Some Halloween festivities

We did a bunch of Halloween themed activities this month!  It was so much fun!  I love Halloween!

We went to Gardner Village to do the Witch Hunt and get a cookie. 

Dance party in the square!

Collin having a blast dancing with new friends!

The boys and I went down to Grandmas, and she took us to Jaker's pumpkin patch to help her pick out her pumpkins.  There was a hay bale maze, petting zoo, giant slides, small haunted house, and corn pit.  We had a ton of fun!

Tate and I got to pet a kangaroo!

They seriously adore the corn pit!

 Then we went to the cider mill in Santaquin to get some apples and other treats, like ice cream!  Yum!

Collin's preschool class had their first field trip a local pumpkin patch.  Every mom/parent went and picked up their kids and took them to the patch.  We took a few pictures, then did the short corn maze (it was really a corn walk, only one path!)  Then for an activity they were going to do at preschool, each kid picked out a small pumpkin.  We stayed after the field trip and took a few more pictures as well as went on a tractor pulled trailer ride...twice!  It was so much fun!

What an adorable group of kids!

The boys and Dusty.  Tate even recognized him!

Mater!  They weren't as excited about him, but did spy the tractor rides...

Us on the trailer ready for our ride!

 We went to Red Butte Gardens Garden After Dark event.  I was skeptical how fun it would be, but its really well done and we all had a so much fun!

The boys got their faces painted.

There were lots of lights and places to stop and play.

 They had a few activities to do.  Collin made glow in the dark bubbles, a magic wand, and a few other things.  Then there was a black light forest were his wand and bubbles would glow!  That was super cool!

Watching Collin go through the tunnel of lights.

Inside the tunnel of lights!

Tate and I waiting for Collin at one of the activities!

We had a blast this October waiting for the main event, HALLOWEEN!

Pumpkin patch and carving

We actually got going on our pumpkins this year!  We went to the pumpkin patch and then carved/painted them a few days later.

Collin loves the hay tower!

Pointing to his pumpkin, and we got a tiny one for baby girl as well!

On our way out Collin attempted the corn pit, but it was super dark.

Tate didn't want to paint a pumpkin or paper, just himself and his chair.

Collin loved painting so much that he painted two faces on his, one on each side.  And he painted baby girls as well.

All done!

Cornbelly's... again!

We bought discounted bounce back passes last time we were at Cornbelly's.  This time we met the Walters' there.  Collin and True had a blast.  Tate and Addi did their own thing.  We all had fun!

The giant bouncy pillow was a hit!

 We did the easy side of the corn maze, and still got lost.  We all stood around when they did a cannon launch of prizes, but didn't get anything because it all went over our heads!

We also got to play in the corn pit this time.  Always a huge hit with the littles!

Greg buried Collin.

Tate thought it was hilarious to find and them dig Collin out!

It was a ton of fun!

Cornbelly's with Cousins

Right after we got back from Michigan, Greg's sister, Beckie, and her family were visiting in Utah.  We got together with them and the Donks at Cornbelly's.  We took a bunch of pictures of the kids, did the corn maze (where we got ridiculously lost), ate some "carnival" food (as we dubbed it), let the kids do the bouncy houses, and left after dark.  It was so much fun!  I wish we had more cousins around more often!

Entering the corn maze!

It was Wizard of Oz themed.

Enjoying the free babysitting by cousins and the toasty fire!

Michigan

We got to go to Michigan this year!  We jam packed our trip full!  We got in at 11:30pm Eastern time, rented a car and then stayed near the airport.  The next morning we made the 2 hour drive up to Midland to see Nanny and Papa!  While in Midland, we went to the Tridge, Frankenmuth and Bronner's, and a cider mill.

The boys on the Tridge, or three way bridge.

We also played at the Tridge park.  Tate was loving the swings!

These slides were SO tall.  Collin said he hurt his arm every time he went down.  But kept going!

Greg was brave and took Tate down.  Tate loved it!

Silly faces on the Tridge!

It was so pretty at dusk!

 We didn't get any pictures of Frankenmuth or Bronner's, but I LOVE that store.  Its so fun to be that immersed in Christmas any time of year!

The cider mill was about an hour drive, but so worth it!  There was SO much to do there!  Plus the cider was A-MAZ-ING!  Seriously delicious!

We did a corn maze, and only got a little lost.

Collin kept finding "short cuts" because the rows of corn weren't super close together...

Both boys loved the giant spider web.  Tate only got stuck once!

There were a bunch of bouncy houses for kids to play on.  Collin thoroughly enjoyed that part!

Tate loved the wagon ride pulled by a tractor!

Michigan is so beautiful!

 Then we drove up to Traverse City to stay at the Great Wolf Lodge for a couple of days.  We upgraded our room to the Kid Cabin room and it had a small room with bunk beds for the kids.  Collin slept in there and Tate slept in a pack n play next to us.  We played at the water park, and went to Sleeping Bear Dunes.  It was pretty chilly while we were there, so it was nice to have the indoor water park.  Both boys LOVED that.  We also went to story time, the arcade and got ice cream.  It was so much fun!

Tate playing with his Elmo on the fireplace in our room.

Collin on the top bunk.

We drove the scenic route through Sleeping Bear Dunes.  It's so pretty!

The views are amazing!

Collin practiced his letters in the sand. 

Family selfie with Lake Michigan in the background.

The leaves were starting to change.  Such pretty, vibrant colors!

Top of the dune climb.  It is quite the workout, but totally worth it!

 Then we drove down the west coast to Holland to see Greg's sister Cyndi and her family.  We had a delicious dinner with them, and then the next day went to the beach.

There was an awesome playground.   Because it had rained, the sand was wet which made it more sticky...

There was an awesome sand play table!  Julia and Collin loved it!

Tate was all about playing in the sand.  Tate and Julia got covered in sand.  Collin tried to avoid getting dirty.

Julia and Collin ran up and down this dune multiple times!

Then we went through the tunnel to the beach!

It was pretty cold, but Julia went "swimming"!  Crazy girl!

Collin enjoying the sand.

 The last leg of our trip we drove to Chicago to see Greg's brother, Jon and his family.  We had big plans to see downtown Chicago, but I was just too worn out!  Instead we hung out with the Price's at their house, went to dinner, and to the local trampoline place.  Both Collin and Tate loved that!

There was a toddler play area, for the kiddos who are too little to do the tramps.  Tate had such fun!

We totally had the small version of these growing up!  Tate loved this large version!

It was such a good trip.  And we loved seeing so much family!  On our way to Cyndi's, Collin said, "Dad, I have an idea.  How about all the cousins just come see us in Utah?  Then we don't have to drive so much!"  I'm thinking he's on to something!