Enjoying Fall

Well, we enjoyed it yesterday anyway.  This morning, when I went running, it was 57 degrees.  It is now 44 and falling.  I think that we said goodbye to the last of our Illinois fall weather yesterday!

The kids have been playing outside all week, no coats, even in short-sleeved shirts!  Today, they are in winter jackets, hats, and gloves.  I guess it is that time of year.

Yesterday, I finally got around to taking the kids to Tanner’s Orchard, a yearly fall highlight.  However, we usually go in October because that’s when the place is decorated and has lots of critters to feed and pet.  In November, this isn’t so much the case.  Not only was much of the playground equipment put up, but also some people were literally loading up one of the pens of goats to take away to market!

Of course, part of this process is tagging the goats’ ear, so Charlotte and Elijah were feeding the remaining goats and llamas to the sound of angry goat screams as ears were pierced.  (It sounds kind of like a really mad baby.)  When we meandered over the playground, the first thing Charlotte cried was, “Where is the school bus?!” 

Every other time we’ve visited, there has been an old school bus with a crank handle door opener into which kids can crawl and pretend to drive.  No such thing this year.  Nor was there a hay maze, which the kids always enjoy.  Since Tanner’s was still someplace more interesting than being at home, the kids wanted to stay and play, but, when we left, Elijah said, “Usually, when we leave, we say how awesome this place was.  But it just wasn’t this year.”

Lesson learned…it’s probably a good idea to go to Tanner’s in October, during peak season!  While a broken leg and crazy schedule didn’t allow an earlier visit this year, I’ll definitely make an effort to schedule one next year.

In any case, I wish I had taken my camera, as it was the baby’s first visit, but I forgot in the mad rush to get to co-op that morning.  I did get to buy my yearly gallon of unpasteurized and yummy apple cider and dozen apple cider donuts.  The kids picked a bag of kettle corn for their Tanner’s treat this year, and we got to sample all kinds of things.  (The kids especially liked the fudge.)  Maybe I’ll do a bit better next year!

Now, I’ll hop back to a little bit earlier this fall…Halloween!

We started Halloween weekend with what has become a yearly tradition for one or more members of our family:  the Germantown Hills Fire Department 5K.  I ran it last year, and Jeff and I both ran this year.  Charlotte would like to run it next year.  It was pretty chilly that morning, in the upper 40’s with a brisk breeze, but I guess I always prefer that type of weather to hot!  Here we are before the race started.

I ran the race in 28:19, a full minute slower than last year, so we didn’t bother sticking around for the awards ceremony.  Besides, the kids had to be a Christmas play practice by 10:00, so we really didn’t have much time to spare. 

Imagine my surprise when I came home to a message that I had finished second in my age group and that there was a trophy waiting for me at the firehouse!  Here it is.  We keep it in a good place in case we need a weapon handy.

However, lest you think that I am the Speedy Gonzales of the 30-39- year-old women, we found out when the official results posted what had happened.  As with last year, I again finished fourth in my age group.  However, the first two finishers in my age group finished first and second overall, and the fire department only lets people take home one trophy at a time.  Voila!  I got a second place trophy.

I still think it’s pretty cool.

The fun continued that afternoon when we finally got around to carving our 2010 pumpkins.  (Better late than never, eh?)  The kids picked patterns out of a book that my mom had given them, and Charlotte actually carved her own this year!  Elijah still served in a more advisory position to Jeff, who is the pumpkin maestro.

And here are the finished products.  Charlotte did the spider, and Elijah picked the dragon.

Then came actual Halloween day.  Our village doesn’t have designated days or hours for trick-or-treating, so the Halloween festivities started at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, when the first ambitious trick-or-treaters rang our doorbell!  Our kids were already in costume, but we had told them that we weren’t leaving until closer to 5:30.  Jeff, again, walked the ‘hood with Charlotte, Elijah, and Jeremy, while I stayed home and passed out candy.

Here is my family, all ready to go!  We had a detective/secret agent, a ninja, and a grumpy baby elephant!

It was a nice evening, so we had lots of trick-or-treaters and lots of people passing out candy.  The kids cleaned up, and I tried something new this year.  I told Charlotte and Elijah that they could eat as much candy as they wanted on Halloween night.

So, they did.  Poor Charlotte was sick to her stomach that night and part of the next day, but both kids claim it was well worth it!

Here’s a quick Halloween side note.  We did dress Jeremy up in his bumblebee costume for our small group party.  Here he is, coming and going.  Too cute!

And I think that takes care of Halloween!  Next up, if all goes well:  our vacation to Branson.  Have a great weekend!