The boys.

Every night goes a little something like this....

take all the outdoor toys out and play with them all over the yard,

pick up all the toys and put them back in the garage,

then the best part comes....

everyone piles in the car to drive it in the garage!

Because we have SO many trees in our yard

the boys get to play in leaves during the entire fall season!

(And I can't wait until they're old enough to rake all the leaves)

We took a family trip to Apple Jack Orchards.

It was a beautiful day and the boys had lots of fun.

Especially playing on the BIG jumping bubble!

Taking a stroll along the Crow River.

(I was really tempted to tell them how I used to crap in the river

when I was younger & camping at the island in Kingston,

but I suppose there's just some things you don't need to tell

your kids! haha That might be one of them!)

This is a picture of a major highlight of the season....

the day we got the Fleet Farm toyland catalog!

Fall is also the kick-off of many MANY sugar cookies

in the coming months.

We made our first batch for halloween....I think they're already gone!

"I can't wait for dad to get home to wrestle"

I hear it everyday & when Luke gets home....it's wrestle, airplane, horsey

or anything else time!

Brock was walking around the other day looking like this.

I was laughing so hard I had to snap a pic.

Look at that poor black eye!

Then they got a BIG tote of legos for their birthday.

There have been legos EVERYWHERE the past week

& now they've moved onto playing with the tote!

It was all about building things the other night.

And whatever Adler did, Brock had to do also!

Having fun with their dump trucks!

A week before the halloween festivities begin I thought I would

ask the boys if they wanted to try on their costumes

(because Adler tends to not like to do things he is unsure about

and not prepared for!).

Well they were so excited about it this year that the costumes

have ONLY been taken off their bodies

to eat and to sleep!

I'm ready for halloween to be over!

But I do laugh looking at them.....gosh kids are funny.

2.

Brock is now 2.

And he's lovin it!

For one month I get to say I have a 3 year old and 2 year old.

But shortly Adler will be 4.

I can't believe it.

Brock got a John Deere cap from grandma

& he LOVES it.

Now Adler really hopes he gets one from grandma

for his birthday!

He was so excited about his cap,

espeically since Adler really wanted it

and he knew it was all his!

The past 2 years with Brockie have been so wonderful.

We couldn't ask for a more sweet boy!

The Lodge.

Our family had the most wonderful weekend

at the end of September.

Anytime Luke has a conference

the rest of us get to tag along

for a mini vacation.

We traveled north to Brainerd

& spent a couple night at The Lodge.

Home of the Paul Bunyan Waterpark!

It was SO much fun!

Adler learned how to stay upright with his life jacket

while we were there & he swam all over

by HIMSELF!

I've been waiting for this day so my anxiety

of trying to keep 2 kids afloat

could subside.

And that day finally came!

So even though dad was at his conference most of the day

we still were able to swim all morning & afternoon

because I only had to keep Brockie afloat!

We ate at the BEST restaurant during our stay.

If you ever get to Brainerd you MUST eat at

Prairie Bay.

The sign from the road looks like nothing special (AT ALL!),

but we heard from our friends that it was awesome

and the food was from local farmers.

It was SO good.....AMAZING!

I can't wait to eat there again.

Best restaurant I've been to in my life.

So anyway...you really need to eat there!

p.s. this is not the restaurant in the pic below, this was Black Bear

and we thought it was great, but nothing compared the next night

at Prairie Bay.

The rooms at The Lodge were 'family friendly'.

They had 2 seperate areas for sleeping & other rooms had

seperate living spaces....completely worth the money to stay there!

The boys are I also took a couple trips to Nisswa.

Like always we made a stop at Rachel's Bakery.

They make the donuts all day long and are SO fresh!

I had at least 2 donuts a day! haha

Did I mention the hotel also has an arcade? 

So we didn't tell the boys until it was Brock's birthday...

and boy did we throw him a party!

We went to the waterpark, had cake & cupcakes,

donuts from Rachel's, MANY birthday wishes from strangers,

opened gifts, played in the arcade,

& went swimming all night!

What a great birthday for a sweet boy!

(I hope Adler doesn't think we're doing that for his birthday in a month!)

Brock wanted to know who was riding the bus with them! haha

Lazy river with daddy.

This was the gift Adler picked out to give to Brock.

Brock was so nice to let Adler play with it all night.

Adler picked it out for him because he wanted it of course!

It was one of our family's best weekends together.

And it was a very quiet ride home!

Then when we got home I noticed

The Lodge had a crowd cut deal for 50% off a 2 night stay!

Believe me....I purchased it right away.

I can't wait to go back!

Tree house.

The day finally came when we took down the

old tree house.

It was ugly, visible in the yard

and not safe.

So Luke & the boys tore it down.

Adler & Brock were so excited to help dad hammer

all the wood & carry it to big piles

to pick up later!

The area where the trre house was looks so much better now!

One more thing done outside,

but lots more to finish in the future!

Fun on the Farm.

Our family recently visited the Pumpkin Patch Nelson Farm

& had a BLAST!

We were there for more than 5 hours

& the boys didn't take a nap.

Most of their time was spent riding the tricycles

& bouncing on the balls

in the kids area.

Luke had his fair share of fun in the kids area too!

Having fun on the soap box car races!

Brock was attached to Grandpa Wayne (of course!).

Adler got his face painted.

He loved it!

This is the wonderful stage we are at with the boys....

 let 'em run wild!

Joe & Mom gave horse rides at the Farm that day too!

If you weren't knocked unconcious from the mower fumes

this ride was quite the entertainment.

Adler & Gabe loved it (as you can see!).

Gabe taking a swing in the hayloft!

The boys ended the day with a bobcat ride with grandpa.

Ohhh what a beautiful day!