Family Dinner Date, Hayride Late, and Pumpkins are Great!

Summer is wonderful and all, but fall in Wisconsin really can be quite fantastic. What is not to love about mild, sunny days, cool and cozy nights, and enough harvest activities and food to meet the entire family's needs. All of the fall fun means that the weeks have been zooming by, and it looks like any of the house projects that we said we might do this fall will have to move to the winter list (from whence they will then move to the spring list...then the summer list...then back to the fall list in what seems like no time at all!). How nice to always have something to look forward to, and in the present to enjoy these family outings!

For the first time, we joined a group of friends to go on an evening hayride in a local park. The Parks department takes care of everything from the tractor and hay trailer to the bonfire and s'mores at the end of the ride. The park was along the lake, which makes this bonfire beat out any others we've had when it comes to the view. The kids enjoyed the ride, as well as going out to dinner beforehand, and definitely loved the s'mores.

Mmmm...pizza

Big girl enjoying pizza, too

Ready to ride

It gets dark early now!

The boys having fun

Our littlest pumpkin on the hay

We returned to the same pumpkin farm as last year to fill our wagon with carving pumpkins and porch-decorating pumpkins. Eli was very serious about the pumpkin hunt, searching for a specific color and and pumpkin that he could lift by himself. 

Heading out into the field

Snuggle pumpkin

Inspecting the options

Happy hunters

Filling up the wagon...looks like everyone will have to walk back to the car

Little lady does her inspection

Lots of squinting in an attempted family picture

I see a pumpkin over there!

Fall Farm Fun

Earlier in the month, Mimi joined us for a morning visit to a pumpkin farm. We did end up getting a couple small pumpkins (and an adorable pumpkin knit hat for our littlest pumpkin), but mostly we went to let the kids explore and play on a beautiful fall morning. Each year it strikes me how some farms have turned into quite the attraction come fall; beyond the barn animals and hayrides I remember from childhood visits to local farms, it now seems the norm to have kid play areas, themed attractions, and some sort of produce-launcher in the form of a catapult or giant slingshot. Incidentally, at the preschooler library class this week, we played with catapults, and you would be surprised to learn how many things you encounter in your daily experience that could look like, or be used as, a catapult. At least when viewed through a three-year-old's eyes. But that is another story for another day. For now, here are some pictures of our time enjoying the farm visit, mostly the classic, but also a few snazzier, attractions.

The only time Mimi got to sit down by herself all day

Evelyn is missing the smaller, cozier rocking chair in her bedroom

Brave Eli, to pose by the slightly creepy pumpkin (my opinion, not his)

Evelyn's first "stick-your-face-in-a-cutout" experience

Pumping water to send the rubber ducky down the chute

Eli Teacher holding lessons in the mini schoolhouse

Putting the tractor-driving skills Eli learned from Grampy B to good use

Little lady

Bucky likes fall fun, too.

Not meditating. Just sleeping after a busy morning.

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

When I was little, one of my favorite lunch options to pick was "a little bit of this, a little bit of that". Essentially, it was a clean out the fridge, indecisive diner's dream come true. A smattering of many yummy options, without the pressure to commit to one, and thus miss out on something else. Here's the picture version of my childhood lunch - lots of cuteness, no need to pick one and miss out on any others.

Loved the summer dresses

The joy of standing up by yourself

Cuteness. Love. Sweetness.

Badger baby explores the neighborhood park

The Eli bathtime show

Prince Eli looks out over his estate

It is important to keep your vehicle clean

Wheeeeeee!

When a bathroom break turned into impromptu lunch out at Panera

The balancing act

 Sometimes, that is just how we roll around here

A Plethora of Picnics!

The lovely fall weather has extended the picnicking (really, that word has a "k" in it? well, that's fun!) season well into October. Whether with family or friends, at a park, the capitol, or even just in our own backyard, it seems that food always tastes better when dining on a picnic blanket.

Impromptu backyard picnic after pool plans were thwarted by a power outtage

Happy baby

Lunch on the capitol lawn

Picnic extreme close-up

Less photos, more eating! 

(the red hands are from painting fun at the children's museum prior to meeting Daddy for the picnic)

Yo, yo! Rockin' my bro's Twins hat

Eli (and Ben in the distance) going for a post-lunch run

Could our friend, miss Eva, be any cuter?!

Friends on a picnic

Apples, Apples, and More Apples (and Some Raspberries too!)

This year we explored a new orchard where we could pick apples and raspberries and play in the lovely fall sunshine. We will definitely be able to keep up with "an apple a day" (and then some!) for quite awhile in this house!

 

Lots of apples in Eli's reach

Evelyn helps pick the apples within her reach

Checking out the harvest

Apple cyclops

On to raspberries...most of Eli's went straight into the belly without pausing in the container

Daddy made the most raspberry-picking progress

Smiley girl enjoying the ride

Walking in the raspberry patch

Navigating the mini-maze

Just like Grampy B (well, wrong color tractor, but pretty close!)

Construction work