Cole's Halloween Parade

Today was Cole's Halloween Parade at preschool. The kids got to wear their costumes and march around the courtyard. It was adorable. The morning started off a little rocky when Cole decided yet again, as he did last year, that he didn't want to wear a costume. Sigh. He tried on his cowboy outfit, didn't want to wear it. Tried on his blue, three-eyed monster costume. Loved it, then hated it. Then had a complete meltdown. This was all twenty minutes before school started. Well, he finally decided that he wanted to be a cowboy. But he wouldn't wear jeans, or jean shorts so he has on gym shorts. And he put his boots on the wrong feet. It was comical. But hey, he's only 3 right? He'd be cute no matter what he wore. Here he is loving life.

Arizona State Fair

Today was the day that we had the pleasure and pain of going to the state fair. We took Samantha a couple years ago, but this was Cole's first experience with the fair.  Let me preface this with the fact that Peter and I are not adreneline junkies and could care less about rides. Now, we will perk up for kids' rides. But apparently our kids have inherited our dislike for carnie fun because they weren't having it. They did ride the little kiddo train-Samantha remembered it from 2 years ago-sort of. She kept yelling to us, "How many times are we going around?" It was comical. We also rode on the "wiggle worm"-basically sit in a giant worm and go round and round. this was Cole's favorite part of the day. Or as he says, the "viggle vrrm."

The games were a big hit. They won a BUNCH of cheap stuffed animals, which is great for Cole (who could never have too many stuffed animals)! Peter did win them some prizes breaking plates and showing off his "arm". Good job honey!

Now let's talk about the food. It was was you'd expect. Corn dogs, curly fries, sausage, a fried twinkie, a snow cone, and popcorn. Yes, tonight it's salad:) By far the best value-snow cone. So good. And refreshing on a 97 degree FALL day! Ha! It was SO hot.

We cooled off checking out all of the tstinky animals. Chickens, roosters, llamas, cows and pigs. Samantha and Cole even fed some sheep. My favorite-the air conditioning!!

Love making memories with my sweet family. Thanks Peter for dreaming up fun ways for us to spoil our children rotten and have memories that will last forever. You are such a fun dad. Our kids are SO lucky! Samantha and Cole, I wish you could stay little forever.

Fall in Walker

We got to get out of this heat for the weekend and head up to the cabin in Walker. It was unseasonablly hot in Phoenix this week so it was more than refreshing to get up to Walker to 70 degree temps. We found a great, little pumpkin patch in Chino Valley called Freeman Farms. We got to cut our pumpkins right off the vine. Waaaaay better than any farm we've been to in Phoenix. The people who worked there were super friendly and helpful and the farm itself was adorable and had tons to do. We went on a hay ride, watched a dance performance, pet some miniature goats and horses in the petting zoo, watched a cowboy show (that part was kind of lame but Cole still loved it), had lunch, bought corn that was cut fresh that morning and all in all just enjoyed the beautiful day. This may have to be a yearly tradition.

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We also got to pick apples at the cabin. Samantha and Cole loved pulling the apples off the tree and eating them. Nothing like an apple straight from the tree.

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So greatful we have this beautiful place to go to. It's so fun creating new memories with my kids and comparing them to my memories from childhood!

Boys

Cole had a super fun playdate with his bff Tyler today. They are hilarious together. Here are the toughest guys in town.

A boy and his dog

So Cole is really into stuffed animals. He loves them. He usually has at least ten on his bed at all times. They may change, but there are always a lot of them. To name a few...PuppyBear, Ducky, Angry bird, Pig, Gpa Francis bear, Bunny, and most important of all...Clifford. Clifford was at Kohls one day when we went shopping and Cole saw him and just fell in love. He asked if we could take him home so I said, "Why don't you carry him around the store with you while we shop and if you still love him when we're done he can come home with us." Well, he was still in love...and still is. Clifford is his pal. They play, snack, drive, watch tv, eat and hang out together all the time. Sometimes Clifford gets in trouble-playing with Cole at naptime instead of sleeping. But all in all he's a good pal.
Today Cole brought Clifford to preschool to show Clifford his classroom. Then I was instructed to watch Clifford and play with him while Cole was busy learning at school. When I went back to school to pick Cole up he even asked, "Did you play wiuth Clifford?" Of course I did;) Then we got home and Cole had Clifford help make lunch and eat with him. We even taught him how to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and chocolate milk. It was pretty exciting.
Clifford, thanks being such a great pal.