We took some time this fall to take a family trip to South Padre, Texas.  We were blessed with beautiful weather and had a great time together as a family.  We have season pass to our local zoo which also got us in free to the Brownsville Zoo just 30 minutes from South Padre.  The kids loved checking out new animals despite the near 90 temps

There favorite animals were the gorillas.  Here they are checking out the gorilla sculptures by the real animals.

We also had lots of time spent on the beach and in the pool.  The kids probably would have done this all day every day but we had to take in some of the sites around the island as well.  We had a condo right on the beach so it made it easy to go back and forth.

When we did make it away from the sand and water we enjoyed some ice cream.

We also ended up using a local bus system to go everywhere instead of  renting a car.  The kids loved spotting the buses and catching a ride.

Posing in front of one of the stores on the island

we also took a boat ride to look for dolphins.  We only got to see one towards the end of our trip but we  had a great time riding on the boat and finding out more about the island.

Graham hamming it up at supper one night

We also watched some people next to us do some shark fishing while we were on the beach one night.  By the time they reeled this big one it, it was dark and the kids were in bed but Josh stayed to check it out.

Graham also loved riding the planes to get to Texas.

I had to work the weekend after we got back so on Sunday Josh took the kids to the Burlington Firemans Breakfast.  Addy always looks forward to it, but this year they weren't giving rides but they still had fun.  After that they went to the Rodeo with Grandma and Grandpa.  If you look close Addy has on my old cowboy boots from when I was little.  They are a little big but she loves knowing they used to be mine.  Graham also has on his leather Harley vest from Grandma and Grandpa.

We took our annual trip to Minnesota to take in the State fair and have some family time.  We also went  fishing with Papa.  Addy had fun even though she wasn't very lucky.  Caleb was super lucky so he was nice enough to let Addy real one of his in.

We also enjoyed the Little Farm Hands at the Minnesota State Fair for the third year in a row.

Some carnival rides

Graham wearing his sisters sunglasses (upside down as usual for him).  He is strong enough to wear pink.

Addy testing out her riding skills in the horse barn

Graham finally tuckered out after a long day at the fair

We are lucky to have a great pumpkin patch just down the road from our house.  It gets bigger and better every year.  This year we went with friends of ours and Addy's best friend from daycare.  When we first got there the kids just climbed in all the pumpkins they had out.

Then we had to do the train ride.

Stop for a photo op

The corn maze

climbing in the spider web

tractor races

and a petting zoo

We may have to go back again to do the hay rides, haybale obstacle course, and slides.

Almost three months later I have Graham's birthday party pics uploaded.  We had a BBQ by the Splash Pad like we did last year.  We had great weather and had a great time.  One of Graham's gifts was a tee-ball set.  Everyone had fun playing with it.

 

He also got a truck to hold all of his hot wheels cars.

And Uncle Tim gave him two cars from his childhood which Graham loved, since anyone who knows him knows if it moves he loves it.

Addy was having a great time going from the playground and the splash pad

I usually make cupcakes for the kids' birthday party but Graham will only eat the frosting so I figured ice cream was more to his liking, so we went the easy way and got dilly bars from DQ down the road.