Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Family Fun

Yes, I am alive.

I needed to take a bit of a break and it ended up being a bit longer than I anticipated. About a week and a half I guess. Sheesh! (It was actually quite refreshing though.)

Thought I'd share a couple of photos of our recent trip to the pumpkin patch. We decided to pick a new destination this year, a place called Sauvie Island. It turned out to be a great choice too. there was a huge corn maze to navigate among other things. Here is a picture of the boys in the middle of it. . . hamming it up of course.


There was this really cool pumpkin sling-shot thing there. Four large bungie cords held a nylon pouch in which you would place a pumpkin about the size of a Bocce Ball. You then pulled back as far as you could and let it fly towards a plywood target a couple hundred feet away. If you were lucky, your "ammo" would land with a splat and a thunderous applause from all the onlookers would ring out. We weren't so lucky, but had fun doing it anyway.

There were several of these plywood cutouts around to take silly photographs at. Lisa and I had to get into the act on this one.



Anthony and Matthew had fun climbing on a lagre pryimid of hay. They decided to strike a pose for me again. Hmmm, wonder where they get that goofy streak from...must be from Lisa's side.



Well, a good time was had by all. Lots of other fun stuff to do there as well. Oh, and we even managed to see my brother Gene there too. It was so nice of him to pose for this picture for me. He always was such a ham growing up!


By the way, if you haven't been by his place recently, he is back in the blogging zone again. Yeah!

OK, that's it for now. I've got a ton of catching up to do now on my reading. Hope to get by to see you all in the next few days.

28 comments:

Sandee said...

What fun. Your bother is going to bean you for that shot you claim is him. Bwahahahahaha.

Caught Gene's post yesterday. It is indeed great to have him back in the blogosphere.

Glad you had a great family outing. Have a wonderful day. :)

Travis Cody said...

Welcome back! Sounds like you had a great break.

Marilyn said...

Looks like you had a great time. :)

Welcome back.

Desert Songbird said...

They've got a corn maize a few miles from my house, and the church Youth Group was going to go, but my daughter just wasn't interested. Probably because it was at night, in the dark, with the Fright Farm just next door.

Glad you had fun. You and Lisa look great!

Jay said...

Welcome back. Sometimes you just gotta get away from the bloggerhood.

katherine. said...

what a great outing for everyone to ham it up!

Jules~ said...

I agree with Sandy, Gene is going to mark you as fair game now.

The pumkin patch is always so cool. Which one on the island did you go to? Looks like you and the family had a great time and it was perfect weather for the fun.

We took the youth group to the Amazing Graze a couple of weeks back and had a blast. We like to get out there about 5pm and run through once or twice in the daylight. Then we eat and hit it again a couple of times in the dark.

Ron said...

WELCOME BACK JEFF!!!!

YAHOOOO!

You were MISSED!

Hey...it looks like you guys had an awesome time at the pumpkin patch. We have one here in a beautiful little town called Swarthmore. OMG...and the FOOD they offer is to DIE for! The curly fries...orgasmic!

All you guys look so HAPPY in the photos. And the one of the pig with your caption made me HOWL!

Too funny!

SOOOOOOOOOOOO glad your back, bud!

Can't wait to read more!

Later!

Jeni said...

Boy, I was all set to comment to the effect that your Mom -the notorious "Psycho Mom" -has at least two handsome sons (don't recall ever seeing a photo of your other brother here or at Gene's place -and then you post that photo and say it's Gene! Of course, since he's back to blogging again now, I'm betting the war is also back on between you two guys to see who can zing the other first, isn't it?
Glad you got a break for a little while away from the blogging. And also, that the boys and Lisa had a good time tromping in the corn fields in search of just the right pumpkin too!

Dana said...

Welcome back! With family fun like that it's no wonder you've been gone.

Mel said...

PUNKINS!!!!!!!!!!

You forgot photos of the punkins.....

Sandi McBride said...

Welcome home, Jeff! Have been checking in, but I know how needed those breaks can be. We have a corn maze here every year and love to take Arianna to it...thinking to take her this weekend...the kids are having a good time, aren't they? Nothing better than watching the kids have fun.
Sandi

Jeff B said...

Sandee- You really think my dear sweet brother would retaliate?

Yaaaaaa, me too.

Travis- Missed everyone, but it was a needed reprieve at the same time.

Marilyn- Thanks, it was a kick.

Songbird- They have a separate maze open only at night at this spot too. we opted for the daylight one though.

Jay- It was a good break.

Katherine- 'Silly' was the key word for the day.

Jules- I think it was the same one you went to. It was sponsored by "The FISH" radio station. The one to the right just after crossing over the new bridge.

Ron- We all acted like kids that day. It was really good for everyone.

That little pig was a riot too. Every once in a while he'd get a bug up his butt and go skitzing around his pin like he'd been shot out of a cannon.

Jeni- I'll have to post a picture of all of us one of these days. The zingers are always flying between Gene and I. It's been that way ever since I can remember.

Dana- Even had a date weekend with my bride too. The kids stayed at my moms for the weekend. That was needed as much as the family time.

Mel- Ooops. I'm thinking you would have loved the pumpkin sling shot thingy.

Sandi- The boys had an ear to ear grin plastered on their faces all day. It was great!

Dr.John said...

That was funny. I would love to have seen you shooting pumpkins.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

Most excellent pictures...looks like a great time was had by all..and don't you just go crazy that the bad traits always come from the other parent?

LOL

Dianne said...

I missed ya!

Great photos!

Happy Halloween to the family

Jeff B said...

Dr John- The boys and I had a blast shooting them.

Bond- I know...it gets old having to tell everyone that the good manners and politeness come from my side.

Bwahahahaha

Dianne- Hey a new avatar...I like it. Thanks for the welcome back.

Amazing Gracie said...

Now the fun begins - with you and Gene back online - it's sure to be two very clever guys outshooting each other!
Your kids are really adorable!
~~~Blessings~~~

Cherie said...

The Pumpkin Patch looks like it was great fun. A#1 thing to do with kids. How can you go wrong. :)

david mcmahon said...

(Very) candid camera.

Gene Bach said...

Alright buddy boy...it's on!

buffalodick said...

Corn mazes were a must, when my kids were much younger!

Jeff B said...

Gracie- It should be entertaining to say the least.

Cherie- It was great fun, and the wheather cooperated nicely too.

David- Nice tag line.

Gene- Bet you didn't even know you were there did you?

Buffalo- They gave us a map at the enterance. It was the only way I'd ever have found my way out.

Roan said...

That looks like a lot of fun. I've seen corn mazes around here, but never tried one. I'm not sure I could fine my way out even if I had a map! BJ

Hilary said...

Fun stuff. Your kidlets are total goofballs. :)

Here from David's/Authorblog

Jeff B said...

B Roan- At one point we were totally lost. Somehow, we found a marker and discovered the way out.

Hilary- It's a family trait I think we all share. Thanks for coming by.

Epijunky said...

It looks like you had a fantastic time!

I've been suffering from writers block, but you've sparked a memory for me. I can go post now!

I came from David's blog, congrats on your POTD :)

Jeff B said...

Epijunky- I've been there and experienced that as well. Glad something created a spark for you. I'll be sure to come by and have a look.