Next Generation

Back in early September we went to a park with Grandma and the cousins.  I took the camera so I could practice some action shots, and here are the results!  (It makes me miss summer…but we’re almost to the shortest day of the year, and then it starts heading back that direction!  There’s hope!)

This park has a playground with a huge slide:

I got A to do a little photo shoot with me:

The other two joined in for some of the shots as well:

We had a picnic lunch…

…then climbed some trees…(I love her expression on this one! =)

There’s a great fountain, made intentionally for kids to play in, I believe!

E wasn’t too sure about it at first, and sat watching his cousins for a bit.

E joined in eventually and had a great time!

E had so much fun he was the last one out.  He was very sad to go.  We’ll definitely have to go again next year!

Sometime in October we visited a farm called Baggenstos.  The kiddos played in the hay maze, E’s older cousin went with Grandpa through the corn maze, and we went on a tractor ride out to the pumpkin patch.  (Or at least the place where they put pumpkins out in a big field…they didn’t actually grow there, but hey–at least it’s on a farm!)  We had a great time!  (Again with the point-and-shoot, but it’s better than nothing, eh?)

E’s learning to say “Cheeeeeese!”

“OK, now do a NICE smile, E!”

Rock climbing!  Yessss!

No “cheese” this time…

A had fun startling the kiddos:

More “cheese”:

What could be better than a tractor ride?

E’s been getting into drumming on everything.  Pumpkins are good for that.

A charming shot of his little cousin:

We didn’t buy any pumpkins because we grew some in our yard–but then we never got around to carving any anyway!  I might cook them up and make pumpkin chocolate chip muffins with them, at least (if y’all in the area are lucky!).