The Bounce House

There was a super nice day in October that we decided to hurry up and set up the bounce house one more time. First time at the new house! We moved in in August but we didn't have grass right away and things were just busy. :) So Mason hadn't seen the bounce house in a few months and that made a huge difference! He LOVED it. He flew down that slide fast! He will be able to climb up the ladder by himself next year, they will have so much fun. My mom happened to stop by that day so she got to see our wild child going down the slide fearlessly. 

My happy boy! We were at one of Addison's soccer games. Soccer was a struggle for this dude. So many balls he couldn't play with. We brought his own, but of course, he wanted the ones on the field. 

These two may argue every once in a while, but boy do they love each other. Landon and I are 4 years apart and I'm pretty sure we didn't act like this - ha! I probably tried and he rejected me. Addison was in time out, probably for not listening since that is always the reason. I can't remember if we put her there or if she did it herself (she does it herself most of the time). But Mason got out of his bath and once his diaper was on, he went straight to find her. He went straight down the stairs to sit with her. He just sat there and didn't try to play or anything. She was pretty upset about being in time out and even told him "Buddy you can't be here, I'm in time out" - ha! I told her that he was just trying to make her feel better and it was okay. She was pretty determined she need to serve her punishment alone! 

It was Hat Day at school and she was adamant she wanted to wear her free plastic firefighter hat. It was a windy day so she had to hold it on - ha! 

Mason refused to stand up for my Halloween outfit picture so we took it laying down :) Grandma Rita was doing some shopping for us again, we got TONS of compliments on the various Halloween outfits. 
 

More Pumpkin Patch

Man did we luck out one day at the Apple Orchard! It was "Pumpkin Fest" or something one day when we went. They had free face painting. I stood in line before it opened and I think we were waiting 30 minutes! Addison wanted to be a rainbow unicorn :) 

Again, the joy. She was so excited! She wanted to show Grandma Rita so we had to call her and send pictures. 

Just another day on the farm milking cows

Waiting for the animal show with the pigs and ducks. The lady taught us the dance to Fancy Like this year, Addison was excited. 

Playing in the Three Little Pigs house. 

This was a different day at the Pumpkin Patch, clearly a little colder. She wanted me to take her photo at the sign and hay bales. She asked quite a few times when we went but we never wanted to wait in the line of people :) 

 It was cold and muddy. No one was there. Clearly. ha! We let Mason try the jumping pillow and he hated it! I think he was cold and confused. I think this was our last day there. We made quite a few trips this year with our season pass, it was fun and really nice that it's only about ten minutes from home! We bought apple cider donuts a few times and some fudge at the end of the year. We have been looking at this fudge and finally decided to splurge (it really wasn't that expensive) - ha! It was delicious. I was sad to have our last day at the pumpkin patch, it means the cold and winter is coming. 

Spirits in the Garden

I took Addison to Reiman Gardens for their Spirits in the Garden event. They have over 1000 carved pumpkins. 

Homer Simpson pumpkin - she doesn't know who that is but we sent it to Ryan. It was easy to tell some pumpkins and hard to tell others. Luckily, they had the name written on the back of the pumpkin so you could always look - ha! 

Chase from Paw Patrol. Not sure what face she is making.... 

Throne of pumpkins

The Garden Gnome. Reiman Gardens has a gnome theme and this was the granddaddy of them all. 

As you can tell, we lucked out on it being a really nice night! They had a balloon artist there and Addison got a balloon sword. 

These were some of the super intricate ones, there is some definite talent in these pumpkins. Crazy! 

The Wonka Candy Factory was at the end of the tour. 

Due to covid, they had these fancy little pipes to give kiddos candy. Addison loved it. 

These were our favorite out of all the pumpkins. We saw Frozen, Toy Story, Paw Patrol, Waldo, etc. 

We spent maybe about an hour and 15 minutes walking through all the pumpkins and Addison was having so much fun. Addison got to pick a piece of candy before we left. Skittles were her candy of choice. I forgot that she wasn't feeling well that morning and wasn't quite herself all day. She didn't want to dress up in her Grinch costume, so we did a cheerleading outfit instead since there was a game that night. It was a good night and I'm definitely happy the weather wasn't too cold - ha! 
 

Tractors and hay bales

Mason climbed his way to the top of the hales (with a little help). I was very very nervous with him walking around at the top but felt better knowing Ryan has cat-like reflexes..... but then my fear is cat-like reflexes mean nothing if his eyes aren't watching him - ha! 

Riding the train at Center Grove Orchard, that look of sheer joy on Addy's face! Mason rode the train but was never super excited. The train is one of Addison's favorites. 

We picked out the most perfect giant pumpkin from Sam's club. Then I picked out a perfect medium white one and Addison got some little ones at the pumpkin patch. In Mason's hands, is the tiniest pumpkin Addison could find at the pumpkin patch. Don't get any ideas, we don't trudge through the pumpkin patch.....we look through the bins at the front where they already collected them. ha! 

On the hale bale tower. 

Mason couldn't pedal so Addison had to push him. Kid LOVED the tractors. Giant fit when we told him 'last time' and even bigger when we left. 

 Addison loved messing around on the big tractor, moving levers and turning the wheel. Just need to get her to the farm and put her to work! 

Slater Fire Station Breakfast

This kid sure is different than Addison was at this age.... much more adventurous! He can barely walk, but was trying to get Addison's bike out. Ha! 

He settled for her scooter instead. Ha! He makes me so nervous, I made him move to the grass :) 

Addison was practicing her golf swing while we watched the combine across the road. 

Addison got a flyer at school that there was a breakfast at the Slater Fire Station one weekend. So we decided to go. Mason was the wild card, as always, but he was good and scarfed down his breakfast and only fell off the chair once. Ha! 

Addison got to visit the Slater Fire Station during school. She claims the fire truck came and picked them up at the school and brought them to the fire station (it's about 4 blocks). We aren't sure if we believe her - ha! She was so excited that she got to show us and Mason the fire station. And that they got hats. :) 

Addison lifted Mason up on this bench by herself and wanted me to take their picture. We were impressed she could get him up there! 

 Addison was excited to take Mason to Duckworth in Ankeny so he could go through the little door. She LOVES this little door! He didn't really see the excitement in it, but he went through it anyways. Ha! 

ISU vs. OSU

Cousins watching the game together on the hill. Addison adores Nolan and loved going to games with him! 

Look at those smiles!! Both were tickled pink to take a picture together even though they don't know each other. Ryan took Addison down to the field after ISU beat OSU and they saw Jaylin Noel. Ryan asked if he would take a picture with Addison and apparently he was quite excited. 

Nolin slept through all the excitement. 

Addison racing Ryan and Mason - Ryan and Mason might have cheated, they came out quite a bit ahead of Addison! 

Then all 3 going together :) There aren't any pictures, but I did take Mason and raced Addison a few times. I'm surprised Mason likes the slide but he does! 

These goofballs - they were sticking finger puppets to their heads :) Mason is playing with the Santa finger puppet right now and says "Ho Ho Ho". I love it! 

 Hard to see in the background, there is a grain cart dumping into a semi just down the street from us. Looks really far away but it was about 1/2 a block. We got to watch the combine across the street from our house. Blew up tons of dust but it was fun. Hope that field stays (although it probably won't!).