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Corn Dawgs 2011

PERSONAL

It’s one of my favorite memories from last year.   It’s a little farm turned fun park called Corn Dawgs and it rocks my autumny world. 

One of the first things we did was attempt to get a decent family photo.  Thankfully my sister was there to act as photographer.  I just had things set up on the camera for her and then just told her where to stand and she with her genius did the rest. 

This one was the best that we got.  Look – Spikey Will is even looking at the camera.

Most of the others looked like this:

Right away we hopped in line for a tractor ride.

Will is mildly obsessed with driving things…so he really wanted to do it.  The only hitch was that he wasn’t old enough to ride alone.

My legs are crammed in there like marshmellows in the mouth of a Chubby Bunny.

We also attempted to do the stone maze…that was highly unsuccessful.  Will didn’t quite understand the entire maze concept.

He did understand this ring & hook game though. 

All it requires is throwing…something he’s quite proficient at doing.

He came close to hooking it a couple times…although, he probably didn’t think that was the point.

There is the rope swing and hay jumping…

Our friend Kyler showed him how it’s done.

Thankfully Uncle Boots was around to give the kid a hand.

Then it was off to the petting area.  Last year we had lots of fun with the goats…this year there were only a couple little lambs and a small pig. 

Will wasn’t interested.

Cole was…

He did so good.  Cole is such a gentle kid when he needs to be.  His heart is so good.  I would trust him to be gentle with a newborn…I don’t know if I could say that about most 7 year old boys.

There was one little goat that came into the petting zoo and it was interested in our little Tinkler.

Will wasn’t interested in him though.

Kyler was such a sweet heart.  She shared her sheep food and was so careful to give him those little pellets.  It’s funny because she didn’t have many to begin with…but she gave all that she had to him.  Sharing at it’s finest.  Things you can learn from a three year old. 

I love when he opens his mouth when feeding the animals.  But I can’t blame him.  It’s the same thing I do when feeding Will 🙂

And of course, Corn Dawgs is not just the name of the fun park…it’s also the name of the food of choice.

Yes, we often feed him non-corn-dog-type food.   But those are just not as fun to take photos of.

The absolute best part of the park is the corn pit.  Basically it’s this giant sandbox but filled with corn instead of sand and it’s amazing. 

There’s only one rule and it’s a tough one.

 Really tough for some people.

Will rolling around + Cole throwing corn = amazing action photo of Will looking like he’s being attacked by corn

We were joking about what would happen if it got too hot with all that corn.  Would it pop like a giant Reddenbacher festival?  Would it be safe to eat?  Would it be smart to bring your own butter?  It might always be a good idea to have a stick of butter in all situations.  Just saying.

The corn smelled like dust.   He smelled it.  I smelled it.  Later we blew our noses.  You can imagine what came out.

I love that Will and Cole love each other.  There is no better gift in the world than having friends in your family.  None.  period.

They ran toward each other and bonked heads.  If it was anyone else, Will would have been crying…but since he boinked Cole, it was hilarious.

I love this crazy kid.  I love him like a pregnant girl loves Tums.  It’s deep in my soul.  It’s in the pit of my stomach and it makes me sick to not have him around 🙂

See all that corn dust? 

Bet that wouldn’t taste so hot with my buttery popcorn.

After we spent the majority of time in the corn pit, we explored other areas of the fun park. 

Enter the funniest photo of the day.  Boots & Boyfriend riding blow-up horses.  That may be the weirdest sentence I have ever typed.

Just so everyone knows, I climbed on the horse…and got really excited to bounce…and then faceplanted right in the middle of the rink….or racetrack…or whatever that thing is called.  There was pointing and laughing. 

Look at that mane that is eating Cole.  I’m waiting for November to cut it.  Yes, I’m gonna donate it.  And yes, I am going short.  Stop shaking your head Jeremy.

I would do it right now…long hair just never gets worn in anything but a ponytail….but I need it for my Halloween costume 🙂  I’ll let you guess what I’m gonna be.

Sa- WING!

 

Boots fell in the spider net.  It was funny to watch that woman in the background watch him. 

Jer loved the John Deere quad-bikes.

Will had mixed opinions. 

I liked it until I accidentally slid into the tire partition and took out the baby.  Yes – mom award goes to anyone but me.

The hay tractor was so cute.  Oh the things you can build with a couple bales of hay and a pallet 🙂

 Of course, I was strangely attracted to the pumpkin patch.

