Fall Break - Family Sunday Funday

Typically the Bane's don't farm on Sunday's so we took advantage of the boy's Fall Break and took a little day trip.  Our road trip began and we found our way to Indiana Caverns.  

Devin & Tate couldn't wait to get underground.  We first took a small adventure through a simulated Cave.  We donned our hard hats, lights, and knee pads if your Mom.  Then we headed into the cave.

We got a great pre-cave selfie.

Into the Sabertooth Cavern.  Our adventure started and we were on the lookout for the Sabertooth and the Golden Skull.  We didn't find the Sabertooth, but we were  successful at finding the treasure.  After this adventure, we headed down into the real cave.

We descended into the cave, which is always 55 degrees.  The first attraction we ran across was the waterfall, which is fed by a natural spring.  We all reached out and got some cave kisses, which are said to be good luck.  

We learned about the many formations found in caves.  Stalactites, Stalagmites. Cave straws (Soda Straws), Cave Ribbon (aka Cave Bacon), and Pillars (when a stalactite and Stalagmite meet).  

Here are a few of the many bones found inside this cave, all dating back to the ice age era.  At that time there was an opening into the cave where bears would go to hibernate.  

Devin taking his turn driving the boat in that section of the cave.  

Tate giving it his best effort as he drives the boat back down the stream.

Quick shot of the boys before we leave the cave.  Then our road trip adventure took us further East.  The boys had been begging to pick their own pumpkins.  Our next stop was Huber.

We waited in line to take a short wagon ride to the pumpkin patch.  Devin & Tate were very excited to pick their own pumpkins.  After a lot of consideration, they each finally picked the perfect pumpkin.

Hangin' out in the Pumpkin Patch.  

 The winning pumpkins.  As you can see, they didn't pick small pumpkins.  Greg and I carried them back to the wagon and then back to the car.  We definitely got our workout for the afternoon.  Devin's pumpkin ended up weighing 34 lbs and Tate's was 26 lbs.  

Waiting for the wagon.

Thanks photographer Devin!

Thanks photographer Tate!

Pumpkin Carving

Devin picked Lightening Mcqueen for his pumpkin.  We traced the design onto his pumpkin, poked the holes, and then made all the right cuts with the kid friendly saw.
Didn't know such a thing existed.

Carefully cutting.....luckily no one was injured in the makin of this pumpkin.

The final products! 
Hail Purdue and Lightening McQueen.

It's Pumpkin Time

Tate officially walking at the Pumpkin Patch! Tate went from cruising the couch to walking around the house overnight. It literally just "clicked" with Tate. This mom is really glad he has figured it out.

Quick picture of the boys at the Pumpkin Patch.

Devin posing with the pumpkins that he picked out for all of us.

Devin quickly picked out his pumpkin designs and then we got started. He was really into pumpkin carving this year. He helped pull out the guts and transfer the design onto the pumpkin. He even helped do some of the cutting. Once we finished the pumpkins we lit them up and put them out on the porch for all to see.

Jack-O-Lanterns

Working on getting the "guts" out of the pumpkin. You would think that Devin would really enjoy getting messy, but he would hardly do it with the spoon. Mom ended up having to help scoop the insides out. Devin did, however, help make the decisions on what type of face the pumpkin should have. For his pumpkin we decided for triangle eyes and a toothy smile.

Posing with his pumpkin after we lit a candle inside.

A picture outside with Devin's jack-o-lantern and our ghost.

Devin and Tate sitting by their respective pumpkins. We really enjoyed carving pumpkins for the first time.

Picking our Pumpkins

Devin picked his seat instead of picking a pumpkin.

Posing at the Pumpkin Patch

Look Mom I picked pumpkins out for me and Tate. After Greg and I get back from our trip we plan to carve these little pumpkins with Devin. It will be his first time, so hopefully it goes well. You will have to check back and see the finished products later.

Devin asked me to take his picture by the pumpkins he picked out. Mom even got to pick out a pumpkin too, as you can see she went with the "bumpy" pumpkin. I kinda thought it looked neat.

Fall is Finally Here

There is finally a crispness in the air and that can only mean one thing...Fall is Finally Here. So dig out the pumpkins and the mums. After getting Devin dressed this morning I knew we had to get a few pictures outside with the pumpkins and mums. I just love this time of year. Devin has actually started to take a step or two on his own. We won't call it walking yet, but he is getting very close.
Hard to believe that our little boy will be #1 tomorrow. It is such a special time in our lives and Greg and I are truly enjoying every second, because we know how soon it will be gone.