Pumpkin Carving ~ 2017

Perfect weather. Fleece hats, cordoroy pants, and sweaters.

"Daddy, carve it just like this!"



Surprised every year.



Noticing bits of fall in our own backyard.





Using our time together to capture a few















And then we came in to watch 'The Dog Who Saved Halloween'



We ate Apple Cider Chili in the family room.

1 T flour
1 t allspice
1/2 t pepper
1/4 t garlic powder
1 lb stew beef, cubed
3 T oil
1 to 2 c apple cider
2 T catsup
3 potatoes, peeled, chopped
2 to 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 onions, chopped
Optional: 1/4 c flour

Place flour and seasoning in a large plastic zipping bag; shake to mix. Add beef to bag, a few pieces at a time; shake to coat. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and brown beef; drain. Stir in cider and catsup. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer for one to 1 1/2 hours, or until meat is tender. Add vegetables; simmer an additional 30 minutes, until tender. If a thicker stew is desired, make a paste using 1/4 c cooking liquid and 1/4 cup flour; stir until smooth. Slowly add to stew; cook until thickened.

And then feasted on apple pie in the kitchen.



(and then after bedtime I got to work for my 4th grade class)

Baking

My new favorite cookbook



ALWAYS my favorite thing to do

Fall

Last weekend the leaves had just turned.  And it was glorious.  I never tire of it and actually feel surprised each year.  I don't know how that is possible since I've had 44 New England falls.  But it happens every year.



Leaf covered paths. Running with the crunch under her feet, through the colored tree maze.





I love when the color reflects off water.





She loves nature as much as her mama. We crave it in the fall.



And her school tree always gets a visit.



And a hug this year since it's her last year in that school.





But by far, the prettiest leaves are the ones I see right outside my window.



Because that means I am home.

Pumpkin Patch ~ 2017

"We would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most." 

Life Lately

It's Friday night.

10 on the dot.

Abigail is upstairs sleeping.

I'm sitting at the dining room typing. Half asleep.

Scott and Anna are here at the table with me. Working hard on geometry. She's a freshman in honors/college course. It's really hard. As in homework on Friday night, Saturday, Sunday. Allll weekend. I'll sneak her off to the pumpkin patch though, don't worry.

This week was a doozy. And wonderful. And overwhelming. And exciting. All rolled into one.

I am up at 4:30 am. After I get home from teaching 4th grade I am only mama. (they call me mama, always have) Dinner, some evening they have activities, desserts, showers... Then after Abigail is tucked in at 8 (on the dot) I start.

Just like now. At 8:01 I'm at the dining room table. With Anna. And Scott. And honors geometry.

Except that now instead of blogging every evening I'm planning for the next day, answering teacher emails, creating centers, planning.

I love it. I love teaching. I love everything about it.

So I work from 8-11 each night. And then I fall into bed.

And get up and do it all over again.

There are so many many things that are wonderful about our new schedule. I love that when I'm home after school and the evening I'm just with Abigail. No school work.  I love that my late (while I'm working on planning) evenings are with Anna while she does her homework.

I adore my day in the classroom. I have the sweetest class ever! And I've been stretched in more ways that I could imagine. My brain explodes with ideas. Sometimes there is not enough time to make them happen as soon as I want to. But man oh man when I get the chance to make a new cute center, or bulletin board, or game I'm oozing joy. I've learned that I have to be patient with myself. I can't do it all in the first year. Baby steps.

I still bake. I still take a ton of pictures. I love how they slow down the moment. Reminding me that there are still wonderful little things are still happening in our family. I just don't have the time to do as much as I used to. And I'm okay with that.

Our little family (and extended family) have pitched together in ways that I could not imagine. We've grown so much these past two months. And I can feel God's fingerprints all over it.

Life is good. And full.

I still notice the beautiful sunrises. And run for my camera.



And rolling out my homemade dough feels oh so good.



Baking pumpkin chocolate chip muffins make my heart happy.



And watching me mound up the apples for a pie is glorious.



She eats the topping that doesn't make it on to the top.



And us gathered around the kitchen table talking and laughing is medicine for my soul.



Yes life lately is more than I could have imagined.  It doesn't mean that it's easy.  Mothering and teaching together is really really hard but it is just where I'm supposed to be. 

Off to sleep with pumpkin patch afternoon dreams in my head. 

The Fair

We went to a fall fair last weekend in our favorite fall town.

(I wrote about Riverton back here)
(And it was one of our Christmas Getaway weekends back here)

Riverton is like stepping back in time.

Even the drive there is so so pretty.  Parks all along the way.  Leaves just staring to turn.



Loved this old house on main street





You can tell that their fair is their towns pride and joy.



It's small (just the way I like it) but with all of the fall fair fun you'd expect. Like bunnies.



Crafts



and games



and rides, oh course rides!



Prized pumpkins



And this along the town's edge. So picturesque.





At dinner time we got our hands stamped, left the fair and went to their amazing restaurant... Sweet Peas! Yes, there was so much food at the fair but eating at a fair is too tricky for us with all of Abigail's allergies. We brought special (from home) baked goods for her dessert at the fair later... and so Anna could have dessert fair food.. but dinner was just too complicated.



Sweet Peas (we'd eaten there before) was amazing!



The best part of the day was walking back over to the fair for an evening of rides and games. Abigail sipped all the way from Sweet Peas!

I love when I catch that sparkle in her eyes.



From the top of the ferris wheel.



I love watching his smile when he watches his girls.



That one (smile) is my very favorite. I'm pretty much sure it's reserved for his girls.



It was such a fun day! It was special to me because of how much our life has changed. I loved letting to this day and just having FUN with my little family!