Leaves

We don't have really have any leaves in our backyard and our kids wanted to play in some. I took them to a local park that had piles of leaves. The kids had so much fun playing in them and they looked so cute, I just wanted to share a few of them. 

Kelsey preferred sitting on the pavement and observing. 

She cried when I places her directly in the leaves. 

Jocey jumping out of the leaves. 

That's a whole lot of leaves.

I am glad I didn't have to rake all those leaves up. 

Can you imagine bagging those? 

Our friend Spencer got into the leave throwing action.

I Love Fall

This past Saturday we spent a day doing fun fall activities and I loved it. I love everything fall: the way it smells, feels,looks, it's just a fun time of year!!! We started out our day in the freezing cold getting our pictures taken. I have always wanted fall family photos. The weather had been unseasonably warm two days before our photos were to be taken, the temperature took a huge drop. The kids did really well despite they couldn't move their limbs. Actually I think the cold was really to our advantage because them they couldn't run away. I don't have the pictures back yet but I will post them as soon as I do. 

After we got our photos taken, we went to an

activity for students and their families from the medical school on a farm. You got to ride a wagon to a corn maze that led into a pumpkin patch and then you could go back to the main entrance and look at some animals, but some food or go down a big slide. You can tell be Jocelyn's face that it still hadn't warmed up yet but the kids loved the hay ride. Jackson just loves anything that makes him think he's living on the end. No car seat, no seat belt, this kid was living the high life. 

The corn maze was nothing special in fact it was over before I could get the camera out. Jackson led the way and a good leader he made because he found the exit with only one wrong turn. The exit led us to the pumpkin patch where you take home a pumpkin for everyone. We got three to add to our two at home to make our grand total to five. One for everyone in the family. After we selected our pumpkins we got back on the wagon and made our way back to the front. We looked around a little bit, let the kids go down the big slide a few times then decided we had froze       enough and headed home. Later that afternoon, during the OSU game halftime of course, we went to Hayden Run Falls to see some fall foliage. It was a very pretty autumn walk. Dad went down to the river to give us a lesson on skipping rocks. The kids just wanted to chuck them. We had a fun day. oh how I love fall in Ohio!!!

Mom and Kelsey on the wagon. 

Doesn't Kelsey look like she is enjoying it? 

I hope that a bird didn't fly by as 

Jocelyn was going down. 

That would have been bad. 

Jackson having a ball

Ohio fall photo

Throwing leaves at each other

Happy little family

Slate Run Farm

Last week we went to Slate Run Farm. It's a living historical farm from the 1800's. They have crops, farm animals and people dressed in period costume. It is similar to Wheeler Historical Farm in Utah. We had a lot of fun and the kids loved the animals. 

Jackson loved trying to walk on stilts. 

They had two really big oxen that normally pull 

the plow but they were taking a little rest.

Jackson looking at the really big horses. 

Jocelyn and Kelsey looking at the sheep. Kelsey 

though it was neat until the sheep stuck it's head 

through the fence to say hi to her. 

Jackson

On Tuesday, my little boy who has turned into a big boy, started preschool. He has been so excited to start and the day finally came. His preschool is a co-op with three other kids in our ward. The moms each take a week teaching. I am excited about it because I can do a little teaching again, although I think I will have to change my subject matter a bit. Something tells me that these kids wouldn't be too interested in the  geography of China or the Civil War. Besides that, Jackson has been counting down the days of when he started. When I picked him up from preschool I asked him what his favorite part was. He told me the tree house during play time was. I think he is going to a little disappointed next week when it's at our house and there is no cool tree house. 

Jackson giving his best 1st day of school cheese.

"Pirate" Jackson with his backpack that he keeps telling 

me that it's really heavy. It's empty!!!

Jocelyn thought it was her first day of school too. She kept asking 

where her preschool was. Next year Jocey.

Wanted: One friend for Jackson who will race him at any moment and never wants to take a break. Jackson has developed a real need for speed and wants to race anyone, willing or not. Jackson often tell me, "Mom, you need to get your exercise, let's race". Valid point however we are all getting a little worn out so if there are any avid runners out there and want to race Jackson, he is up to the challenge. 

Fruits of our labors

This year we planted a garden. Some from seed and some from plants I bought. The ones from seed all died but this one little pumpkin plant. It endured a lot but it finally gave forth 3 little pumpkins. Sadly one died  but two survived. So this Halloween we will have our own pumpkins from our garden. The kids were really excited about it. Tonight they said goodnight to their pumpkins. I don't know what they are going to do when they find out we are going to carve them!

Two rug rats I found on the corner to pose with the pumpkins. 

Fun Fall Recipe

About 5 years ago John-David and I attended a conference at the Stein Ericksen Lodge. They had this really fancy dinner one night which included Butternut squash soup. It was so good. It was like Fall in a bowl. Over the past couple of years I have tried to make the soup from recipes I have found online. Last night I made it and I didn't think my kids would even want it but they loved it. Jackson ate a bowl once at dinner and then again when dad got home. I have seen recipes for this that include a green apple which look fun too. Maybe I'll add it next time I make it. Give it this recipe a try...you might really like it. 

Butternut Soup

1 tbsp  butter

1 med. onion, chopped finely (3/4) cup

1 sm. clove of garlic, minced

1/2 tsp curry powder

1/8 tsp crushed dried red pepper

2 1/2 lbs butternut squash

3 cans (10 3/4 oz. each) chicken broth, undiluted

1 cup water

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup whipping cream

In 8 inch skillet, heat the butter; gently cook the onions, garlic, curry powder and red pepper until onion is wilted. Pare and seed squash ; cut into 3/4 to 1 inch cubes. There should be about 5  1/2 cups. 

Into a large saucepan turn the squash, broth water and nutmeg; bring to a boil. Add onion mixture and boil gently, covered, until squash is very tender. Remove from heat; stir in Worcestershire and peanut butter. 

In an blender whirl mixture, half at a time and add cream, until smooth. Reheat. Makes almost 2 1/4 quarts. 

Fun FHE

Last night we had an FHE on Samuel the Lamanite. It was the best FHE we had in along time because the kids actually sat and listened!!! It was also pretty fun. We did a flannel board story about Samuel the Lamanite which they really liked. Then we sat our Samuel the Lamanite figurine on our Rice Krispie treat wall and threw our "rocks" or sweet tarts at Samuel. Our figurine participated well because the kids had a hard time aiming at him so he actually "fled" or fell just like in the Book of Mormon. Our kids really liked throwing the rocks at him but their favorite thing was eating the wall. it's a good thing there are creative people out there coming up with these FHE ideas. It makes our Monday nights a little more exciting. 

Our happy FHE participants

Samuel on our Rice Krispie wall.

Our rocks

Enjoying our wall treat. 

Our FHE wanderer