Pumpkin Patch

We visited a pumpkin patch with some friends yesterday. We took a nice long tractor ride, got lost in a corn maze (yes, it took a while to get out), played in a corn box, had cider and donuts, picked pumpkins, and just in general had a good time. I managed to not get a picture of all the kids together because they were too busy hanging out with their friends.

Please forgive the entirely unimaginative photo bomb and just enjoy the pictures.

Fire Safety at Home Depot

October is fire safety month so it's fairly easy to find free stuff at the fire stations.  This is also the month when the Home Depot kids' workshop turns into a fire safety workshop. This month there was a fire truck for the kids to explore, several police cars for the kids to climb in (Liam pointed out that the criminals ride in the back behind the screen and found the weapons hanging up behind the front seat), free LEGO kits, hats, pencils, stickers, snacks, a raffle, and a fire plane to build.

The sirens on the police car kept going off in the store, the sirens on the fire truck kept going off outside the store.  It was kiddie heaven. While holding a nail for Gabe at one point he tells me as serious as can be "I'll try not to hurt you, Mom."  Good thinking, kid.  Of course, I forgot my camera but thank you to the Gates police and fire departments for coming out and letting the kids play. They had a blast.

Happy Birthday Katie!

Miss Kathleen turned 9 yesterday.  Which means Alan has officially been in the Air Force for 9 and 1/2 years and I've been driving the big green van for 9 years. 9 years ago the roof of the house suffered damage from a hurricane and Alan flipped out insisting  I pack up the kids and evacuate for the only hurricane out of the 4 that hit us that year that was a big fat nothing. Yes, it was a momentous year that year. (Have I ever mentioned that those months before and right after Katie was born were, um, super fun for me to manage alone.)

Alan insisted we call Katie Kathleen at first. I spent 2 months telling everyone her name was Kathleen. Then he came home and said nope, she's a Katie.  Funny how those things happen.

This year we went to the waterpark to celebrate on Monday (because that is the cheap ticket day right now). I have pictures but  they are on the other computer which is fighting with me right now so they'll have to wait. Dad had to work out of town yesterday and all weekend so we'll have to put off her birthday dinner until our schedules collide somehow.  Katie made her own birthday cake yesterday and let Robert help her. I felt a tad guilty until Alan pointed out that she wanted to do it herself so it's not like she was forced to because no one else would make one.

Happy birthday little lady. Hope you had a wonderful day.

Stokoe Farms 2013

                                                                                                                     Last weekend was the military appreciation weekend at Stokoe Farms so we got free admission for the entire family.  Translation: the only way we could afford to attend.  Combine that with the discounts Bryan gets for working there this year and we had a fun time.  Bryan was able to provide free admission for his Grandparents and a significant discount on lunch for everyone.

Apple Picking

After processing all of the apples last week that I bought from the produce stand, you'd think I would want to avoid apple picking. But we went this past weekend (in the rain) and got a bunch more apples for the next few months.  Yes, apples will keep in the fridge that long if you store the proper variety.  I'll also be making a few more batches of applesauce, pie filling, apples and cheddar, and cinnamon spiced apples.  Depending on what is left at that point, we may dehydrate a few or try apple fruit leather.  It depends on how the week goes.

Robert was here but was hidden by a few older people.

Grandma and Grandpa even treated us to honey crisp apples which I've always refused to buy in the past because they are just too expensive.

Stokoe Farms 5K

Alan and the older 5 children participated in the Stokoe Farms 5K fund raiser run this past weekend. The run raises funds to send live Christmas trees to troops overseas.

This was the second year running for the older two boys and the first for the rest of the kids.  Everyone had an awesome time. Sean came in 11th place or so and everyone finished the race strong.  There are already plans in place for running next year.  No pictures of Sean running because he finished before the folks with the camera but he was there to cheer everyone else on while they finished.

Pictures from our World

Just a few recent pictures from our life lately. Here's  the helicopter Gabe built by himself using the directions in his LEGOClubJr magazine.  If you have LEGO fans in your house, LEGO offers both a regular and a Jr. version of their magazine for free. You have to request a new subscription every two years or so but it's free and all my kid have loved it.

Some of the peaches off our trees this year. This was an awesome year for the peach crop. Sadly the week the kids picked most of the peaches, I got super sick, Alan was out of town, and we were unable to can them.  Truly heart breaking sad to have wasted them.  Seriously. I guess next time I'll try to call a friend to help can them so they don't go to waste.

A special Reese's Pieces snack to go with movie night. You can find the recipe here.

Because we were watching this movie.  I'm liking the idea of themed snacks for movie night. Just might have to try to continue it when possible.

And our version of vanschooling. Or what happens when Mom really needs a break so Dad takes all the kids to karate.