Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday we all went to the Pumpkin Patch at the Roloff Farm...from "Little People Big World."  on TLC. They live just up the road from Rissy and Doc's place.  They were filming yesterday as we were there.  Rissy was excited to see Matt Roloff. The weather was 70 degrees!  I want to go pumpkin picking in THAT kind of weather every year!  We were so lucky.  So, while I can't yet show you pictures of the boys, until this page is secure, one of the really cool features was this little "house" with which they decorated pumpkins in familiar settings.   They had some really cool features that we hope to enjoy next year.  This year, time did not really permit, as we had a goal to pick the best pumpkins, go back to our house and make them in to jack-o-lanterns, eat dinner and just enjoy one another's company.  My home was so full yesterday!  Kids, dogs, grandkids.  We feel truly blessed!

They're Baaack

So, as of my last post, I am short two dogs, but my daughter, grandkids and son-in-law have returned.  Bean I went to see a play called Gossamer, based off the book by Lois Lowry, with whom Rissy and I went to a luncheon.  She is an awesome person and the play did justice to her book.  We took the Max downtown and enjoyed good conversation and the autumn splendor.  A perfect day!  Bean had so much to share about his adventures in Disneyworld.  When we arrived to see the play, the artistic director chose Bean out of the crowd and introduced himself.  I thought that was nice.  We sat and had a drink and snack before the play.  I couldn't have asked for an nicer afternoon.

The Viewpoint Inn

Bean and I went to this lovely little inn following a field trip a few weeks ago.  I decided then and there, that Jeff and I would take the long drive and appreciate the autumn colors. I had requested they save back, or freeze, or in someway get me the butternut squash soup I had when I was there before with B.  I was delighted to find that they did indeed.  It is so good!  The service is amazing, the food beyond ordinary, and the experience is incredible.  This inn was built in 1924 and recently restored.  They did a movie called Twilight, which was filmed there.  Jeff and I were in the room where the last scene was filmed.  Now Jeff and I are planning on seeing the screening as something different.  The little place just over Jeff's left shoulder is the inn.  We are having Dad and Stef over during the Thanksgiving Holidays.  We hope to take them there as well, weather permitting.

We also went to the nearby Crown Point with the dogs, as we are dog-sitting while their parents are away.  We figured that we could put pictures of the four legged kids on line.  We got these picture which we thought were cute and maybe some that you'd enjoy.

A cute one of Abby and Jeff

Trick-or-WHAT!?!

Hi all,

A few things that have been a personal favorite recently was a pre-Halloween party.  Jeff and I went on Saturday night. It was GREAT party, lots of people, our host went all out, met neighbors in a more intimate setting.  We made plans for future get togethers.  Initially, I was hesitant to go in costume, but there was so much work put in to the party I figured I could hardly be a stick-in-the mud.  SO here is our costumes.

What do you think, should I go to school to become a nurse?:-) 

Now there's a scary thought!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN to all.  Hope you do something fun!

Highlights & quotes!

Monday had one really cute memory for me.  The conversation that is indelibly etched in my mind went as follows. Bean "Dizzy, Mommy and Daddy and I went shopping for your birthday while you were with Grandpa and Grandma.  I got you a present for your birthday!"  Diz: "May I have it?" B: "No, you have to wait for your birthday tomorrow." D: When is my happy day?" B: "Tomorrow is your birthday."  Diz throw himself around B and give him a big hug saying "Tomorrow is my birthday?  OH THANK YOU B!"  He as thanking Bean for his birthday.  Cute.

So this week proved to be rather busy and it had so many favorite moments.  Dizzy's birthday was Tuesday.  Rissy invited me to join them for lunch at at Peanut Butter and Ellie's a kids place with peanut butter playdough, a place for kids to draw on the walls, only to find in closed.  In it's place was restaurant called the Laughing Planet.  At this restaurant they have plastic dinosaurs and a variety of other interesting animals. After a while the restaurant cleared out leaving a great quantity of animals.  Upon leaving Rissy asked them to replace an animal on each table, which they did so dutifully.  Then Riss looked up to find the boys crawling in a  booth of a woman trying to eat her lunch...alone...in peace!  They were only doing as instructed... Rissy apologized all over herself.  

That evening Dizzy had said he wanted "chicken and chocolate" for his birthday, neither of which he ate.  We went to Red Robin and he was all freaked out by "Big Red"  he was on our side of the booth.  He could not get to Big Red to give him a hug, so Big Red walked around the booth to help and approached him.  Dizzy would not sit down, and looked around the rest of the evening.

Wednesday, we went on a field trip with the resource center to a candy factory.  This factory happened to be near some local history, so following the candy making tour we went on our own field trip.  I was recapping what we had learned when I asked Bean to give me the architect's name.  He replied "Oh, I just had it, but it was some obscure name." I asked well isn't any one's name going to be obscure until they are published and well known for one reason or another?  His first name was Edgar (fairly common many moons ago) and Lazarus was his last name...seems I have heard that name before :-) 

We took a wrong turn getting to this place.  I know, I know, that is hard to believe with me right!?!  Anyway, we took this turn which led us to a lovely little inn, overlooking the river.  Jeff and I are returning there for brunch in a week or so to take in the fall colors.  This is a white tablecloth, little out of the way place with GREAT food.  Bean calls the hostess over and says "May I have a word with the chef please?"  She was taken aback briefly and went to get the chef.  When the chef came to the table Bean told him that this was the "BEST hamburger he had ever had in his entire life"  The chef thanked him and asked if he was local and where he was from.  One would think this rather precocious little boy would have conversed easily with the gentleman, but after nine years of protecting his identity, and any identifying factors he froze and was speechless for a minute.  The chef kind of looked at him as if to say...it's not a hard question:-)  

Finally, on the way home Bean was commenting on the horses in the field, and their strength compared with the fences keeping them in.  I said that generally speaking most mammals will not challenge their boundaries  once they are established.  Bean quipped, "Hmph, THEY haven't met Diz!"  I couldn't help but laugh out loud!

Thursday, I had a closing appointment with some new parents.  With these closing appointments, I give my client's their photos I shot before birth, during labor, and of the new baby etc. Anyway we were going through the photos and this photo caused my client to get up from her chair crying, and hug me, and tell me what a moment I captured and how awesome I was as her doula etc.  I only thought the photo was o.k. but I am pleased that they were so moved by it.

Dizzy's faves

Diz spent the night for the first time with Grandma and Grandpa.  Bean got some much desired time just hanging out with Mom and Dad.  It was fun save the 5:00 a.m. wake up...for me; Jeff slept soundly 3.5 hours later and yawned all day!  Dizzy is promising to be a water otter, and is fairly intrepid when climbing mountains:-)