When we first started having kids I discovered a horrible secret! Though Chris loves birthdays and Christmas and he can't get enough of Halloween costumes and decorating, he HATES doing pumpkins. So after the first year that I carved Evie's pumpkin and did everything myself, I decided things had to change. Now, we still go pick the pumpkins out as a family (be it farm or store) and then I do all the pumpkin fun after that. Because I do it by myself we have found a less messy (sort of) and easier to complete way for our kids to do pumpkins. WE PAINT! Honestly, with little kids and the warm weather we've been living in for several years, painting is the way to go!
So I covered the kitchen table with one of those vinyl tablecloths taped down and covered my kids in Kmart smocks. (super cheap) They each got their pumpkin, a paintbrush, cup of water, and all the paint their little paper plates could take.
I was pretty sure that both Eve and Joe had the idea down, but Liz and Al are still pretty little so I knew I would be multi-tasking a lot. With Vaughn at the table my eyes were going to need to be VERY open!
Vaughn had a lot of fun and was finished very quickly. He had a small pumpkin. He was also finished quickly because there's only so much paint I think a kid can ingest before a hospital visit is necessary. He loved it.
Each of the kids were very focused. But like I said, Ally and Lizzy were a bit smaller than was okay to just let them go crazy. So I watched Al do her thing and boy, was it fun.
She loves to pose for all my pictures.
Lizzy was doing a great job until she realized I was watching. Then her paintbrush got a little carried away as she went from concentration mode to singing mode to crazy girl pose!
focused
singing
pose!
Joe was having such a great time. He's a very careful child when he's doing pretty much anything. Artwork is one of the more difficult subjects for him because there are not a lot of rules and guidelines. He did do a beautiful job and helped keep the girls on track. (by this time Vaughn had gone to bed, so it was just him and the girls).
Evie's passion is anything artistic and free. She loves to paint, draw, color, create, make, or change. She had so much fun doing the pumpkin that she of course requested some extra paper when she was done. She still had paint left.
We had so much fun and the kids had a great time. Their creations were fantastic. This is still one of my favorite holiday activities. So lucky I got to have great kids to share it with.
Such a busy weekend! Friday was Joe's birthday party, Saturday morning Joe went to basketball with daddy while the girls went to the tea party, and then in the afternoon we went to get pumpkins at Aloun Farms! It was a long, but fun weekend!
So Aloun Farms is something I saw on a sign and then looked up online. Normally there is an entrance fee of sorts, but it was a military day so none for us. That's why I looked at it in the first place!
First of all, we had no idea it was more like a carnival that happened to also be a farm than the other way around. There were food booths, rides, a live band, and of course, lots of fresh produce that was already picked or you could go pick it yourself.
After walking around for a while we decided to take the hayride to get a good look at all the areas where we could pick our pumpkins. The kids loved it; Joe and Vaughn especially liked the tractor pulling the hay cart.
Vaughn kept looking over the edge at the tires. Chris let him until he almost fell out of his arms. We all giggled, but mom and dad were giggling with relief as opposed to the kids who just thought it was funny!
Then we took a water break. Just because the calendar says October doesn't mean it wasn't over 85 degrees! It was an overcast afternoon though so that was better. It was also a little windy!
Then it was time to get down to business and get those pumpkins! We had so much fun roaming around the plants trying to find "the one" that was just right. Joe was very careful and found his pretty quickly. Then he went and tried to help everyone else!
The girls all insisted on following each other. It was a pumpkin picking pack! So cute.
Lizzy found it and was so excited I was required to take her picture. Good thing I was on board with that idea already. She handed hers off to daddy for safe keeping...and hauling to the front gate. They were heavy!
Have to be honest, I LOVED picking pumpkins with Vaughn. He was very particular about his pumpkin and like Joe, knew exactly what he wanted. It was so fun to actually be in this picture with him.
We had such a great time. We decided before we left that we were absolutely going to come back next year with cash, more water, and a wagon of some kind to help us gather our pumpkins. We had a wonderful little adventure!
Joe turned 5 this week and we had so much fun! I really love throwing birthday parties for my kids.
We make a really big deal out of birthdays in our family. That doesn't always mean a huge party or lots of gifts, but it does mean a candle and birthday song for each meal, you get to eat THREE bowls of cereal for breakfast if you want, you get to pick dinner (in or out), and if there isn't a party you get to pick the family activity! It's a great day and we all enjoy the chance to give extra love to that person on their special day.
He got lots of fun things from Nana and Papa!
