Pumpkin Patch 2014

Well, this week has proved to be an interesting one.  Sickness just seems to be invading our home for the last few weeks, and I am sick and tired of it.  Late Monday night, C started running a fever, so I stayed home from CC with her, and the Hubs took B.  But she was feeling better by Thursday, so we were able to go with our CC group to the pumpkin patch for a field trip.

I adore the pumpkin patch, so I was so glad that she was feeling better and everyone was up for the trip.  For just $5 per person, we got a hay ride, all the jumping castle fun we could stand, a new water pump game, and a mini pumpkin.  It's pretty hard to beat.  Other items included in the price that we did not do were a spooky trail, a corn jumper, and a cotton jumper.

So as soon as we got there, we snapped a picture among the gorgeous sunflowers while we met up with our friends.  I was thrilled that it was actually cool enough to need a jacket--but that didn't last long.  By the time we left, it was pretty hot.

Then we snapped some pictures among the pumpkins while waiting for our class's turn on the hay ride.

Before hopping on the hay ride, the kids enjoyed playing this water pump game.  Each pump was connected to a track make of PVC pipe.  You put a little rubber duck in front of your water pump and you could race the ducks with the other pumpers.  B could have played this game all.  day.  long!  He loved it!

Then we got on the hay ride.  Mr. Glenn our driver taught us all about how pumpkins grow, taught us some of the different names of the various types of pumpkins, and showed us what the inside of a pumpkin looks like.

After the hay ride, the kids took another turn with the water pumps, jumped in the jumping castle, played on the playground, and ate a picnic lunch.

I do enjoy some of our fall favorites, and the pumpkin patch is definitely a fall favorite.

Five on Friday {Fall Edition}

Those who know me well know that I absolutely adore fall.  All thing autumnal just make my heart sing.  I love the cool weather that leads to snuggling under a warm blanket with a warm beverage.  So here are my top five fall favorites.

Pumpkins

I have a bit of a collection of pumpkins that I display each year from September until Thanksgiving when I pull out the Christmas decorations.  Most of them are corn husk pumpkins like the ones in the picture, but I have a few others that I love to sprinkle about the house as well.

Mums

I have a VERY brown thumb--if I buy any sort of plant or flower, it is pretty much a death sentence for said flower.  I don't buy many plants because it's just a waste of money, but I always get yellow mums every fall to set outside the front door.  (I use the excuse that I am supporting educations when I buy them from the high school my husband teaches at when they sell them as a fund raiser.)  As you can see from this picture, my mums were already getting a little brown by the end of October last year, but I love them none the less.

Gourds

I don't go all out with the gourds, but I do grab one of those mesh bags of gourds from the grocery store and pile them up in a bowl for a dramatic, fall centerpiece.  They are just so much fun!

Fall Festivals

September and October are the season for carnivals, fairs, and festivals of all kinds.  They are very kid-friendly, but as an adult, I love them too!  My kids look forward to them every year, and for me they just symbolize the ushering in of fall and the holiday seasons.

Pumpkin Patch Visits

So, my first item made it pretty clear that I adore pumpkins.  That means that visiting a pumpkin patch is basically like the mothership calling me home.  We have an absolutely fabulous pumpkin patch about an hour from our house, and the kids and I visit every fall.  Some years, the hubs will join us!  They have jumping castles, boiled peanuts, sunflowers, a corn cannon, hay bales, hay rides, and more pumpkins that you can count.  I look forward to the visit every year and can't wait to go with the kids this year.  And lucky for me, they love it as well.

So there you have it.  My five favorite things for fall!  Happy fall, y'all!

Be sure to link up your own Friday Favorites:

Momfessionals Recipe Club {Italian Chicken}

Well, both kiddos are sick at my house--B started running a fever Saturday afternoon, C's fever started Sunday afternoon.  After trip to the doctor Monday, my suspicions were confirmed--it's a virus that we just have to wait out.  It's no fun, but it could be worse.  I am thankful that 95% of the time, my kids are happy, healthy, normal kids.

So with that being said, Monday meant laying around a lot after the 45 minute drive to the doctor, the hour at the doctor, and the 45 minute drive home.  When it came time for supper, I wanted something quick, easy, and good.  I had seen this recipe (if you want to call it that) on Pinterest ages ago and have meant to try it several times, but my plans always fell through.  Well, it all came together yesterday, and I must say, I was surprised at how delicious it was.  And, seriously it doesn't get any easier. 

Like I said, I found this recipe on Pinterest, but it didn't have a name.  Since the only ingredient in it aside from the meat and sides is an Italian dressing packet (and butter), I have decided to call it Italian Chicken.  Are you ready for the easiest weeknight dinner ever?

Italian Chicken

6 chicken breasts
1 lb (8-12) new potatoes, quartered
2 cans of green beans
1 stick of butter, melted
1 packet of Italian dressing mix

Lay the chicken in a row down the middle of a 9" x 13" dish.  Drain the green beans and put them on one side of the dish in an even layer.  Put the quartered potatoes in an even layer on the other side of the dish.  Pour over the entire stick of melted butter and sprinkle over the dressing mix.  Bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Yep, that's it.  So.  Easy.  And let me just say, the potatoes came out soft and flavorful, and the green beans were amazingly zesty and delicious.  But the chicken, heavens to Mergatroid, the chicken--it was tender enough to cut with a spoon and absolutely scrumptious.  In spite of feeling a little under the weather, B ate his entire plate of chicken and beans and wanted more.  (He does NOT eat potatoes, no matter how I present them--unless they are a french fry or a tater tot, of course.)

