Pumpkin patch

We went to Kill Creek Farm to meet Bob, Jess, and Ella. Our intention was to go on a hay ride. Before we did that we needed to check out all the pumpkins. Jen realized that it makes a funny sentence when your child's nickname is "punkin". "Oh look at the pumpkins punkin".

Here we are getting ready for the hay ride. Yet another picture of the two them that will ultimately serve as blackmail material.

For those of you unfamiliar with this area this picture it quite funny. It looks like we are in the middle of nowhere. However, you can see the highway sign on top of the hill. That's K-10 ( a 4-lane highway that takes us to work everyday).

Ryan and Ella really enjoyed the hayride. Mommy and Jess were both very excited there was a mini-donuts stand. They were equally disappointed when they found out that they were out of dough for the day. There were however lots of good eats in the barn.

St. Louis weekend

We went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Riek in St. Louis. On Saturday we went to Grant's Farm.

Oh look at the Clydesdale!!!

Grandma can't you read? It says these horses may bite. HA!

Here is Grant's cabin. This was one of two weekends a year where the open the cabin to the public. We decided not to wait in line since 2 year olds (especially red heads) are not exactly known for their patience.

Ryan loved the ride on the "train" through the farm.

Here is a sampling of some of the live critters that are all over this very large farm.

There are lots of really cool decorations about for Halloween. Apparently, during October they decorate the whole place and open it up in the evenings for a really spook-tacular experience.

Ryan and daddy feeding the goats. These guys were really agressive. I would guess that if Ryan were alone they would have stolen the bottle.

Look Grandpa!!! Over there!!!

Bald eagle, need I say more?

It started sprinkling very lightly. Ryan was very concerned and made sure he held his head and said "Daddy wet" about 10 times, just in case I couldn't hear him.

I've always heard that camels are nasty and stinky. Having now been this close (he even at some food out of my hand), I can say with authority that they are the most foul smelling of creature you would ever want to be near.

Back at Grandma's house. Time to play!!!

We had breakfast with the "Pod's" on Sunday morning at Mimi's cafe. The food was good, the service good, but it was the company that was the main dish this morning.

Lounging

Lounging and watching TV

Frogs for Hannah

I was at Carter's on Saturday and saw these P.J.'s - they are so cute and fuzzy! And they made me think of Hannah. Somehow I think she would have approved

(how could you not - look how cute he is!!!)

Ryan Talk

Sean and I have been marveling over Ryan's vocabulary and how it just expands by leaps and bounds daily. There are several words that he has a hard time saying, but we know what it is, and for my own benefit I wanted to record this as we find some of these quite charming:

(although I will admit there are several "words" that Ryan has that I cannot for the life of me figure out, and he is just desparately repeating this word over and over (and louder and louder) Hopefully some day we can figure these out ~ Ryan will be quite happy when we do)

"Airmane" for airplane - although yesterday he said the "p" and we were quite sad :O)

"Nack" for snack

"Pable" for table - this has to be my absolute favorite right now

"Noopy" for Snoopy

"Seeping" for sleeping

"Sauce" or "Appysauce" for applesauce - he almost has this one down

"Tankoo" for thankyou - this just makes me smile every time

"chehyair" for chair - somehow he makes it into a two syllable word :O)

"like-king" for lightning mcqueen from cars

"mere" for come here

"heh-tore" = helicopter.

"moe hikel" = motorcycle.

"backit" = blanket.

"tunnel" - this is obviously for tunnel, yet we use this for just about anything that could remotely be a tunnel. Any bridge or overhang of any kind is a tunnel - and just as cool as can be.

It astounds me that Sean and I can understand what Ryan is saying 98% of the time, yet when we are then around other 2 year olds we have no clue what they are saying! I think each of them has their own secret language that only the privileged get to learn. So we will enjoy it while we can.

oddly enough "cookie" and "donuts" are as plain as day...

Nantahala Outdoor Center

The Nantahala River rafting is driven by a "release" from the dam each day. The release was at 10am which was about the time the boys launched the rafts. Here is where the take-out is at about 9:45am.

Bonny and I were trying to figure out how long it would take for the water to get here...

Turns out 2 hours! It was just about noon when we heard a roar, and about 1-2 minutes later, this was the result.

10 minutes later the boys showed up in the raft.

I will post a video of the water rising at a later date - it was really cool to watch

Rafting in North Carolina

Sean and I took a vacation with some good friends of ours (minus Ryan!) It was our first vacation without the little guy ~ my mom and dad came out to stay with Ryan for a long weekend, and we took off for the cabin

Brad, Shub (Jason), Bonny and Doug all joined us for this adventure

The boys decided to go rafting at Nantahala Outdoor Center - here is the before picture

Brad, Sean, Doug and Shub

Bonny and I hung out and waited for the guys

Here they are at the bottom - unloading

With one intentional flip - they survived

After.

(note Sean's belly...)

Ella and Ryan at the soccer game

Sean and Bob had their second soccer game on Sunday - it was actually quite cold, but Ryan and Ella had a great time

This series of pictures makes me laugh...

This is how Ella goes down slides now

Ryan was laughing at Ella as she passed him