And I was mildly obsessed with getting Will interested in the kins. 

Fake smiler.

Blue steel on pumpkins…also known as Orange Steel.

My little farmer 🙂

After a couple hours in the park, we headed home.  It was such a fun day.  Words can’t really describe what a chill day at a fun park does for me.  It’s like a massage for my soul.

Here’s to next year and another 360 days to look forward to Corn Dawgs.

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Comments

  1. I do love just seeing what you guys do on the weekends (you’re a great photographer!) but when you do a photo post you do it ALL OUT. We should all play a game: over/under on how many photos are on Katie’s computer RIGHT NOW. I’m gonna go with 20,176.

  3. That park looks AWESOME! Wish there was one around MN/WI!

    Gonna miss your beautiful long hair! Good job donating it. One girl I know donated ALL of her hair and shaved her head. You planning on shaving yours? 😉

  8. These pictures actually make this Boston city girl want to move to the South. I feel like I need some plaid in my life.

  10. Looks like such a fun time! Love that pic of your little “farmer.” I wish we had fun fall parks like that to go to in FL. All we have are the occasional pumpkin patch set up in a church parking lot.

  11. Love this post and all of your pictures! Will’s so darn cute, what a great start to the day! I also looove your boots (your shoes, not Norn’s Boots, although he’s pretty cute too!) where are they from?

  12. Will is just too cute!! I love the little farmer picture. And carry butter with you everywhere… my mom does it… its the running joke at our house that we will survive any future butter shortage!!

  13. Holy pictures, batman! What a fun fall adventure. I agree with you whole heartedly that “There is no better gift in the world than having friends in your family. None. period.” I am so lucky to have sisters and cousins that are my friends and a boyfriend who takes the cake! Have a great weekend! x, jawsie

  14. Trying to get the nerve to cut & donate all my hair….mine is probably longer than yours. I have a weird attachment to it this time. I am constantly growing it out and cutting it off, but this time it is hard for me! This gave me some encouragement! Thanks.

  15. These pictures are fabulous and really capture the fun you all had! Will and the intruding goat are hilarious. It’s awesome you got some of you with Will and Cole and you got great shots of the family. I love your boots, by the way. I mean the footwear boots. Capital B Boots is alright, too, but you can’t wear a man on your feet. 🙂

  16. I know you didn’t ASK for advice about donating your hair, but I’ll give you some from my own experiences. Locks for Love is the best known way to donate hair, but NOT the best way to donate it. Kids with cancer don’t wear real hair wigs- they usually wear synthetic because it is not itchy, and easier to care for. Locks for Love has a poor history with the Better Business Bureau of not being transparent about their charity. Typically, they sell your hair to FOR-PROFIT wig makers, then use the money.

    Revlon has a really great donation program to women with early hair loss, cancer, and other diseases. These women will actually be able to use your hair as a wig, and will truly appreciate it!

    I suggest that before donating it you look up the different places to donate, and look up their ratings with the Better Business Bureau. A few years ago Locks for Love was quoted as saying that they can only use a few of the ponytails they receive, and sell the ones for profit to pay salaries etc… (which is a LOT for a non-profit), and THROW OUT the rest.

    There’s my two cents… do your research first! There is also the option of selling your hair to a wig making company and donating the money to a charity of your choice.

  17. My 22 month old loved these pics. He saw you all on the inflatable horse and started saying “neigh” which I didnt know he could say! That place looks like a ton of fun! I’m hoping to take my boys to a place called Brown’s Berry Patch this weekend for apple picking and they have a little “Barnyard Adventure” area with goats and tricycle things to ride and a big bounce pillow. I am really wanting a CornDog now! I keep seeing them and I never eat them, but boy do they look good. I found a recipe to make some, maybe I will do that since we dont have Sonic up here.

  18. Love this post Katie – love seeing your family having fun 🙂 And I wish we had something close to that here in Pa. Seriously – I can’t believe all those fun toys are at ONE place! Love your long hair btw – it’s just beautiful – but I totally get it about it always being in a ponytail – mine always was too and it got on my nerves! 2 years ago my then 5 yr. old and I donated our hair to locks of love – so glad you are doing that too! Some lucky person is going to get a gorgeous wig with your hair 🙂

  19. those pictures are adorable! Looks like it was tons of fun. I must say though, I hate you guys because you can go to a pumpkin patch in short sleeves and flip flops. Trade states with me, mmmkay?

