Linder Farms #2

10.24.09
I love Linder Farms with all of my heart. This was our 2nd adventure to the farm this fall, the first being with Trey's preschool class. Trey enjoyed searching for the greatest pumpkin EVER and running through the fields, and Tian enjoyed digging through the nastiest of the rotting pumpkins looking for seeds to eat. Tian is one boys that doesn't mind getting his hands dirty. DISGUSTING!

last of the warm and sunny

10.22.09
I think this might be one of the last warm and sunny days of the year. The sun was nice and bright, the air was warm, and the boys were itching to go outside and play before our weekly playgroup. Trey wanted to build a fort and Tian wanted to climb. Before going outside, the boys got all bundled up; I didn't even bother changing them out of their pj's, considering the fact that they would probably get sandy and dirty anyhow. Tian's cute little saddle shoes from the Francis' just began fitting, so Trey insisted Tian wear them! What a sight to see, we could have joined the circus with the outfits we were wearing! (I wasn't even about to take a picture of what I was wearing.)

Hottub Nite

10.22.09
A sweet, dear friend of mine had quite the month of family sickness. It all began with the swine flu and went down hill in a very short amount of time. As we were chatting one afternoon while she was in the thick of laundry, sickness, and chaos, I told her we would need to plan a girls nite which included hottubbing and a movie. Well, her family is feeling much better (minus her daughter's fractured thumb at the moment! Poor 'M') so we celebrated a few nights ago. It all began with a steamer run (my choice of flavor: Pumpkin Spice!), and then watching The Devil Wears Prada while sitting in the Hot Tub! After our night of star gazing, yummy steamers and a great chic flick while sitting in the hot tub, I realized, this needs to be a monthly event!

Thank you friends for a relaxing girls night! Until next month!

**thank you Justin for all of your help!!! He is such a supportive, kind, thoughtful and dedicated husband. He knows girls nights are important to me, so, whenever one is planned, he goes above and beyond to make them happen. For instance, he rigged up a "speaker" system for our portable DVD player, which sat on a table that he situated in such a way it could be seen by all of the 'hottubbers.' He also set up a table, tray and cup holders for our snacks (which I forgot to set out! Sorry!) and steamers. I am truly blessed with a thoughtful husband who cares about me. Thank you so much Justin!

apples #2

10.21.09
Our second apple orchard adventure with Alyce and Tyler took place in a total different location. We were sent to a new location where the "Mexicans" (as the orchard owners called them. Not me!) were still picking apples. The orchard owners said, "Pick where the Mexican's are picking because they are FAST but they drop a lot of apples!" After picking for at least an hour, a sweet old man found us and asked if we liked Golden Delicious apples. We told him we did, and then, he took us on the craziest wild goose chase. We were driving up and down dirt roads trying to find ONE golden delicious apple tree. This tree was so hidden, the poor man, bless his old heart, searched for what seemed like eternity. He finally found the tree, and we ended our orchard "run" with bags of fugi apples and one back of Golden Delicious!

After 4 runs to the orchard (two of which were with sweet Alyce and Tyler) I have a garage full of apples that need to be cut up and made into apple sauce, apple pie filling and heaven's knows what else!

Thank you Alyce for the 2 afternoons of apple fun! Until next year!

apples #1

10.13.09
My sweet friend Alyce has kept me on my toes with food preserving. We did green beans this summer, did apricots and cherries, grapes at the beginning of the month, and now we are on to apples! She had never been to the orchard to pick apples, and because it is one of my favorite places to go in the fall (besides the pumpkin patch) I was happy to tag along! The first experience was on a Tuesday, we met at a Walgreens (to pick up red hots to make my cinnamon applesauce) and then caravaned to Chicken Dinner Road. Trey and Tyler played among the large trees, and Tian was such a trooper in our stroller. Towards the end of our picking, Tian wanted out! I should have given Tian a bag to help us pick!!!

Isn't the orchard beautiful? I don't think I have ever been to the orchard when the colors were this vibrant!
One of my many buckets of apples! (thanks for letting me use your bucket Alyce!)
My sweet friend Alyce! She was the greatest picker ever! You'd think she grew up picking fruit!
Treyman
I do admit, Trey got on Tyler's nerves this afternoon. I am sure Trey is taunting Tyler in this picture!
My apple "collection", excluding a bucket of apples!
This is what Tian did after I let him out to explore, he would pick up an apple and start chomping at it. Made me a little grossed out, not being able to rinse the apple prior to him plopping it into his mouth.
Isn't his cardigan so sweet? A gift from Grandma Bend and Hannah Anderson. My mom picked it up because it "was Boise State colors!" Perfect for us Grandma Bend!

grape juice

10.18.09
You might be wondering what we did with all of those beautiful grapes? We made grape juice! I am not a big juice drinker (give me a can of Dr. Pepper and you are my best friend!) but two men in the family are. Trey didn't hesitate to try our new grape juice. In fact, he took it right out of the jar, concentrate and all, no water added for this sugar-a-holic monster!

Thank you Annabelle for the juicer and Justin for beginning our huge Grape Adventure! While I was out shopping at the new Macy's and garage saling with Jessica, Justin began the lengthy process of making juice! He is the greatest and I love him so!