gramps and the great pumpkin

Gramps, Jerry, Grayson, and Carter drove 2 1/2 hours out west to Ford, KS to pick up a 340 pound pumpkin to bring back to our house. It is quite the sight! It sounds like it was a beast to travel with... the guys pulled it out of snowy field and brought it back to Wichita last weekend, and we've all decided it's the biggest pumpkin in the city!

 here's how it compares to a "regular" sized pumpkin

 check out its monstrous stem!!

thanks Gramps, for the great pumpkin this year!

it's become a yearly tradition :)

grayson's soccer outtakes

Grayson just finished his last fall season soccer game yesterday. His team has persevered, even through a tough season. They will play in a tournament this weekend in Topeka -- their first out of town tournament experience! :)

Before his game yesterday, Coach Casey had Grayson practicing shots on goal and corner kicks... so I got out the camera and tried to get a few action shots...

 the U-9 FC Knights -- Coach Casey and Coach Silas in the background

Taylor, Charlie, Dakota, Elliot, Clay, Levi, Grayson, Wes, Trenton

Grayson's sweet 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Hedstrom, came to his game to cheer him on!

 

back to the pumpkin patch again!

Both Grayson and Carter have had days off of school this week, and when asked what they wanted to do, it was unanimous -- head to the pumpkin patch!!

Nana and I took them back to Applejack's yesterday afternoon and it was lots of fun. It was cool, but not too windy, and not horribly crowded. Perfect!

 First up were the duck races!

 getting some serious air on the huge jumping pillow!!

 Grayson zooming down the slide

 Carter getting ready to use the Gourd Gun :)

 Now it's Grayson's turn... see his gourd way up in the air? He was trying to smash it on the KSU target... and he did!

 in the corn maze

 feeding the llama some corn

It was another great day at Applejack's... and a fun day off from school!

fletcher goes to 3rd grade

Grayson had a big "animal report" that was due this past Tuesday. He was able to choose his animal, and he chose a dog! His report talked about all kinds of dogs... dogs as pets, hunting dogs, wild dogs, etc. For extra credit, he brought our family's beloved Springer Spaniel, Fletcher, to school. Fletch has been a little sick these past few weeks and has been in the hospital, but you'd never know it on Tuesday. He looked so proud to be there, and loved all the kids. He's doing amazingly well for being 12 1/2 years old!

 Grayson walked Fletcher up to the front of his class, and talked a little bit about him...

 Then, Gramps suggested we take Fletch off his leash and let the kids pet him :)

 Sweet friends! I really think Fletch would've stayed in 3rd grade if Gramps would've let him!

But, then it was time to head home. Here's Gramps and Fletch headed out of CCA!

Thanks to Fletcher (and Nana and Gramps) for being part of Grayson's animal report!

jerry's half marathon {2013}

Jerry ran the Prairie Fire Half Marathon yesterday with 3,600 other runners and posted a time of 1:38.30 -- which means 7 and 1/2 minute miles the whole way. Woo-hoo! We all thought he did a great job! He shaved several minutes off his previous time, and beat his goal of running less than 1:40. The whole fam was so sweet to come out to cheer him on at miles 3 and 7.

 Grayson and Gramps waiting for the runners

 AL's dog, Norman and Fletcher came to cheer as well!

 there's Jerry in the gray Go Run shirt!

 off he goes into College Hill

 here's the whole crew waiting for Jerry at mile 7

 he still looks like he's having fun! :)

 high-fives for Dad!

Nice sweat stains, Jerry!

Congrats on a job well done!!

weddings, wrestling, a birthday and a marathon

This past weekend was a good one filled with lots of excitement. Uncle Dave, Aunt Kristen, and Olive flew in Friday for a wedding in Kansas City, and left Olive to spend the night in Wichita, until they came back on Saturday afternoon. Uncle Brett and Aunt Claire flew in Friday evening, just in time for a yummy dinner at Saigon, and went to a wedding on Saturday afternoon. We loved seeing everyone -- in different shifts -- as they came and went to their weddings! And, to top it all off, Jerry ran the Prairie Fire Half Marathon on Sunday morning, and everyone came to cheer him on! Oh wait -- it was Uncle Dave's birthday on Sunday (and Kristen's is coming up this week) so we all celebrated those, too. :)

 

So, some pictures to document the weekend:

 Grayson and Carter ADORE their uncles!

 fall cousin-pumpkin pose...

 and then there was a wrestling ring set up in Nana and Gramps' room, with Uncle Dave officiating

 yes, even Olive is on the bottom of this crazy dogpile!!

 action shots...

after all the wrestling, Dave needed Jerry to pop his back!

Marathon pics to come next...

applejack pumpkin patch

Carter's Pre-K class went on a field trip to Applejack Pumpkin Patch this week. It was a beautiful day to be outside and enjoy some fun fall activities!

 he picked out his perfect pumpkin

 he just keeps growing!!

 Carter and I on the hayrack ride out to the patch

 his class -- he's right in the middle on the top row

 playing...

 speedy sliding...

 zip-lining...

 and jumping HIGH!!!!

 very serious about the train ride ;)

Off they go! Happy Fall!!