Picking Pumpkins 2013

This was a very bittersweet visit for us. We have been going to this beautiful little pumpkin stand to choose our pumpkins ever since Bennett was a baby. We found out this is the last year the man would be doing it since he has to retire. I'm so glad I took my camera and was able to get a lot of pictures. I am also glad that the weather was beautiful and that kids had a wonderful last time. We are so sad to say good bye to this tradition. I am sad this little baby girl in me will never get to choose a pumpkin there and get her picture taken. That is why we decided to try to get a little belly shot since it will be her only visit. Hopefully we will be able to find a fun place to choose pumpkins next year! Things we loved about this place are the prices (so ridiculously low), close to home, great for photos (perfect lighting at night and they always set up spots exactly for that reason), a fun old-fashioned scale to weigh the pumpkins, the owner always has a carved pumpkin head and is willing to take pictures with you if you want, and he always puts the pumpkin head on Russ. None of the kids cried this year!

Change of Plans

One beautiful October Saturday we decided to go to the Zoo. We really wanted to make it there one more time in the fall since we have season passes. Well, apparently we chose the busiest October day there ever called Boo at the Zoo. We had no idea it would be going on and could not even get our car in. We were very bummed, but decided to try the Church History Museum instead. We had never taken the kids there before. Before we went in, we had a little picnic in the beautiful weather and the kids found and played with a lady bug. At first they thought the museum wasn't that great, but once we found the kids' part of the museum, they had a blast and didn't want to leave.

Salad~

This little girls LOVES salad. One day when she was tiny, I was cutting up lettuce and she asked for some. I told her it wasn't very yummy, but she insisted. So I gave her a plain piece of lettuce, she ate it, and asked for more, and more. Thus a love with green salad began. She has always loved it and even says she loves it way more than candy. Score! We love putting our greens with carrots, chopped up boiled eggs, bacon bits, peas, a little grated cheese, cottage cheese, sometimes parmesan, and a tiny bit of ranch dressing. Yum!

Harkness Extended Family Pictures

We took these back on October 20th. It was push the shutter and watch the pregnant lady run to her place while hoping the little ones still were looking at the camera and smiling. Thus, the riding up skirt on me in some of the pictures and dear, sweet Coy pulling a different funny face in each picture. We had made the tie-dyed shirts at a family reuninion in the summer and joked that it would be funny to send out a card that said Hippie Holidays. That is why we have really amazing shirts on for some of these :)

Coy and Bennett

I was a little late on taking three year old pictures of Coy, so I took his pictures and Bennett's 8-year old pictures at the same time. I thought it would be a great opportunity to take some brother pictures as well. I love how well these pictures show their great relationship.
  Coy had this lovely scratch on on his head that took forever to get better. I obviously edited it out of all the other pictures. But decided I'd better keep it on at least one for memory's sake. He tripped in the garage and scraped his head on the corner of the license plate on the car. Ouch!   Of course Mylie tagged along. She really wanted me to take her picture, too. I humored her for a couple. I just love her freckles :)