Pumpkin Picking

It is a Sparkman tradition to visit the pumpkin patch each fall and find the perfect pumpkins.
Since carving pumpkins has proven to be a tramautic (and messy) experience, we opt to select pumpkins that are best for making pie.

 The girls loved sitting on the pumpkins in the yard before heading inside the barn.

 Daddy's little pumpkins

 Once inside the barn, the girls enjoyed looking for the perfect pumpkins.

 Madison made her choice easily but Lillian was not too certain.

 "I got it"

 The perfect choices.

 Lillian liked the smallest pumpkin, the one without a stem.

 Madison went for a slightly larger pumpkin with a long stem to hold onto.

 After purchasing our pumpkins and some hot apple cider, we headed outside for a bit of play.

Madison did a great job pumpkin sitting while Lillian went to off to play in the grass by Daddy.

 "Peek boo, sisie"

 Sisterly love, at its finest!

The old wooden wagons made for a perfect setting for pictures and a bit of play.

 Playing around the orchard

 The sister balancing act.... coming your way soon.

 Airplane Lillian, coming in for landing

 A final race up the hill and back to the car to head for home.

3rd grade awards!

 1st Quarter- Citizenship and Straight A Honor Roll (She was the only student in her class to earn Straight A's this nine weeks)

After the award ceremony, Lillian and I stayed for lunch with Madi. Bat shaped chicken nuggets, star potatoes, chocolate pudding, and milk made for a yummy meal.

We are so proud of Madi and her hard work!

Afternoon at the Museum

Tuesday afternoon the girls and I adventured off to the Children's Museum with Papa.

As we entered the museum the girls stopped by the Skeleton Greeter before heading downstairs.

 A quick stop by the gift shop to bounce on the pink puppies before we headed to the Dinosaurs.

 On to the Dinosaurs... and digging for fossils.

Lillian desperately tried to hatch the Dino eggs.

"Today not them birthday," she said and then moved on to the next exhibit.

On to the fourth floor for a ride (or two) on the carousal.
Lillian loved her Black Goat.

 Go Goat Go!

After the Carousal, we had just enough time before the museum closed to visit Science Works.
On the way, the girls enjoyed watching their pennies race and swirl.

 Finally we reached Science works where the girls played in the water, climbed the slide, and rowed the bulldozer.

 Thanks for helping me, Sisie.

Hayride Excitement

Last weekend we joined Nana for the John Knox family hayride at Eagle Creek.
While the weather felt more like summer (87F) it was still a fun "fall" afternoon.

We waited for the hayride near the shelter where we would later enjoy a pitch in picnic.

Both girls enjoyed crunching through the fallen leaves and exploring the woods around them.

We loaded the hayride and took a 45 minute ride though the woods and trails of the park.

 Lillian was not to sure about sitting in the hay, but it seemed alright from on Daddy's lap.

 Lillian loved looking at the tractor that was pulling the wagon. The girls were even able to sit on the tractor after we returned to the shelter.

Finally it was time to eat.
Grilled hot dogs and various kinds of goodies filled our plates as we visited together.

Lillian's version of one last bite! "I'm done"

Under the Ladder!

Lillian just did not want to take a nap....

but she knew if she got up, she would have to sleep in her crib.
One moment she was standing by the ladder, the next moment she was asleep on the floor.
2 and a half hours later she was a much happier girl!

Meet and Greet with Harrison Nagel

The great thing about having a secretary is.....

I can FINALLY have a day off.

And what better way to spend a day away from the office, then with my longest friend and her awesome little boy Harrison.

The three of us had a relaxing afternoon together. We enjoyed lunch at On the Border and a bit of shopping at Target.

We even had enough time to make a few "paci" leashes before they had to return to Terre Haute.

Harrison was full of giggles and smiles.

This little red head will definitely charm the ladies when he is older!

I am so glad I could squeeze a visit in with them while they are here from Seattle.
Looking forward to our next adventure together.

Paci Fairy

The Paci fairy came to our house last weekend....

She needed Lillian's pacifiers for all the new babies.

In return she left Lillian some new cars. (Exactly what she had asked for)

Now she is a BIG girl! No more paci's.

Littlest Garbage Girl

Like father like daughter.... both love the garbage truck!

Lillian and Pa wrote a song about the garbage truck that they sing every Friday....

There's a big red truck
that comes down Lilli's street

and it picks up the trash
and hauls it away

and everybody's happy
because the streets are clean

when the big red truck
comes down Lilli's street.
Until next Friday....