Cute Paul

Pumpkin Patch

We went to a pumpkin patch with Samantha's preschool this year. We were lucky enough to have my parents come along and we had such a fun time. They had a slide, a hay ride, a maze, and some other fun activities for the kids. It was super expensive if you went on your own but wasn't bad at all as part of a group so I'm glad we went with her class.

Dad and Paul getting ready for the slide

This is my new favorite picture

At the petting zoo

Sammi with her pumpkin

Samantha with her two best friends from class

Camping

We finally went camping this year. Every year since we've had the kids it's something that we've wanted to do but it never seems to work out. So, we finally went up Mt. Herman and the kids had a great time. Sleeping didn't really happen, but it went well enough that we'll try again next year when the weather warms up again.

The kids helping Adam start a fire

Paul found a tree trunk with an ant hill in it and spent a good chunk of time hitting it over and over and over

Smores

Black Eye

Paul ran into the corner of a cabinet and ended up with a black eye the other day. Why is it that he ALWAYS has some kind of bruise on his face/head?

First Day of School

Samantha started preschool again this year. She is at a different school, but with the same teacher and a lot of the same kids from last year. She is super excited and has been having a ton of fun. She has so much fun in fact that she cries when I come to pick her up and often tells me, "I don't want to go home with you." Makes me feel like a good mom. Hey, at least she's happy there.

Kelle's Visit

Luckily the day after Kim left Kelle and her kids came out for two weeks. All 16 people on my side of the family stayed at the house the whole time. It worked out a lot better than I would have anticipated. The kids got along great and we had A LOT of activities. I was surprised how little any of the kids fought. Sammi and Grant would play for hours without us seeing or hearing from them. Here are some of the activities...

All the cousins at Water World

Fox Run Park

Paul in his bee boots

Just another day at the park

Watching the train go by

Lauren doing her victory dance after scoring a run in baseball

Santa's Workshop

A lemonade stand...the older cousins were calling the little kids "cute boosts" and were using them to increase sales. The little guys' payoff? A quarter.

The pond at Fox Run. It was gross that they were swimming in the pond, but the last time we went they got in with their clothes on, so this time we let them get in in their bathing suits. We bathed them the second we got home.

Garden of the Gods, where we had breakfast with my uncles, grandfather, and all the cousins

Kelle and cute, cute Alyssa. I was tempted to hide her so Kelle would have to leave her here forever :)

Adam stuck Paul in the basketball hoop at Monkey Bizness. He thought it was pretty funny.

Hailey, Grant, and Sammi in their new pj's

I figured that was enough pictures, but we also played capture the flag a few of the nights, went shopping with the little kids (the older kids went to a Rocky's game), went to Fargo's, and played around the house. It was a great time and we can't wait to see everyone again.

Hopkins' Cousins

Josh and Angella came out for a week and then shortly after Kim and her kids came out. Samantha was LOVING having all these cousins out to play with. We went to Monkey Bizness and did a lot of swimming with Angella and her kids. We went ot the YMCA and did the Slip 'n Slide. The kids had a GREAT time.

When Kim was here we went swimming and also took her boys fishing. Sammi was in seventh heaven with so many fun things going on.