Round 2 of the pumpkin patches....down!

Another Pumpkin Patch down this year. For those who know me I have never been a fan of this Holiday and I don't really like celebrating it at all. So this year we took the kids to two patches and have done more "Fall/Autumn Festivals" then "Halloween" things. This last Friday we went to a great locally family owned Craver Farms in Newman Lake WA. We went through a corn maze, picked popcorn, mini pumpkins, gourds and medium sized pumpkins as well. All for just 2.00 a person, not bad at all!!!

All the kids under one my favorite trees. Hard to get them all to smile and look good when they all want to leave and go do there thing there.....

Zachie was completely wiped out after all the running and walking we all did this day.

Sierra out in the gourds, mini pumpkin and pumpkin fields.

Savannah, Sierra & Zachary loving' on Frankenstein on the hayride to the Pumpkin Patch. Zachie really wanted to ride this particular tractor and he was so happy we got on it. It made his day!!!!

Zachie & Frankie again on the tractor/hayride.....he was talking to him about all his booboo's and band aids.....crazy kid I tell ya.

Loading up the tractor to return back to the farm after collecting all those gourds, mini pumpkins and medium size pumpkins.

Sierra trying to find her perfect gourd......
Zachie could not find that perfect gourd......none of them were good enough for him. Him and daddy walked ALL over the patch.

Savannah stopping through the fields finding all of her favorites. And she did very well. This was the day before she came down sick with another "abdominal migraine" which had her laid up for almost 4 full days. Ugh......we are still learning of what is to much for her and her triggers are. She sure did enjoy her day there though!!

Our youngest and oldest!!! Eating up all the sun. It was a perfect day to do these Fall Festivals.

All five heading in to the corn maze, our first I must say!!!

Sierra showing off her Popcorn that she picked and shucked.

Zachie with his special find in the popcorn field. We have dozens of them and we plan on popping them up around thanksgiving time.

Savannah & Sierra getting the corn as well.

and .....Trinity with hers. We are going to have a ton of popcorn at home, but there won't be any wasting it going on.

Tristian finding his perfect one......

One last pic of the farm, I just loved this tree so much so I got one more of it before we drove off. It was a beautiful sunny Autumn day and all the kids did so great and had so much fun there. We might have to make this place our family tradition! Thank you Carver Farms!!! So now we are homeward bound.....

And then once again how can I not post a blog and not have one of our silly cats pics in it. Here is Mr. Socks (Dad's kitty and the brother to my Ozzy). He is the most laid back cat and thank goodness he is.......Zachary packs him everywhere. Its very rare to find him laying down on his own with out a kid grabbing for him. So this is what pic I could shoot quickly enough. If you notice you can see one little hand reaching for his head.... I had to work quickly because he was just about to get snagged up.

and yes he has 6 toes on each front foot for that reason Tristian says he's his cat because of Tristian being born with extra digits.....lol

I think he was trying to copy Savannah laying out on the couch that day.

One of my favs.....

Fall has definitely arrived here in Northern Idaho this week. For some strange reason it had been very warm/hot but now the really cool crisp air in the morning is finally here! I love Autumn it has to be one of my favorite times of year. Our trees are finally starting to change colors with some yellow, and orange, the pine needles cover our drive way and pumpkins line our front steps. Crab apples are falling and the deer are eating them up.

There really wasn't much going on to even worry about. The norm.....schooling, youth group, and now awana's. Dave did have surgery on Friday for his carpel tunnel. Everything with that went really good it's just the meds knock him out so he's been in bed a sleep a lot which he deserves.....I guess...just joking. The really big thing that stinks with him having this surgery now is that tomorrow (Sunday) Elk season opens up here and he won't be able to hunt. He is still planning on taking our oldest son hunting and hoping at least someone could bring in a Elk this year. Dave is such a great father figure to Tristian. If I am not up to going with dad Tristian will be right there to help and go tracking out in our back 40. Speaking of tracks, we went out last night (yes after Dave just had surgery) and found big ol' and lots of Elk and Deer tracks. Coming from out in the woods straight up to our back yard to the boys slider door/porch. So hopefully the boys will get something this year!! This is what dad wants me to do if they can't by the end of the season......see there is a huge Elk Farm about 15 miles down the highway from us and he said he wanted me to cute a hole in the fence, put a rope around the head and neck and ride it home.... and tie him up in the back yard. I know that is so pathetic.

***New as of last night***

Dave has now officially earned his Stork Pin with the ambulance. This precious baby girl is in need of a lot of prayers!! Please keep her and her momma in your thoughts as you go about your week.

Blessings.....

Loving Autumn

You know summer is saying her final goodbye when the leaves turn from green to yellow and then others turn into orange, red or even purple. You breathe in the crisp air and notice the sweet aroma of summer has turned into the smell of autumn rain still trapped within the skin of clouds and lovers. One senses that this scent of dew will soon become the silent snowflake seeking refuge on your nose. Autumn has arrived and turns your head with her unmasking of a palette so bright as she begins to paint the landscape in hues unimaginable. As if waking from a languid dream you notice that life is in abundant change around you and preparing her creatures for the long cold days of winter.
Soon thoughts turn to pumpkins, homemade pies, raking leaves, crackling fires and steamy hot cider. Autumn is the perfect time for love. No other season comes dressed for the backdrop of a love play like Autumn. With Autumn comes the sense of urgency to get things done quickly before all becomes enveloped in the hush of winter white.
Walking through Autumn leaves with your love brings back a memory of a magic to time as a child when a pile of leaves was so much more than a nuisance. This is a wonderful opportunity to be that child again and play! Invite your sweetheart to hold you tight and just fall into those leaves together and you will find yourself falling in love, perhaps for the first time or the first time this Autumn.
Turn your head and everywhere couples are nestled into each other with soft whispers and their breaths captured in the icy air. Breathe in each others breath and become one. Slip your arms around each other and just take time to notice the days growing shorter and life being lived to the fullest. Harvest these fruits of Autumn and cherish the cycles of our seasons.