Free Range Family

Last Sunday October 27, we all piled in the car with Aunt Ariel and Dad, on our way up to the pumpkin patch and corn maze at Sartorie Farms. Its a nice big farm way up in the heights. They are somewhat different then the Grandpa's Maize farm on the west end, but we thought we would try this new place out. Grandpa's Maize is always closed on Sundays and that is usually Lon and I's only free day in the week. So Sartorie Farms seemed like a much better option for us. It was just waaaaaaaaaaay out there lol! Felt like I was driving in the farming community in Townsend again! Sartorie Farms has two corn mazes in front of the plot, and a huge pumpkin patch in the back. They had also set up a mini golf course that looked so cute, but there was a bunch of teenage boys hogging it while we were there. :/ We did get to get lost in the maze, only because my crazy husband thought it would be a good idea to start running and taking random turns lol. He's wild like that sometimes. :...

Okay, I feel like lately with my grandfather's passing this blog has been quite hum and drum, sorta missing its gusto. In fact, that's almost exactly how I would describe myself too. Your blog really does reflect you in many ways, doesn't it? Blah... I like to think that the main reason is because we as a family just haven't been doing too much outside of work and Alan's school, but the REAL true reason is I have just had little motivation to write. I just don't feel like it too much lately, but I know that this is when I really should be blogging the most. I remember once, like around when I first started blogging, I was told by another amazing blogging mama that even on those days that you don't feel like writing, you should push yourself to, because those are the days when you will get your best writing. I need to remember this more often on those hard days. Because honestly, Wednesday was a hard day of writing and so was yesterday. But I still push...

So I know the last three clues I said that Anna did not have a costume and would only be wearing her Halloween sleeper, but Grandma Melanie and Aunt April broke down and bought her a costume this weekend while they were in Great Falls for dance and teaching conventions (one of each lol, not the same convention). So I will be catching up her clues on this post and adding Alan's third clue for his costume. You may check out the first three clues here, here and here. For Anna Clue #1: It is not technically alive... Clue #2: You eat it, but not until after dinner is finished... Clue #3: Each one is as different as the last... Clue #4: It is as sweet as Anna is... For Alan Clue #4: Ironically, the character Alan is being has about the same intelligence as a three year old... At the corn maze 2010

I have not done a blog hop all week so I figured since it was Friday, I would give in and participate in this one. Happy Friday everyone! We are only doing more packing today but tomorrow I work a birthday party for my co-worker's two kids. They go to "school" with Alan, so Lon will be bringing the kids too. It should be alot of fun, I have never had my family come to one of my birthday parties! And I have been doing them for two years now! One of my friends from my graduating class gave birth to her son early this morning. I am so happy for her! This is her first child but she has two step-children as well. It is the family's first son however, they are completley beside themselves. Alan, Anna and I went up there earlier tonight to visit them. And I do have to say, Mister Dom is soooooooooo sweet! He is about as big as Anna was when she was born and has the cutest little bald head. What a precious addition to their family, we are so happy for them. Congratulations ...

Thursday the kids and I met up with my friend Jessica and her family at our town's corn maze and pumpkin patch. Anna had her last weight check up with her pediatrician that morning, so we got the jeep for the day. Alan and I were so excited to be able to get out around town some! Anna's appointment went really well. Anna weighed 10 pounds and 8 ounces, a whole pound more since her last appointment with them. The nurses seemed very pleased with that progress. They asked me if we had changed anything and I filled them in our own recent work with the Lactation Consultant. She told me that I was right to have contacted her and Anna was lucky to have such a dedicated parent. Made my day, just a little bit. I'll be honest with you. Then we saw our new doctor (one randomly picked from our clinic this time) and what a surprise that was! It was my old school friend Rosa, the girl who actually gave me the idea of Rosalie's name when I was pregnant with her! Wow what a coincide...

I noticed today that I have barely posted any pictures of the family this week. We have been so busy packing and preparing for this move next week that I have only been posting back up posts and not really posting too much about our happenings. Not too much is going on but here is a week's worth of my cell phone photos! Been dancing in these gaucho pants for at least ten years now! I forgot to bring him a coat but redeemed myself by giving him mine lol. Anna playing as her buddies watch her :D I look kinda creepy lol! How I found my wild man watching tv this morning Rolling the biggest pumpkin he could find lol! Gray is the new brown for my girl! I just love her in shades of gray! The last tree in our lot that turned! Its such a pretty yellow now! Loving Member Appreciation Week at our bank!

Happy Friday everyone! Today is Anna's two month birth anniversary. We are pretty excited! We don't have too much planned for today, except Sunday is Grandparents Day and Great Grandma Marcia's birthday. The zoo will be open to everyone for free that day so we will be taking a trip there with Grandma Melanie. So excited, we haven't been to the zoo in a few months or so and Anna has never gone! I will be sure to take lots of photos, Alan just loves it there. Here is this week's Five Question Friday! What is your favorite fall family tradition? I seriously LOVE fall! I feel like I say that for every season but fall is my favorite this time around lol. And yes, I can do that. :P My favorite fall family tradition is going to the pumpkin patch mid-October to explore the cornmaze and farm life, and to pick our pumpkins for Halloween. There is one main pumpkin patch/cornmaze in our town that we go to and I seriously look forward to it every year. It opened u...

Lon convinced me that going to the pumpkin patch the Saturday before Halloween would not be a good idea, as all the good pumpkins would be gone. So today when I finished teaching my art class, the three of us went to the Maize at Grandpa's Farm, the local fall festivities headquarters, for some Great Pumpkin hunting! The main attraction there is the corn maze, but they also have a pumpkin and a squash patch, hay rides, pig races, hay jungle gym/ play ground, cow train and pedal car. We had quite the time exploring everything and experiencing the wonders of fall. :) Upon first arrival, we set Alan down to walk around a little and he was immeadiately off! He proudly led us to look at the tall cornstalks, the pedal cart track and then to the hay jungle gym, where he tried to climb the crickety old stairs! That gave me a bit of a heart attack lol, so we distracted him with pumpkin picking. Which Alan loved, by the way! :) He had too much of a hard time walking around on the uneven gr...