Pumpkin Patch

This year we decided to try out a pumpkin patch that we hadn't been to before. It was a winner! There was so much for the kids to do and see. Because this is such an expense for our big family, it was really nice to be able to stay for hours and hours and make it worth it.
Rain was in the forcast for the whole day, but we decided to brave it anyway.  It ended up being pleasant and dry so we lucked out.  I think the forcast scared people away, because it was not crowded at all.  It made the whole experience so laid back and relaxed.  We were the last ones to leave.





We decided to let Carter and Lily ride the ponies since they hadn't before.  The other kids enjoyed watching them.



Cow train ride.



Dallin is such a good big brother.

There was a mini corn maze just right for our kids.  You couldn't get lost and it was still fun to walk around in it.



My beautiful girls:



Corn/wheat tub:







Big tube slides.  These were a big hit.







Oink oink! (really stinky and muddy. Made me lose my love of bacon for a while.)

This billy goat bridge was cool because it went right over the walkway.  I saw it, but didn't think it would get used.  Sure enough:

Pumpkin bowling was probably everyone's favorite.  Peter especially got into it.  He could throw them hard enough to go up the ramp and slam into the back wall instead of just dropping down.

Hay area:

Hay ride.  This was a long crazy ride! We went up and down hills and the shelter that was built over the bed was really shaking.  I thought for sure it would collapse on us.

Kettle corn is always a must:





A view from the top:




  Then we did the pumpkin canons and slinghshots.  They actually let the kids fire them off!

A bunch of turkeys! (and real ones too):


On another side of the place we found a barn with baby calfs that were so cute!  Dallin particularly liked them and stayed to feed them long after the other kids went back to the slides.


Dallin decided he liked the cows and went over by the pumpkin bowling to feed the big cows too.  I don't think it was part of the activities, but he kept taking the pumpkins from the crate for bowling and would slam them into the ground to break them and feed the cows.  The cows thought the pumpkin guts were quite a treat. Before long, lots of people were also feeding the cows. This whole day made me wish we lived on a farm (minus all the hard work).
Here are a couple pictures of another Halloween activity we did at home:



And this is from Eden's October General Conference notes. I thought this was too precious:

(girls can go on missions when they're 19)

Boneville Dam

Back in September, Dallin was eagerly wanting to go to a fish hatchery. He LOVES those. We upped the ante a bit and decided to take a trip to the Boneville Dam. Not only did my dad help build it, but it was just so much fun for the kids to see everything.

We started at the visitor's center.  We took the elevator down and when the doors opened to the fish ladder windows, Dallin pretty much freaked out.  He jumped right up on the windows and started yelling as he saw the fish go by.  Talk about excitement!

"I saw a salmon THIS big!!!"



All of the kids enjoyed watching the migration.  We also went outside and watched the stairs from above. It was great to get lots of different view points. 

It was neat to call my dad and have him tell us about building that fish ladder.   After the visitor's center, we went over to the hatchery. We saw lots of salmon and sturgeon of all sizes.



The pond with the big guys had an observation window too.  I didn't think Dallin could get more excited, but when he saw a 12 foot Sturgeon, he could have died and gone to heaven right then.







Here is a video from the fish ladder.  I missed the initial reactions but this is still pretty cute.  "These are freaking me out!" -Tanner:
  This one is from the Sturgeon window.  You would have thought it was Christmas morning!(sorry, there was no turning this thing, I tried everything.)  To finish it off, we drove down to a little inlet and watched hundreds of large salmon migrating in the shallow rocks.  We had so many different fish experiences all in one day.  This is a great place to take kids if you have not been.

I Had a Birthday

Cleaning off the Ipod over here today. Be prepared for several outdated posts. For my birthday (2 months ago!) we had a little family party at Grandpa D's.

It's great to be 29 again!     A boat ride with a whole bunch of kids made for a perfect birthday!

Peter gave me a new sewing machine too! He loves me.