Street Side Pumpkin Patch

Brent has a good job and it comes with the occasional perks.  One perk was admission and unlimited access to a street side pumpkin patch.  For those of you who are in the northwest you may not know what a street side pumpkin patch is, let me explain.  It is a money making endeavor that opens in a large parking lot or vacant plot of land. It is full of blow up attractions, petting zoo animals, and other little amusement attractions.  There are pumpkins but this places is really a money pit.  Each ride cost a different organ and there is nothing really authentic about it.  That being said... 

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO!  

And it was worth it!  We took our friends, Derek and Kandace Smith plus family.  Here is Derek escorting his daughter Livi and Harper down the giant blow up slid.

Easton, who is 8, is such a helper.  I know he wanted to race through this obstacle course but he was so patient in waiting to help the little girls.

Look at that face of joy!

The tickets came through Brent's work, which meant a lot of co workers attended as well.  It was great to be able to catch up and say hi before the Christmas party in December!

Harper enjoyed the swing (Layla is in the background)

Harper LOVES the animals.  I am so close to opening my own zoo just to keep her entertained.  Okay, not really.  That would be madness.  I don't even know where to get a donkey.

Harper gets her animal fill every October.

Livi got very tired about halfway through.  She took up camp in the stroller. 

We had to convince Harper to go on the spinning ride... It was a mistake on our part.  She did not enjoy it. 

This was a fun way to spend a morning and we loved that we were able to do it with good friends and NOT PAY A PENNY!!!

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love Las Vegas in October!

McKee Ranch

October is my favorite month in Las Vegas because the weather is outstanding and there is SO much to do!  There are pumpkin patches (although no native pumpkins) everywhere and a million farm animals to go visit.  One Saturday, our family outing was to a new ranch The McKee Ranch.  

Harper instantly fell in love when she noticed the large play yard.

We arrived fairly early so there were not many people around.  I love that her feet are only millimeters off the ground.

While Harper was playing she spotted a little bunny and FREAKED out.  I had purchased a bucket of carrots; Harper desperately tried to feed the bunny.  It went pretty well until the bunny stole the carrot and Harper was too scared to get it back.

Harper quickly made another friend.  I thought she would be more hesitant around the pig but she was just annoyed it wouldn't eat her carrot.

We also purchased a pony ride.  Harper HATED it. That was $5.00 we'll never get back.

From there we spent some time walking around feeding the various animals.

Harper became a pro.

London found a horse that was more her size.

And LOVED when her older sister rode with her. 

They had the worlds oldest merry go round.  It was so ghetto and reminded me of my childhood. Safety regulations have ruined everything.

While Harper spun, London tried feeding the horses.  She was less of a fan than her sister.

Overall, it was a nice was to spend an hour or so.  It will be better when London is a little older but to be honest I felt nickel and dimed.  It was $20 to get in which included a pumpkin, $5.00 for pony ride, $1.00 for carrots, up to $15.00 for face painting (we passed), $40 for pictures.  It just makes everything less fun when you have to dish out more and more money to do little things.  Especially when I knew there was the BEST pumpkin patch I'd ever been to only weeks away!

Harpers First Gymnastics Class

Harper has finally reached the age where she can take classes!  I decided to start her with Gymnastics.  Brent wasn't initially convinced but he quickly changed his tune. After the first lesson he was talking about practicing at home to improve her skills, I promptly reminded him that she is 2 and we are doing this for fun.

Maybe it was seeing this face once a week that made him want more.

The first week was a little rough.  Harper wasn't great at listening and kept trying to take London on the mat with her.

London would have LOVED to join the class and in one year she can!

The teacher was really good an leading a stretch and dance time and then opening the floor for the kids to decide what to do.

Brent is trying to get Harper to do donkey kicks.

This is a back somersault. I was a little less than gentle when I first tried helping... she lived but gave me a mighty glare!

One of her favorite games was racing across the balance beam.

Her favorite time was the sticker and stamp time at the end of class.  She would then spend the entire walk out to the car losing a sticker and making us retrace our steps until we found it.... At the end of the 2nd week I figured out that I took the stickers and gave them to her in the car.

This was such a cute community class.  From now on we are trying to do one class a month!