Can We Carve the Pumpkins Now?

Sarah was excited this year to carve pumpkins.  This is a change from all of her past Halloweens.... she hasn't really been interested in it and to say the least.... scared of the final product.  So scared in fact, that I would have to bribe her with a piece of candy to even get her to stand close enough to the Jack-O-Lanterns to get one picture.

We told her we would carve the pumpkins on Saturday.  All day she asked, "Can we carve the pumpkins now?"  So, that evening Eric helped both girls draw faces on their pumpkins, and then he cut the tops open.  Immediately Sarah started in with the... "Eeewww, it's gross.  Eewww." And, on and on it went.  Phoebe imitated her, because that 's what Phoebe does.  Eric cleaned out the pumpkins and then started carving the faces.  I finally got Phoebe to help me try to scoop a seed or two out and she would touch some of the seeds and goop if I was holding it, but then went back to echoing her big sister with the "EEeewws".

   
     Phoebe's Jack-O-Lantern                                                                                                   Sarah's Jack-O-Lantern

 When Eric got both girl's pumpkins done, they were very excited to see them and to light them up with candles.  Here is a look at how they turned out.

Happy Halloween!

Memories, Family, Parades, and Laughing

Last weekend we went to the Clearwater Fall Festival.  My dad is from Clearwater, KS. and we all have many memories of that small town. 

My dad had four brothers.  He was the 3rd born boy.  I have heard it said that my grandma cried, just a little, when he was born because she was hoping for a girl.  She ended up with five boys, four daughter-in-laws, and 10 grandchildren.

One of dad's older brothers, Charles, was celebrating his 50th class reunion over the weekend at the fall Festival.  His class rode on a float in the parade.  They had about half their class there to ride on the trailer.  Charles's good friend, classmate and best man from his wedding, Dale Parker, was there to celebrate too.

Charles, sitting at the back of the float waving.  Dale Parker, standing up waving.



My favorite part of the Festival... riding the Scrambler with my mom and Sarah.  The Scrambler is fun by itself, but when it started and mom and Sarah were thrown into me... all I could do was laugh... and say "oh my hip!"... and laugh some more.  Mom, Sarah and I laughed so hard and smiled through the entire ride. 

And, another Clearwater family memory was made.

The Patch

About a week ago we went to the pumpkin patch.  Two years ago we discovered Papa's Pumpkin Patch, just six miles North of Newton.  It is family friendly, free admission and so much fun!  They have several large pumpkin patches for families to walk out in to pick and cut there own pumpkins.  Other fun activities we always enjoy are the big white slide, the pumpkin slingshot, playing in the corn bin and on the big tires, and a hayrack ride.

Here is a look at our family fun at the patch for 2011!

Sarah went down the big white slide many times... Daddy, Phoebe and Popee went down the slide too.

 On the hayrack ride...

Phoebe... look at that cute, but very ornery smile!

My beautiful, big-hearted, Sarah Jo!

 Playing some checkers, and playing in the corn bin...

Jumping and playing on the big tires and the barrel.... 

Time to pick out a pumpkin...

I Heart Manhattan

This past weekend Eric and I were able to sneak away to our college town... the town where we met, the college we both graduated from, the team we both love to cheer and yell for, the beautiful campus, the buzz of Aggieville.... SO MANY MEMORIES we both have of MANHATTAN, KANSAS, or Manhappiness as we sometimes call it!

We left our girls with my parents and headed out early Saturday morning.  The drive was beautiful.  The leaves on the trees were changing colors and falling down, cool weather, and clear skies.

We arrived in Manhattan and drove around a little just to see what had changed and what was new.  It has grown and changed a lot since I graduated from Kansas State University in 2000. 

We found a lot to park in and walked to the football stadium for the game at 2:30.  KSU vs. Missouri. We tailgated in the parking lot with some good friends from Emporia and then headed in to find our seats.  We got rained on, we got pretty wet, and we cheered like crazy!  SO MUCH FUN! 

After the game we checked into our hotel and then headed down to Aggieville to eat dinner and walk around.  We ate at Buffalo Wild Wings and then went to one of my favorite college hangouts.... Longhorn's.  It hadn't changed much at all.  As I stood on one side of the dance floor I looked out across the wooden floor and I was flooded with memories.  I could almost see some of my best friends standing there with me laughing and having some of the best times together.  (Molly, Summer, Becky, and Doug... I miss you guys!)  They played the song "Sweet Home Alabama" and I could even see my roommates, Molly and Summer and I dancing in my mind, and there was a time Molly and I watched Summer stomp out onto the dance floor when that song came on... SO MANY MEMORIES.  Eric and I watched people dance for awhile, then we danced and headed back to our hotel.

The next morning we headed up to campus.  We walked around there for awhile looking at the buildings.  Eric had most of his classes in Seaton Hall so we went inside to look around there.  He ran into three of his professors who all remembered him.  They talked to us about the college, football, and our lives... VERY NICE MEN.

It was a great weekend in Manhappiness.  Yes, I believe that I do bleed purple.  My daughter can already sing all the words to the K-State fight song, (in fact she could even sing it word for word a year ago).  I wear purple almost every Friday and Saturday in the Fall. We have been know to schedule activities around a KSU football or basketball game.  And, I can't wait to go back!  I heart Manhattan, KS.

I know a spot that I love full well,

'Tis not in forest nor yet in dell,

ever it holds me with magic spell,

I think of thee Alma Mater.

K-S-U! we’ll carry the banner high

K-S-U! long, long may thy colors fly.

Loyal to thee thy children will swell the cry.

Hail, Hail, Hail! Alma Mater.