A New Pumpkin Patch

Due to our horrible drought here in California the pumpkin patch that we had been going to for the last few years had to close. So we found ourselves trying to find a new pumpkin patch that was a Farm and not just a pop-up commercialized pumpkin patch that just appears in a random parking lot. I am NOT a fan of those. If we are going to pay an arm and a leg for pumpkins I want my kids to get the real farm, pick fresh off the vine experience. We searched high and low for something like that. We chose Peltzer farm in Temecula and although we had a great time and it is a real farm it did not have the cut your own pumpkin off the vine experience I was hoping for. But it did have a nice corn maze and the kids LOVED the pig races. The verdict is still out as to weather or not this will be our new pumpkin picking location. I think we may just keep looking for something a bit better. Who knows, maybe it doesn't exist. We were so spoiled with the one we used to go to. Stinky DROUGHT!

It's the time of year again....

HALLOWEEN TIME!!!!!!

As always we started our Halloween with Grandma's annual work Halloween party. And the kids had a blast. (Minus Charles, he had a baseball game and was sad to miss the festivites) They always get spoiled with fun games, candy, and yummy food! It's the perefect way to start the Halloween FUN!

Awh! My cute girls!!!

Claudia (Minnie Mouse), Madison & Jillian (Butterflys), Katelyn (Daisy Duck)

Grandma's Crew

We Love the Rain

We have had some unusual rain storms this summer and the kids always love to play in them. Why not! It's warm out side! 

We have a 5 year old!!

Claudia finally turned 5. All her friends are older than her so she was SUPER excited for this birthday. She is so much fun and brings so much Joy and Laughter to our family. She loves people and enjoys singing

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We celebrated her birthday with Pancakes for breakfast and Red Robin for dinner. 

Back to School

Thank goodness! 

It has been a rough summer here in the Garthe house. Don't  get me wrong there haven't been any major catastrophes, but I was soooo ready for them to go back. We did have a Fun Summer. Check out our scrapbook here.

Charles started 5th Grade. YIKES!

Madison is in 3rd & Claudia is in transitional kindergarten. 

They all had a great first day of school! It's going to be a Fabulous year!!

And I only have 2 left at home. Yippeeee!

She's 1

I think it's safe to say that Jillian is my most active, independent, and friendly child. She LOVES to play. She loves people and is always smiling. She is so funny! And she is into everything! She climbs like crazy and is ALWAYS trying to keep up with her siblings. She's figured out how to climb on the piano bench and play the piano. And her newest accomplishment is climbing up on the bathroom counter. Yeah this girl is INTO Everything!!!!! She crawled at 5 months almost to the day and walked at 9 months and has never looked back! She is growing by leaps and bounds.
We have nicknamed her Jillibean and often she is called just Bean. Katelyn doesn't ever call her Jillian she is simply Jillibean to her. And probably always will be. 

This year has flown by and it has been so FUN to watch her grow and learn. She fits right in with the rest of the clan and we all LOVE her to pieces. 

 

  

 

I took her in for her 1 year check up and the doctor is very happy with her growth and progress. She is weighing in at 16 lbs. 12 oz and is 27 1/2 inches tall. The doctor said she is about 5 pounds under the average weight for her age but is not concerned because she is eating well, sleeping well, and reaching her milestones. I guess I just have small hollow babies. They all have been this way.
It's really funny to see her walking around all over the place because she looks like she is 6 months but acts like she's 3. I LOVE IT!

Random April

 

SUPER Messy!!!

 

Beautifully CLEAN 

Western Day at School

Waiting for the big kids, trying to stay cool in the shade.