Upper Michigan in October

It has been several years since we've taken a trip home between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. This year we hit the road for a visit with both our families. We dropped Wellyn off late at his parents so he could go on the Pomeroy annual 4-wheeling trip and me and the boys spent a few days in Gulliver with my parents.

We took a walk over by the lake and the kids played on some of the trees my mom and dad planted when they first moved up there. This crazy tree grows along the top of the ground for several feet before angling up to the sky. Kids loved it.

My little ninja!
We got a suprise call from my sister, Katherine, saying she and friend were going to make a quick trip up from WI to visit the Big Springs. We met them out there for a ride on the raft and to look for fish. Unfortunately, this time we only saw a school of small fist, but it the past have been treated to seeing huge trout and some otters. Brendan manned the wheel on our way out.

Mom and Dad along for the ride.

Such sweet brothers.

Having a great time.
My sister and her friend - so nice to see them!
The mandatory trip to Big Boy after the Big Springs. Kids never get tired of getting a picture with this crazy Moose. I could probaby track their growth in pictures next to this!
We ran into town one afternoon and the boys played at the marina. Thankfully I'd packed hats, mittens and coats because it was windy and cold! They didn't care though.
Playing pirates.
An after dinner trip to the park on Gulliver Lake.
Beautiful view of the lake.

The cabins from Old Deerfield Resort.

On Sunday we packed up and headed for Wellyn's parents house to meet the guys coming back from their 4-wheeling trip. Brendan holding Matthew, who is not a baby any more!

Max being all shy by his mommy :)

Finally, the guys arrived!
Ashley and Matthew.
Matthew snuggling up to Grandma and ready for a nap.
Of course, the guys had been riding all weekend, but the first thing the boys wanted to do was take a ride!
Two coold dudes!
Max happy to have his daddy back!
Some love for mommy too :)
Nothing like a vacation to tucker everyone out.
A trip out to Uncle Levi's old 'fort' in the woods. Brendan really wants to fix it up so they went out and did some 'work' on it.

Such happy little workers.

Aiden holding still for a minute so I could get a hug.
The boys getting to play up and down the river with the grown-ups.
Uncle Muscles.
Can that little guy be any cuter??? I think not!
Aiden playing steal the pack with Uncle Ashley.
Grandma and Daddy teaching Brendan how to play solitaire.
Aiden getting to hold Matthew - the boys love holding their little cousins.
Grandpa 'watching tv'... notice the remote on his hand and no channel selected. He was a little tuckered out too! :)

Pinehaven Pumpkin Patch

My favorite time of year... fall! After a soccer game on a gorgeous day we packed some lunches and headed to my favorite pumpkin patch for the afternoon. It was sunny and hot! The kids had a wonderful time exploring the farm again.
Aiden not so sure about getting any closer to the goats after first arriving... they can be a little intimidating.
This little pony was highly motivated to get every last kernel of corn.
I made it!
"I'm the ruler of the world!" LOL
Kings of Hay.
The bunnies are cute, but not willing to come quite close enough to get petted.
The goats were very anxious for the food to come. If you enlarge the photo one has his tongue sticking way out and almost touching Aiden's hand - yuk!
And where was Brendan??? Very distracted looking at another fuzzy animal... what could it be...
Why an adorable fuzzy kitten, of course! He is definitely his mother's child :) He was feeding it pieces of cat food through the wire. Took a long time to pry him away from this little cutie.
One bad thing was everthing the kids looked through was really high for Aiden. Here I'm holding him up on my leg while trying to be the other ghost.
These pedal tractors are a huge hit with the kids. I remember the first time we took Brendan here, all he wanted to do was sit on the tractors - he couldn't even pedal, but he was thrilled with them.

Two of the cutest pumpkins on the farm ;)

A 'trike track'... this time one trike had a wagon hooked up to it and I don't even know how many times Brendan pedaled his brother around! Needless to say he got a lot of exercise!

This huge slide is a new addition since we last visited. The boys loved it - fast and bumpy all the way down. I can't even remember how many times they went down it!

Getting a little ride.

This was cool - they got to shoot corn cobs at a 'pirate ship' in the field. The cobs go so fast you can hardly even see them. We were there opening weekend so they were able to try it out for free.
Aiden needed a little help holding it steady so he could push the 'fire' button.
The traditional ride on the wagon behind the tractor out to the fields to pick out a couple of pumpkins.

End of a great day...

September = Soccer

Our September was pretty structured, soccer practice, soccer practice, faith formation, Wellyn's class, soccer game, soccer game... and repeat! But don't forget to add school, preschool and all required homework for said schools - a lot to cram into a week for the kiddos and us. Especially when you factor in Brendan getting home from school at 4pm, eating dinner to leave for either a 5:30pm practice or 5:15pm faith formation, back home around 6:30-7pm and in bed by 7:45pm. Not a whole lot of free time to play with friends or relax.

Here is Aiden's team and coaches:
Aiden getting in there and working on turning the ball around.
He is such a cutie, a little hesitant on the field, but a good sport.

Brendan's game later that day. Cute they both were on 'Chelsea' teams and picked the same number.
This photo is a little blurry, but it cracks me up! He was playing goalie at the time and as you can see the ball was headed toward him, the intensity shows. He did make the save :)
Picture day for Brendan...

Some of his best buddies from the team.

And this little cutie used to be a neighbor, I would take her home in a heartbeat! They are in the same grade at school, but haven't been in the same class yet.

Brendan's entry into the Lego building contest. A lot of work and imagination goes into these creations!