"Labor" Day

Over Labor Day weekend we went to visit our families. We had a really nice time as it's great to get together with everyone. We spent some time celebrating birthdays, taking pictures, playing outside, having picnics, and just hanging out. It was pretty relaxing as the boys are getting to an easier stage for traveling and sleeping away from home.

Jonathan's usually our family photographer, but he wasn't feeling 100% so we didn't get the camera out until Monday (the day before we left) therefore we don't have many pictures.

We had a great time on Saturday taking professional pictures with my family. Hopefully I'll be able to post those sometime soon. And we went to Pizza Ranch to celebrate all the recent birthdays. It was nice to see everyone - even my Grandma and Aunt and Uncle joined us so that was great. We played in the "Orange Park" after lunch and then had an anniversary celebration for Korrie and Sarita. They celebrated 35 years of marriage. We had a lot to be thankful for that day.

On Sunday we worshiped together as a family and then had an early dinner at my parents' house. It was fun for the cousins to play together and spend more time with Baby Landon. Then we put the boys to bed so us adults could play. :)

Now, there's the camera!! :) On Labor Day we went to a pumpkin patch with the whole Van Maanen clan. It was a great activity because there was a lot of space to run around, it was free, and they had lots of little kid things to do.

 Here's Phin as a little farmer.

The kids enjoyed the "petting zoo." It consisted of a few cats and some bunnies.

There were chickens and other fowl but weren't accessible

and the little dog was a bit nippy so we didn't last at the petting zoo for long.

 Jonathan's not much of a cat lover. Doesn't he look enthusiastic?! :)

One of my favorite pictures of Phin - such a happy guy! :)

We ventured closer to the barns and found some really ugly llamas and goats.

The kids enjoyed feeding them grass.

The kids had fun running through the corn maze, and thankfully it wasn't too muddy.

Asher really wanted to try the adult one but we didn't think he was ready for that yet.

Here's Phin finding pumpkins in the patch. 

Asher even picked one (without permission, but we did pay for it). :)

They had all kinds of photo-boards to make us look silly.

 

Here's Levi and his buddies.

Adriana thought she could pull all the kids but she ended up needing some help.

And the little girls didn't want to ride. :)

In order by height (notice Isaiah is taller than Asher). :)

The boys both jumped to get a little extra height. 

We got some great action shots!!

 

Phin had a good time with the shopping cart wheelbarrow.

Thankfully he couldn't get that pumpkin out cause it would've ended with a splat.

All eight grandkids.

Very contemplative...

unlike their dad. :)

So thankful for my sister-in-laws. They are more like friends than family.

Asher kept complaining that something was scratching him.

Sure enough, he had hay in is unders.

There's nothing better than a shoulder ride from Dad. :)

After our exciting trip to the pumpkin patch, Aunt Kristin helped rake leaves so the boys had a pile to climb in and throw around. It was really cute!

We enjoyed spending time in the front yard. It's so nice that the kids are able to play with each other so well. It makes it a lot more enjoyable for the parents. Asher and Adriana got to be good friends. They were pushing each other in the wagon go-cart, and we even caught them scheming, or as they say: "just hanging out." I can't wait to see how their friendship grows.

Phin learned to ride Isaiah's bike over the weekend.

And that's great cause he has the same kind at home and he's refused to ride it.

Bike rides are a lot more enjoyable together as a family since we no longer have a trike-rider. *sniff, sniff

 

Abigail was a little chilly in the late afternoon so Sarita found an outfit that the boys all wore.

And she even made it for them. We were impressed and how stylish. :)

It was a great Labor Day weekend and we were so blessed by the time we spent with family.