Dad...this post is for you

Dad, you have to watch this video and then maybe need to consider some sort of Orioles fan gear when you visit us.  We'll do an exchange...a Cedar Rapids Kernels hat for an Orioles hat.  Pretty even exchange, right?  Ha!

FYI - J is beside himself with Sam's dislike for the Yankees. 

We survived!

Well, Sam's first winter in Iowa has finally passed.  We survived.  It was bitter cold.  Like so cold you just want to crawl into a hole (with a space heater) and never come out until you can see the grass again.

Sam did so good though.  He bravely faced the -40 windchills with minimum complaining.  Me, not so much.

So when the sun decided to provide us with temperatures in the 70s, we headed outdoors!  Sam is convinced that he's going to build his own fort.  He collects sticks on every walk we take.  Big sticks, little sticks...doesn't really matter.

John Deere Pavilion

Sam almost burst from excitement during our trip to Moline, IL. The John Deere Headquarters are located there and they have a big John Deere Pavilion that is free and so much fun. Sam got to see all of his favorite vehicles and even sit inside of most of them. 

Fall 2014

Our new house has a lot of trees.  Trees = Leaves.  A lot of leaves.  I think the only person who loved them was Sam.  I know J certainly got a work out raking and bagging leaves over and over again.

Halloween 2014

Playing a little catch up on the blog.  Sam's obsession with tractors and other farm equipment is still going strong so we weren't surprised when he said he'd like to be a farmer for Halloween. 

 

J found some John Deere overalls and the rest just came together.  Although...people thought he was a cowboy.  Maybe it was the hat. 

 

Another trip to the pumpkin patch

We were supposed to go to the pumpkin patch last weekend but it was, like, 80 degrees and I just cannot go pick pumpkins when it still feels like summer.  Luckily the weather cooperated this weekend.  Sam loved the pumpkins but loved the tractors more.  #notsurprised

First, a little throwback to our previous pumpkin patch visits:

2011

2012

2013

 

2014

 

Sam had no trouble picking his pumpkin out today.  Knew exactly which one he wanted.

 

He was obsessed with these pedal tractors. 

 

And a family pic on our hayride.

Swampfox Festival - Little Fox Run

In our new town, there was a festival scheduled for the weekend after our first week in our new house.

 

J signed Sam up for the Little Fox Run which is the kiddie mile for kids under the age of 13 and takes place after the 5K run for everyone else.  J was Sam's "running buddy" and we couldn't believe that Sam ran the WHOLE mile! 

 

Start of the race:

 

And they're off!

Middle of the race:

Last stretch: 

 

Hydrating at the end: 

 

 

So proud of his medal: