Weekending Into Fall

Now that I'm home after some traveling, we're all feeling better (Magnolia was ill last week, and then got her first ear infection since her tube surgery...not pleasant), and we've checked some house chores off the ever growing list, we were ready for a little bit of fall weekending...it looked a bit like this...

Listening to music, getting faces painted, and doing some hiking at the 

Fall Festival at Virgil Phillip's Farm

The Clearwater Corn Maze

What's more fun then a corn maze, a Vandal corn maze??

After lots and lots of begging, we finally headed over to Uniontown, WA to the 

Dahmen Artisan's Barn. 

A barn surrounded by a fence made from over 1,000 wheels, and full of the work of local artisans.

In addition to browsing the local art, I of course forced my children into letting me take some photos...

And then we settled in at home.

With books in hand, in front of our first official fire. 

HAPPY FALL FRIENDS!

Officially Summer

Poolside...refreshing!

If you sneak a peek at those ears you'll notice a little something purple and sparkly!
Yes, she finally convinced me that "I AM SO BRAVE NOW! I can do this Mommy."
Why the hell not?
And she was brave.
Sparkly, purple ears...cool!

Pals over for Mommy/Daddy date night swaps...awesome.

So much time outside...bliss.

Wild Girl

Magnolia's new BIG interest is everything Native American...or is it American Indian now....?

We've been listening to A Tribe Called Red all weekend, dancing, hunting buffalo, gathering any "nature" lying around the house, fishing, and beading. She has even narrowed down her birthday theme to a "Wild Child Teepee Party," which we'll be celebrating in McCall this year with all the family there!

 And of course, if a new interest makes the cut as a birthday party idea, it tends to stick!

So here it is...

  the next six months of my life....

River is always up for whatever that sissy has in store for him;)
They are truly each other's best playmate.

Lego Maniacs

Zac returned home from a recent trip to Boise with an entire suitcase full of his childhood legos. It appeared to me that he was as excited to dig in and start constructing as he hoped Magnolia and River would be.

And of course they were ecstatic, especially River. 

They have been busily building ever since.

Thanks Daddy!

A little bit of courage and LOTS of fun!

Happy Solstice!

Okay, everyone knows we get a little excited about the changing of the seasons...

and somehow our seasonal celebrations just keep getting bigger and more exciting each year... and I love it!

River making tangerine/clove play dough for friends and neighbors

Caramel cookies and play dough ready to go!

Stringing food for the birds.

Mr. Snowman

Solstice cheers, with their "kid champagne" brought over by neighbors!

There was lots of falling into snow (and some tackling)  followed by giggles!

River and Griffin's side of the snowman.

Mag's snow angel.

Climbing snow mountains!

More falling... More climbing....

Thanks friends! Thanks neighbors! Until next year...

Happy Winter Solstice!