  22. Katie Bower, don’t you DARE cut that hair! I’m with the boyfriend on this one.

    One day when you’re old with short permed gray hair you will look back at these photos and just ACHE for the days when you could nearly suffocate children with your gorgeous windblow hair and you will tell yourself you should’ve never cut it!

    You will also miss painfully waking up from a dead sleep because you rolled over and your hair was caught underneath your sleeping boyfriend. BEST. FEELING.EVER.

  23. Hi Katie! I actually just donated my hair for the first time as well! I blogged about it here: http://www.rockcandieblog.com/i-feel-lighter-already The weirdest thing was that I feel so much more spunky now! Apparently shorter hair makes you a little more liberated! haha! The best part is that now my hair actually came in handy for my Halloween costume- my boyfriend and I are going to dress up as Danny and Sandra Dee from Grease and now my hair is short and able to be styled how her’s is at the end of the movie in the leather outfit. Happy haircutting! 🙂

  24. I forgot to mention that my boyfriend was totally against me cutting my hair as well…but guess what? He actually loves it and had to eat his words. When will he learn that I’m always right? Wait, even better….WHEN WILL MEN LEARN THAT ALL WOMEN ARE ALWAYS RIGHT?! 😉

  25. oh. my. goooooodness.

    This post made me laugh…..hard!

    Especially the blow up horses, what a fun day!!!

    I love your blog Katie, you and Sherry are my daily addictions, keep up the good work 🙂

    and ps….I LOVE WILL’S HAIRCUT. You did so good.

  28. I think I need to plan a vacation next year around this time and go to Corn Dawgs and hire you to photograph us there. And you can bring Will too he is just too cute. I loved so many pictures in this post. Oh happy day 🙂

  30. I just got married and im really toying with cutting my hair short, its as long as yours now.. so maybe i should do it… hmmm such a big decision! lol

  33. Halloween costume guess: Cousin Itt from the Addams Family. For whatever reason when I thought “what costume would require a lot of hair” that’s the only thing I could think of.

  34. Where is this place at? We live in Marietta and I’m hoping it’s close!! Looks like so much fun for out 11-month-old (and mom & dad, of course!)

  36. What a fun day!

    I know exactly how you feel about the long hair. It’s fun until it’s too long. I can’t cut it until after our wedding (which is thankfully next weekend) but after the honeymoon I’m going to get it chopped off and donate it to locks of love. I’m very excited to do it.

  37. I get the haircut thing and, like you, I find myself either pulling my hair back into a ponytail or twisting it up into a messy bun. A new look for the holidays will be fun and besides, when you get pregnant again you can go back to the long hair look for awhile!

  38. Looks like a great time!

    Random question: what kind of shoes are you wearing, and, more importantly, where did you get them? They look like what I need!

  39. I agree with many others that you have gorgeous hair. But more gorgeous than that is your genetically perfect face. I’ve always thought that girls who are as beautiful as you should highlight that beauty as much as possible. You will look great no matter what you do with the hair. 🙂

  43. Loved this post! I wish I could take one single photo even 1/2 as good as one you take on a bad day. Do you have a photography tip section on your blog? I’ll go check.

    I am loving Will’s spiky hair and I’m betting you will be gorgeous with short hair too!

  44. This place looks awesome! I also agree with what the woman above said about checking out places to donate your hair, first. Don’t just go with the most well-known one…the one that the American Cancer Society uses (I think Pantene something?) is really great.

    I think your hair would be perfect for an Elvira costume!

  45. I Love, love, love the photos of your sweet, adorable Will and your family. If I didn’t live way out here in California, I would insist on having my future (haha…. just hoping) grandchildren photographed by you!

  48. dude-a-tude. i’m totally digging your hair. i would almost think we have similar hair, but mine has never grown that length and i have some wave to mine by that point (think- alanis morrisette with her first popular cd). and! i love your outfit. i’m always a big fan of your rouge necklace. bonus points for it going AWESOME with pictures, outfits, etc. tres bien. oh! and it looked like a fab day.

  49. Wow Miss Katie, your post totally warmed up my heart!! I spent the two best falls of my life in Michigan, visiting orchards and parks just like this one. I moved to Seattle this February and gosh, I miss this!! I absolutely agree with you, days like the one you had are rejuvenating for the soul. Thanks for sharing!!

  50. This looks so fun! And kudos to you for donating your hair – cant wait to see the new do 🙂

  51. Great pics!! You are beautiful! Love your long hair. I would say to not cute it but it’s your hair and long hair does take more time. It’s gonna be weird seeing you with really short hair. You will have to let us know if you like it short.

