Pumpkin Patch.

The morning after Boo at the Zoo, mom and I headed up to Hayden, Alabama to The Great Pumpkin Patch. Go big or go home, right? The weather was gorgeous -- the big, huge, blue, southern sky of autumn. It was cool but not cold. Perfect for pumpkin picking and all the other fun that goes along with it. I was hoping the sleepiness from Boo at the Zoo the night before would lead to a quiet, peaceful car ride north. However, there was a bit of grumbling -- perhaps the sleepiness backfired? I have to admit I was a little nervous as we arrived and hoped I hadn't crammed too many activities into our weekend. My worries were for naught -- the boys behaved beautifully and thoroughly enjoyed our pumpkin outing.

We started with a pony ride!

So big...and the boots!

Even bigger!

All done.

After the pony rides, Fawn was begging to do the jumpies. I was terrified because Small Fry was still recovering from his broken collarbone. But, we'd hit the eight-week mark so I caved (and worried the entire time). They had a great time bouncing away, though. It was a highlight of the day.

Up, up and away.

Whee!

Fawn loved the huge slides.

Well, hello there.

When I felt like we'd pushed our safety luck to the limit, I dragged their happy, sweaty bodies from the jumpy area to the picnic tables and we took a break for lunch. The pumpkin patch actually has delicious, down home food. Yummy! Then we took advantage of the cute photo-op spots in an attempt to get a cute picture of the boys. It was a fun fail.

We then waited in a short line to take a hay ride to the pumpkin patch. The pumpkin patch was absolutely gorgeous, and the setting is just beautiful. The boys were in heaven.

And they're off.

They made very special selections -- especially Fawn.

Handsome baby kept choosing huge pumpkins.

Love these two.

Excellent selections boys!

Mimi and I thought at this point the outing was over...little did we know there was a huge hay pile for the kids to play in as they waited for the return hayride. We played and played and played there, missing return ride after return ride. They thought it was just the most fun ever. A super fun way to end a super great day.

Boo at the Zoo.

Opening weekend of bow season means that Buck is in the woods A LOT. While I love being at the farm as a family, I also think it's really important that Buck still have some "man" time in the woods without the obligations of family duties. He is wild at heart after all. And, I wouldn't want my three boys with me on every shopping trip. Just saying.

Just because Daddy is away, though, the fun around here doesn't stop. In fact, the opposite is true. I feel like I really have to be on my A game when they know Daddy is off hunting without them. Buck is not a fan of the traditional "kid" activities...he would be happy if he never attended the zoo, the circus, or a birthday party again for the rest of his life. So he is totally fine with me planning fun outings when he is gone. He was thrilled to learn I had planned not only Boo at the Zoo but also the pumpkin patch without him.

We took my parents with us to Boo at the Zoo. While I could in theory manage the boys without them, it was much more fun for us to all go -- and I think my parents really enjoy making these special memories with the boys. It was also much safer. It was crowded and dark and my boys will wander!

Before we headed to the zoo, the boys were all too happy to pose for me in their costumes.

Introducing Police Officer Hughston and Bob the Builder.

Those ears. Cutest guy ever.

Bob was so excited he kept his mouth open all night.

These two. Love them so.

Stop in the name of the law.

We were at the zoo when it opened, and were able to ride the train right away. Thank goodness because it got so crowded later in the evening, and there is no way the boys would have been able to stand in the line. Then we headed to the monster slide. Small Fry couldn't participate because of his collarbone, and even if he could I'm not sure he would have been tall enough. Fawn and I were in inter tubes that we hooked together by me putting my legs in his tube and him hooking his arms around my legs. It was terrifying, but so fun -- and I was glad that I got to be the one to slide with my buddy. Even Small Fry loved watching us slide -- he said it was one of his favorite parts of the night. Sweet boy. Then it was trick-or-treating time, which was Small Fry's first experience. Umm...to say he loved it was an understatement. After that we moved on to mini golf then the children's zoo area where we played lots of carnival games, got faces painted, did the rollers, went on the bigfoot hayride and rode the carousel not once but twice. Fun times all around. On our way out of the zoo we headed back to trick-or-treating. It was a great night and we made some awesome memories.

First trick-or-treating.

Opening candy against his belly. Nice.

Couldn't get enough.

Old pro.

Mini golf.

Too cute.

Wanted an eagle on his face.

Wanted a house on his.

Sweet Mimi.

Crazy times on the carousel. I thought Mimi was going to puke -- they make the carousel go backwards for Boo at the Zoo.

Please monster don't eat my precious pumpkins!!!

Boosterthon.

As a kindergartener at BWF, this was Fawn's first year to participate in Boosterthon. It is BWF's big fundraiser for the year -- a fun run for the kids. They raise money by getting pledges for each lap they run. This mama was so glad no to be selling wrapping paper or cookie dough! Pledges seem much easier. And this year's pledges were going to renovate the gymnasium (which was still the same as when I went to BWF).

