A fun fall weekend!

We spent Saturday afternoon at MU's annual South Farm fall celebration with Lori and her family. Kieran had so much fun running free in the fields, choosing a pumpkin, playing various games, racing in the straw-bale maze, riding in the wagon and petting the animals. I think his favorite part though, was getting lots of love and attention from Lori, Jessie, Livy and Reece ;) He's such a lover!

"Giddy up daddy!"

The kids were really interested in the big hot-air balloon- we didn't take a ride but it was fun to watch.

We got to see working dogs herd sheep and ducks through an obstacle course- very cool... Kieran was cheering for the ducks ;)

Kieran loves Livy (and Reece too ;)

"Helping" Reece through the straw maze.

Petting the sheep with Jessie and Reece- the sheep were smart and stuck to the very center of their pen- all those darned, grabby kids!

A moment that would make Papa Rother very proud ;)

Mostly though he just picked the balls up and ran around with them ;)

Rounding the bases- we didn't actually play ball, Kieran just loved "racing" around the field ;)

After a busy few hours at South Farm, we all had pizza together- the kids were starving by this time as it was nearly two! They tided themselves over with crackers and cheese bread until the main course showed up and then they chowed down! After they ate, the played under the tables and took turns putting pennies in a "claw machine"- thankfully none of them knew that with the right type of coins, the machine actually did something other than spit the change back out! After all that excitement and food, Kieran was zonked! He fell asleep in the car on the way home and then passed back out on the sofa for an hour or so- that was one tired little boy!

Such sweet little feet...

Sunday was cleaning day so mom stayed home while the boys went to the park to enjoy the lovely and cool fall weather.

Kieran is so in to scary things and recently discovered Casper the Friendly Ghost at my folk's house- he loves this new t-shirt- it's "Spooooky!"

Kieran is not shy and loves making new friends- today at the park he joined in with these kids- luckily they didn't seem to mind ;)

Playing ghost in a big tire

So spooky!

An early fall weekend...

This has been a very fall-like weekend with rain and cooler temps. On Saturday, mommy went shopping for fall clothes for the little one while daddy and Kieran headed off to Runge to enjoy the outside from the comfort and warmth of the inside. Kieran insisted on wearing his conductor hat for much of the morning- of course ;)

Checking out some nature from the viewing area.

Posing with daddy

"I'm singing in the rain..."

"Just singing in the rain!"

Holding papa's hand...

And then nana's too :)

Pigs are a lot bigger in person!

Kieran show's off his nursing... I mean milking skills ;)

Dumping the bucket!

Kieran's first corndog- he ate the entire thing along with some nachos, a bite of cheeseburger and some kettle corn- nothing but health food this weekend!

"Kieran- Kiiiieeeran Crocket- King of the wild frontier!"

"Pulling" the wagon at the Heritage festival- sooooo strong!

Throwing rings in the kid's area

One, two, three rings on Kieran!

Sometimes you have to stop and smell the flowers ;)

"Climbing" trees with papa

Playing "Peep-eye" with a weaver while holding his pink kitty that nana got for him

Of all the things Kieran got at the heritage festival- I think he liked this stick best of  all ;)

Despite the grumpy face he really did have a great time running around, eating junk and hanging out with nana and papa. So much fun that he went down for his nap pretty easily today ;)

Mid September and such

Almost ready to "hatch"...

Any time now...

BUTTERFLY!

Kieran can hardly believe it! After all this time talking about it- the butterfly is finally here! We have successfully raised four butterflies from tiny little caterpillars to big, beautiful monarchs- what a fantastic experience :)

Touch down!

Kieran checking out the new playground at Nana and Papa's

I think he likes it ;)

King of the mountain!

Papa cleaning the new slide...

Helping Papa clean

Papa gives Kieran a boost so he can get the high spots clean too ;)

Checking out the tunnel- spooooooky!

Now there's a boy who loves his Papa ;)

A monarch caterpillar in the wild (at Papa's house)

A great big spider in his web down by the pond

Up the ladder...

Look! A pumpkin and gourd! We got these earlier that evening at the Ashland farmer's market- Kieran insisted ;)

Kieran really enjoyed rolling the pumpkin and gourd down the slide- even though he has yet to do so himself ;)

Cousin Presley arrives!

Kieran attempts to help Presley up the slide...

Although Kieran insisted that the pumpkin was all his, he was very eager to share his gourd ;)

Throwing acorns in the gazing pool!

Hmmmm... something is a bit off about this photo ;) Papa invited the kids down to watch a "controlled" burn

Auntie Shannon teaches the kids to do a "hoe-down"

Both the kids love to play in the birdbath

Kissing Nana's bird statue??

Kieran making his tooting sounds- learned this little gem from his auntie- thanks Shannon ;)

SPLISH!!

SPLASH!