  52. Such a fun post! Looks like ya’ll had a great time! Oh and love, love, love the boyfriend’s cap. GO VOLS! :p

  54. I’m growing my hair out to donate as well…would love to know more about who you are using and how the process goes…I’m planning to cut mine in December :). Thinking about Pantene beautiful lengths

  55. This looks like a GREAT time! I wish we had a corn pit, blow up horses, and John Deere 4-wheeler thingys here in NC. In the very first pictures I was thinking how gorgeous your hair looked and it was inspiring me to try a headband then I read you are planning to cut it! Of course it’s your hair so do what makes you happy, but I think it’s stunning!

  56. Katie Bower do not cut your hair! Ok, you can if you want and it is so cool that you are donating it but I LOVE IT! You are so gorgeous. I love the family pictures, Will’s spiky hair, the fact that you posted about your embarrassing fall, and that your family had so much fun. This is the first time I’ve ever commented. Just wanted to tell you how much I love your blog. I’ll stop now before I sound like a creepy stalker or something.

  57. 1. It looks like you had a blast on the blow up horses. I laughed out loud seeing your pictures. I can only imagine how much fun it was to see in person.
    2. You will be pretty with any length hair! I have always wanted to donate mine, but always get fed up with it before it gets long enough.
    3. I did not read all of the post ahead of mine, but I’m guessing you will be Wonder Woman!

  58. Oh, I forgot to add that I think your “boyfriend” looks like the actor that was in 27 Dresses that played the boss. Have you ever heard that before?

  59. Seriously, Will is the cutest little boy I’ve ever seen. And that picture of you riding the blow up horse has me dyyyying. Hilarious!

  60. What a fun day! Love Cole’s Tybee Island t-shirt; I went there in May with my mom and aunt and it was sooo fun. Will is adorable, as always. And love the blow-up horse racing, might have to have those at my wedding. Just kidding, sort of.

    Where are your boots from? They’re super cute.

  63. Your target boots look great with those jeans, too! Where are they from? And, I’m gonna have to steal a toddler to head over to Corndawgs this weekend!

  64. haha…it really is one of the funnest places ever 🙂
    And the jeans are from Gap – they are the perfect fit! Love them!
    xo – kb

  67. LOL! @ would it be smart to bring your own butter! That place looks like so much fun, the only place near me charges $20 per person to get in and then $20 for all you can carry pumpkins and isn’t nearly as much fun as what Corn Dawgs looks like! With a name like that how could you go wrong!

  68. Uhmmm…a Kardashian?!?! A cast member from Jersey Shore?!?! lol Sorry if someone has already guessed these (didn’t read all of the previous comments)! You have an adorable family!

  69. Long time reader, first time commenter…
    1. Your son might just be the cutest little boy I’ve ever seen.
    2. Where are the wedding pictures?!?! PLEASE post them!

  73. Hey Sam, I’m also a Seattle transplant from Michigan and there are some fun pumpkin patches in the area. The Seattle Times has a pretty good list. The orchards are on the East side of the state so it’s sort of a haul to get there. But the pumpkin patches usually have apples you can buy and most importantly they have cider donuts! 🙂

    P.S. Katie you have the cutest family ever. I feel like you guys should be in GAP ads or something. Love!

  74. I LOVE all your photos; wish we lived close enough to book a session with you! These family event ones are my favorite! 🙂 Your hair is SOOO gorgeous; looking forward to seeing your new cute also though as I bet you look great with any type of hair-style. Will looks so adorable; love all the action shots, especially the ones in the corn pit. 🙂 Thanks for sharing! 🙂

  75. they do have stuff like this in canada. any local farm with pumpkin or strawberry patches have them. hay rides, games, corn mazes you just arnt looking hard enough. if you happen to live in ontario near the gta theres one near oshawa/courtice called pringles farm or maybe pingles. still its a great place with alot to do for the kids and alot of home made and home baked goods. its opened year round.

  76. Cute cute photos. Your hair is soooo long and sooo pretty, but kudos to you for donating it =) And I know that you will look absolutely adorable in short hair. Not sure why most men want their woman to have long hair….especially if the woman would or does look better in short hair!! 😉

  77. Love your blog and pictures and your sweet Will. I also love your relationship with Cole. Do you not see him as often as you did before you moved? I got the feeling from your last post that he wasn’t with you as much as he was before. I could feel the pain….he is a precious boy….he reminds me of my 12 year old. Really good with smaller children and a tender heart.

