More treats than tricks!

 Schaeffer was the 'counter' at school during circle time

 some of Schaeffer's friends from school

 patiently waiting for games to begin

 the beautiful girls of CLS 4 year old class

 all the kids of Mrs. Kern & Mrs. Kableman's class

 did someone say candy?!?

 the jack o'lantern the kids carved

 Schaeffer tearing it up in the bean bag toss

Rapunzel turned into sleeping beauty

 Great Grandma Jean & Schaeffer Jo

 GG reading SJ her Halloween card

Griffin & Schaeffer leaving for trick-or-treating in the neighborhood

It took Schaeffer many hours of deliberation to decide what she would dress as for Halloween. After much back-and-forth, she finally landed on her beloved Rapunzel (which was convenient for me, as we already had a Rapunzel costume in our dress up bin!). 

As you can tell, Schaeffer's teachers--against their better judgment--allowed me back into their classroom, and into close proximity to small children. Small children with limited sight lines due to large masks, and with significant issues walking due to the floor length hem line required to be a princess. 

Alas, if you hop me up on enough skittles, laffy taffy and nerds, even 4-year old Halloween games can be enjoyable. Or almost. 

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

 Schaeffer Jo cleaning out 'her' pumpkin

from Papa Doug's patch

 separating the 'guts' from the seeds

 it's a job for the daddy/daughter duo

 all clean & ready to carve

 Schaeffer Jo draws the face & Griffin carves

 dangly 'guts' from Griffin's pumpkin

 snap! off with the stem

our three little pumpkins-cute as can be

this is the verse that came home on a jack o'lantern Schaeffer Jo made at school this week:

I am a Jack O'Lantern

My lights will shine so bright

For I'm a Christian pumpkin

My symbols tell what's right.

The story starts at Christmas

My eyes are like the star

That shone on baby Jesus

and wise men from far.

My nose is like the cross

On which our Savior died

To set us free from sin

We need no longer hide. 

My mouth is like a fish

The whole wide world to show

That Christians live in this house

and love their Savior so.

My color, it is orange

Just like the big bright sun

That rose on Easter Day

Along with God's own Son.

And so on Halloween

Let's set our pumpkins out

And tell the trick or treaters

What God's love is about. 

An apple a day--makes applesauce!

Schaeffer's teacher, Mrs. Kern, helping a student cut up the apples

 the kids waiting for a turn to peel their apple

 Schaeffer's friend Livvy peeling her
apple while SJ cheers her on

 SJ using her 'big muscles' to peel her apple

SJ cutting her apple into small pieces to
be cooked down into applesauce

For a brief time, when I was younger (translated: 12th grade), I thought I wanted to be a teacher. Thankfully, taking part in a student teaching co-op promptly changed my mind. There was far more paper work and details and math and spelling and children than I had initially realized--and decided that despite the really amazing schedule (read: summers off!), it just wasn't worth it. I am not cut out to be with children that are not biologically related to me. 

With that said, I must have had a momentary lapse of judgment when I agreed to be a 'room helper' for applesauce day. Schaeffer, her friend Livvy and I arrived, apples in hand, ready for the festivities to begin. I quickly realized that my puny little peeler would do little in fending off the masses of children, that that I should have in fact purchased an industrial strength and sized apple-corer-peeler with a built in child repellent, just for survival purposes. 

With that said, no one lost a digit, and I can't wait for the Halloween dress up party. 

Papa's pumpkin patch!

 autumn is here!

 Papa grew this pumpkin just for her

 love all the twisty turny vines

 Papa & Schaeffer Jo searching out the best pumpkins & gourds

 she's got another one

 curly-ques

 the pumpkin pickers

 plus two furry friends

 bumps and stripes

 we're going on a nature walk!

 oh no! not that stick, it's poision ivy!

going for a four-wheel ride

'Pumpkin Day' is one of my favorite days of the year. It makes autumn official, which also makes it officially almost my birthday. Which, obviously, is one of the best days of the year. 

It hasn't been said, but I think Doug did not in fact plant the pumpkin patch for the grandkids--as he has claimed, but instead, planted them for my sweet husband. It is not that Griffin likes pumpkins--he doesn't have a particular love for the bulbous orange vegetable. Except, of course, the seeds--which he is impartial to when roasted off with lawrys seasoning salt. 

With that said, I believe that the patch was planted for Griffin so that he could appease me. Yes, that logic does make sense when you really think about it. Inevitably, every year, 'pumpkin day' leaves me feeling pumpkin envy. 

Not this year. I had pumpkins & gourds to my fill. I've got pumpkins falling out of my window boxes. I have pumpkins lining my walk. I've given pumpkins away. I have gourds overflowing in my house. And, there are still more. I could still go pick more, anytime I want. And, I might--tomorrow. 

I couldn't be happier. And neither could Griffin--and so, I maintain, the pumpkin patch--all for Griffin.

Rockford Harvest Festival

 we're going on a hayride!

 the weather couldn't have been more beautiful for a harvest celebration

 pretty horses

 my baby--who doesn't look so much like a baby anymore

 my sweet sister, her honey & Hazel

 what are the chances of getting 3 sets of eyes?

p.s.: Happy Birthday, Aunt Gayle!

Schaeffer Jo and I ventured to Grand Rapids for the day--with the intention of walking in a fundraiser for HIS (health intervention services) in the morning, heading to Art Prize for a few hours in the afternoon, and then capping off our day by celebrating Aunt Gayle's birthday at Red Lobster. 

Well, our day pretty much imploded before it began, when we woke to 30 (ish) degree weather. We still haven't unearthed the boxes that contain winter clothing, so gathering enough layers for SJ was quite the feat. Once she was adequately layered to ward off even the abominable snowman, off we went for the 'big' city--already a few hours behind. 

We made it to the walk by noon (not 9:30 as we'd hoped), just as everything was wrapping up. We walked around town, delighted to find that Rockford was hosting a Harvest Festival. It was great fun taking the kids on a hayride, popping into shops, and enjoying the frigid crisp fall weather. 

All in all, we had a really great day, it was wonderful to celebrate Aunt Gayle's birthday (even if we arrived to her party also late). I'm so thankful that we live close enough to family that we can just hop in the car and spend the day together.