Pumpkin Patch

If it's October, and you're in Oregon, and it's NOT raining...you better find yourself at a pumpkin patch with the rest of the folks in the tri-state area! (ok, we don't live in the tri-state area...I just borrowed the line from the kids fav cartoon "Phineas & Ferb").

Here's some pictures of our adventures (riding the little train, jumping off bales of hay, riding the boat & seeing sea monsters & sharks, going through a HUGE corn maze, etc.):

Little Mama and "The Family"

This picture does NOT do this story justice as half of "the family" is missing...but the picture will help make sense of the following story:

Ah, Miss Jenna...a little mama in the making. Yesterday, as Chad, the boys, and I played a splendid game of Ticket to Ride, Miss Jenna was playing ever so creatively. We noticed that she repeatedly made trips up and down the stairs. Consumed in the game, we didn't realize what exactly SHE was up to. Until, she proudly announced that she had gathered "the family." We turned around to see all her little dolls/stuffed animals carefully tucked into their "beds" with a specific little blankie. She had used an assortment of baskets, carriers, and boxes to make the beds.

Imagine a line-up of eight to ten little beds. (She'd been busy!). Well, "the family" had to travel everywhere with her...which made for lots of trips. We all volunteered to help "the family" make it up to her room for bedtime...so as to not delay bedtime for Jenna. :-)

After Jenna was tucked into her bed, I went downstairs. Later that night, I returned upstairs for something and saw that Miss Jenna had snuck out of her bed and had lined up "the family" outside her room.

Today, I have found "the family" all lined-up various places inside (and outside) our house! I love that she is developing her "MAMA" skills...oh, but the mess that is left in the wake!!!! I wonder if my mom would say the same thing about me today!

I Looked Out the Window and found...a SNAKE!!!

In our continuing series "I looked Out the Window," we have a whopper of tale. Yesterday, we had some neighborhood friends over. The kids started to form a nice little huddle that quickly spread...a formation that could only mean one thing: a snake!

Yep, in the balmy month of October, there was a snake in our yard. The "snake charmers" informed me that it wasn't poisonous, because it didn't have a diamond pattern or didn't have bright colors. Boy, did I feel better then- yeah, right!

Moments of "true boyhood" came out as they tried to feed a worm and tomatoes to the snake, as they discovered that a snake pees (oh joy!) and where it pees from, and as they tried to frighten the neighborhood with the poor little scared snake.

The snake was released into the great and spacious field (and you've never seen a happier snake than this one who was finally released from the clutches of our little clan).

Billy Socks: He has shoes. He just can't remember where he put them...

The Hancock Children have a problem: they don't like to wear shoes. Trevor is notorious for wearing socks without shoes and thus, making holes in the socks. This picture is a pretty normal occurance around here...Trevor outside playing with only socks on.

Jason & Jenna, on the other hand, are usually without shoes and SOCKS. They just can't keep them on. Even in the rain. Countless times my neighbor has brought me "Hancock Shoes," because they often get left behind at her house.

The Great Backpacking Adventure

Last weekend (Sept 19-20), Chad and Trevor went on their overnight hiking adventure. This year they went with Bob and Dave. This is the 2nd year they have gone. Trevor thoroughly enjoys this grand experience.

Chad's backpack weighed 40 pounds. Trevor's weighed 13 pounds. Chad was just carrying the weight that he had lost over the past 2 years! Crazy!

Trevor had great tales of catching frogs at Twin Lakes (by Mount Hood). He and Dave would name the frogs. Some of their favorites were: dude, little dude, Michael Phelps, Einstein, Jaguar, Squirtle, and Hot Head.

On Saturday, they climbed a big mountain and were excited for the view they would have at the top of this very steep climb. All they found was a cell tower. Disappointing!

They played a bit of football and spied on boy scouts that were also camping there. They were lucky to have good weather (exceptional weather for Oregon). Trevor was amazed at the number of stars in the sky (we don't often get to see them living in the city and with our ever constant cloud cover).

It was another fabulous bonding experience for the hikers!

Conference Weekend Activities

We always look forward to General Conference Weekend for our Church. It happens on the 1st weekends of April and October. Chad calls it the "Mormon Holiday." We enjoy being spiritually fed, spending time as a family, and staying in our PJs on Sunday morning.

We typically play legos and color while we listen to the messages. We are so fortunate to watch conference on our TV! On Saturday, the kids built a huge lego tower. Worthy of a picture.

I looked out the Window and What Did I see THIS time?

Last Sunday, Sept. 28, I looked out the window and saw...Jason playing in his BVDs. We were getting ready for church and Jason couldn't find his pants (they were where they were supposed to be...but that's another story). It was a beautiful day and Jas got sidetracked. Play was more important than wearing pants. I figure it's a picture that he will "appreciate" when he is older. What does it say that he was not embarrassed at all that we took this picture? He's 5.