Howl-een & Halloween!

Our annual Howl-een weekend tradition continues with the Frantz family at the Great Wolf Lodge in the Wisconsin Dells. As the kids get older, it is fun to watch their excitement grow for the water slides! Evan and Jaden just passed the height requirement for all the bigger slides. It terrified me, but Nathan took them on many slide adventures and they wouldn't stop talking about each one. Their favorite was the one with the 'sleds' (mats). Lainey and Kylie even loved the mini-slides this year. Yes, it took 3 adults to help them: one to catch, one to walk, and one to get them started!

Lainey!

Although, we didn't spend too much time in the room, while the big boys watched sports, Evan, Jaden and Tucker played Pie Face! 

Kylie wanted a turn, too! Not impressed!

 There were many evening activities including a trick-or-treat trail, costume parade, dance party, and story time. 

Evan, Jaden and Kylie met up with Tucker and Lainey to trick-or-treat around the neighborhood. I can tell this year the boys really embraced the concept of trick-or-treating. They took charge and knew Kylie and Lainey would of course want to follow! 

Thank you to all the 'teal pumpkins' out there that offered non-candy treats for those with allergies! Otherwise, it was a game of sorting for us with all the peanut containing candy. 

Thanks, Alex, for all of your help this weekend!! So fun!

 Our neighborhood was safe tonight with these three Ghostbusters!!

Fall Family Visitors!

The kiddos counted down the sleeps until Grandma Pam and then Aunt Laurie came to visit! While I was in Boston for a conference, Grandma Pam came to experience the fun of getting the boys up and ready for school, making school lunches :) and even helped out with the boys' lunchtime. Since I wasn't there, we didn't get many pictures, but here are a few! 

Kylie definitely has big brothers - I turn around and the boys are pushing her around in a truck!

They kept busy with so many activities like leaf rubbing pictures, sticker books, coloring, and enjoying treats from Grandma & Grandpa's trip to Europe!

 We only had to survive one day after Grandma left and then Aunt Laurie came for a long weekend visit. We filled the weekend with fun Halloween activities! 

A neighborhood church hosted a fall festival - the boys especially enjoyed all of the games....oh, and of course the candy!!

Mulberry School hosted a trunk-o-treat. They met their friend Mason there!

 Ghostbuster chasing the lone ghost!

Pretty creative decorating! And leave it to Evan to dramatize the monster eating him as he crawled to get his candy!

Brave Auntie took all three kids to the not-so-scary haunted trail Saturday evening. The wait was long, but the kids had tons of stories about their adventures. The best: their first bus ride! Oh were they ever excited!

Thanks for the fun-filled weekend Aunt Laurie!! I think everyone (including Auntie) took a Sunday afternoon nap!

The Other Rader Farms!

The buzz every fall around Central-Illinois is everyone's trip to Rader Farms. I found it silly to pay money to go to a Rader Farms, when I practically grew up on a Raeder Farms (now if I was inferring I did a lot of work on the farm, my sister may argue this point)! I knew Rader Farms had a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, and likely some animals, but I had no idea all of the other activities for kids! 

I was lucky enough to chaperone Evan and Jaden's classroom trip! It was the hottest day in October, but with so much to do, we literally spent the whole day out there! Here are some highlights!

Miss Colette's Class!

 Enjoying popcorn and a movie about the animals on the farm. 

Hay-rack-ride to the pumpkin patch where they got to pick their own pumpkin!

 They created a pumpkin necklace as they learned about how pumpkins grow. 

 Took a break to hydrate and refuel with our picnic lunches!

 Finally, they got to play!!

 SO much fun, that we took Nathan back after work since our passes were good for the day!

Grandpa Al needs to look into making this with his hydrant. Jaden could play with water ALL day!

 I think I know what they are asking for next year for their birthday......a season pass to the IL Rader Farms:)