Complete Randomness and Fall

Fridays are chaotic around here. Well, lately, it seems that every day brings a little chaos with it.

The phone rings the second I sit down, the emails pile up, then it's time for soccer, for dinner, for work. It seems that I should have so much extra time with Little Man being at school every day, but 4 o'clock rolls around and I realize I haven't crossed a single thing off my to do list. Which grows and grows every minute it seems.
But, I did take the time this week to notice fall making an appearance. Even though the temperatures are well over 90 today, there are still hints of fall out there. The leaves have started to change. The pumpkins and gourds are growing.
Fortunately though, the tomatoes are still coming on. I picked two huge containers full this week and now have "sun-dried" tomatoes in the freezer for winter.
Peppers are cut up in the freezer too.
And Little Man is on his fall field trip today. I'm trying not to be too annoyed that there were too many volunteers for chaperones and I couldn't enjoy the day with him. (It's not working so well though.) But I'm hoping he had fun and didn't melt in the heat.
Yay for fall! Now if only I could find a few more hours in the day. I might actually feel like I got something done.

Pumpkin Dip: Easiest Ever

My 5 year old requests pumpkin dip at least once a month. The kid is definitely hooked, but the recipe is so easy that I always give in.

Ingredients:
1-16 oz. container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1-5 oz. pack instant vanilla pudding mix
1-15 oz can solid pack pumpkin
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Directions:
Stir together all but the Cool Whip until well mixed.
Fold in Cool Whip.
Keep refrigerated until ready to eat.
Serve with ginger snaps or animal crackers & enjoy!

Small Talk Six: Falling in love with fall

Today’s Small Talk Six topic is “6 things you love or hate about autumn.” You can answer this with a list of 6 words, 6 phrases, 6 sentences, 6 paragraphs, 6 photos, 6 videos, etc . . .

I love fall. Definitely my favorite season.

Love trick or treating:

Love the beautiful fall skies:

Love trips to the pumpkin patch:

Love the birthdays (including my own):

Love the changing leaves & the chance to play in them:

And the apple pies:

Want to join in? Go here to learn how and to view the weekly list Small Talk Six topics for 2009.

The Pumpkin Patch

Last week, on our way home from our safari trip gone awry. We came across this roadside stand with thousands of pumpkins. It was by far the highlight of our day. GM had a blast weaving through rows and rows of pumpkins, checking out gourds, and picking out the perfect pumpkins for our front porch.

He also thought their donkey, made out of corn husks, was the coolest thing ever. The owners told us that they were getting in an 800 lb pumpkin carving this week. How amazing would that be to see? We may have to make the drive back up there just to check it out.

Fall Fest

I had such great expectations for our trip to the festival today. I must have been dreaming, or just truly crazy. Four adults should easily be able to handle three little ones, right? Hmm...not so much it seems.

We all drove up together, and somehow I drew the short straw (or was blessed with the smallest behind), so I was squeezed between two boosters in the last row of the van. Whoever designs minivans, must assume that only people under 100 lbs and 5 ft must sit in the back, because I knocked my head 3 times crawling in and my butt was numb within twenty minutes.

Then it started, "Are we there yet?" You've got to be kidding me, we pulled out of the driveway not even 5 minutes before. And I have it coming from both sides. That was the mild part of it, it continued on, I'm hungry, I'm thirsty, I can't see the movie, blah, blah, blah. Ending with the dreaded, I've got to pee now! Followed by Little M "GM's going to spray on us, lookout!" and her very own rendition of the pee song. Of course, I'm the only one who could hear all the banter, since everyone else was talking and enjoying their comfy bucket seats (all while I jealously stared).
Once we finally got there, things went much better. The kids played ring toss and did spin-art, we all ate too much, and I came home with my prized fruit salsa (apple this year).

The biggest issue came out of the bathroom situation. There was access to one "real" bathroom and Port-a-Potties scattered throughout the rest of the areas. We are in the furthest section from the bathroom, when GM announces he's got to go again. So I head for a Port-a-Potty, dreading the smell we're going to be faced with after seeing the lines. GM flips, yelling he won't go in them, he doesn't want to go in a hole, and won't go in that "box."

I pick him up, all 45 lbs, and head across the grounds, whispering that he needs to hold it (do not pee on me). What we're met with is hundreds of people standing in our way. I mean, say the word free food, and people are ready to fight if they think you're trying to cut in line. You do not want to get between grandma and her hot dog. Thankfully we made it just in time, and were not left mangled by the crazies who felt we were threatening their access to free food.

Note to self: Next year just let the kid pee on a tree!

Ready for Fall

I've mentioned it before, but I absolutely love fall. It is, by far, my favorite time of the year. It's not just the cooler temperatures, the falling leaves, and the lack of bugs, it everything. It's drinking warm apple cider bought from a little roadside stand. It's wearing sweaters, and carving pumpkins, and fresh fall skies.

Tomorrow marks the official start of fall for us. Every year we head out to this huge festival, and for me, that's a sign autumn is here. The festival is amazing, it's a members only (me feeling superior for exactly one second) event that thousands of people attend. The food and activities are all free, they sell homemade goods, and have games for the little ones.

Needless to say, I am so excited! I can't wait to spend the day making spin art with the little ones (it'll be GM, Little M, and Little C-my 1 year old nephew). I can't wait to stuff myself with fries, chicken corn soup, and cotton candy. And I can't wait to buy some yummy homemade fruit salsa and pick up some gourds to adorn our front porch.

Here's a bit of last year's excitement: