Fall road trip

All 4 of us traveled to Nebraska in mid-October for a weekend visit. Stephen and Paul had fun playing with their cousins. On Saturday we went to a pumpkin patch owned by some of my high school friends, Bloom Where You're Planted. Stephen enjoyed wandering around, sitting on a tractor, playing in a corn pile, and riding on a hayrack. We also got to watch the Huskers pull out a win against Northwestern. It's always fun to have fellow fans to cheer with. That evening we had a belated birthday celebration for Monica and an early birthday celebration for Stephen, complete with cupcakes, candles, and presents. On Sunday, we went to Mass, got in some more playing, and headed home. It was a fun quick trip.
Funny story of the weekend...My mom and Megan were making the cupcakes for the birthday celebration. Stephen saw them cooling on the counter and exclaimed, "Cupcake!" I went out to the car to get something. When I came back, Stephen was by the door. My mom thought he was waiting for me. Actually, he was hiding because he had grabbed a cupcake off the counter and was in the process of eating it!
Here are the picture highlights...

Paul and Jacob

Clare and Paul

Checking out animals with Daddy

Sliding with Grandpa and Amy

Walking through the corn

Sliding at the pumpkin patch

Looking at the chickens

Vroom, vroom (or whatever tractors say)

Driving Miss Monica

Pushing a wheelbarrow through a maze

Stephen wasn't too sure about seeing a cow up close.

Playing in the corn with Adam

Paul got in on the fun too.

Stephen did NOT want to be in this picture.

Burying Steve in the corn

On the hayrack

 

Paul and Grandpa watch the football game.

Getting ready to blow out the candles

Yummy cupcakes!

Opening presents is more fun laying down!

Giving Monica a hug

Stephen did NOT want to be in this picture either.

Monica loved bouncing Paul.

Crested Butte

Over Labor Day weekend, we ventured to Crested Butte for the wedding of Steve's sister Kathy and her fiance Grant. Neither Steve nor I had been there before, so it was an adventure for both of us. We left on Friday morning. It was a nice drive through a beautiful part of Colorado. We checked into our hotel, and Stephen began exploring his new surroundings.

Watching the cars, trucks, and buses outside

Trying out his bed for the weekend

We headed to the church for the rehearsal. The rehearsal dinner was at a pizza place where we sat outside.

Paul hung out in his car seat.

Morgan reading to Stephen

 On Saturday morning we headed to town to check out the artisians' fair, stores, and eat breakfast. Then we went exploring in the car so Stephen would get a nap. We found some beautiful views.

This is one of my favorites.

 We went back to the hotel to get ready for the wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony.

Stephen waits for the wedding to start.

Steve walked his sister down the aisle.

The happy couple

The siblings - John, Anne, Kathy, Steve, Chris

Dancing with Morgan

Eating something to pass the time before dinner...isn't he handsome!

We waited too long to take our family picture. :)

Stephen played Chinese Checkers with Morgan and another little girl.

The cake cutting

Where's Stephen?

There he is! He liked using the heater as a stepstool.

Swimming with Daddy

Paul liked the water for a few minutes. Then he sat bundled up in his carseat and waited for us.

Sunday was a pretty laid-back day. We went to Mass, ate breakfast, walked around the town some more, took naps, and ate dinner. After we got everything packed up on Monday, we used the free lift tickets we got. Stephen did a really good job on the lift. He enjoyed seeing the trees up close.

It was a long way up!

We did a bit of hiking when we got to the top.

Hiking with Daddy

Look at that!

Going down!

Heading home - Grandma Rose rode with us, so I got to be in the back with my boys.

Drive, drive, drive.

Peanut, peanut butter and jelly

Paul slept most of the way home.