WORLD CHAMPS!!!

An Autumn Day

Pumpkin Pickin' 2011

We got to take a trip with our monthly playgroup to Organ Farms' pumpkin patch.  Now, I'm a little partial to our (my) favorite pumpkin patch that we began a tradition of visiting annually in Tennessee, Oakes Farm.  But without driving 6+ hours with two toddlers, this one did the trick.  Especially when their favorite part was playing on the jungle gym/slides which we can do anywhere.

At first, Jalen didn't want to do the hay ride on the wagon, because he imagined the tractor was like Frank the combine on Cars and it was going to get him.  But once we got on and got going he liked it.  Tess, on the other hand, was ready to get off the longer we went because she was just getting antsy.  Then we got to have a popcorn snack and a drink, pick out a pumpkin, and that was it.  Oh, we got to see some farm animals at the beginning, too.  Overall, I think it's a nice place to have around here.

St. Louis Zoo



A very lady-like pose, I know.

I'm so happy that we live close enough to my sister now to go visit without needing a plane ticket.  We love St. Louis and everything there is to do for the kids (and for us too).  Brianna and I recently took J and Tess to the zoo.  First of all, it was Columbus Day (no school), and apparently everyone with kids was at the zoo.  We had to drive around FOREVER to find a parking spot.  When we finally walked the two miles from the car to the zoo, it was lunch time.  So eventually we got into the zoo.  We explored as much as mine and Bri's feet could handle and drug ourselves back to the car.  Sis wasn't feeling 100% that day and we were, of course, off schedule.  Jalen just wanted to go back to the car to watch Cars.  He actually asked if he could watch it in the stroller, and I told him they didn't make strollers with built-in dvd screens...yet.  (Next million-dollar idea??)  Anyway, hopefully the kids enjoyed it.  I just enjoy going to the big city.

Two mile* walk back to the car
*maybe an exaggeration

Takes a while when he insists on pushing the stroller himself

J's First Cardinal's Game

Waiting for the next train

We got to take Jalen to his first St. Louis Cardinals baseball game a few weeks ago.  This was during the series against Philadelphia.  Bri was also going, so we got to meet her and ride together on the Metro.  Or the "choo-choo train".  Heading over, we pointed out the Arch and asked Jalen if he would want to go up in it.  He  wasn't interested, and didn't think we had a ladder high enough to get up there!  We went to Fredbird's play area before the game to burn some energy.  When we got to our seats, we got to watch the Clydesdales run by, and a couple of innings before little man passed out!  He got a power nap in, and was so good the rest of the game.  They gave out rally towels to swing around, so he had fun with that, and spent most of the game wondering about and watching for Fredbird.

Everyone needs a Big Swig at the ballpark

Fredbird's play area

Cheeeeeeese-ing!

Clydesdales

Power Nap!

Mule Days

Let's play a little catch up.  First off, here are some pics from one of our nearby fall festivals -- Mule Days.  Mule Days is in my Grandma's hometown on the first weekend of October.  I love it.  I think it is just that I love that it's fall and it's October, the weather is usually beautiful and cooling down, sometimes it falls on my Momma's birthday, and Grandma always has an array of soups cooked that I can gorge myself on. 

J waiting for some candy

Watching the parade

There's our crew