Anderson Farms and Halloween activities

Every year since the boys were tiny, we have been going to this farm and making a perfect family fun fall day! We have always hit the farm on a day it's balmy.  The intense sun makes you want to drink lemonade instead of hot apple cider.

 The mountain bike ride is a huge hit!

Then the barrel ride!

 Giant Pumpkin!

 Tractor roller coaster rides out in the field over rollies!

 Hay maze but running on top of the bales was more fun!

 Another maze or more like hide and seek!

 Lassoing the bull

 Then the corn maze.  In the past the boys have been too young to walk around for miles but this year we accomplished the Farm Scene Investigation.  Just like the game Clue, we had to collect evidence to find the weapon, the suspect, and the location where the crime took place. 

 We had to punch the card at each checkpoint.  What a blast the boys had!  They really felt like they were on a mission as crime investigators.  

 Beautiful scene with corn fields and the Rocky Mountains in the distance. 

 Lastly, we went out to the pumpkin patch and picked out pumpkins!

Jonas headed out to another farm called Berry Patch with his kindergarten class.  First school field trip and he had so much fun!

The boys couldn't wait until the week of Halloween to carve their pumpkins so we chanced it and had a carving party. Silas chose Batman symbol.

 Jonas gutting his pumpkin out!

 And then mastering the art of design. Jonas chose a ghost.

 There they are! So beautiful and perfect!

 Then these resourceful little buggers came and destroyed them in days.  Ugh!

 Enjoyed a Halloween festival down near our church.  Jonas dressed up as an astronaut with a homemade jet pack. And Silas was a clone from Star Wars.

 Pizza from Papa Murphy's and watched Charlie Brown Pumpkin patch movie.  

 Lego store gave out free monster mini figures that day if you came and dressed up.  With our friends, Dreyton and Carter.

 Off to another friends house to trick or treat. They ran from house to house for over an hour.  

Jonas' mission was to fill up his bucket as full as he could to trade in the candy for a Lego set.  He collected and tallied over 150 pieces of candy.  We bought him a $60 set! He was in heaven!

 Silas organized his candy and didn't want a Lego or toy.  But after seeing his big brother being responsible, he made a wise choice and gave it all up for a Lego set.  Ok, he asked to keep 5 pieces. 

Happy Halloween! 

Silas' 4th Bday!

The night before we celebrated Silas' 4th birthday party, Matt and I stayed up to finish the last minute things. And it's always the cake that keeps me up.  Silas requested a Clone cake.  Matt found a picture online and drew the clone helmet as I finished up the touches.  What a team effort!

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY SILAS! 

You make us all smile just by being you! And this photo depicts your personality!  Let's have some fun!!

You invited the extended family that lives in Colorado and a few friends(Cara and Zachariah).  Oma and Opa were hoping to be here but Oma struggled with some health issues at the same time.  You were super sad!

Sunday at 2pm was when the party started. Mom and Dad prepared food all day Saturday.  You requested a Star Wars theme so we took some of the ideas from Jonas' 5th birthday party.

Wookie Cookies, Cheesesabers, Princess Lays, Lightsaber pretzels, 

Endor Edibles and Thermal Detonators(wrapped dove). 

We all ate food first on Lego Minifigure smiley plates.

Off to the games out back in 68 degree weather!  Perfect!

Lightsaber duel

Jedi obstacle course

and Podracing

Time for chocolate chip cake with cream cheese frosting.

Opening gifts on the tramp!

Books, bow/arrow, nerf guns(first guns), guitar, and much more.  

Helton family photo op! 

October 8, 2013-You are 4 years old!  You have been waiting for this momumental  event!

I surprised you with your favorite breakfast item-Pancakes!  But these were super special…Vanilla Cake Batter pancakes with sprinkles with a powdered sugar glaze instead of syrup.  So sweet and delish!

After we dropped off Jonas at school, we ordered a steamer at Starbucks and reminisced this last year. Then off to a pet store to hold and pet furry friends.  You wanted to take home every cat, especially Batman who was a kitten.  

We picked up Jonas from kindergarten and headed north to Discovery Park to have a picnic and play on the playground for awhile. 

Then a few hours at Big Time Trampoline in which we had the whole place to ourselves.  Since your day was on a Tuesday, Daddy had to work plus Parent Teacher conferences until 8pm.  So we made sure our day was filled with activity and fun!

Our next stop was dropping off Jonas at Lego camp and we headed to Three Sisters Trailhead to go for a leisurely hike.  We ended up climbing big rocks and up steep rocky mountain instead of staying on the trail.  I love being a trailblazer with you, Silas!

By the time we picked up Jonas, we were all famished and needed some food in our tummies.  I thought Red Robin would be a lively experience in which they treated us to a ice cream sundae and a happy birthday song.

Off to bed and you fell asleep by the time I said AMEN.  There you are with your Catty(given by Aunt Beegie) and Blackie(pillow cat given by Oma).  No more Louie(froggie blanket with a rattle that was given to you at birth). You have grown up!

Your 3rd year was so awesome, I can't wait to see what 4 year holds! Whatever it is, I know you will rock it! Because that's just the way you are!  I have always said that you live life to have fun!

It's one of my favorite things about you…along with your silliness, your creativity, your independence, your sense of humor, your intelligence, your ability to love people, and your love of FUN!  You love to laugh, and your laugh is so contagious which brings more joy to our house than you will ever know. Just about 2 months before 4 years old, you decided naps were for babies. You no longer nap and if you are tired, you keep going without any grumbling. One of my favorite moments with you is when you nap in the car, it only takes 15 minutes of sleep for you to feel rested. And you will pop back to being Silas again with wide eyes and words to speak.  You will either comment about what we were talking about before you fell asleep or start conversing about the weather outside.  It's so hilarious!  You love Star Wars and have been interested in Superman and Batman lately.
Here are a few sayings...I call them Silasisms!

"My eyes won't stay shut." 

"Mananas" - for bananas

"I love everybody!"

"Mom you have stinky breath, catty(stuffed cat) has better breath than you."

"mom you got new hair!" - my hair colored last night

"there's the Mona Lisa in this magazine"

broncos day game "mom you can watch football with daddy and Jonas and I will play wegos(Legos)." True Lego fan. 

"grandmom, why are all these people dressed up like they are going hunting?" - driving onto the Air Force academy 

"the first one that said happy birthday is catty!" 

pooped on the floor in bathroom(hasn't done that forever) . "Daddy I love you!"