Halloween

We always to go a friends for trick-or-treating and this year we had a good sized group.  It was a really rainy day, but it lightened up just in time for the kids to go out.  We all dressed up as Batman characters from the old tv show.  Yes, Alex is Robin and Adam is Batman.  And if you suggest otherwise, they look at you like you're crazy!  That's the way they always played, so why should it be any different?  Erin was Catwoman and Andy was Joker--purple suit and all!  I was the "Pow!"  :)
We had a great time like usual and cant wait for next year.  We just might have a repeat performance of the Batman gang. 

I've also been busy painting....again.  I repainted the fireplace and did the kitchen too.  I'm really pleased with the colors.  So now I just have to figure out which room to tackle next....

I took a few pics of the trees outside.  I think I missed the peak colors by a few days, but you get the idea.  We also went up to see Grandma Doll and took a walk in the corn field across the road from her house.  They dont plant field corn there......but popcorn!  The boys had fun looking for ears that were missed.  And this week we will begin the chore of getting the kernels off the cob.   Something tells me I will be doing most of it.   :)

Harvest time!

It was finally time for the much anticipated harvest of beans!  Adam has been waiting all summer to help Pop do beans and take them to the mill in the "new" grain truck.  The boys were so excited they were up at 6:30am on Saturday to get a ride in the grain truck.  That day Adam also took many rides in the combine and watched the bean head the whole time.  Alex rode once or twice, but he got tired of it after a while.  Erin was content to watch from the sand box.  But it was cold and so we didn't stay out too long.  But when we went inside, Mimi had cookies ready that needed frosted.  So Alex and Erin got to work!

We also took a trip up to LaPorte where there's a steam engine museum.  They have rides on the train that take you through the woods and around.  Besides the large steam engine, they have a medium and small sized trains to ride also.  There was also a steam lumber mill you could watch.   However it was pretty loud and the kids were scared of it.  But they also had a steam tractor they got out for a bit while we were there.  It was a beautiful fall day and it was nice to enjoy the colors.

Ready to ride in the grain truck!

This girl loves her powdered donuts!

Small train

Steam train

Steam tractor

Adam is really into John Deere these days.

Medium train

ride on the medium train

Harvesting Beans

Thursday evening the farmer started harvesting the field in front of our house.  They started at the far end, but the kids were excited non the less.  Friday at 1pm they started up again and so Adam, Erin and I camped out in the front on the driveway all day and watched their progress.  Thankfully, they didn't do right in front of the house until Alex was home from school!  The boys got out their telescopes and pretended to video the combine and wagon.  Of course, I was also video taping them and the combine. :)  We even ate dinner out on the driveway so we wouldn't miss any action!  Once again, so thankful for the warm weather.  It could have been so cold instead of 75 and sunny. 

Videographers in action!

The neighbor with an ultralight decided to take a look at the action too!

Uh, oh!  Breakdown!  Good thing it didn't last long.

Superman

Fall Fun - Corn Maze

We've been so blessed with a warm October (so far!).  The kids have been enjoying the time to play outside and then I can get some more yard work done.  I've also been slowly painting the dining room, stairway, living room, and kitchen.  I'm not done with all of it yet, but the warm weather helps.  The kids have also enjoyed having a campfire in the fire pit out back.  They dont really cook marshmallows, but they eat all the fixings for s'mores separately.  :)  We also had some fun with glow sticks and even put them on the cat and dog!  It was rather entertaining to see a green streak go by and know it was our young male cat, Adventure Boy.  (What a name, huh?  Thank you Alex.)

We also took a day and visited a corn maze.  The kids had a blast and enjoyed running through the acres of corn.  The farm also has games for the kids like straw tunnels, tricycles and pumpkin races.  But they really enjoyed the 10 acres of pick-your-own pumpkins and the wagon ride out to the patch!  They had any kind you can think of.  We let the kids each pick a little one or two and then we bought one big one to carve.  We also brought a pack lunch and we ate at one of the picnic spots in the woods.  We met some friends there and so the kids all had a blast.  We just might have to make this a yearly thing.

Adam and Erin in the newly painted dining room/entry way.

Look!  Green grass!

Added rocks around landscaping by driveway.

Adventure Boy by the Mums.

Erin- Clella-Gunnar-Adam-Alex

On the bridge/look-out in the corn maze.

Erin and our Jack-o-Lantern