Pumpkin Patch Picking

                                             Going for a hayrack ride to get our pumpkins!

We just couldn't decide which ones!

There were many other things to do than just pick pumpkins!

                                We got caught in a jailhouse-we were yelling "let us out now!"

Good Times at Bottomview Farm! 

More to come from those pumpkins we picked-Halloween Pictures next!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Camping at Shawnee Nat'l Forest-Oct. 10-12

 Camping Trip at Bear Branch Campgrounds:  Theme of the weekend- "Keep it Rustic"
The campgrounds were a bit rustic, but it worked out great!  We were the only ones I think without horses, but our neighbors were so cool to let us pet their's, and the girls got to play on the playground.

 GARDEN OF THE GOD'S-BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

              At the top of one of the many high rocks you could see over the landscape-really pretty!!!

 There were many rock formations all around us; there were carved walkways for tourists to make their way around the hills.

 This is one of my favorite pictures of the girls at the Garden of the Gods...........................

 Since Shawnee is known for horse-back riding, we had to take a morning and go for our own tour of  the area on horse-back-everyone did great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 We will be back soon!!!!!!!!  What a pretty place to see!! Who would have known it is right there in the middle of southern Illinois!!!! Thanks Papa and G-ma Jan for joining us!!!!

2015 Fall Class pictures-long over-due

                                   Fall 2015 Class pictures: Hailey 5th grade;  Emily 1st grade

I'm always so excited to get these back to see how well they smiled for the camera!!!!!! 

Kentucky Downunder Adventure

  We went to see the kangaroos in KY at the little zoo they have there-it was small but fun!!

 You could pet the kangaroos softly; they only like to be petted on their backs, not their ears or face.
 Above you see the kangaroos and two large land tortoises that live in the same area; guess its kinda like the tortoise and the hare! :-)

As you can see, the girls got hands-on experience with some reptiles! The snake was a constrictor native to Australia; eek!!!

 

They had "Emo's" in the same area as well.

 Baby alligator at the hands-on animal viewing; reptiles are NOT my thing, but I did feel it's skin.

 Last, we got to feed these colorful birds some nectar from a cup, which they inhale the second you walk into their large enclosure; Rob had 5 after him at one time; this one was really curious and stayed on his shoulder for a long time; even kissed his cheeks after he got a taste of the food :-)

Smoky Mountains and Dollywood Adventure

 

WE LOVE THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 We went to the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies! It was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

 I SEE NEMO, and DORY, and BUBBLES, and..................

 Cracked Geode's from the gift shop, and a shark-tooth necklace topped off the Aquarium experience.

 

Entrance to Dollywood Theme Park!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                                                                                              Lot's of pretty southern dresses were worn at Dollywood, it's a southern tradition kept in the park.

                                              A real steam engine train took us around the park, cool.

 

Here is to having fun in the stream in the Smoky Mtn. National park, where we had a picnic and played!

 Oh yes, I guess we need to say we camped in our "new to us" pop-up! It was great, and the campground was really fun too.  We had fun in the pool, and played w/ some new friends we met next to us.

 The last night we went to the Pigeon Forge "Island resort" where there was a big Ferris wheel and an outside venue with shops and colored water fountains with music-a really cool outdoor place.  As Rob said, if you got bored in Pigeon Forge, it was your fault!  We had a great time, see you soon!!!