Red Bluff Farm's Pumpkin Festival

We couldn't resist making a trip to Folsom, LA today to visit Red Bluff Farm. Every year they have a pumpkin festival on the Saturdays leading up to Halloween. I thought the very first Saturday might be less crowded, so we headed across the causeway this morning feeling optimistic. Upon arrival, we found that we couldn't even park in the designated parking lot (which is a field might I add) because everyone else had the same idea. We ended up parking in a church parking lot next door. Needless to say, it was very crowded!

There were pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. It was a beautiful day and we took full advantage.

The first thing we did was look around at the pumpkins lining the dirt roads leading around the farm. Benjamin wasn't quite sure what to think, but chose a pumpkin that was perfect for sitting.

All five of my little pumpkins!

Carston and Jackson enjoying the sunshine.

The kids sat on bales of hay in the shade to enjoy a drink. They were really thirsty during the hour long drive to the farm and I promised them a juice box upon arrival.

It took them no time at all to down their juice. Luckily, I brought water bottles as well. You might notice that Jackson sucked a bottle to his lips yesterday that left him a lovely purplish mark above his lip. Oh well, he is cute even with his purple mustache.

After our beverage break, we watched the farmer milk some cows and then got a chance to bottle feed the calves. Each of the kids got a quick turn.

Then we got to see some baby animals. Here the kids are petting a baby chick.


Carston wanted to take one home........maybe someday.

This baby piglet was adorable.

After petting the baby goat, Benjamin stood and looked at him for a long time.

Once we had seen all of the baby animals, I asked the kids to pose for a picture in the barn. They all pretended to look at me as I snapped a few pictures. They totally had me fooled:)!

We found this tractor outside the barn and the kids couldn't resist trying it out. They loved climbing up to the seat (with my help) and pretending to drive.

Benjamin was impressed by the size of the wheels.

Peyton was thrilled to have this seat to herself.

Carston kept shifting gears and was sure he could actually drive this baby.

Jackson couldn't stop smiling during his turn.
They all looked so small perched atop this mammoth tractor.

Then we headed down the dirt road to visit the rest of the animals. Here are the cows being visited by some of the roosters from next door.

Apparently the chickens like the food given to the cows. Go figure! I think Benjamin would have tried it out as well if the chickens hadn't scared him away a few times.

Jackson spent the next ten minutes chasing any chicken he could find. He loves chasing animals just for fun, he doesn't actually try to catch them.

The pigs were our next stop. The kids petted them through the fence. They named one of the pigs Wilbur. Wilbur even had his own Charlotte! You can see the boys pointing up at the gigantic spider in its web above the pigs. It was a beautiful spider, although I had no desire to get any closer to it. I am not a big fan of spiders in general.

Next to the chicken coop, there was a smaller area for young chickens. They were a funny bunch, rushing around together in a group.

Benjamin loved looking at all the animals. He crouched down for a better look.

We couldn't get the horses to come near the fence, but Grant quickly discovered that he easily fit through the fence and could walk to the horses on his own if he wanted. I was a little alarmed at how easily he got through and quickly got him back out. He gives me plenty of opportunities for adventure!

After visiting all of the animals, Jackson and Peyton worked together to scrape the corn kernels off of the cob.

We finished our visit by relaxing on a shaded bench to eat a snack near where they had a live band playing. Everyone was a little tired by the time we reached this customary picture spot. A kind lady took a picture of me with the kids, but I didn't like how it turned out so we'll have to settle for this picture taken of the kids while they tell me they are looking at the camera!

We bought a pumpkin on our way out. Benjamin investigated thoroughly before we made our final decision! I loved the wooden booths they had set up selling herbs, homemade jams and jellies, candles and soaps etc. Nothing beats a day on the farm at harvest time!
We missed having Daddy with us for our farm adventure (I especially missed him as I chased the kids around). I didn't dare attempt the hay ride by myself, so we skipped it. Only two more weeks until he comes home. We are half way there!

Cole Bros. Circus

When the kids came home from school last week with free circus tickets, I got excited to take them to the Cole Bros. Circus that came to town this weekend. I knew it wouldn't be anything spectacular, but the trained animals and the people who work hard at their acrobatic acts always impress. So, after school today, we headed off to the early show starting at 4:30pm at Zephyr Field. Our sweet neighbor, Caroline, agreed to accompany me to help with the kids.
When we arrived, they were offering elephant rides in front of the big top. Carston and Peyton were so excited that I couldn't resist letting them ride even though the price was outrageous.
Here they are enjoying a ride on one of the circus elephants:

Their ride consisted of one turn about this small enclosure set up in the parking lot, but....

they couldn't have been happier with the ride.

You can see it was a beautiful day to be outside.

