Hallowgiving 2011

My hometown has a ghost walk on Saturday when kids in their Halloween costumes walk around to the businesses on the square and collect candy. We participated for the first time. Even Hannah got dressed for the occasion - no candy for her though.

Pretty Page County Courthouse in the background

Thomas the Tank Engine was running out of steam by the time we had waited in line for the walk to begin.

Each year on the last weekend of October, my dad's side of the family comes together near my hometown to celebrate an early Thanksgiving. Since it is close to Halloween - we have dubbed this event "Hallowgiving." Close to 50 family members come for a day full of family fun and lots of great food. Sometimes all that food and fun and wear the (big and little) kids out!

 Quiet time for some of the kids, including Tyler and cousin Kelsey

 Betsy and Kelsey enjoying the afternoon craft - painting a pumpkin jar.

 Trust and Faith painting together

Conner

 Kelsey

 Katie

The next day we went on a dry creek bed walk on the Geer Family Farm. Tyler and Kelsey hunted for treasures for their baskets.

 

 

 Grandma & Kelsey checking out a wolly worm

 

 Climbing under....

 ...and over

While in Clarinda my family aslo got a family picture taken on the farm for my parent's Thanksgiving letter. Tyler and Kelsey played ring-around-the-rosey after the photo shoot.

 

 Then it was snack time in Great-Grandma's kitchen

 Then we braved the windy day to go collect some field corn for my Mom's squirrels to enjoy over the winter. This field had been damaged by hail, so there was a lot of corn on the ground to find.

 

Fall Hike in Boone

We have been busy trying to play outside play during every one of these warm fall days (before winter is here)! A couple of weeks ago Tyler asked to go to the park, so we drove to the big park here in town and then decided to wing it and take little hike down one of the park trails. It led down the ravine to a small bridge and creek at the bottom of the hill. Tyler had a BLAST hiking, climbing, playing in the water, and getting messy on this unexpected adventure. Hannah and I, however, decided we are bringing the infant 

carrier next time we go for a hike!

 kicking leaves

 Climbing trees and then asking me to take his picture

 

 checking out the waterfall

 Getting his feet wet!

 Scenery

 Little girl in the leaves, giving mom's arms a break.

 Fun Family Time!

Apple Orchard (take two)

Tyler and Hannah enjoyed another wonderfully warm day at the Center Grove Orchard in October. This time Grandma Janelle came with us.We started out with apple cider and cider donuts.

 Then Tyler was ready to play in the corn pool. Hannah had fun watching before jumping in herself.

Next up was bouncing on the giant pillow.
Hannah had fun watching that too.

 Grandma & Tyler tried to find their way out of the hay maze.

 We fed the animals....chickens, goats, turkeys, and ducks.

 

 

 And after all of our fun, we ended with a hay ride.

 

 And before we left, Tyler let me get this video.

Clarinda Craft Carnival

Hannah and Mommy left the boys at home to drive back to my hometown of Clarinda, Iowa for the annual Craft Carnival. My sister and I had fun shopping, I spent the weekend at my Grandparent's house, and I enjoyed a night out catching up with my high school friends.

Here is how Emily and I carted Hannah along thru 5 craft buildings.

 Hannah and her Great-Grandma Ardelle Geer - and a new bow from the craft carnival.

 

 Hannah and her Great-Grandpa Lowell Geer

 

Birthday Weekend in Knoxville

Around the middle of October we visited Adam's family in Knoxville, Iowa for the weekend and celebrated both Tyler's 3rd birthday and Adam's sister Nicki getting engaged. Nicki and her fiance, Kurt, were back from Maryland for the weekend.

Tyler and his cousin Sarah enjoyed some free time at the park on Saturday.

Then it was BIRTHDAY time!

A CARS birthday cake with Lightening McQueen and Matter! 

Tyler's favorite part was eating one of the orange cones of frosting!

Hannah and her Grandpa Haselhuhn

After the excitement of the party wore down, Tyler and Sarah wanted to finger paint on Grandma's deck.

Tyler use his creativity (an his train) to make train tracks in the paint.

Special one-on-one play time with "soon-to-be" Uncle Kurt

Tyler wasn't really in the mood for picture taking, but we snapped a quick picture of him and Hannah with Aunt Nicki & Kurt before they left to fly back home.