On Columbus Day Ma and our neighbors joined us for a fun morning at the Great Godfrey Corn Maze.  And when I wasn't getting after Blake to take turns and stop being bossy, we had a nice time...some of us did anyway.  Blake's major meltdown at the end of the day has clouded the fun of the day.  Seriously, it was that ugly.  Ask my mom. 

Insert two big boys bullying Blake, Blake mouthing off to them and shaking his fists at them,  me trying to drag Blake away from two mean boys and Blake melting down here.  Followed by one very quick exit from the park.  Maybe he'll thank me later that he didn't get pounded on by two 9 year-olds.

Blake had his first field trip in October, and I was able to come along for the fun.  I thought all of the Kindergarten classes did a really nice job.  It probably helped that it was a walking field trip so they had burned off a little energy by the time they arrived at the fire station.

In early October we spent a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Grafton, dining outside and checking out replicas of the the Nina and the Pinta. 

This was actually before church on Sunday morning. 

Waiting for our lunch at Mississippi Half Step.  Good recommendation from Drew.

I think the fire extinguisher is an update.

I forgot to pack a more casual shoe for Blake, but he was a good sport about this look.

A pirate ship cruised by and launched a couple of cannons (Nerf footballs) onto our ship.

It's amazing how small these ships were and how far they came with about 25-30 people on them. 

The drive back was really pretty along the bluffs.

Just one month and one day after Rangefest, I present my pictures from the day.  Oddly enough, I think it is going to be far warmer today (high of 71) than it was on the first of October.

My camera missed the moment where Silas and Olivia were feeding each other.  It was pretty cute.

In case the pictures don't fully capture it, the kids had a GREAT time.  They ran all over the playground for hours with their friends.

The highlight of the day for Alexandria was when Avaryn showed up. 

They had a nice little hug here that I missed.

Oh yeah, there was plenty of football being played, but it was nowhere near the playground, so my camera didn't get over there.  The kids weren't one bit interested in going to watch football when there was a playground to be played on.

Since Matt insisted that his 40th birthday was just another day, we celebrated simply.  We did get him an iPad2 (with his money, we are pretty generous), but he got that a few weeks late.  

Yeah, those three are definitely Harveys.

And a couple of bonus shots...

I am a big fan of outdoor weddings...perhaps that's why Blake decided to have his second outdoor wedding of the year this Fall.  Shortly after the informal ceremony all of the kids decided that we needed some official wedding photographs, so I took on that job.

The happy couple.

Posing with all of their bridesmaids.

It was a joyous celebration.

In late September the kids got to pick their pumpkins from Ma's pumpkin stash in her garden.  And so far that's the closest we've come to getting to the pumpkin patch this Fall. 

Before they started out to the garden both kids had a pumpkin goal in mind.  Blake was looking for the biggest pumpkin in the patch, while Alexandria was looking for the smallest.  Both were successful.

Giving it the old foot test...

Not sure what this pose is all about.

Fake smile.

Blake's pumpkin required some work.

And also that weekend...Dawn and Matt were here for a visit/Cardinals game, and Dawn brought Blake his birthday gifts.

Alexandria calls these Blakes' CD glasses.

Blake's school hosted a Fall Festival on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in September, and the whole family enjoyed our time there.

Alexandria won the very first game she played!

There were several bounce houses for the kids to play on.

And FREE cotton candy!

Lots of guy time.

Swinging.

Fun times on the playground.

TONS of fun games for the kids.

Lots of candy!

And a prize table!

There was also a pretty great silent auction that the Harveys fully supported.  Mental note: Matt and I should never get separate bidding numbers.  We end up with way too much stuff!  My biggest prize was Blake's class quilt.  Each student made their own little quilt square and some skilled mom/grandma quilted them all together.  I will have to get a picture of Blake holding it sometime.  He and I were equally thrilled that I won it.  Matt was sure to remind me that I would probably have to purchase another class quilt in two years when Alexandria starts Kindergarten.

And while I was paying for all of our auction items, Matt was playing with the kids in their "secret garden" spot that they were very eager to show me.

Last month Matt and Blake set off for a fun Friday nightadventure to the Forest Park Balloon Glow.  It takes place the nightbefore the Forest Park Balloon Races, and showcases many of the balloons. Every few minutes the balloons, that are located on Central Field, light up and"glow".  It really is a neat event, but it is a super crowdedaffair.  We've been before, and in my early pregnant/easily fatigued stateI knew that I wasn't up for it.  Alexandria said she'd just rather stayhome and watch a Barbie movie with Mom, so the boys headed off on theiradventure, only to get caught in over an hour of traffic.  Once they didget to Forest Park, they couldn't find a parking spot ANYWHERE, and FP is apretty huge place. 

That's when Matt proposed a Plan B for Blake, a little field trip downtown toMatt's office.  Blake was disappointed, but he did enjoy the consolationprize.

 

 

 

Don't mind the mess on Matt's desk--it always looks like that.  He and I have differing organizational strategies.

In mid-September Blake participated in his first ever Spirit Week at school.  He really got into it!

Mismatch Monday.

Tuesday was Twinkie Day, and we didn't happen to think about coordinating with a friend, so he just wore his regular clothes that day.

Crazy Hair Wednesday.  Blake's hair is really short, so a wig was the best we could do.  Thanks to our neighbors for letting us borrow the fro!

His favorite day was Pajama Day.

And Friday was School/Team spirit day, so Blake wore his brand new Mighty Miners t-shirt that we ordered from the PTO.  He loves it!

And this is just a hilarious bonus picture from the week.  One of our neighbor girls had fallen and hurt her knee on the concrete, and then we see Blake running off into the house.  Moments later he returned in full doctor attire with all of his medical instruments, ready to care for the wounded neighbor girl.  It helped to heal her because we were all cracking up!