Apple Festival!

Went went to the annual Apple Festival this past Saturday! The weather was way better than last year! Nice and Sunny! We took a wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch (10 acres) and picked out a pumpkin for our traditional dinner in a pumpkin. I personally think Craig dreads this part, because I am so picky about the pumpkin and it takes me forever to decide. Craig kept and eye on Lucas, who was wandering around the pumpkin patch playing in the dirt and picking up these green ball things, trying to put them in his mouth, while I found the perfect pumpkin. Then we went and found the rabbits, which are usually at this event. Lucas was super excited about this. He wandered around attempting to pick up the rabbits. He was so eager to touch them. Fortunately, Craig was there to supervise.

Homecoming Parade

Last week was Homecoming for the university. We went to the parade with some friends from our neighborhood. It was lots of fun! Lucas seemed to enjoy it! He loved the music, he was grooving to the music (which is basically Lucas waving his arms, moving up and down, and twirling around and around). It is pretty cute to watch. This is a pretty long parade. It seemed to go on and on. Of course they save the best part for last, the marching band. We have watched this parade three times, two more times to go.

Applesauce

Today was our applesauce canning day! I bought my two half bushels of apples and canned them. When we first started, I was thinking 'wow I forgot how much work this is'! However, it didn't take us a long to get a system going and even with three kids roaming around (my child decided not to take a nap today) we canned 4 half bushels of apples pretty quick. It was totally worth it, too. Applesauce is so much better homemade rather than store bought, no additives or preservatives, just apples!

Just a side note, since I mentioned that some things are better homemade rather than store bought, I also made another two batches of strawberry jam. We already ran out and I don't want to go through an entire winter without jam. I also experimented and made strawberry blueberry jam. It is pretty yummy!

Fall Festival!

On Saturday we took Lucas to the Fall Festival that they were having downtown! Lucas picked out his own pumpkin, which was not much smaller than him. He also went on the Merry-go-round for the first time and loved it (so much so that we had to go again)! His favorite activity of the day was playing in the pool of birdseed! Last, but not least, Lucas decorated a cookie, and then of course ate it!

Pumpkin

Fall is in the air. I love fall! When the leaves start to change colors and it gets a little cooler. I get in this mood to bake. Pumpkin is one of my favorite ingredients to use for this time of year! This year I attempted to make pumpkin fudge. It took three attempts and assistance, but we finally made a decent batch of pumpkin fudge. It tasted pretty good. It was a little harder than I like my fudge and really, really rich, but it was pretty good.

Oops!

Lucas has been into putting things over his head. The other day he was playing with sand toys (that are not ours and need to be returned), and was really enjoying himself. Then we started to her whining, like he was frustrated. We turned around and there was Lucas with a bucket around his neck and not to thrilled about it either. Though he was very upset, I had to take a picture. It was one of those moments when I can't help but think, "really?" "Where did you even come up with that?"

Apple Orchard!

Last week our playgroup took a tour of an apple orchard. We took wagon ride through the apple orchard and had a quick tour of where they store, wash and clean the apples. Lucas was intrigued with the machine that washed and cleaned the apples! Throughout the tour Lucas tried to grab and eat the apples. Luckily at the end of the tour they gave us some apple cider and a bag to fill up with apples. Lucas really enjoyed his apple!!! He kept trying to go back for more!