{take a bite out of...}

I always keep a basket of fruit on my counter, like a good mother should, but in the past it has been in the far corner, and fairly unreachable. This past week I moved it to the center of the island--and this is what I've found...



Hmmmm. At least they didn't throw it away, right?

{fall favorites}

Some things just have to be done in the fall. I think my some of my most favorite traditions happen right now.

1. Cider mill & pumpkin patch

They are aplenty around here, and it's only a matter of trying to choose which one to go to! We always go once to pick pumpkins, and then several other times just to enjoy. We have our favorites, and my MOST favorite in particular is a little over an hour away. It's close to where we lived for grad school, and holds a ton of memories for us. Ryan has been going there since he was 2 years old! So, when we had the opportunity to go there this year, we jumped on it. It was a WONDERFUL day. The weather was nice, the sun was out, and it just felt like fall. We ate a yummy lunch, rode the train and the wagon, walked through a corn maze, watched apples being made into cider, had donuts and apple cider, and thoroughly enjoyed the day. It was perfect!!








2. Something warm...

My new favorite? It's called Autumn Punch, and is very similar to Wassail. Add the ingredients to your crock pot, and not only will you have something yummy to warm you up, but your house will smell divine! I found this recipe at allrecipes.com.

AUTUMN PUNCH

12 c. apple juice
4 1/2 c. pineapple juice
1/2 c. brown sugar
6 T. lemon juice
2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
2 oranges
24 whole cloves

Combine first 6 ingredients in crock pot. Cut oranges into thick slices, then poke 4 cloves into the rind of each slice. Float oranges on the top, then place cover on crock pot. Warm through on medium-low heat, then simmer for as long as you like!!

3. Pumpkins on the porch



I love having pumpkins on my porch, and of course it's extremely traditional across the country. This year I tried something new, and I love how they turned out! They were super easy to do, and gave them a whole new look. For details, check here.

4. Fall leaves & country roads

The roads here are breathtaking. I want to just hold on to the view forever, and wish that the season would last just a little longer. (Not to mention winter is coming, which is a whole other story...) This is the street I live on--



5. Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

What a yummy fall treat this is, and a fall must for our family. A few years ago we decided to try a sweet version of our favorite pumpkin seed recipe, and this is what we came up with. They are sweet, crunchy, and delicious, and DEFINITELY worth the effort!

TOASTED CINNAMON & SUGAR PUMPKIN SEEDS

2 c. pumpkin seeds
2-3 T. butter, melted
cinnamon & sugar

Wash seeds well. Boil seeds in a small amount of water in a medium saucepan for 10 minutes. Spread out evenly on aluminum foil and dry well. Toss the dry seeds in the butter, then coat with cinnamon & sugar. Spread out on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake at 225 degrees for approximately 1-1.5 hours or until toasted brown.

TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS

2 c. pumpkin seeds
1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 T. butter, melted
1 1/4 tsp. seasoning salt (or table salt, if preferred)

Follow same directions as above.

Happy Fall everyone!!!

{liver and onions}

You'd think that was on the dinner menu last night, by the looks of it. In reality, it was just good, old-fashioned Potato Soup. That's normal, right?

I proceeded to asked Kate what things she liked for dinner. Her list? Ramen and Macaroni & cheese. If only I could make those things every night for dinner, my life would be a lot easier too!

However, I do believe in good nutrition (at least most of the time--there have been chicken nugget sightings at our house), but my efforts to introduce a little variety(and heaven forbid, some fruits and vegetables) have produced noses turned up, and downright refusals to eat.

It's interesting though--Kate and Ryan are the picky ones, while little Miss Emma is my fruit and veggie girl, plus everything in between. The girls have been given the exact same food at the exact same time since birth, yet their attitudes about food are vastly different.

So, what's a girl to do? I would love to hear your tricks of the trade, and how you handle picky eaters. I'm certainly not a short order cook, and I will only prepare one meal, but I don't like to see kids hungry, either.

Don't tell me I'm alone, here!

{194 pictures later...}

.....

and just for fun...the girls before church today-

{how twins are made}

We are 10 weeks, 1000 bottles, and 1000 diapers into their lives, and I am the luckiest mom ever!

In other news...

-Jack has an inguinal hernia, and will be having surgery on October 23rd. I know it's a fairly routine procedure, but I still worry about him being so small. Wish us luck!

-They officially slept through the night last night! From 10pm-8am they were asleep in their beds...and so was I. I'm really hoping it's going to be a trend. I feel like I can do anything when I have sleep.

-Ryan is playing the cello! He just got his instrument yesterday, and I love to see him so excited about it.

{it's good to be prepared...most of the time}

The boys had their 2 month appt. today. Preemies are measured on the same percentile scale as a full-term baby, so it can take them awhile to "catch up". At their first appointment, they were both in the 5th percentile across the board. At 6 weeks, they were about a pound apart. Today, at their 2 month appointment? They are now 2 1/2 pounds apart, and Henry is pushing 13 pounds (80th percentile across the board)! There is a reason we call him "Hank the Tank", and Emma has dubbed him (all on her own) "Bubba".

My first thought? All those darn clothes sitting in the drawer, all the same size, that I bought on clearance...thinking I was saving money by buying ahead.




I'll let you guess which one is which...