-or-treat and the clouds parted and we only got sprinkled on a bit. The kids covered a good portion of the neighborhood this year and would have gone on, but the adults were getting hungry.
Grandma and Granddad feeding Brett during the Halloween post trick-or-treat party.
Jackson let me use his pumpkin for our "appetizer" guacamole and chips Halloween style.
Auntie Nancy and Auntie Kerry got some "help" with their leaves on a Sunday Family Fun Day.
The cousins in the leaves.
Me and my boys. (Peyton, Brett and Jackson)
THANKSGIVING:
We started our thankful tree last year and the boys couldn't wait to do it again this year. Every night we each write what we are thankful for and then share it and put it on the tree. I love hearing what the boys are thankful for and they worked on their cutting and writing skills too.
Peyton really enjoyed painting the tree.
We spent Thanksgiving day at church with the boys singing in the choir and then to Grandma and Granddad's for a feast. I don't know why I don't have any photos from Thanksgiving day, but we had a great time and a delicious meal.
Auntie Kerry turned 40 on Thanksgiving Day. She didn't want a party so Auntie Nancy came up with the idea to have friends and family send bottles of champagne (her favorite) with notes about why people were thankful for her. We staged the party at our house and I think we actually did surprise her!
Auntie Kerry with her nieces, nephews and quite a few bottles of champagne.
We celebrate Thanksgiving with the Campbell side of the family on the Saturday after. Auntie Kerry makes a feast and calls it Gobble 'Til You Wobble. There is food out all day and you just hang out and eat and eat and eat.
Auntie Nancy and Jackson playing a game at Gobble til you Wobble.
Jackson making a turkey hand out of olives - a timeless tradition.
Jackson
Peyton
