Fall Fun/Remlinger

A few days ago, one of our neighbor boys asked if he could rake my leaves. That was an easy answer! After he started raking, he was joined by my kids and several other neighborhood children. My daughter even started mowing the lawn. Nice!

 I don't think the determined rakers saw the state of my back yard when they offered to rake.

 They worked hard and completed the raking. I paid them all a dollar. Best money I have ever spent! I never did take pictures of the fabulous results of their raking and now it is too late. More wind and rain have brought just as many leaves down....it is never ending with big leaf maples....

 I offered the rakers pumpkin curry soup, but they weren't interested. Too bad...it was yummy!

 Yesterday we went to Remlinger Farms. It was a rainy, windy day, but we enjoyed enough moments of rain-free fun that the times it was raining, we didn't mind too much.

 My girls are getting a little big for some of these rides! They probably wouldn't have gone on many of them if it hadn't have been for our 6 year old foster daughter who was having a blast on every single ride.

 Jumping in the hay is still a favorite....

 The little roller coaster was everybody's favorite. The girls must have ridden it a down times.

My friend took this picture. I thought it was funny because you can see me behind my kids taking pictures. It was kind of tricky taking pictures and riding the roller coaster at the same time. 

The spectacular fall foliage, animals, and tunnel on the relaxing train ride make it my favorite ride of the farm.

 Picking pumpkins....

 Corn maze...

 Hay ride...

 We saw deer, but I had a really hard time taking pictures of the deer because the hay ride was so bouncy that all the pictures were blurry.

I think it's okay to post a picture of my foster daughter's boots. She doesn't have rain boots, but her snow boots were perfect for splashing in puddles.

School Picture of my Favorite Fifth Grader

The picture of my favorite fifth grader is proceeding by some of her writing. I hope it is readable. The first writing is of the "culture of her family." The second writing is a place she wants to visit...China! Me too!!!

I sure love this sweet, compassionate, imaginative, artistic, creative, and compassionate girl! Erin Joy, I love to the moon and beyond! (And certainly more than chips and salsa....)

Rachel Running

Rachel is really enjoying cross country. I enjoy watching her when I can. She did a great job today...running 14 minutes 32 seconds on a 1.75 course with a couple of "monster hills" (her words...) Great job, sweetie!!

This is a picture of a picture....I paid $10 for a picture that a professional took just because of her nice big stride...not because of her closed eyes:)  She told me she was looking down and concentrating.

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Erin Joy didn't want to go to beginning band. I forced her. I think music is important. She doesn't. I'm grateful and very relieved that she is enjoying it and I don't even mind the squawky, squeaky clarinet music she is producing. It sounds wonderful to me!! Definitely music to this mom's ears!!

School Picture of My Favorite Seventh Grader

I sure love this girl! She is beautiful inside and out. She is a good student, good athlete, and good daughter. I love her more than chips and salsa!!

The Chef and Author

 We have been taking turns cooking. It is fun to help the girls choose recipes and cook with them (sometimes....other times I wish I was alone in the kitchen...) The girls have a couple of children cookbooks including the favorite...a Disney Princess cookbook. We enjoyed fairy godmother magic wands the other day which was really French toast cut into strips.

This recipe for "Pumpkin Face sloppy joes" was a recipe my mother submitted to a church cookbook.  It was quite tasty and unlike most meals, all four of us enjoyed it. I had to take a picture to show my mother that I appreciate the cookbook she gave us and the fun recipe:)

 Erin Joy loves to write notes, poems, and stories. Here are a few pages from her latest book.....

Workin' on the Railroad

Rachel and her middle school band did a great job marching in the Railroad Days parade. I loved their choice of music...perfect for the Railroad Days parade:)

 

After the parade, we enjoyed eating yummy food, browsing booths, and riding one ride. I was glad the girls wanted to ride the same ride so they could be together in a picture:)

It didn't rain during the parade, but it rained while the girls were riding. We weren't prepared for rain and ended up really wet by the end of the afternoon.