Vala's Pumpkin Patch, Oct. 20th

Andrew's first day of Fall Break was packed with adventure. After the Wildlife Safari we had a little picnic with food we had packed from home and headed over to Vala's Pumpkin Patch. Tanner was a little tired but was a good sport and we all had fun. This is a "Scarecrow Band" that Tanner liked and probably would have sat and watched the whole time but we convinced him to see what else they had.
Here Andrew and Tanner are racing ducks by pumping out the water.

These were huge bubbles to jump on. They were pretty cool and Tanner loved to jump and run across them.

Awkward jumping pose

So instead of go-carts of bumper cars they have peddle cars. We thought it was a good idea. Check out the people in the background. This dad came peddling in and spun around fast and his daughter went flying off the side. It was kind of sad but funny after I knew she was OK!

Taking a little tracker ride. There was a fake old lady singing and making pies. Tanner said, "Look mom... it's grandma!" I don't know what grandma he was talking about, but Andrew said he was bagging on my mom! I think he was just noticing it was an old lady, because my mom doesn't look like that!

Mickey Mouse

Andrew had a little trouble with some food he ate and had to make a pit stop! ;)

Enjoying some yummy Kettle Corn as we watch the Scarecrow Band... again!

What a woman!

Tanner wanted to ride this one but was obviously too small. So he just sat on it for at least 5 minutes. So Andrew and I just relaxed on a bench with Benson until Tanner had enough!

Although we had fun, we probably won't go again until the last year we are out here. It was a long day full of fun.

Vala's is pretty big, a 152-acre operation with nearly 55 acres of pumpkins planted each year. It has haunted houses, a train, hay, and tractor ride, 5 acre corn maze, lots of games, foods, and other fun stuff! The parking lot looked as big as the zoos. Which was so weird because we were out in the middle of nowhere, basically fields just west of Omaha.

Wildlife Safari- fall break day 1 , Oct. 20th

I love this picure. It's my favorite!
Cranes

So this is closed for people this year, but I totally recommend it for next year. You just drive your car through fields full of elk, bison, and other animals. Then there is a look off for bears and wolves. We saw a bear but didn't get to see any wolves. Tanner loved it almost as much as Andrew. It was pretty fun! But the elk were my favorite bugling back and forth to each other.

When we got out to see the bears, it was decorated for Halloween, Tanner didn't like the skeleton.

Andrew walked right into this bat hagging, hitting him right in the face. So he picked up Tanner to see what Tanner would do. Tanner is ducking as far as he can!

A white/yellow bison

This one walked close enough to our car I could have put my hand out and touched it. I tried to take a picture but screamed a little (because my window was down) and it was about to put it's head in, so Andrew drove forward and I missed the shot!

We had only saw one bison up under some trees and I was disappointed thinking it was all we would see when at least 10 walked across the road right in front of us!

The Bridge to Nowhere

The Pedestrian Bridge- the only bridge linking two states.
The boysTeepee by the bridge on the Omaha side

Tanner is looking on the edge.

Looking towards Omaha

Tanner's snap shot of the rest of the family.

A few weeks ago our family took a walk over the new Pedestrian Bridge from Omaha to Council Bluffs over the Missouri River. We had fun but were a little nervous when we could feel the whole bridge sway with the wind or bounce when someone walked past us.

Random pictures of the boys

Benson fell asleep bouncing.

Enjoying a little bit of nice weather before winter hits!

Tanner relaxing on the grass!

Benson's first time on grass, he didn't seem to mind it.

Getting behind in posting

So I have many new pictures to post, but have had a hard time finding TIME to do it. So check back in the next couple of days... and HOPEFULLY I will be all caught up!

Having fun at home!

Benson is still a little too small for this, but now he enjoys it and will be content long enough for me to get some stuff done around the house.
Tanner has found a little hiding place fort on the side of our house and loves going back there to play, look for bugs (Yuck), and just hide. I remember loving places like this when I was little. You will not find me back there with him now... anywhere a spider might live, I will not go!

4 months old and putting on the weight!

Benson is 4 months old!

On the 6th I took him in for his check up and he is 13 lbs. putting him in the 29%, and his height is in the 7%. But for preemie he is about 50% so we think he is doing good.

Except the morning of the doctor visit and seconds after taking this picture of Tanner brushing Benson's hair, Benson threw up all over the chair, himself, and Tanner making Tanner scream. I set Benson down to get a towel to clean up and he did it again all over the changing table. And then while I was trying to get Tanner dressed Benson threw up again. I was so glad to be going to the doctor in an hour. But all they told me was to keep nursing. Luckily everything has been staying down since.

Who knew overalls were so cool?!

I put Benson in some overalls and Tanner instantly said, "I want some of those." I've had a pair that he has never wanted to wear, but I got them out and put them on him. Buttons up the crotch, way to short, and everything. But he wore them all day and never complained. We even went out on the playground to play popping open every button but the bottom two. It looked so funny.
I tried to get a picture with them together but Benson started crying. So then Tanner didn't want to hold me... he is trying very hard to smile!
Here's a better smile from Tanner, but still very frustrated!
Tanner at age 1. The only overalls I could ever get him in!