Hee Haw's Pumpkin Patch

Do you go to a pumpkin patch in the fall? We like to go to a local farm turned destination pumpkin patch. I like it because it still feels like an old farm, a little dirty, a few old junky pieces of machinery around (a perfect "Mater") and lots of stuff just thrown around.

We rode the animal train.



We rode the trick-or-treat hay ride.

We picked a few sweet pumpkins for our Annual Pumpkin Carving Party. (Check out last year's here.)
We played on the grain sack slide.

And a few of us tried the corn maze, well, we all started, and a few of us (the ones prone to fits of tears, which may or may not include me) went back to the van to eat our spoils.

A Much Needed Date

Matt and I have resumed our almost-weekly dates. We just get to take a sweet baby with us now. We've been to Thanksgiving Point several times lately. I wanted to share this pretty picture we took on September 17. We were surprised how beautiful it still was.

We also went again the weekend before Halloween and it was gorgeous in fall colors. The trees were bright, the grasses spectacular and everything was perfect!

Summer In Her Mommy's Dress

All of my girls have worn this sweet, blue dress when they were newborns. I also wore it when I was just a tiny baby. All my girls look so alike, I need to find their pictures and show you. When I get some time...

A Summer Blessing

We blessed Summer in our church on October 10th. We had a lot of our family in town, and we were so grateful to have them (and missed the ones that couldn't make it).




Summer wore the dress I was blessed in, and my mother was blessed in made by my great-grandmother. She wore a hand-crocheted jacket and booties belonging to my paternal grandma and a sweet flower clip make by my sister. All heirlooms to treasure always.

We had a delicious lunch with contributions by everyone (thank you!). I even managed a little decoration, these buntings I sewed up quickly on the Saturday before. Now they live in Summer's nursery.

Cascade Springs

One beautiful mountains just a hop, skip and a jump away, we always have to go for a few beautiful fall drives. This year we made it clear to Cascade Springs. I think we got there a week or two early though.



Which is not to say it wasn't beautiful, or that we didn't have fun, or that it wasn't an adventure.

The kids insisted on bringing their hiking backpacks.

They had fun; so did we.



We ended with a little adventure, wherein Daddy saved the day!

Starting school

My kids are all liking school this year. This was their first day. Dawn is in 5th grade, Rachel in 4th (don't you like how they wanted to match their first day:) and Scott is in 3rd. He has a teacher who plays guitar and sings and moves a lot. Scott loves him! His favorite song so far? I am My Own Grandpa (if you haven't heard it, google it. It's great!)

Andrew also started preschool, though I don't have a picture of him. He is loving it also, learning his letters, and making new friends. We've been on two sweet field trips, one to the fire station where we got to go here...


(The full 200 feet up!)

And one to the pumpkin patch where he and Charity both picked out a sweet pumpkin.

Charity is even going to a (structured) play group once a week.

So, we are busy learning. I know because each night we around the dinner table we've been telling what we learned. This can be enlightening, interesting or funny. I've been learning about 7 wonderful people and how much I love them! And how not to cry each night when I didn't get to the laundry AGAIN! Ahhh!

Girls, and Boys and Baby, Oh my!

Life with six kids has been, how shall I say this,

kicking my trash!

I have barely been able to survive (along with keeping the other 7 people in my family alive) let alone write about how I was surviving it.


(How's that for keeping it real?)

But today, while my kind friend and neighbor took my two preschoolers to the park and my baby is napping, I decided to take a few minutes to look back at what I've missed telling you all about.

Since it is a lot, I will space them out over several days, so check back!

So here goes...