The Heiple Pumpkins 2010

Last night, Livi, Joey, Jas, and I carved the family pumpkins. This year we just got a pumpkin for Livi and Joey. We usually carved 4 pumpkins, but it gets too hard and takes too long to carve all 4 pumpkins, so this year I helped Joey, and Jas helped Livi with their pumpkins.

Joey made a Mickey Mouse pumpkin because he LOVES Mickey Mouse. Olivia wanted to take some ideas from the Pumpkin Spooktacular and design her own pumpkin. I think they both turned out great!

Quack

Daddy teaches us the best things!

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo

This weekend Livi, Joey, Mom, Jim, and I took a train trip to Bloomington. This was a school field trip for Joey. He is absolutely fascinated with trains, so I thought he would love to take a train trip. On Friday mom and I drove my van down to Kelly and Rick's house in Bloomington and then drove back. On Saturday morning, we took mom's car to the Springfield train station and took the train to Bloomington. Kelly and Rick picked us up at the train station and then we all went out to breakfast. Then Livi, Joey, mom, Jim, and I went shopping the rest of the day and then came home.

At first Joey was hesitant to get on the train, but once we got going he loved it. Jim and I took him on a walk so he could walk between the train cars and get the whole experience. When we got to Bloomington he sadly said good by to "Thomas Choo Choo."

Thank you to Kelly and Rick for letting us leave the van in their driveway and picking us up from the train station!

Olivia's Firehouse Field Trip

Last week, Livi, Joey, and Jas went on a field trip to the Rochester Firehouse. This was a class field trip for Olivia. They had a lot of fun (although Joey was very fussy because he was trapped in his stroller), and Olivia learned a lot of fire safety/emergency information. She knows what to do if her house is on fire, to call 911, and we also practiced her home phone number.

Jack-O-Lantern Spooktacular

Last weekend Jas and I brought Livi and Joey to the Jack-0-Lantern Spooktacular 2010. It was a lot of fun! We walked around and viewed 2,010 different pumpkins while listening to Halloween music. There were pumpkins everywhere! Pumpkins hanging from trees, pumpkins in the ponds, on the brick walls, etc. To make it spooky, they put dish soap in the waterfalls to make it look foamy. They also had the Carillon bells playing "It is time to trick and treat." Joey and Livi were in aw from the experience.

These are some of our favorite pumpkins.

The Heiple's go ice skating

Today, we had a family Fun Shop field trip to the ice skating rink. Joey's school hosted a 2 hour family skating event. This was the first time that Olivia and Joey have been on ice skates. Jason and I have gone skating before, but this was a first for Livi and Joey. Livi really liked it. She started out with the "skating walker" that helped her get used to the ice and get her balance. Then she let Jas and I take her out and practice. Joey was not happy about ice skating. He wanted to ride in the sled with Livi and then sit on the side and eat Cheetohs. I am happy to say that no one fell and there were no broken bones. Livi said that she definitely wanted to go back again with Jas and I, but we need to leave Joey with grandma and Jim :).

Pumpkin Fun

Livi, Joey, and I went out and bought two small pumpkins a week ago. At first I was going to let them paint their pumpkins, but then I found two fun decorating kits and thought they would enjoy them more. Joey had a "Mr. Pumpkin Head" kit where he pushed the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears into the pumpkin. He was able to make two different faces. Olivia had a "Lite Bright" kit and decorated her pumpkin with jewels. It turned out to be a fun family project!