Breakfast! Joe's favorite!
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
It was a really fun day for Joe. We spent the day hanging out and enjoying being with Joe, but planning for the big birthday party on the weekend as well.
Relaxing before the craziness begins!
For Joe's friend birthday party we went out and rented a bouncy house. Anyone who has met my kids understands the true import of that decision! My kids had so much fun. They played from morning to night, before and after the party with friends. Joe had a great time and we had a great time watching them all play.
The bouncy house was a surprise, so we had to hurry and do it undercover. If you look at the size of this thing you'll understand how tricky that was! It was so fun for mom and dad to give him this. No one
The kids had so much fun. Everyone was so excited for Joe to get to have one for his birthday party. Of course, we let the Fosburg kids play in the bouncy house for a little while before all of the friends showed up. As you can see, they had a great time!
My favorite picture of the whole party. I had to be inside the house to get it and Joe was having such a great time.
Surprisingly, it took a few minutes and some cajoling to get them started, but once they were in, getting them out was a whole other problem! That part was NOT a surprise.
It was hardest to get Vaughn in that house, but Joe was such a good brother and helped him get in. Once in, he enjoyed it almost as much as the birthday boy!
While the kids were out playing in the bouncy house, daddy and I were setting up for the party! Every birthday the kids love going to our local Party City to choose party decorations and goody bags (if we do any). Of course, we also pick out a cake.
EVERY kid loves those hanging things from the ceiling - don't ask me - I have no idea why.
Yes, it was a "Man of Steel" birthday. DO NOT confuse it with a Superman birthday. It is not the same thing, as I was told numerous times with increasing frustration.
The goody bags. The kids love putting special toys and treats in the bags for their friends. I love doing such simple, relatively inexpensive, things for my kids.
As the kids came for the party we shuffled them directly outside to the bouncy house in the backyard. Honestly, we probably didn't have to do anymore than that, but we did. We like to spoil, I guess.
everyone catches some air!
I love how childlike my husband is. He makes it so fun to be a parent. I so love him!
After the bouncing was enjoyed heartily by everyone, we played some fun and traditional party games. By this time they were calm enough to enjoy the games and take turns. (My evil plan worked! They were too tired to be difficult. Wahahahaha!)
Joseph pinned a shield on the Man of Steel eventually.
(you thought I was gonna say Superman, didn't you?)
Then it was Rachel's turn. Good job.
Go Anthony! Almost.
Awesome James! Good try.
Good Job Aurora! So close.
Wonderful Lizzy! Fantastic try.
Super Evie! Pretty close there.
Aurora won! Great job everybody.
Of course, then it was time for cake. Have to have cake. You can only distract from sugar and presents for so long before the natives (my kids) get restless!
oh my goodness - he is so cute!
Such a cutie! Loves his cake!
Present time has arrived! It took Joe so much effort to wait all this time to get to the gifts. He did a great job being grateful, saying thank you, and giving the appropriate amount of oooh's and ahhh's and I wanted this's. Love my big little boy!
spy plane!
Man of Steel figure
Man of Steel and General Zod. Can this day get any better?
super cool card - was later turned into the coolest paper airplane ever!
table top basketball - loved it!
Hawaiian frisbee! One of Joe's favorite toys (I know - I was surprised too!)
"Spiderman, Spiderman, does whatever a spider can"
goin' swimmin!!!
All the kids watched and enjoyed so patiently! Sincere happiness for Joe was very evident. Made this mom's heart all glowy. (Ally, Lizzy, Evie, James Scott, Aurora Hepner, Rachel Harris, and Anthony Parkins)
LEGOS!
A dinosaur habitat setup
big boy dress-up: ninja sword, ninja costume
super secret spy system (say that three times fast!)
One last present is somewhere in here! Can Joe find it?
After the party, Joseph, of course, wanted to get into his new toys. The best part of my Joe? He immediately shared all the toys with his very excited and anxious brother and sisters. What a great brother.
my stealthy ninja -
better watch out, as if that will do you any good (she said in a scary quiet way)
the only time you'll see his face - look closely!
Everyone had so much fun playing with Joe! Even Vaughn got a squeaker which he promptly followed Joe around blowing. Made Joe and the rest of us giggle.
And this is what happens at the end of the party the next day. Taking out the air and the stakes - easy. Rolling it up - no problem. Lifting it into the vehicle - not gonna happen alone! We ran across the street and grabbed a great neighbor, Caleb Nimmo, to help us out. Gotta love neighbors! We do.
