Pumpkin Patch 2009!

This last Sunday, we met up with the Miller clan at the Liepold Farms Pumpkin Patch. We got there a little early, so the 3 of us had a few adventures on our own while we waited.

Tried out the "apple sling". One buck gets you 3 apples to sling at some targets. It was cool but for some reason it was really bugging me that they were wasting all those perfectly good apples. I finally had to stop obsessing so I came up with this whole daydream involving a whole bunch of really happy pigs living out back who would feast on all those smashed-up apples later that night.

The proud apple-slinger!

And. Still waiting.

We decided to try out the hay ride.I pretty much really dislike how I'm looking in this picture, but I just had to put it up because the kid in the back is cracking me up. I think he was trying to pose with us. Charlie's long-lost older brother? Hey, they kind of look alike, I guess.

Charlie wasn't too crazy about all the noise the tractor was making!

We got back. Still no Millers. Still waiting.Ah, here they are!

Would you believe that Charlie is the YOUNGEST here?

Little baby Ava's first pumpkin patch trip - so cute!

Ellie and Charlie

"Let's do it together!"

Silly Ellie

"Let's go find Blake!"

The Millers
(Christine, you look a little crazed, what's up with that? Excited for the hay ride?)Ivan, Melissa and baby Ava & Justin, Michelle and little Viola - too cute!

My mom and dad are still on their crazy long road trip across the US. Right now, they are headed for Tennessee. If you look close, you can see where Charlie's been putting little tacks, and then the red string that traces their path.

They have sent postcards galore - much to Charlie's delight!
We miss you Oma and Opa, come home soon!!!Spotted this sweet spider web outside our front door this morning. I couldn't really capture how cool it was, it was much better in person. But how amazing are spider webs, really?

Pumpkin Prozac

Charlie made this little Jack-o-Lantern at preschool today. I glanced at it briefly when I picked him up at school and told him "good job" and all that. When we got home, I brought it in from the car and took a closer look...hmmm...sad.

I didn't know preschool included art therapy - what a deal!

Not sure what was going on here, probably something about Mrs. Claus leading all of Noah's animals into the Promised Land in her big red fire truck...?Charlie decided these bad "aminals" needed a nice, long time out.Below is what I thought would be a great photo opportunity. The lighting was so perfect! I thought I'd just sneak up and take a few candid shots... Until I realized Charlie was missing his pants.Not ONLY was he missing his pants - he also had his blankey shoved up his shirt.That's our boy - he's an original!Charlie does not appreciate the bright sunshine at all. So, he often wears my sunglasses. He really thinks he's a big shot.Talking on the phone to Oma and Opa - who are gone for a whole MONTH road tripping it all over the United States.

We sure miss them! Charlie doing what he does best these days, chatting it up! He's holding 2 of our newest little baby chicks.

Papery Bakery

Charlie's little play corner in our living room is referred to as his "bakery". He started calling it this when we first set it up for him. Charlie spends a lot of time playing in his "bakery".

But anyways, today I was puttering around cleaning up a little around the house and Charlie was in his "bakery". A few minutes later he says, "Look, mom, it's my Papery Bakery!"

And this is what I found:

Okay folks, I'm going to try to be a better blogger. I think between summer, Facebook, and Shawn's fantasy sports addiction (love ya, Shawn!)...the blog has been on a back burner. :) I think I have somewhat of a solution that might help: I'll try and do more frequent, but shorter, blogs.

THIS IS A HIJACKING

Marlene, I have waited long enough for some new pictures! I am done waiting and I decided to take matters into my own hands. Due to the fact that Mars has completely abandoned her blog I am logging in and posting my own pics for the Fletcher family. This is for all of you who have been wondering when you will get to see more of these 3 wonderful people.

Here is Marlene King of the SCUM!

(Card game) She won so many times that she found a "I AM KING" sign in a magazine and proudly used it as her name plate.

Shawn's heart attack burger!

Charlie and is Dorito lips :)

Growl, Marlene being a lion & playing an animal card game with Charlie.

Can you tell Mars really gets into card games!

Mr. Fletcher

I just love this picture

Cousins eating pizza together

How cute is he?!?!

And of course a few of the fun pics from our photo shoot.

Another one!

I'll post a "real" blog soon, I promise. But this was just too cute to not share...

"Lord Jesus,
Thank you for not making monsters in the whole wide world, only pretend monsters, so they wouldn't scare the little kids and so little guys won't be afraid when they go outside.
Thank you for making videos and books.
Thank you for making tools so people can fix things.
Thank you for making lights so people can see - and thank you for turning them off so we won't run out of air.
Amen!"