    You are so blessed….Enjoy!

  78. You know what I love?

    Will always seems to wear his emotions on his sleeve. In every photo, you can see EXACTLY how he feels: excited, joyful, bored, irritated, interested, tired…

    I think there are two things at play here: 1) He is an amazingly expressive kid, and 2) You are honest enough to take photos of those real moments and actually share them. (With hilarious comments.)

    This may be why we all feel we know you guys so well… because we really get to see who you are.

  79. 😉

    Sounds like a wonderful time. Makes me want to drink some apple cider ASAP.

    Snooki! Snooki! Oh please let it be Snooki!

  80. Pumpkin patches are just the best! Fun for everyone. We went to our local pumpkin patch/farm last weekend and the “Corn Kernel Crib” was just as fun for me as it was for the kids. Loved it!

  81. That looks like so much fun! Corn Dawgs is like 5 minutes from my house but I have never been there! Your hair looks beautiful but I know long hair is such a hassle. I cut mine a couple of months ago and I love it. Its so easy now. Just above shoulder length and I can still put it in a pony tail! You are an AWESOME photographer and I just love your blog!

  82. Have you ever seen the move Real Genius? I would consider renting it and just fast forwarding to the end. Let’s just say it involves a lot of corn and a very high powered laser. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the result!

  84. “I love this crazy kid. I love him like a pregnant girl loves Tums. It’s deep in my soul. It’s in the pit of my stomach and it makes me sick to not have him around. ”

    Pregnant, Tums, feeling sick….some very subtle hints that you’re expecting, perhaps? I admit, as a follower for a few years, I’m probably just reading into things and am just rooting for you and excited for another super cute Bower baby.:)

  86. I thought the SAME thing. Also, when she wrote how she would trust Cole with a newborn…..

    I thought it was just me and decided not to post my observations, but obviously I was not the only one!

  88. I know you probably didn’t mean any harm by this, but as a girl who has been trying to have a baby for 2 years, it hurts to be asked over and over by people if you are pregnant or if the next baby is coming. I know you don’t mean it but this may make her feel worse, or maybe she’s not to the same point I am yet. Just a thought.

  89. “Non-ponytail short” huh? My hair was super long (and very curly) when I got married and I chopped it all off right after. It was super short and curly all over my head and I loved it! I’ve done it a couple of times since then. Currently I’m growing it out again. It’ll probably be long just in time for a hot and humid Florida summer. 🙁 Oh well. I wish I had known how to donate my hair back then. That’s awesome!

  90. Nope. We are trying. Have been for the last 9 very long months…
    cross your fingers for us, mmkay!?
    And we will definitely let you know whenever we do!
    xo – kb

  91. Nope we don’t. Cole did start public school so that definitely made a difference in how much free time he has…but yeah, I’m crossing my fingers that the holidays will help bring us all together more!
    xo – kb

  92. You know what?! I totally agree! And wanna know something else? I think his little hair cut helped me see him more. Just another reason I’m glad we did the chop 🙂
    xo – kb

  93. Oh Katie B, I feel you on the “trying”. We have been trying since December, 3 of those months on Clomid. We’re taking a break from the Clomid (ugh crazy side effects on my mood!). I’ll cross my fingers for you! Hopefully our prayers will be answered soon and I can read along as we’re preggo together =)

    PS-I’M SO JEALOUS OF YOUR FUN CORNDAWG EXPERIENCE (YES, IT REQUIRES CAPSLOCK!) LOVE LOVE THE PRECIOUSLY FUN FAMILY PICS!

  94. We went to a pumpkin patch last weekend in TN too! I love them too and they make the best memories! By the way I googled those John Deere pedal cars to see how much they cost because they are too cool! They are like $950.00 new!!!!!

  95. Will is rockin’ that haircut! He is such a cutie. You three make such a beautiful family. I wish we had awseome places like Corn Dawgs in Australia. We dont even get the cool super orange pumpkins…

  96. Have you been to Burt’s Pumpkin Patch in Dawsonville? They have ENORMOUS pumpkins. I highly recommend it!

  99. How old is Will? He is adorable. I have a 20.5 month old named Colton and we love us some pearl snap shirts!! That place looks so fun. We have something like that in Tulsa, OK called the Corn Maize. My older son (11 years old) comes home with kernels all in his pants and up his nose! LOL!

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