children's play and pumpkins

We had such a fun weekend.

It started with Friday at the children's museum

of South Dakota.

We are having a blast playing and pretending

with Tristan.  It may be the 2nd birthday knocking on our door 

but lately I feel like his words are running into more sentences and his

playing is so much more grown up.  It's like I blinked and opened my

eyes and this big boy is there instead of my baby.

Everyone says kids grow up so fast but SeRiOuSlY!?!

All of a sudden he knows most of his colors, 

counts past 10, recognizes some letters,

and "reads" stories back to me.

Then on Saturday we checked out a new pumpkin patch/apple orchard.

He was trying to pick up a pumpkin that was twice his size 

when I said, "That one is too big Tristan" and he says back to me

"Ya momma, too heavy."  I may be bias but he's a genius right?

And finally we ended our weekend with my side of the family

enjoying the first annual crocktoberfest!

With delicious dishes including...

crockpot pumpkin spice latte,

buffalo chicken dip,

and swedish meatballs!

Yumm-o

I love the colors, smells and cozy-ness of October! 

Rustling in the Leaves

I had the photography bug and it

was the perfect fall day 

so when Tristan and I went for a walk 

I decided to bring my nice camera and I am 

so glad I did.  We happened upon a 

gorgeous pile of deep burgundy, copper, red leaves just 

begging to be rustled in.

This kid, I tell you what...

he steals my heart

Ring bearer

We got my little brother married off.  Tristan

had the honor of being the ring bearer and Luke
had the honor of being a groomsmen.

I was so impressed with Tristan and the flower girl Charlotte.

They did so well at rehearsal and on the wedding day.

At this age you just never know what to expect but Tristan

was told to hold her hand and he didn't let go and Charlotte just 

led him right up there.  

I brought my camera for the rehearsal and then forgot

it for the actual wedding.  ugh!  fail!

 I did get one in his suit in the hotel room

(ordering room service I'm sure)

Thank goodness Grandma K got some good shots for me in

his suit and I can't wait to see all the professional photos.

It turned out to be the perfect day for a fall wedding.  

Congratulations Tanner and Courtney.  We love you both!

End of Summer Wrap Up

The end of summer is always so bitter sweet.

Did we soak up every ounce of sunshine that we possibly could?

Hours spent mowing...

Plenty of time at the park...

Rolling around in the grass with prehistoric creatures...

Swinging on the "big boy" swing in the backyard...

Giggling with Grandma S...

Playing with cousins...

and splashing in Grandma and Grandpa K's pool

Did we take advantage of the long days?

These pictures make me seem to think so.

Como Zoo

We took a trip to the Como Zoo this holiday weekend.  

We had never been there and were impressed by the beautiful 

gardens and fountains almost everywhere you looked.  

It is free will donation which in this day an age is pretty remarkable.

The only down side was driving around for 20 minutes finding a parking spot.

In the future it may be worth it to take the shuttle.

Tristan of course loved the animals.

Then he had fun feeding the animals in the learning workshop.

Then we ended our day with a ride on the carousel.  

The carousel was celebrating 100 hundred years.  

Wow!  Just think of the joy and

childlike wonder it has brought to countless riders.