The week kicked off with a Boosterthon Pep Rally. Small Fry wouldn't nap the day of the Pep Rally so at a friend's urging I went up to the school to check it out. It was so fun, though the kindergarteners looked like deer in headlights. I'm guessing that they had never been to something so loud before. Wow! It was loud and fun, fun, fun. Aubie and Big Al made an appearance at the end, and the kids went crazy.

Fawn was so sweet getting pledges. We let him ask his grandparents and Aunt C. He was very polite on the phone and asked if they would "sponsor" him. So cute! All of the lingo is so new to him.

Small Fry and I also went up to the school to watch Fawn run in the fun run. Lulu and Drennen met us up there. There were tons of parents, and it was a great, fun, family atmosphere. Kindergarten and First Grade ran at the same time, but there were two tracks set up. The people organizing the race did a fabulous job and made it so much fun with lots of theme laps to break up the running...it was 35 laps, which was about two miles. And Fawn completed every single one of those laps. My little runner.

Getting ready to run.

All pumped up.

And, he's off.

A walking lap.

Pump up the volume.

Proud of my fast finisher.

His two biggest fans.

All 35 laps complete. Go Fawn go!

Oak Mountain Fall Festival.

Buck was out of town for the weekend, enjoying opening weekend of bow season in Mississippi with Lance. The weather was picture perfect, so the boys and I headed to Oak Mountain State Park for some hiking -- and the added benefit of a Fall Festival.

I cannot believe I haven't taken my boys out there yet. Wow, I had forgotten just how gorgeous that park is. It is confusing though -- I followed signs to the Fall Festival and we hiked from there, but before we go back I need to really study the map and come up with a game plan.

The boys had just gotten their beloved John Deere boots and we so excited for their first hike with them. There were lots of mountain bikers enjoying the fabulous weather so it was an exciting hike -- lots of moving out of the way of fast bikers.

After our hike we headed to the Fall Festival, which was just getting started. First, we watched a hawk be released to the wild that had been recovering at Oak Mountain since summer. It was very cool. And, up close, the bird was huge!

Then it was time for the activities. We played some fun carnival games, Fawn got his face painted, and both boys got balloon swords from clowns.

Alabama A and a sword, what more could a boy want?

There was lots of make believe and pretend fighting.

Super Fawn.

Trying to be just as big.

Then we hopped on a hayride. On which Small Fry popped his sword. After which Fawn popped his sword. Tears all around. We weren't going to let some disappointing balloons ruin our day, though. I'd packed a fun picnic, which we enjoyed by the side of the lake -- and spirits were revived. What a fun morning to kick off fall!

Boots.

I never thought two pairs of John Deere boots, one a size 12.5 and one a size 7.5 would change two little boys' lives so drastically. I was wrong. Our farm-loving, mud-seeking, trail-tromping guys have always been obsessed with their camo boots. Their camo boots have traditionally been from Walmart. They are good and cheap but not good for function. Buck and I had decided that now that we are spending so much time at the farm it was time to bite the bullet for some "real" little boy boots. One Friday afternoon I took them to Little Soles to try some on, but at $98 a pair, I just couldn't justify it -- I don't even spend that much money on my shoes! Fawn was crestfallen that we weren't leaving with "real" boots, and I promised him we would find something that he would love. Amazon to the rescue! We found leather and camo boots for both boys -- John Deere but much more affordable than the ones in the store. And since they arrived in the mail, rarely a day has gone by that one or both boys haven't worn their boots. They absolutely love them. And they are cute -- and functional too. Win, win, win.

At the beginning of our love affair with the boots, we always wore them tucked in for maximum show-off factor.

And the little one wears them with anything...pants, shorts...or nothing, which is making potty training a bit difficult.

Sweet boot obsessed guy.

This hunter man loves them too.

Small Fry Funnies.

I did a much better job of capturing funny sayings by Fawn when he was a little guy. But here are some from Small Fry. By the way, he's pretty hysterical all the time. He keeps us laughing -- he can even get Fawn going. He has brought so much laughter to our house.

"You cannot say amen! You are a girl! When you grow up to be a big boy you can say amen."

He loves to say "Oh man!" if something doesn't work quite right. It is so funny. Even funnier is when I try to say "Oh man!" "You cannot say oh man mommy! You are a princess!"

He still remembers nursing, which I think is sweet. Sometimes he will point at my boobs and ask me if they can make "gato" (aka Gatorade) or chocolate milk. Oh the toddler mind!

He loves to say "Yes!" when something goes his way.

He's already got quite a potty mouth. He knows he's not supposed to say "butt" but constantly asks me "Can I say butt or am I just supposed to say bottom?" Just to hear himself say it!!! If you ask him to say his ABCs, count, or sing a song, he loves to insert a potty word (or sometimes just a random word) to make you laugh. "A, B, C bottom" or "Jesus loves me this I kick!"

It's hard to be around Small Fry without a smile on. He is so full of life -- and so loud. Buck is still waiting for his quite child.