Desert Botanical Garden

On Monday I had the day off from work and Everly had the day off from school (Columbus Day) so we spent the morning at the Desert Botanical Garden. The Friday before I picked up a culture pass while we were at the library so it was completely free. I knew they had reopened their fall butterfly exhibit and that the girls would love it. After a slightly warmer week the weather has been cooling down again so that was nice. The girls had fun running around and looking at the different plants. Everly liked reading the different displays and Aspen loved the butterflies. They were actually all over the garden. Once we went in to the garden I had to really watch Aspen to make sure she didn't touch any of the butterflies which is funny because Everly at the same age was scared of them. This is actually really odd because Aspen is definitely the more scared one of the two. It ended up being a really fun morning and I just love spending time with my girls.

Aren't those vests cute? Yay, I was holding them about 10 minutes later...

Desert Botanical Gardens Pumpkin Patch

Last week we went to the Pumpkin Patch at the Desert Botanical Gardens thanks to Sharing Down Syndrome for the 4th year in a row. I posted about it here 2 years ago and here 3 years ago. As in past years it was unfortunately still a little warm out but it was still fun. Justin and Kim both went this year as well. The first year it was just me and Kim, the second year, my niece came with me and then last year Justin and I went so it was nice for us to all be able to go this year. All 4 kids did pretty good. Cameron loved the hayride and maze (although he didn't really want to leave it). Teddy loved the petting zoo, decorating his pumpkin and getting his face painted. Everly also liked getting her face painted and picking out a pumpkin. They also got to see the butterfly exhibit in the garden but I missed it because I was nursing Aspen. This is kind of an event geared towards younger kids so I know that we won't be able to go for that much longer and I am grateful for each year we get invited. It is definitely not easy doing anything with 4 kids but it was fun and still worth it!

A pic of her outfit before we left.

 

   

 

This little pumpkin looked like a butt so we just had to...

She sure loves her auntie Kim. 

Desert Botanical Gardens Pumpkin Patch

Last year while I was on Maternity Leave, my sister invited me and Everly to join her and Cameron at the Desert Botanical Gardens for a Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival free for Special Needs Day. My sister found out about this through the Sharing Down Syndrome Organization and was reminded about it again this year. She was unable to take time off this year due to her current pregnancy, so Justin and I took the day off and took Cameron and Everly. We go there early so that we wouldn't have to wait to get on the hay ride. Thankfully we did, because as we got back the line was very long! Before we got on the hayride Cameron got his first tattoo (a puppy)! The hayride took us over to an area where we went through a hay maze, visited a petting zoo, took pictures on a tractor, and picked out EXTREMELY large pumpkins for FREE! If you know me, you know I love free. So we took advantage and found some very big pumpkins! The volunteers had to help us get them back on the hayride because our hands were full with babies, but we did it. After the hayride we were able to walk around the gardens and also got free entrance into the butterfly exhibit. We went to this last year also and it was really cool. It was still a fairly warm day, but the babies did great and I am glad we were able to take them! Can't wait to go again next year with my nephew Teddy, too!

Oh hey!

Double babying it!

Me and my nephew

getting dirty!

Seriously! The sweetness of this kid kills me!

cousins

the tattoo!

this is how you get out with two massive pumpkins

Rooster!

Seriously?

Had to end this post with the most inappropriate cactus I have ever seen. 

Desert Botanical Gardens

Last week my sister invited me to go with her to the Desert Botanical Gardens for a special free day. She was invited to go through the Sharing Down Syndrome organization and I was her guest. They were having a pumpkin patch and we also got free access into the butterfly exhibit. It was really fun despite the fact that our kids are not really old enough to enjoy it all, although Cameron really loved his pumpkin. We went on a hay ride to pick out our pumpkins where they had a maze and a small petting zoo as well. The butterfly exhibit was really cool as well and I can't wait until the are old enough to really enjoy it. If you have never been to the Desert Botanical Gardens before, I definitely recommend it! Here are a few pics from the day...