Jesse's Taser Ride

Don't mess with the police, or this could be you! This video was taken at Jesse's taser instructor recertification training. No, being tased wasn't a requirement - he volunteered! Crazy guy! This is now his fourth time being tased. When I asked him if it was finally out of his system (PLEASE), his reply was, "Well, for at least two years." (Two years will be the next recert.)

Perfect "Punkins"

Growing up, our family tradition was to visit a "real" pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins. Often it was at night, by full moonlight, and we'd have hot chocolate or hot cider together after we'd found our perfect pumpkins. Well, this is the first year that we've been able to kind of carry that tradition on. Thanks to Charlie, we found out about a real pumpkin patch in Spokane. Since we were there for Jesse's work training, we took the boys to Green Bluff Farms. Even though it was by bright sunlight (a 60 degree autumn day), and Mom was the only one who wanted hot cider (yea, try caramel, fresh pressed cider with whip cream and nutmeg on top - delish!), it still felt like it did when we were kids.

Tanner sure had fun walking around the pumpkin patch. He kept getting tangled up in the vines as he was walking, but he didn't seem to mind. He'd just pick himself back up when he'd fall.

Andrew had a blast picking up "punkins." I just love how he says "PUNKINS!" Between him and Daddy, we ended up with six pumpkins, when we started off thinking we only needed two. Here's Andrew with his first pumpkin. From there he kept finding "cute baby ones, Mommy, Daddy" so of course we couldn't resist. Then Daddy found a perfect pumpkin, just like they're supposed to be. Then there was Tanner's... so you see how it went. Mommy and her two precious little boys. The farm had these cute little wagons that we got to pull the boys and our stuff around in. The boys loved it!

The whole family! (Thanks to Mom Diana's cool tripod she gave Jesse for Christmas and a pumpkin, we were able to capture this shot.) After we got finished picking out our pumpkins, we went to another portion of the farm and picked apples. Yummy! I decided we have to go back here EVERY year (especially after I drank my carmel apple cider)! The boys didn't argue.

Tanner on the Move

Tanner can move! I thought he could get around before, when crawling was his thing. Well, in just the three short weeks since he took his tentative first steps, he's gone from wobbly to practically running. He's an all-terrain kid, too - gravel, toys, grass, it doesn't matter, he can get over it or through it.
He's sure looking cute (and he knows it) in his birthday outfit from Grandpa Skip and Grandma Elaine!

Opps!

Okay, so these are so not the pictures that I thought I was uploading, but since we have satellite internet and these took like 15 minutes to upload, they're staying on!!!!!!!!!!!

Up first we have here a picture of our happy Tanner. This is how he always wakes up in the morning - happy, happy, happy! We sure love this little guy!
Up next we have our helpful Andrew. He's such a sweet, polite, helpful little guy. One of his favorite "chores" is to take out the trash - and we never even have to ask him to. In fact, we've found more than one only one-third- of- the -way full trash bag flung on the garage floor after Andrew has taken it upon himself to empty the garbage. He also likes to put away silverware, fold towels, and pick up toys. Yea! I hope he always so cheerfully helps around the house! We sure love our little boy!