Fall Fun Take II

Graysen accompanied me on a shopping trip to get groceries and also select pumpkins for this year’s pumpkin carving festivities. He managed to push a giant cart with four heavy gourds in addition to all the other heavy stuff I added along the way that wouldn’t fit into my giant cart with the heavy everything else inside :)

Back at home, it took a couple of days to get those pumpkins off the landing and into the carving arena of our back deck. From there the three youngest took on this project with zero parental facilitation—wait, I take that back, Buck cut the pumpkin tops off for them. We ended up with a giant bucket of pumpkin guts to give the chickens, and we roasted the seeds for our favorite fall treat (okay, not our favorite, favorite, but it’s on the list : )

Gabby made a Yoda with a stencil and it looks rad lit up! Brennen made a traditional smiley face. Graysen started with a Green Bay symbol, but cut a couple of connectors, so ended up with a circle. Caelan chose not to participate and thus donated her pumpkin to Graysen for a second try. He ended up making a tree (perhaps a hint at his hoped for costume creation).

Another bit of fall fun—we went to a much-raved-about pumpkin patch for homeschool days. Actually, we didn't know we qualified for this particular homeschool day (it was a special co-op group day reserved for a huge group we're not part of), so we were stoked when they only charged us half the price and gave us free coupons for things : ) We knew a lot of friends from church would be there (because we joined a weekly Bible study group too) and they were raving about how amazing this pumpkin patch is—“like Disneyland.” That made the cold, rainy, muddy day more fun . . . running into new friends, older new friends, homeschool friends, pastors, pastors' wives; it was like a reunion around every corner!

They would have ridden these cars all day long! So much mud splatter at the end of the track :)

Our crew was excited to bump into the M family--friends E and F and S; they all had a blast blasting balls in the three story tall air gun barn. Buck and I just watched in awe as the sky filled with flying objects and kids appeared and disappeared with amazing speed. The K family appeared too, though we didn’t get to spend much time with them; we just sent them towards the parakeet pens . . . to see more of the flighted friends we had given them pretty much as soon as we got back from vacation. Those noisy birds were lovely to watch, but needed to be re-homed (again) for my sanity. Thankfully, the K kids love their new pets :)

Next, we wandered through the corn maze and my shoes were soaked through to my socks, not ideal. We ate some hot soup, found a pressed penny machine, watched some pig races, saw a pumpkin shoot out of a cannon, and kept discovering new nooks and crannies around every turn. A lot of it was for a younger crowd than ours, but I think everyone enjoyed the experience. I don’t think G$ wanted to leave—the place was filled with cutouts, and he wanted to try just about every one :)

I so very much enjoyed a hot shower and clean pajamas when we returned home, ahhhh, that’s cozy fall to me. Get me a fireplace, a book, and a cup of chai (you could always throw in a softly lit Christmas tree action) and I’m a happy camper. I just need to get all this blogging done so I’m ready for non-action when the tree goes up :)

And speaking of Christmas . . . it came a little early for Buck AGAIN this year. He’d received loads of hunting apparel from his dad in Colorado shortly before our youth hunting weekend in September. While Buck was thanking him for these things, he asked for advice on purchasing a bow . . . something he’s been looking into for several years. His dad said, “Well, I’m not going to be using mine anymore, so . . .”

When Buck heard the boxes were in the mail, he could not stop watching mail trucks drive by. We were heading out to lunch together when the unknown delivery day finally arrived. No sooner did the mail carrier have the trunk keys in his hand, than Buck ran out the door (not exaggerating) and stood jumping with both fists in the air next to the mail truck. A reaction remarkably similar to his son opening his birthday gifts just couple weeks before : ) 

“Do you need any help? How many boxes are there?” He peppered the mailman with enthusiastic questions and was soon racing inside with his freshly delivered gear.

“Okay, we can go now,” he said to me.

“Yeah, right! Like you’d rather wait until after lunch to open those boxes,” I laughed.

“Well, maybe I should make sure everything shipped okay.” Ha! And into the boxes he went. Sooo excited to see all the special things tucked inside. Even a new deer cleaning kit like the one Brennen got from grandpa. He was almost giddy : )

We did eventually make it to lunch, but as soon as the kids and I set out for guitar lessons (Brennen wasn’t feeling well so he stayed home) Buck had the target out in the back yard and the arrows were flying. He decided he needs a beefier target or else the arrows are going to go all the way through, leaving their feathers behind. He’s had worse problems, lol! I’m so glad he got this unexpected gift in the mail; a happy hunter for sure!