Patchin'

For the first time in seven years, we had to break our fall tradition and try out a new pumpkin patch. I was picky. It couldn't be in a mall parking lot. It had to have a corn maze. It had to be an authentic patch with rows of pumpkins. Thankfully after a little research, SoCal didn't disappoint and all of my pumpkin patch dreams came true.

A certain someone sure is doted on.

Nash got in a fight with a bear on the way in. 

Okay, not really. He fell off his dresser (where he sits to play with LEGO bricks so his brothers can't destroy them). He somehow landed wedged between his dresser and wall and his eye took the worst of the fall.

You'd think the seven year old would be the most cooperative. Not so much.

Of course, once dad was behind me they were all smiles.

The tractor was an added bonus.

Love that little onlooker on the bottom.

Crew was excited about the sheep he spotted.

Last but not least, especially since it was one of my "requirements," was the corn maze. The boys played rock-paper-scissors to determine which way to turn.

And then some Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe as well.

Troy and I lagged behind with Finn while the others sprinted in circles.

I think I might dare say that this patch topped the one we went to in Utah for seven years. It was exactly the type of fall ambiance I was looking for, even if palm trees were still within our view.

Hayrides in Palm Trees

I brushed off the dust on my camera over the weekend. I hadn't picked it up in over a month which is basically unheard of for me. Between Troy traveling for work for 10 days, an endless array of appointments with the pediatrician, asthma specialist, radiologist and ENT, and more homework than I ever thought possible for a 2nd grader and kindergartener, the "documenting" portion of our lives has been on the back burner.

It felt good to be out on the town making some memories with Blake and Nash that didn't involve breathing treatments, antibiotics, math facts or sight words. Troy happily stayed home while the babies napped (some college football games happened to be on) and the rest of us braved the heat and humidity at our town's Harvest Festival.

It felt a little strange to be going on a hayride in palm trees.

The boys tested their strength and endurance on the mechanical bull.

They walked away with carnival game prizes galore. 

We're trying to figure out how to incorporate our favorite fall activities when it still feels like the peak of summer here. I have to say though, watching our beloved Michigan State fans bundled up in hats and gloves at the game on Saturday didn't make me feel too bad about our lack of fall. 

Thanksgiving

I'm so grateful for a day to celebrate the power of gratitude. Nash came home from school beaming in his "feast" attire the day before Thanksgiving. Our family theme this year is "Be Grateful." Even though we could all improve on this concept, it's exciting to see pure gratitude seeping in from time to time.

A good chunk of our Thanksgiving was spent doing yard work with turkey roasting and football games on in the background. We had lots of helpers over so we took advantage of their willingness to prep our yard for the snow. We usually can't rake leaves until the end of November; much later in the year than I remember tackling the job in Michigan.

The yard work aspect really began the day before Thanksgiving when I told the boys to go enjoy one last jump on the trampoline before we took it down for the winter. I was a bit startled when I saw Blake carrying heavy power tools into the backyard. I didn't even know we owned a leaf blower but Blake was determined to remove the leaves from the trampoline with heavy machinery. After some help from his Grandpa, they got the leaf blower up and running.

The power tool didn't actually remove many leaves but it sure blew Nash over.

On Thanksgiving morning, we took down the trampoline and blew leaves from all over the yard into one big pile.

Crew stayed outside in the brisk November air for hours and looked like a wet dog with matted leaves in his hair after "helping" to disassemble the trampoline, hammock and sandbox and hose them all down.

He was our most energetic helper in bagging up all those leaves.

Once our yard looked sufficiently barren, we drove up into the mountains for our traditional Thanksgiving Day hike.

The boys sure made me nervous with the steepness they fearlessly climbed.

Rock throwing was also a hit as usual.

As was sticking out tongues for the camera.

We came home in time to pull the turkey out of the oven and bake the rolls that were rising all day.

I didn't add much to the tablescape since the last time we hosted Thanksgiving except some gold tipped feathers. I would have loved to switch it up this year, but we had just a few (four) things that took priority.

The meal tasted delicious as always and we were reminded once again how blessed we are with family members surrounding us in good health and high spirits.