Twas the Week Before Halloween

It’s the week before Halloween which means which means it is time for some serious fall activities here at the Nutt House.  While life gets crazier than normal this time of year and not really slowing down until after New Years, this is a fantastic time of year and I’m excited for all that has happened and will happen over the next couple of months. 

This week Kara’s school group was at our house so as we focused on the letter "P" we painted pumpkins and played in our rice sensory bin, focusing on the letter "P" and items that begin with that letter.

P is for Painting Pumpkins

So much colorful rice & so much fun

  Thursday for preschool we combined the group that Kara meets with and the group that Kaden meets with and all together we went to the Botanical Gardens Pumpkin Patch.  This has turned into a favorite pumpkin patch for the Nutt House, between the games, tractor ride to the pumpkin patch, petting zoo, kid’s choice of pumpkins, and of course friends it’s a great time each and every year and this year was no exception.  Kaden and especially Kara showed amazing improvement over last year in their skill levels for playing the games.  Kara, who on previous years would not put her hand in the feeling boxes to guess an item put her hand right in with no hesitation.  As well, on a corn hole type game, Kara nailed it and tossed her bean bag right into the hole resulting in multiple prizes.  When we arrived at the pumpkin patch Kaden went for the biggest pumpkin he could see, alas, he could not lift it and his non-sympathetic mother wasn’t going to carry it for him so after perusing the other pumpkins he found the perfect Kaden sized pumpkin. 

Preschool friends at the Pumpkin Patch

Finding the prizes hidden in the hay

Having fun on the hay ride

Getting ready to enter the hay maze

So many perfect pumpkins

Pumpkin decorating fun

You can never use too many stickers or too many markers

One perfectly decorated pumpkin

All stickered up and done!

My city kiddos love the country and tractor riding!
*Which I love!!

Because why not play in the hay while waiting for the
tractor ride back

In addition to our regular weekly activities this week the Nutt-y kiddos and myself enjoyed a special VIP tour at Chick-Fil-A where we got to go behind the scenes into the kitchen area.  I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised to see firsthand at how fresh their ingredients are, how much of the prep work they do themselves versus having done for them.  It makes the choice of where to go for fast food easier knowing what goes on at Chick-Fil-A.  Not to mention, for Kara and Kaden the free ice-cream cone at the end of the tour was an added bonus. 

Post tour ice-cream treats!

Mid-week it was clear that Kara and Kaden had a little extra energy that they needed to burn off.  To help with this we took a mid-week trip over to Pump It Up where Kara and Kaden scampered from one bounce house to another and back again.  Running and climbing up to the top, sliding or jumping down then repeating over and over again.  The kiddos had so much fun and could have kept going but, alas, it was closing time and not to mention, their energy levels were starting to drain so with a couple worn out but very happy Nutts we bid adieu and left for the evening with a promise to go back another time.

Batting a ball with pool noodles
*(we clearly have some batting skills to work on)

If there's a car to ride in and push around these little
Nutts will find it and play with it!

They L.O.V.E.D. this Wipeout inspired bouncey house
Where they jumped from ball to ball

Sliding on down

We love air hockey!

Saturday we enjoyed what has become one of our favorite fall activities – we attended the Hall of Flame Fire Day.  After learning from last year, we arrived earlier and with a bag for all goodies we collect and had a great time.  We walked through the museum, seeing and learning about many of the old fire trucks,  Kara and Kaden played on a firetruck in addition to climbing in and exploring many active and working trucks.  We enjoyed playing many of the carnival type games the museum had available, the kiddos got to spray fire hoses, and best of all we had fun riding on an antique fire truck.  While this was more than enough fun, our fun didn’t stop there.  The Fire Day always has some great silent auction items available and this year, the Nutt House walked away with several prizes!  We are going to have many fun family adventures throughout this next year thanks to prizes we won at the Fire Day.  Where this is a place we have fun at and that Kaden just loves  Brent scored great dad points and purchased a one year membership so we can go back again and again throughout the year and enjoy all that the museum has to offer.

Loving the Cinderella-esque Fire Truck

So many knobs, levers, buttons and wheels to play with
on a fire truck!

Before we're ready he'll reach those pedals and may just
be an actual fireman

Craft time

Game time

He really would be happy to be a fireman when
he grows up

As would she if she can fit it in with being a
dance teacher and hair dresser

More game fun

Sporting some fancy air-brushed art work
*Pirate look for Kaden and sparkly dolphins for Kara

Ready, aim, shoot out the fire!

Working to put out the fire

Perfect sized fire truck!

His year would have been made
if he could have taken this home

Riding in a much bugger fire truck

Ready for our fire truck ride to begin

The girls are ready too!

Having fun, playing with his new fire truck set

All of these adventures were oodles of fun and while it is easy to say this was enough for the week, it wasn’t enough for the Nutt House!  To cap off our week, Saturday evening we attended the Trunk or Treat at our church where Kara and Kaden scored a bounty of candy and other delicious treats while enjoying a great evening with friends.

 

Trunk or Treat!
Love, a cute little Vet
&
Jake the Pirate

What a week!  We know how very lucky and blessed we are at the Nutt House and treasure each adventure we have and the memories we create.  We look forward to and anticipate all the excitement this new week has to offer.