Grab the short list of ingredients for this easy supper, and make it on one of those busy nights when you need something quick and delicious for your family!  Enjoy!

Splash Party for his 6th

B's sixth birthday party was celebrated today with a splash party, and it was a HUGE hit.  We made it a joint party with one of B's best friends I.  I and his family will be moving to Chicago in a few weeks, and I knew that between traveling to look at houses and trying to keep their own house clean and ready to be showed by a real estate agent at any minute, they didn't have time to throw a party.  I was going to be planning a party anyway, so why not include I and just let them help with the cost.  I mentioned it to his mom and dad a few weeks ago, and they thought it was a great idea.  So I started moving forward with a joint party, and it was lots of fun.

I started with the invitations which I found on etsy along with the cupcake toppers and favor labels.  I waited a bit too long to order them, so I barely got them out in the mail before the party.  But they were super cute.

inv pic

The precious couple that teaches the kids' Sunday school class at church has a side business renting those fun inflatable slides and bouncy houses.  When I spoke with them about renting their water slide, they gave it to the boys for their party as a birthday gift.  It was so unbelievably kind of them, and I have a treat up my sleeve for them. 

 

Yes, that's JuJu standing in the pool at the bottom of the slide.  That is the only way C would get in.  She is not a fan of the big water slides.  So with the entertainment taken care of, I moved on to the food.  I kept in extremely simple--even more so than in years past.  We picked up Hot n Ready pizzas from our local Little Caesar's and I ordered cupcakes from the Wal-Mart bakery.  I added some chips, grapes, and carrots with ranch as side items.  And of course I served ice cream with the cupcakes.

I kept it simple with the decorations as well.  Just plastic tablecloths and balloons.  Our church was generous enough to let us have the party on their property, so we pulled a few tables and chairs out and set up a small eating area for kids and parents.

The only real effort I put into the party was for the favors.  I made sugar cookies and decorated them with royal icing to look like beach balls.  This was my first time dealing with royal icing, and it was a royal pain.  haha  I don't plan on doing it again any time soon.  But they came out cute.

I set the favors up with my chalkboard sign, and left room on the table for the "gifts" that everyone was bringing.  Since I's family is getting ready to move halfway across the country, and we need another toy in the house like I need a hole in the head, we asked that all friends bring a book that we could donate to our local library in honor of B and I's sixth birthday.  So people piled up their books on the table with the favors.  I plan to put a little label in each book and drop them off at the library in a week or so.  We got well over 20 books to donate!

After playing on the slide for about an hour, we called everyone over to pray and eat.  I's dad said the blessing and I snapped the sweetest pic of the kids praying.  Then everyone ate, and it was time for cake, ice cream, candles and the singing of "Happy Birthday."  All the kids headed back to the slide as soon as the last candle was extinguished.  Water slide trumps cake apparently.  Who knew?

Aside from the fact that both of my kids got their first sunburns of their lives (parenting fail), this party could not have gone better!  Happy Birthday to my sweet boy, B, and his precious friend, I.  We sure will miss that whole family when they move!!

Baking with History

So far we are LOVING Classical Conversations!  I think reviewing his memory work everyday is B's favorite part of the school day.  The second week of CC included some memory work involving the Pilgrims landing in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  I had seen a really fun Plymouth Rock cookie on Pinterest and decided to give it a try with the kids.  I was skeptical, but they came out perfect!  You can find the recipe and directions here.

Ours don't look exactly like the ones I saw on Pinterest, and I'm sure they would have looked better if I had had some sort of number stamp for marking the year, but they were super fun and the kids enjoyed eating them!

My kids love anything that involves baking and/or cookies, so of course this was a hit.  I love doing activities like this that make his memory work more memorable. 

How We Celebrated Our Birthday

So B and I had a wonderful birthday together.  Here is how we celebrated.

We slept in (as late as my early risers will actually 'sleep in') and then went for an early lunch at our local hot dog place.  We spent a lazy afternoon at home napping, and then we headed to Albany to do a little shopping and have dinner at Mikata's Japanese Steak House.  This was a first for the kids, and while B loved it, C was unimpressed.  The chef did some magic tricks for B which he loved--as did I.  They brought out the requisite pineapple quarter, sang that awkward birthday song in Japanese and took our picture (which I can't find). 

Then we got home and B insisted on wearing the Angry Birds pj's that he had gotten from Aunt H earlier that day.  He was so proud of them.  Then there was a Daddy Pile Up in the living room before bedtime.

 

It was a wonderful day spent together with family.  We will be celebrating B's birthday with a joint party with a friend from church next Saturday.  I have a lot to do between now and then!!  I love sharing my birthday with this sweet boy!

Happy Birthday, B!

I can't believe my sweet B is six years old today--and that I am 32!  Without exception, he has been the best birthday gift I have ever received!  I love you with all my heart, baby boy!

 I love looking at all these old pictures of my first baby.