My Spice in Life

In the words of Logan, "today was the bestest day!" It really was the best day we've had in a long time as a family. We spent the entire day at the Harvest Festival at Ardenwood Farm. Highlights include picking Indian corn and popping corn straight off the stalk, husking the corn from hay bales onto the ground, playing with sticks, hopping on logs and hay bales, riding a handcar, helping press apple cider, drinking the apple cider ;), petting the horse and goat, making corn husk dolls, eating flavored honey sticks and popcorn, enjoying each other with no whining, tantrums or meltdowns! NONE! It was such a fabulous day.

J brought some of her birthday money to the Farm and bought a twirly toy as soon as we got there. She offered to buy the boys one too, but by the time we got back to the money pit the twirlys were all gone. Jess had the boys each pick out something and then bought a wand for herself :)- all with her own money. She was very generous and sweet all day.
I love how my three kids are lined up watching the juice come out of the press. We all got to help turn that bamboo around to press the cider. You better believe that Logan and Toby found that stick in the bushes afterward and wanted to defend the universe with it.

We were bummed that the farm didn't have their annual pumpkin patch this year because of a low crop. We're cheap though, so we go to the patch to play on the hay pyramid, in the mazes and take in the sights. Then we go to the grocery store and buy the big pumpkins for 1/3 the price.

The little kids and I took a snooze in the car after the Festival while Jessie went along with Dave to treat the Dentist he trades with. *detour* Can I just say that Dave trading services with other professionals is one of the coolest perks that I didn't even think of until he graduated from school. I admit I might offer him up to trade without asking him first, but he's usually cool with it. Like just last night when I asked Holly (in our ward) if she had time to take a family picture of us this month. She actually suggested she'd trade with Dave for help with her arm. Such a great thing!

Anyway, Dave adjusted and treated our dentist and we stopped at FoodMaxx to get some pumpkins. The pumpkins were pathetic and puny until Jess and I dug to the bottom of the cardboard bin and found some beauties with large stems for $2.99 each. Score! I really love everything about Fall. For me, October 1st (which happens to be my birthday) marks the beginning of cooler days, peppermint tea, soup and bread making, pumpkins and gourds, the Farmer's Market, and that fall smell in the air that I enjoy so much. I was sucking it in by the bucketfull on Saturday.

Our 'bestest day' wound down with dinner at our family favorite restaurant, Fresh Choice, where we filled up on lentil and chicken soup, salad and ice cream. Everyone was starving and ate a great meal. I'm thankful all our children are usually very well-mannered. It makes our family outings so enjoyable and gives Dave and me a chance to get to know our sweet kids even better. They make me laugh so much. Logan is at the age that he loves to talk and says hilarious things. He keeps us all entertained, especially at the dinner table. Toby, bless his heart, loves to make noise all the time. I could tell he was really hungry when he started eating as soon as he sat down and didn't talk much until after dinner. Jessie had a good day because she was so helpful and happy the entire day. She has the personality where you know instantly if she is grumpy, but that Jessie never surfaced.