Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Our little school girl was SO excited to be going on her first ever field trip! The three-year old classes went to a pumpkin patch about a mile from the school. Each child had to have a parent transport them and stay with them during the visit. So, Mommy got to join in on the fun!

A good field trip always starts with a special snack. Here she is laughing so hard with some of her friends as they were all being a bit silly.

Then they played lots of games that involved running around and jumping over pumpkins. She loved it!


What a cute scarecrow!



At the end of the visit, the children went on a scavenger hunt among the pumpkins to find candy. She filled her bag very quickly!



Time to check out all the goodies! On the way out each child got to choose a pumpkin to take home. What a wonderful day!

Pumpkin Patch

We enjoyed our annual trip to the pumpkin patch at the Dallas Arboretum, and it was a fantastic morning to see the pumpkins and fall flowers!

Six months pregnant in this photo, but the jacket somewhat hides the growing tummy!

I think it's obvious in this picture just how much fun Madelyn had seeing all the pumpkins. As always, she was a happy and delightful girl.


We even got some good poses from her this year. Although she was anxious to run around and explore, she stopped long enough to give us some good shots!



Our sweet little pumpkin!




Having fun with Daddy. They found a ladybug, rescued a worm from the water, and explored some paths away from the main areas. It was a special day!



She couldn't resist reaching into this small fountain to touch the concrete fish underneath the water.



We asked her to take a picture of us, and she got one that was perfectly centered on the first try! Too bad we forgot to get a family photo!


Notice the "Please Stay Off Rocks" sign next to the rock she's standing on! Oh well, no harm done.

Mr. Pumpkin

Last weekend Madelyn helped carve her very first pumpkin! She was very excited to see it turn into a jack-o-lantern, which she named Mr. Pumpkin.

She was so curious when Daddy removed the lid . . . what could be inside?



"Hmmm, I think I need a closer look."




She rolled her sleeves up to help scoop everything out, but she quickly changed her mind after touching the icky pumpkin pulp.


She put his "hat" back on when the face was finished.




She gave Mr. Pumpkin a special hug and insisted that he sit in a chair beside her. What a fun afternoon!

Arkansas Fun!

Cousins Ivy, Garrett, and Aunt Amy came in from California for a brief visit to see new Baby Emma. They flew into Dallas and spent the night before everyone headed to Arkansas.

Madelyn and Ivy slept together on the pull-out sofa their first night together. What a treat to sleep in the living room!! We were all shocked that they both stayed there all night!

A huge milestone happened while we were there - Madelyn rode a bike (with training wheels) for the first time!! Daddy helped her gain confidence, and within a few minutes she was having the time of her life riding up and down the driveway.

She felt a HUGE sense of accomplishment! She was thrilled!



Proud Papaw with new granddaughter Emma, who was two weeks old that day. She is such a sweet, precious baby!



The four grandchildren with Papaw as everyone celebrated his birthday. What cuties!




Hairstylist Ivy made Uncle Terry pretty with LOTS of mousse!




Garrett is quite the pro on video games, and he was patient enough to let Madelyn feel as though she was playing along. She thought she was making the action happen by pressing keys on the keyboard (which wasn't hooked up). She loved it!



Enjoying some drawing and painting time together.

A Halloween Pose

On her way into school the other morning, Madelyn told me to take her picture in hew new Halloween shirt. She had picked it out several weeks earlier because of the cute kitty on the front. She's a happy girl!

Complete with pumpkin socks and all!

Future Gymnast

Madelyn had a great time at her friend Sean's birthday party the other day. She got to hang and climb the entire time - two of her favorite things to do!

Looks like a future gymnast hanging from the bars . . .

A good dismount . . . landed on both feet!

Walking the balance beam very carefully . . .

Golf Practice

Madelyn enjoyed a little putting practice at our neighborhood golf course the other day. She was excited that she had her own clubs!

Daddy gave her a few pointers before her first putt.

The swing was good and the ball was headed for the hole!

A few more hits . . .

And she made it!! This picture was taken right as she was taking her bow.

Onto the next hole. A golfer's job is never done!