OKTOBERFEST

Well, the big event finally came that we've been looking forward to for a month. The Oktoberfest grill-off at the Walsh house. We had 5 different groups cooking, 5 different courses(apps, pupus, salad, main course, dessert), and lots of grilling. Our friends, TJ and Jen came up with their son, Kobe and that made our group. We were up VERY late the night before, planning our recipes. We all had a lot of fun and were so exhausted by the end of the day! After cleanup we just sat around barely moving. Here are a pictures from this all day event.



Our host, Jim (right) and his son, Chason (green shirt). Incase you can't read it, Jims apron reads, "King of the Grill"

This is Kobe.

Mike and Valerie (Chad's parents)

The kids played in the bed of the truck for a while, screaming (ouch!) and having a great time. Valerie and I are watching.


Stephanie (Chad's sister) and her hubby, Dustin. Can you see the love??


And you all know Autumn.

These are the grill stations. Ours is second to the end on the right.

Autumn, chasing bubbles.


Autumn trying to get me to eat a nasty chunk of ice from the ice chest.


This is bear. He's awsome. Notice the bottle opener on his neck? Whenever a beer needed opening, he was called. A little beer was always spilled on the ground for him as a reward.

Chad is concentrating and didn't want to smile for the camera.




This was for our appetizer, stuffed mushrooms (they were delicious!)

Chad and TJ, busy preparing the food.

Pumpkin Patch!

It's the time of year for pumpkins again! Hurray! I've been looking forward to this and Autumn has been going around the house saying "pumpkin patch!" (Now whenever she sees a pumpkin, she yells this). Here in Spokane there's a collection of farms called Green Bluff and they all offer tons of fruit picking, homemade goods, and this time of year, pumpkins, mazes, etc. We only had time for one farm, maybe we'll hit up more next year. But we had fun and here are the pictures.
Time to pick our pumpkins! They were a bit picked over but I think we found some nice ones.

This is the giant pumpkin cannon. Every half hour or so they shot a pumpkin out at a target in the neighboring field.

We had so much fun playing in this big pile of hay!


Autumn showed no apprehension about the maze at all. She just ran right in and had a blast.




Autumn and her daddy :)

Last night we went to dinner at Shoguns (Japanese Steakhouse). After that we went to see Stephanie's new Condo. She and Dustin just made the final move from Seattle this weekend. We're so lad to have them close! Chad's mom, Valerie, came to help them move.


Hangin' out before dinner in Mom and Dad's room

See my pretty dress?

At the Condo..Chad, Valerie and Stephanie


And Dustin too

Autumn was a little wound up after dinner


Hurray for bean bag chairs and wallets!

Painting

I can't believe we waited so long for this, but it was Autumns first time painting. She got so messy and had to take a shower afterwards, but it was more fun than coloring for her (and that's saying a lot!)

A morning in the yard

Autumn and I went were in the front yard enjoying the morning a few days ago and she had so much fun!

Riverside Park

Autumn and I went "hiking" in riverside park (different than riverfront)
I plan on going up there with her often in the future...but maybe with one of those child carrier backpacks. She's too easily distracted to make it a much of a walk!



My little girl is getting so big!!






For a while all she wanted to do was sit and play in the dirt...so she's now getting a sandbox for her birthday! Erin, this is while I was talking to you.


We found a path down to the river. I thought she might want to put her hands in the water, but she wouldn't keep her feet out. (her brand new white sneakers weren't so white after that)