Miscellaneous October Fun

Brent was struggling with some bad luck fishing lately.... so we were all SO PROUD of him for finally catching some good quality fish!! He usually cleans and filets the fish at the dock, but he brought it home so the kids could see the actual fish he caught - nope, not doing that again. Fish guts = complete mess!

Diesel enjoyed the fish though. He laid claim to it right away!

Numerous poses with the first real great catch!!

I couldn't find Kade one day.... calling him, calling him.... and I open Brent's closet to find him like this on Oscar. What a family dog you turned out to be!

The pumpkins we picked out from the family farm we visited were just not big enough for one we wanted to carve, so up the street we went (with Brent) to pick up a BIG one. My goodness was this a hard decision for my boys!

Totally lost with so many choices.

We finally chose one!!

Happy smiles with our little pumpkins too!

Two days later, Kade was quarantined for coming down with croup. This is now the third time he's had it in less than 12 months - we will be making an appointment with an allergy doctor again soon.

Of course that was the same weekend Brian, Nancy, and Maddox came up to visit. Brock was excited to meet his little cousin. I just don't think he knew what to do!

Love this picture - Maddox is ready to give some fist bumps!

Maddox was getting ready for bathtime and hanging out on his playmat.

I showed Brock how to let Maddox hold his finger. He did like that interaction a lot more than just holding him.

Brock also liked poking (very gently, I made sure) his very squishy belly. I think Maddox liked it too!

Lastly, there are some big changes in the Eason household. I re-entered the workforce, working part-time at my previous NC employer.  I love it - being able to talk to other adults, use my brain, contribute to the community and financially to the household. The boys are getting used to the changes too, but I think they love breakfast with Daddy and how Daddy takes them to school now!

Another perk of my job.... when I accidentally print duplicate pages of plans, they make awesome coloring pages for the boys!

Naylor Family Farm Fun

The boys and I headed way south of Fuquay-Varina for a pumpkin patch/farm activities in early October. The first thing that caught Brock's eye was this HUGE inflatable bouncy pad! Brock loved it, but it was a little hard for Kade to maneuver.

Here's a great action shot of Brock and shows a bit of the wooden platform they have above part of the corn maze. (No, I did not think entering the corn maze with those two by myself would have been a good idea!) There's also a cool foam blaster game that Brock was literally 1" too short to play - he needed that one more inch to load the ball in to the blaster (photo below).

It was also a really hot day. It's a little different for us to go pumpkin picking and wear shorts/t-shirts and still be SWEATING. There was no relief from the sun on that walkway - the silos on each corner were like mini saunas!

While Brock jumped, Kade was keeping his eyes on this chicken that apparently escaped his enclosure and would pursue you if you turned your back on it!

Thankfully the animals were in the shade (but so were the flies).

We really need to get him out more. Asking my two year old what animal this was, he responded "horse!" Ummm.... no.

Kade the cowboy!

Not really for riding, but whatevs.

I am one person. I can only lift one child up at a time. Brock so wanted to be able to do it himself.

Finally what I thought was the coolest part (figuratively and literally). They took us on a tractor ride (no hay here). Naylor's Farm has a cute 15 minute route to the pumpkin patch through the woods with spiders and "pumpkin monster heads" - Kade must have reminded me of that particular feature about 100 times since that day! It was great because it was just scary enough for Brock that he really enjoyed it. At one point Kade actually buried his head in to me because he was scared of the spiders.

Do you see spider hanging down from a branch over the tractor? Some of them moved as we drove by or were positioned low enough that the spider legs brushed in to your head. I guess it could be scary for a 2 year old!

We made it out of the spooky forest and in to the pumpkin patch!!

The boys would barely stay still for a photo!

We picked out two pumpkins (because that's all I could carry back to the tractor) and loaded them right in the Highlander when our tractor returned. I promised Brock one more jump on the bouncy pad, then we were all sweaty and ready for some air conditioning!

What a different landscape from Seattle! Still getting used to these warmer days lasting longer through the year!

And one more really great picture of Brock and Brent smiling for the camera.

Marbles Museum Visit

Brock ASKED to take a picture of him driving the boat like Daddy and holding the "Green Fish" (aka Mahi)

We've been to Marbles before when we'd come to visit, but this was our first time back as North Carolina residents. Hard to believe we never made it once during our very long summer!

They both are at such a great age to really get a lot out of the museum. It's a great place and lots of things to do, but I just can't see purchasing the Annual Pass ($100/family or $5 per person) yet.

Their water exhibit is a bit lacking, in my opinion. This is usually Brock's favorite wherever we go (hello Aquarian), but he was begging to go upstairs to the ball area.

I made him stand over here to get a picture of all the North Carolina Lighthouses. :)

Cape Lookout, Cape Hatteras, Orcacoke, & Bodie

While Brock was on a mission to fill the piggy bank with balls..... Kade was walking the stuffed animal dogs (and getting very angry when it wouldn't stay upright).

Silly Kade!

You're supposed to build a vehicle and then race it down the track..... OR you can just use someone else's creation they left in the pit and race those..... whichever is easiest. ;)

They both were very in to gluing the buttons on their artwork.

I think I have a picture of Brock at a very similar age in a very similar pose.

So close!

We waited until the big boys vacated the "ice" hockey rink before my boys stepped in.

Here's a video showing the more competitive side of Brock and OCD Kade getting very angry that he couldn't hoard ALL the hockey pucks. Oh brothers.

Time to move on..... this is the electric exhibit. Brock tackles the activity like a JOB - the kids move the disks from one section to the other using tubing to show how electricity moves from place to place. Another favorite area.

Moving that body, get all your sillies out!!

Working those muscles like Daddy!

All smiles!

And one more picture for something I am super excited about!! We scored a Super Nintendo Classic! Now I get to play Super Mario Brothers, Mario Kart and Donkey Kong Country and introduce Brock to MY generation of games!

My new nephew Maddox Grayson!

Maddox Grayson Rosenfeld was born on August 23, 2017. Apparently it's a thing in our family to have shared birthdays!! He shares his birthday with Great-Uncle Bob and a 4 year old cousin in Connecticut! (But we know who's getting that calendar space now!)

We are so happy for Brian and Nancy.... and that we can now share all of our parenting joys and woes with you!

My mother was making the trek to Charlotte before me and opted for an easy ride on the train - Kade and I got to see her off at the train station!

That thing is loud when you're right next to it!

We got to FaceTime with Brian and Maddox when my mom arrived - time to switch to the iPhone Brian and Nancy!!

Finally on Saturday, I was released from my SAHM duties and headed to Charlotte to hold my nephew for the first time!

He's a keeper!!

Yup, nights with a newborn are rough! Love you Brian!! Glad I was able to help you guys out for one night routine!

And here's three more pictures of my boys because I think they are super cute! ;)

Brock was super proud of his creation!

Poor Kade is definitely getting his 2 year molars in!