It must be Autumn

Lexi and I took a nature walk the other day.  I needed some Sunday afternoon sunshine, and she needed some space from her siblings. We had a good time looking for colorful leaves, different kinds of pine cones, animals, and flowers. Some of our treasures blew away in the wind, but we still collected a good sampling. We walked quite a ways--2.5 miles or so--and Lexi was pretty tired by the end of it.  Daddy had to pick us up when we were about half a mile from home because Lexi fell and refused to go on.  I still consider the outing a success.

Lexi's preschool field trip to the pumpkin patch was on Monday.  She and Kate had a grand time sifting through corn kernels, going down the big slide, taking a hay ride, visiting the animals, playing on the swings, and picking pumpkins.  This was another it's-fun-until-it's-not outing, but we managed to get in the car just in the nick of time.  It was a good trip.

Fall is definitely here, with cooler temperatures (it froze one night) and changing leaves.  I love the briskness of the morning air, but I'm still glad for warm afternoons.  We are generally letting the kids play longer at night, trying to eke out every minute of good weather that we can.  With new neighbor girls nearby, there are lots of friends to play with and lots of fun to be had.  They can hang out inside all winter. Until then, it's bikes and backyards for us.

Happy fall

I mostly love yard work.  I love the sunshine and the fresh air and the physical labor and the rewards that come from the efforts I expend.  Raking leaves this week has been my only exercise, but the afternoon endorphins have been quite timely every day.

This afternoon I set out to finish the job of raking and bagging the leaves in our yard. Gavin and Lexi had other ideas.  I opted to savor the moment.

After some play time, Lexi went back inside, but Gavin stayed with me.  He was a very helpful, productive worker!  We had a great time together as we put the yard to bed for the winter.

This, that, and the other

I love random collections.  Don't you?

At pack meeting the other night, Tyler did a great job at the Wolf "denner."  He was responsible for reporting his den's activities for the month in front of the entire pack.  I was impressed with his little presentation.  Go, Tyler!

Kate is learning to eat with a spoon.  I am learning to be patient with her messes.  Of all our children, she is least resistant to the wiping of her hands and face.  It's a little thing, but I love that about her.

I took the kids to Cottonwood Creek Park on Friday.  This is a place they often ask to go, so I expected great things.  Tyler and his buddy brought scooters, I brought bikes for Gavin and Lexi, and I planned to push Kate in the jogging stroller while everyone else took off on their wheels.  This park has a great sidewalk around a large soccer field.  I imagined us doing laps for a while, and then enjoying the playground.  The first part didn't work out so well.  Once Lexi petered out (halfway through the first lap), she joined Kate in the [single] jogger for a while.  That wasn't super successful...plus it was really heavy for me!  Then Tyler and Carter took Lexi to the playground and I ran a few laps with Kate.  Gavin had a BLAST on his bike.  That kid has so much energy!  We all eventually congregated on the playground for an hour.  Overall, it was a successful venture, even though it didn't work out like I had planned.

Zach is showing interest in the kitchen.  He made the family breakfast this morning.  I love his bed-head.

Lexi's attachment to Betsy has taken a recent surge.  It's actually a little alarming.  However, I hit upon a strategy that keeps Betsy at home (most of the time) when we leave.  Lexi puts Betsy down for a nap in the doll cradle!  It's perfect.  Sometimes Betsy takes several naps a day.  I also find baby dolls tucked in with blankets and pillows in random spots around the house.  Today Lexi dressed up one of her dolls for church.  She had so much fun in Granny's playroom last week, with all its dolls, the little table and chairs,  and the mini kitchen appliances.  It's fun to see her imagination start to develop.

Don't you wish your health was as awesome as mine?  *sigh*

We have enjoyed spectacular fall weather in Colorado Springs.  The leaves are changing, and sometimes the colors of the trees takes my breath away.  This was the view from our driveway a few days ago.

And this is last night's gorgeous sunset.  I love where we live.

I climbed up the apple tree

When she was in my back yard a couple of weeks ago, my bridal shower co-conspirator offered to help me make applesauce.  My apple trees were loaded and she was confident that with a little assistance, I could do it.  I hedged for a while, but eventually decided that Nancy's kick in the pants might be for the best.  My kids LOVE applesauce, and I always hate seeing our trees' harvest go to waste.  So last Saturday during the boys' swim meet, Gavin and Lexi and I picked apples.

Yesterday I borrowed some equipment, and at 11:30 this morning I started making applesauce.

The apples looked all pretty and happy in the sink.

Then I started chopping, and I remembered why I haven't made applesauce for eight years.  It's so much work, especially with the little apples off my tree.  I had to cut out a lot of bad parts.

The next step was steaming the apples.  The house smelled fantastic, which was good motivation to keep going.

I didn't let the apples steam quite long enough the first time, but that realization didn't come until I tried running them through the sieve and they were too firm to mash.  So those went back in the pot.  I had two large stock pots going at once.  The process still took all afternoon.

Eventually I did churn out some applesauce.  I added cinnamon and sugar, and then bottled it up.  By 5:00 I had made 16 quarts.

My lovely friend Nancy processed the full jars for me because she's nice like that.

And now we have a little store of applesauce...but not nearly as much as I think we ought to have for the amount of effort I exerted.  Lesson learned.  Again.

...

The last time I made applesauce, Zach was three.  He helped.  I remember the experience being magical.  Am I forgetting a few details, or was 2004 just more magical?

I {heart} fall

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came - 

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind, the band.

{George Cooper, "October's Party"}

...

Today's joys:

*Enjoying the breathtaking fall scenery

*Playing a piano duet at church
*Five incredible siblings
(and four incredible siblings-in-law)
*Sitting by a friend in Relief Society

*Waking up from a bad dream
to realize it was pure fantasy
*Lending a hand outside my home
when it was really needed