Pre-Halloween Fun

Last Wednesday afternoon, Isabel and I headed to Cox Farms for their Fall Festival with friends from the St. Mark Moms' group. It really isn't a farm at all, though there are some farm animals. They have big kid and little kid play area and some really great slides, that would be fun for adults even without the kids.

Isabel had an absolute ball and we were both exhausted by the end of the evening.

Here she is enjoying some time on the wooden train with her friend Elise (in the orange).

Isabel was in almost constant motion the entire time, but I did manage to convince her sit for a picture on these hay bales.

Here she is playing in the corn box. Just like a sand box only with dried corn...and what a great idea, since the corn stays and doesn't come home in your shoes and clothes.

Here we are on our first slide...

And next on the BIG slide.
Isabel took a break in the stroller while we waited for our friends to go on the hayride. Apparently it is very bumpy and pregnant women are highly encouraged to avoid it.

On the way out, Isabel got to select a small pumpkin to take home. She loves her pumpkin and insisted on keeping it on her lap in the car for the trip home.

Sunday we were supposed to head to Frying Pan Farm Park with my other moms' group, but it was very cold and we opted to meet indoors at our home. Although only 2 of the 10 toddlers were able to make it, we still had a wonderful time.

Isabel the lady bug and Sarah the duck.

Isabel loved Sarah's costume, as I think it reminds her of her other duck emmy, whom she sleeps with at night. She felt the need to check out Sarah's beak...

...and then her webbed feet. Sarah was a great sport during Isabel's inspection.
Alec was dressed as a puppy and wouldn't let the fact that his hat kept covering his eyes stop him from playing.
With the help of a few crackers, we convinced the kids to take a group picture. You can also see a bit of my halloween decorating above (the picture frames will be filled with halloween pictures and come out during October each year).

I tried to squeeze in one more pre-halloween event last Friday by letting Isabel watch my favorite Halloween movie, "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown." Since Isabel doesn't get to watch TV, she really had no interest in the movie, even though I was sitting with her and talking about what we were seeing on screen. We only made it about half way through, and that was with lots of movement and pointing to things outside. The only part of the movie that caught her eye is when snoopy was "flying" around on his dog house. Isabel decided he was on a helicopter and kept saying "airshow, airshow!" Oh well, maybe next year we can start the tradition of the great pumpkin.

Happy Halloween everyone. Isabel can't wait for her second school parade followed by pumpkin carving on Saturday and actual trick-or-treating (though mom or dad will have to keep the treats).