Pumpkin Carving!

After our search for the perfect pumpkin, we ventured back to Jason and Hillary's house to begin the carving process. This picture depicts Brian carving and Chase really trying to be a part of the carving process.

Chase waiting very patiently as Daddy told him it was almost time to help!

Here is a picture of our carving template. Chase decided on a skeleton in the graveyard. This was quite a difficult pattern for Phil to execute!

Phil working hard to carve Chase's pumpkin!

These are the finished products. From left to right, Frankenstein (Brian and Jeni), Scary/Silly Face (Jason, Hillary and Boys), and Skeleton (Ours). The boys did an amazing job!

The Search for the Perfect Pumpkin!

Today, Brian, Jeni, Jason, Hillary, Aiden, Blake, Phil, Chase, Katie and I went to Eckert's in Milstadt, Illinois! We had a wonderful day picking apples for an apple crisp and pumpkins for carving. Before we began the day, I decided to stop for a photo opportunity. Chase provided a beautiful smile!

Chase was really anxious to go through the corn maze. He insisted on being the leader and kept checking over his shoulder to make certain we were all following!

Of course we had to stop to ride the airplanes! You can't go to Eckert's without doing that!

Here is a picture of the gang enjoying our day!

Chase sitting on the "perfect" pumpkins we chose! I couldn't have asked for a better day!

Science Center Fun!

Last Friday, Chase and I had the opportunity to visit the Science Center. Chase has not been there since last year, so many things were new and exciting. He the loved the "Exploring the Senses" exhibit and wanted to try everything! The picture above shows him experimenting with magnets.

"Mom, I can't smile, I am playin' with Yegos (Legos)!"

In addition to the "Exploring the Senses" exhibit, Chase also enjoyed the Discovery Room. He really likes to color, so this activity was right up his alley. After we were finished coloring, we put the paper in the wheel and spun it. It created an illusion of the ball bouncing. He was amazed!

A few months ago, Chase received a computer game for his birthday from Aunt Hillary and Uncle Jason. He loves the game and has become quite a pro with the mouse. Here he is learning about dinosaurs on the computer. He especially enjoyed creating his own dinosaur!

I used to love putting these pieces together to create a marble tower when I was young, so of course I wanted Chase to try! He loved it too! He was in awe that you could send several marbles down at the same time and that they may not necessarily land in the order they were sent. He kept saying, "I didn't put that one first, Mommy!"

My Cousin, My Idol!

For those of you who don't know, Chase absolutely idolizes his cousin Jacob. Anything that Jake likes to do, Chase likes to do too! In fact, last Halloween, Chase was supposed to be Diego until he found out that Jake planned to be an astronaut. I had to scrounge at the last minute to complete an astronaut costume so that we could match Jake. This year, Chase had decided to be many things including: a train conductor, a superhero, a ghost, a witch, a dinosaur and a daddy. When he found out that Jake was going to be the Hulk, a superhero, he decided he needed to be a superhero too! He decided on Spiderman, because he really does not know about the Hulk. Once again, he had to match Jake. This past Saturday, Jacob participated in a Walk/Run in which he was required to color his hair. After the Walk/Run, Jake had a soccer game. Chase and I decided to attend. Once Chase realized that Jake had green hair, he decided he needed it too! Luckily, Aunt Jennifer had the green paint in her car and the results are shown above.

Adam's 4th Birthday Party!

Two Saturdays ago, Chase was invited to Adam's 4th Birthday Party. Adam is my good friend Angie's little boy (Angie and I went to high school together). He had his party at the Whittle Train Station, one of Chase's favorite places to play. You may remember pictures of Chase at Keegan's party at the same spot! On the way up the stairs to the party, the party leader asked Adam how many brothers and sisters he was going to have. Adam responded, "Three!" Yes, Angie is pregnant with TRIPLETS! She then asked Chase how many brothers and sisters he had, he responded, "One!" To my surprise, I said, "Really?, What is your brother/sister's name?" Chase promptly responded, "Keegan!" Does this tell you how much he misses his SLCS friends??? The picture above shows him giving his all to knock the candy out of the train pinata.

Chase getting ready to eat cake! He could barely contain himself!

Silly faces! :P

Chase playing trains with Adam!

Trying so hard to manuver the crane!

The Result of Apple-Picking!

For those of you who know me very well, you know that I am the furthest thing from Betty Crocker, Martha Stewart, etc! Well, yesterday, I took a look at the apples we picked from Eckert's and decided to make an apple pie from scratch. Yes, I know you are not going to believe it, but I made the crust, cut the apples into thin slices and created the masterpiece that you see above. Now, let's get one thing straight, I am not looking for compliments or criticism (yes, Brian, I am directing my comments to you!), but I just thought that it may be good to show that I do have a baking bone in my body! Not bad for my first attempt, huh???

Eckert's Again!

Last Saturday, Aunt Jeni and Uncle Brian invited us to go to Eckert's! Jeni's sister Jacki and her boyfriend Patrick were in town and they decided to go apple picking. Needless to say, we couldn't pass up the chance to get more apples. This picture shows Chase in search of the perfect apple. However, I did have to remind him that the apples on the ground were probably not the best for picking.

Chase giving Uncle Brian a bite of his apple. He always says, "Mom, I am a good sharer!" Yes, he is! :)

My boy and I stopped for a picture. It was such a beautiful day! Of course, he needed to eat his apple in the picture, too tasty to put down!

He was so cute! He discovered this pumpkin at the entrance of Eckert's to which he replied, "This is the biggest pumpkin in the whole world!" This comment despite the fact that there were hundreds of bigger pumpkins right behind him! Gotta love the innocence!