Halloween block party

We love our neighborhood.  You couldn't ask for more friendly folks, and there are always little kids out playing in the cul-de-sacs every day.  One of our favorite annual events is the halloween block party, which was held last weekend (thankfully) before the snow and ice struck yesterday.  Claire stuck next to her best bud Cameron most of the time.  Tyler had no choice but to tag along with his big sister -- not cool, but the other babies didn't judge him. 

Getting good photos of these guys is impossible! Here they are checking out an older kid's "scary" ghost costume.

 Then they decided to hang onto their hats for some reason?

Tyler just gave up and started picking grass.

This is the best shot I could get of our two! (Tyler is sullenly tearing up a leaf.)

Here's the whole lot of them:

Tyler spent some time all by himself in the bounce house.

And here's Claire giving me a cursory flash of teeth on our way to the party:

A gorgeous fall hike

We visited the Catoctin mountains this weekend, about an hours drive from our home.  It was so worth the drive!  The mountains were covered with beautiful shades of red, orange, and gold.  I'm bummed that I didn't get any vista photos, but here's some great ones from our hike under the colorful canopy:

Never too many pumpkins

The kids and I went to another local pumpkin farm last weekend.  Alex and Helen met us at Larriland Farm, and the cousins got to pick out pumpkins and play in a hay maze together.  The babies literally got their first "tastes" of pumpkins as they slobbered and teethed all over mini pumpkins.  It was a perfect afternoon, topped off with tasty kettle corn and apple cider.  I could do this every weekend! 

Here a pumpkin there a pumpkin

Before I share pictures of our trip to the pumpkin farm, I must share some very good news:  Brian has finished yet another home project.  The deck and gazebo are stained!  It has been many months of hard work and tedious waiting (for blocks of good weather), but the end product is beautiful.  With that said, I hope the next time around he will agree to pay someone to do the job.  It is very very time consuming!  Unfortunately Brian missed out on a fun trip to Sharp's Farm over the weekend.  Aunt Jane joined Tyler, Claire, and I in our little adventure which included a hay ride, pumpkin-picking, animal-feeding, and a picnic.  The good news is that we will most likely visit another pumpkin farm this coming weekend, and this time Daddy won't miss out!

An exception for donuts

Brian and I are bagel people.  We've made our daughter a bagel girl.  On weekends, Claire wakes up and sees that Brian is not running off to work, and she says "Daddy I want bagel!"  They hop in the car and make a bagel run.  Claire easily polishes off a blueberry bagel on the ride home. 

Maybe it was a family thing, or a tradition thing, but I grew up eating donuts by the dozen in Oklahoma.  It was the indulgent breakfast item of choice.  (I don't think I even knew bagels existed!)  I made the switch to bagels sometime during college.   The major swaying factor being the cream cheese, but whatever, nowadays I don't even HAVE to have the shmear.  Although it is preferred.  Of course.

Aaaanyway, today we made an exception and had donuts.  Not just any donuts....apple cider donuts!  We stopped at a pumpkin farm and apple orchard on our drive back from Sesame Place.  After admiring all the farm animals, doing the corn maze, and gawking at all things pumpkin, we just had to see what the long line at concessions was for.  I have to say, those donuts were spectacular!  Claire gobbled hers down lickety-split and declared "I like it Mommy!"  She washed it down with cider, saying that she liked it also.  I'm awfully glad it's only the first weekend of October.  We have many more opportunities to hit up other cider mills and farms in the area.  : )

Tyler lounged in the stroller, hidden in warm layers.

The goats have a huge jungle gym that they can climb up and walk on. 

                                              


Our favorites were the itty bitty goats!

Here is a crazy conveyer belt feeding system for the goats at the top of the jungle gym.

Couldn't resist a snap shot of these piggy bottoms...

Claire's attempt at acting like a chicken:

I was so relieved when they made it out of the corn maze.  It was alot bigger than I had expected!

Mmm donuts!