Basketball

Sorry for my blogging hiatus...I have no excuses.
Today was the start of Ethan's 7 week basketball program.  He is playing on a pre-k and K team with Jared and Brian (a good friend of ours) as the coaches.  It was less chaotic than I expected, but still a little overwhelming for the kids.  Ethan had a blast and he did really well.  They didn't keep score, but I'm pretty sure it was a very low scoring game!  Grandma Karen, Grandpa and Amanda came up to watch Ethan's first game.

Coach Jared and Ethan before the game

Racing to the other end of the court.

He made it to his post...He stood right under the goal.

Such a cute basketball player

He was pretty fast!

Just a look and a smile...mid-game :)

I loved watching him play and run!

Can't forget about the good looking coach :).  He did a great job as well!

Braden and Ethan taking a break

Good game!

Day with the Kids!

We've had a really good day today! (And I can't say that everyday). The weather has been so nice.
We stated our day off with a trip to the zoo. We were basically the only ones there. Our zoo is getting a penguin exhibit and it is almost done!!
Here are the kids, checking it out.




Now, up close and personal with the wolf!




We found 1 penguin!




Ethan chose a carousel ride over the train today. Nora rode a rhino and Ethan rode the white tiger.








After nap, we went for a bike ride. Ethan has been wanting to take the bike trail that goes over the rail road tracks, so we did today.








And, we are currently sitting on the driveway playing with chalk!








Happy Tuesday!!

Fresh Apples=

Thanks Betty Crocker :)

Curtis Orchard

With the fall-like temps arriving, we decided to go pick us some apples!  We have never been to Curtis Orchard, and thought today was a good day to head north.  We knew it would be crowded, and we were right.  But it was a fun day, complete with lots of fall fun and apple treats!
We headed right to the U-Pick area of the orchard to fill our bag with honeycrisp apples!

Ethan was a serious apple picker!

Nora...not as serious.  She just wanted to throw them all!

Cute apple pickers {Right before Nora threw this one...}

The pumpkins were out already and just happened to be right by the apple trees, so we had to go look and pick out a few.

Nora found one. {She looks so big in this picture}

Ethan, Daddy and Nora- washing the pumpkins

{We still plan to do our annual, family trip to The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur.}

After we filled our bag and got some pumpkins, we headed into the store and found a few more goodies. Then, it was lunch time and the playtime!
They have a nice playground area that includes a little mini golf course, so we had to check it out!

Sliding in the barn and Ethan checking out a tractor

Swinging, rocks and mini golf

There were pony rides, a zipline (sort of) and inflatables too!  Ethan enjoyed himself on those.  Nora might give them a go, next year.

The goats were also a hit...with both kids!

It was a great day and we look forward to going back in the years to come!

The big rocking chair

Cool Bus Drivers

All of us on the big chair!

Park and Impromptu Photo Shoot

Since the weather is a bit cooler, we went to the park after naptime yesterday.  This park has a nice pond and I've been wanting to take some pictures of the kids there.  So, I grabbed the camera.  Nora is too busy to stop for a photo and Ethan is too much of a 4 year old boy... But I got a few worth keeping :).
First playtime!

Monkey Boy

If you can believe it...he was pretending he was an American Ninja Warrior.

She's so busy...going nonstop!

Ethan was an easier subject...so there are more of him.

And, nothing beats a couple outtakes...