Stoney Ridge Farm

Fall is my very, very favorite time of year. I love that we have a yearly tradition of visiting this farm for pumpkins, apples, animals and... donuts! Yes, this farm has donuts! I think I could get used to farm life, especially if it's a donut farm!

Waiting for the tractor... Last year Kaylee was too scared to go near the tractor. This year, she couldn't wait! Hudson is just drawn to anything that's loud, so he was no problem!

It didn't take long for Kaylee to find her special pumpkin.

Hudson can't wait to get down.

Typical... Kaylee likes the cute little ones. Hudson heads off full speed across the way to where all the big pumpkins are!

Our first ever corn maze:

It was all I ever dreamed of, and more...

Again, it's impossible to get a decent picture of Hudson. He's too busy to be bothered. He doesn't seem to care about anything but just going wherever he's going. Occasionally he'll stop, but only when there's some good dirt and rocks to be found.

Time to get mom & dad's pumpkins.

Here's our pumpkin family:

Then we got some apples.

Then it's back to the farm to see some animals.

Hmm....

Grandma K, this one's for you:

They had goats, pigs, chickens, rabbits, ponies, horses, cows, ducks, and peacocks.

This is why I don't usually let Jeff use the camera. Apparantly, this is more interesting to him:

Well, at least one of us thinks he's funny!

Last year a freak downpour forced us into this little bit of heaven. That's when I discovered the cider donuts.

Yummmmmm!!!

The last stop was the playground. I love letting the kids have fun outdoors getting as dirty as they please, then scrubbing them clean in the bath tub at the end of the day. There's just something so satisfying about that!

Kaylee climbed her first tree:

Then back to the car for lunch on the drive home. Hudson passed out about halfway and didn't even stir when I put him down to bed. When the kids wake up we'll have a pumpkin-washing party outside!

***Scratch that... Three hours later and those kids are still sleeping! I guess I'd better go wake them, as much as I'm enjoying this long reprieve. I just went outside and noticed we got a nice chill breeze coming out of the northeast. I think we'll leave the pumpkins as they are and put the kids in a nice warm bath instead!!***

Sweet Surprising Sister!

A few Mondays back I got a call from my sister, whom I like to call "Sister". She surprised me with the news that she was coming out to visit over the weekend! It was SO nice to have her out here. I wish she could've stayed longer, but I don't think my neices would've allowed it! :)

Here are our pictures from a visit to Boulevard park on an evening much like the one in which I forgot my camera. So now I feel better!

Here's my bench:

A view south towards the boardwalk from outside the coffee shop:

Then looking back north:

Hard to get a decent photo of this guy. He's always too busy to bother looking over at me. I must've resorted to saying I had some food for him in this one:

This little cutie is finally being able to pose for us when we ask her to. It's so nice not having to act like something amazing or shocking has just happened so that she'll look over!

This time I positioned the camera down by the rocks he was so diligently looking through...

Oh, I think he found some....

Now for my sunset pictures (in no particular order as you will see)

Oh, Joy!

This morning was the first day of women's Bible study at our church. We are doing a study on prayer using the book The Joy of Prayer by Alvin Vander Griend. The description used at the link I just inserted can't even come close to the richness found in its pages. It was a great surprise that the author of the book came to share the first lesson (in lieu of the 15 minute video that the rest of the lessons will begin with). It turns out that Dr. Vander Griend lives right here in Lynden! What a great opportunity to listen and interact with the author of the study. If any of my local lady friends want to join, you are most welcome. Call me and I'll get you some more information.

Afterwards I took the kids to the Million Smiles park. I was so glad that I thought to pack a lunch. It's just a gorgeous, gorgeous day out here! I also took my sister's advice to keep a little point and shoot camera in the car in case an unexpected need should ever arrive. I was glad I had it so I could shoot this little bit of video. Today I set aside my mother-hen tendancies and let Hudson try going down the slide all by himself... and he did! So here's a little bit of Hudson history in the making for you:

Now my kids are fed, tuckered out, and down in their beds for a (hopefully) long afternoon nap! Oh, joy!!