Jackson was nervous to ride until Carston and Peyton were done. Then he decided he would like a ride as well. By that point the circus was starting, so he never got that ride....maybe next time.

Benjamin gravitated to the area where the elephants were enclosed. He kept pointing and saying "elephant" with his sweet little toddler accent. The circus held his attention just as well as these elephants did at the entrance.

I had the kids line up against the tent as we headed inside. Wow, was it dirty! The stands had the same level of cleanliness which made me feel like I should have brought blankets to sit on.

Just my boys!
(minus the littlest one due in three months who is kicking me in the ribs right now)

Grant was clapping with excitement and Benjamin was not enjoying being held back from getting to the show.

I have a lot of fun with my best friends! We were excited for the show to begin.

I brought our dinner with us (sandwiches, juice boxes and fruit). We ate while we watched. Grant could hardly eat because he was so enthralled by most of the acts we saw.

The twins enjoyed their meal.

Afterwards, Peyton favored all of us in the stands with her own acrobatic act. It was so cute. She honestly worked up a sweat twisting around the railing in the middle of the stairs. You can see in some of the pictures that she is watching the act and trying to follow what they are doing. I have got to get her into dance and gymnastics. She loved that part of the circus!

My little acrobat!

Carston's favorite act was the elephants. The last circus we attended had tigers, so we were hoping this one would too. We were sad to find out that this circus didn't have anything more dangerous than camels. Luckily, Carston has loved elephants since he was really little and before the more ferocious animals took his attention, elephants were his favorite.

The elephants were my favorite as well.

This cannon was extremely loud as the man exploded out of it, but it wasn't anything spectacular. I kept wondering what made the man shot from this cannon choose this job. What kind of child sits around when they are little and thinks that they would like to be shot out of a cannon at the circus when they grow up. There must be a serious thrill attached or a love of deafeningly loud noises and landing in safety nets.

Jackson was enjoying the trained camels (you can't see them very well in the background). One might not guess that he was having fun by the pained look on his face. I think I take too many pictures and he can hardly make himself smile for them sometimes.

Benjamin was mesmerized for most of the circus. I was surprised by how much attention he was paying to everything going on. If you're wondering what on earth he is eating in this picture, it is an apple slice.

On our way out of the circus, I had to get a picture of Caroline with the kids (all of whom were begging for a treat from the concessions stands, which I didn't want to buy). So, we went out for ice cream afterwards and came home exhausted and sticky.
We had a great time at the circus!

Pre-K Pajama Day

Peyton and Jackson got to wear their pajamas to school today. They were really excited about pajama day. All week, we talked about what pajamas they would wear. Jackson was certain he would "freak" a few people out with his skeleton pajamas. Peyton let me choose. I didn't want to send her in her favorite nightgown because she is still working on sitting like a lady. Right now her favorite position, when sitting on the couch for scripture study at night, is on her head with her nightgown around her neck. So, her silky strawberry pajamas were the perfect answer and she looks darling in them. She even got to wear her slippers. Jackson doesn't have slippers, so he took this chance to wear his crocs. This picture was taken right after they got home from school, none the worse for wear. I am so glad they love going to school!

Welcome to Albuquerque

I drove the 1161 miles from Metairie, LA to Albuquerque, NM last Sunday in just over 16 hours. It was a long trip, but I made it one piece. Now the countdown begins to head back home. In the meantime things have been really great here. This is a picture of the place I am staying. I was able to sublet a furnished room for the month and it seems to be working out pretty well. I really like the Ortho program here. The residents are all hard-working and good people. I feel like I am learning a lot. Things have been pretty busy for me over the last week and a half.
My schedule has been the following:

Monday: 8:00a-7:30p
Tuesday: 6:30a-8:30p
Wednesday:6:30a-8:00p
Thursday: 6:30a-12:00a (Call)
Friday: 12:00a-7:30p (Post Call)
Saturday: 7:00a-12:00a (Call)
Sunday: 12:00a-11:00a
Monday: 6:30a-12:00a (Call)
Tuesday: 12:00a-4:00p (Post Call)
Wednesday: 6:30a-8:00p
Thursday: 6:30a-4:00p

I have gotten a total of about 30 mins of sleep while I have been on call (unless you count the times that I dozed off at the operating table) , so it was nice to have most of the afternoon off today to catch up on some rest. It was weird to come home and not have Shannon and the kids around...I really wouldn't know what to do with myself if things were always like this. I miss them a lot! My life would be so empty with out them. Anyway, after sitting around for a few minutes I realized that I was wasting a beautiful, sunny fall day so I went for a bike ride.

I am sure I looked funny riding around Albuquerque on a tiny woman's bicycle. It has a 15 inch frame. When I was in 6th grade I bought a bike with a 21 inch frame. It was fun to get out though. I am on call again tomorrow night so here we go again...