Welcome Ranch

The weekend of Sam's party we had an outing with the Preschool & Children's department at our church. We went to Welcome Ranch. A very neat place with horses, dogs, cats, goats, chickens, ducks, & a firetruck...of course I loved it! Mimi & Pappa went with us & since Josh had to work I was thankful for the extra help.

We wait in line to ride the horses.

Sam & I took a ride together to get him warmed up to the idea.

So of course I had to ride with Troy too!

Sam enjoyed the miniature horse, Chocolate.

Troy riding Soupy while Pappa walks with him.

Sam riding Mickey with Mimi keeping him company.

Sam also got to sit on a donkey...he liked his long ears.

Checking out the pygmy goat.

All the kids on the fire truck...the biggest kid is in the front seat with Troy!

After climbing on the firetruck everyone got a chance to squirt the fire hose.

It was a beautiful fall day & we loved Welcome Ranch!

Birthday Bash

For Sam's birthday this year we teamed up with 2 other families to have a big party for friends & family. We rented an 18ft. bouncy slide which was a hit with the kids (& parents).

Madi, Sam, & Emily...the birthday kids.

Action shot of the birthday kids plus Troy going down the slide.

Birthday cakes

Troy wanting some cake...

Danielle (Emily's mom) was in charge of the food & goodie bags. I coordinated the slide rental.

Angie (Madi's mom) decorated & reserved the gym. All in all it was lots of fun & since no one family was in charge of everything it wasn't too stressful.

Birthday kids at the top of the slide one last time.

We had lots of friends & family there. We missed Nana since she was in Arkansas but were super happy to have the rest of the family there (well, except for Uncle Jonathan).

A Trip to the Farm

Field trip #2 with Sam's class was a trip to one of his classmate's family farm. Miss Rose (Sam's teacher) had a field trip shirt for Troy which delighted him to no end. We had story time in the round bales & then took a hayride around the farm.

Snack time before the hayride. Sam is sitting beside his best bud Emily (or Emiwe as Troy calls her).

There were pumpkins to "pick"


and play with.

Miss Rose with all her students.

And Troy poses for his own class picture.

Hiking Time

Before the weather cooled off we spent a day doing some hiking. Our first stop was the Stumphouse Tunnel (or Cheese Tunnel as Josh calls it). We went all the way to the back of the "tunnel that stopped the railroad".

Resting with the boys & dogs.

Sam & Troy enjoyed playing on the flatbed rail car.

Earlier in the week Sam face-planted on a sidewalk & busted up his nose & knee.

Josh & the boys at a waterfall overlook.

Being silly at the overlook (& proof that sometimes I take off my sunglasses).

Next stop was a section of the Foothills Trail.

We had a short hike to our favorite little waterfall &

swimming hole!

Sam enjoyed climbing & sliding down the side of the waterfall & Troy, of course, picked up rocks & threw them in the water.

Love these boys!

Fixin' to get out.

After lots of swimming, sliding, & rock throwing they dried off on the big rock with a snack.

We had a great time soaking up the outdoors & being a family.

Sam Turns 4!

Sam had his birthday in October. To start off the celebrating we made cupcakes for his class. He decorated them with one of his favorite things...jelly beans.

He did a great job & had fun.

On his birthday morning Josh took him to Dunkin' Donuts to pick up some munchkins (another Sam favorite).

We gave him a bicycle for his gift along with a helmet. He was pretty excited about the helmet (& did brush his teeth before going to school!).

Troy got in on some munchkin love.

We brought the cupcakes to his class & Troy was able to stay for snack time & eat with the kids.

We had Sam's birthday party this past weekend & as soon as I get caught up I'll have pictures from the 4 year old blast we had.