Autumn 2014 Rewind

Yep, 2014. 

 

Just in case you thought I was on top of things.  Here's some evidence that you are mistaken. 

 

Evelyn's fall surgery, follow-up procedure and recovery, were the beasts that swallowed all things productive in the fall of 2014.  I've also been processing through La Dolce Vita, trying to discern where it is headed, and how to mesh my desire to write more with the life scrapbook that this has been for last eight years of our crash course into parenting.  I no longer want to post every family experience, as I just want some experiences to be ours.  But, I'd love to share highlights, and not posting fall tradition pictures was nagging at me.  So I give you some Fall 2014's sweetest memories...

 

Apple Picking 

Tasty fall treats





 A little 40th birthday (gulp) Downton Abbey genius from the Cake Boss hubs.



 

And a very Brady seventh birthday for this sweet one,

 

who also scored a big art and writing prize for a piece about keeping oceans clean (be still my nature loving heart).

 

 

 

Corn maze on Mark's birthday

A crazy sweet "princess" father/daughter dance

 

 

 Halloweening

 

 

Pumpkin Patch

 



 

Grandparent Time

Thanksgiving

It's so crazy how life keeps rolling.  How fast it goes.  But these, these are my people.  I want to hold tight to these memories.  These moments that were special, but still passed so quickly.  They remind me to be present, to be grateful and to let everything go that stands in the way of making more and more special moments.  Fall 2014 was as special as it gets. 

Oh me. Oh my. They're the Apple of My Eye.

 

 

These people. 
Oh me.  Oh my.  They're the apple of my eye. 



A Very "Pooky" Halloween

The girls had quite the Halloween.  They told "pooky" stories, carved a jack-o-lantern and did some serious candy collection in two neighborhoods. 

These are some of our favorite costumes yet.  Meow. 

Full size?  What, what?

Candy, candy, candy!  Give me some candy!

Trick or treat, perfectly decorated house. 

Reenactment of the green witch induced TURN and SCREAM!
After hitting up all of our new neighbors, we did our annual trick or treating with pals.

Thankfully, the Wicked Witch and Dorothy called a truce for the night. 

Stick around, childhood.  You are awesome. 

Picking Time

If I had to choose, I'd say Honey Crisp.  Golden Delicious and Granny Smith are pretty good too. 
Apple picking makes fall complete.  We've picked enough to know what varieties are the favorites, and we've had so much fun at the orchard every year.  We know that a Saturday in October means a trip to the mountains. 

Throughout the year, the littles always say that this tradition is one of their top ten. 

There's just something about it. 

We walk from row to row, seeking fruit perfection.  Filling our bags to bulging. 

And when daddy says our fruit picking is up to par, we entertain our fall loving selves with the rest of the festivities.  From putt putt

to taking in some clogging with your bud. 

 There are tractors to climb on and pictures to be taken. 

And we all know that when the leaves start falling, the pigs start racing.  Might as well cheer 'em on. 

Some of us get a wee bit more excited about this than others.  Some of us even sweep the "random" pull the winning card and end up being cheered on by the crowd bit. 

Family victory, Hayden, Angel and Daniel.  Nice. 

Equally as thrilling as racing bacon are giant wheeled bikes and tube slides all over the farm.

Of course, we round out the day with pillow hopping and rooster riding.

Once home, we baked up some "Apple Betty" and Claire kept the sweetness going with some schooling.