Patoka Time!

Right after the fun of the Dale Fall Fest, we headed off to Patoka Lake for the Annual Payne Family Camp out.

A nature scavenger hunt was just one of the activities the kids had planned...other activities included: Glamping (Glamor meets camping- aka makeovers) for the girls, and a Warrior Dash for the boys (plus Gwen who really wanted to do the bear hunt!), a drive in movie at night, and train rides all day on the famous barrel train.

Part of the job of the Dads was to make their kiddos a car to ride in for the movie---Wyatt's was appropriately made into a tractor... 

And Gwen's, was a mix of pizazz with feather boas and all!

Back at home on Monday, the men got to work on our basement! 

We have a really big hole!!!!!
Our basement is a 3/4 basement and we will have a crawlspace under the rest (which will be to the right). It is great that we planned for this because we hit sandstone and really couldn't have had a full basement even if we wanted one.

Check out the food all over my head!  Wyatt always being a goof!  

Gotcha!!!!!!  Licking the ketchup off the cardboard...yum!

It is official, we have permits!

Hello September!

As we welcomed in September, we looked forward to a month of business and fun.  Each weekend scheduled with something different and something that we all couldn't wait to do....

We started with a trip to the mall

 Wyatt loved taking a break to ride the train

Gwen loved riding a dog

Brad got to work burning the trees that had been removed when the land was cleared.  The burn ban has finally lifted!!!!

Hello Dale Fall Fest 2012!!!!!!!!!
I hosted the Little Mr. and Miss Contest the 1st night, but the kids were able to come have fun the 2nd night

Hey Gwen!  Look what I can do!!!

Tattoo #1 and the end of Friday night's fun

Saturday started with a parade-Gwen, Grace, and Wyatt all walked with Julie their babysitter  on her float 

How did they know Wyatt would want to drive?

That looks like a whole lot of fun! 

Gwen wasn't even upset that she didn't get candy until after she was done riding on her float....good thing they were in the middle of the parade and she was still able to get some

Another day, another tattoo

Believe it or not, they were both having a great time and very happy

I think Gwen may be a little crazy when she drives, and Wyatt agrees

This sweet face attached me with silly string!  It is a good think I saw it coming---I bought it for her!

Wrapping up August

August wrapped up with Brad and I taking a weekend trip to New Harmony, IN to celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary.  It is a very quiet place and we enjoyed our time together.

We enjoyed a very nice dinner, a walk around the hotel grounds, and a nice seat to rest on

Brad and I even took a ride on a bicycle built for 2!

I redid the mailbox at our new house :-) Then...I went back to work

Gwen started her 2nd year of preschool.  She switched to a preschool closer to Gram's house and one where she could meet kids that she will attend preschool with.

Wyatt chose his Halloween costume....Time to start practicing saying "neigh"

Gwen was having fun playing dress up and deciding what she will be for Halloween... a princess...nope, but she does look pretty

Getting to be such a big girl!  Gwen is always trying to do things on her own 

What's in your belly Wyatt? A balloon?  Too funny!

On the road again..to Pittsburgh, PA

After returning home for a day, Brad joined us in the car again for a trip to see Ashley Beth in Pittsburgh, PA.

Getting ready for bed after getting there the first day

The first tour we took was to the Children's Museum.
Ashley Beth and Gwen enjoyed climbing through a maze...

Brad and Wyatt got into the big tires--literally

Gwen and Wyatt learned to build cars 

The Wizard of Oz exhibit was a big hit

Gwen had a great time sorting the vegetable from "our" garden 

Water, water, everywhere! Gwen loved playing in the water works! 

Where's Wyatt? 

Another day...Another trip!  This time to the zoo.  Here Wyatt learned a new word...TIGER!
Now we have a distinction between Doggies (all animals not in a zoo) and Tigers (all animals in a zoo) 

Ashley Beth and Wyatt checking our more "tigers", I think this really was the rhinos

Gwen stopped to take notes in her field journal

Sushi Night!!!!!!!!  Gwen helped set up for our homemade sushi and tuna nacho dinner-

Next trip...the National Aviary.  It was a rainy day, but we still enjoyed looking at all the birds and the penguins

 Penguin fun

Amazing!  There is a penguin bigger than Gwen!

Our break for lunch was at a brewery that used to be a Catholic church!  It had great food, and beer according to Brad, but it was a little odd to be eating in what used to be a church.  

Gwen's new buddy from the trip...Eleanor the Opossum 

We had a great time visiting Ashley Beth and Ty, and getting to spend quality time together on the road.  I'm was so happy to be finally home though after being gone for 2 weeks!  Our next adventure....me going back to work....

Our turn!

This time it was our turn to drive!  The kids and I packed up the car and made the trip to Chicago to see my family.

One of our first excursions was to the splash park with Lilly, Kenneth, and Erin.  We were ready when they came:-)

Somehow we managed to be the first ones there and Gwen had the whole place to herself!

Wyatt was ready to play defense!

Lunch with Mimi and all her grand babies!

Water? We love it, but we don't need it! 

This looks like a good place for a rest

It's a Bubba Boat!

Next stop...Brookfield Zoo!  Gwen took the camera for a time and check out her  ideas of cool...

Almost 6 years ago, this was the view during our wedding reception--the best party ever! 

A little nervous, a little happy....mixed feelings about the stingrays in the pool

The best part of the day...the dolphin show!!!!

Even Wyatt was into it!

 Where are the dolphins?  He was so excited the whole show!

Another fun part of our trip was our visit at the McKenzie's house!
Lilly and Gwen fixed up her  bike-great teamwork!

Wyatt found a set of wheels, so he was happy

All the grand kids in one pic:-)

Come here Buzz!!!!

Bath time Buzz! (But in this heat, I don't think he minded one bit!