Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Darker days, colder nights and sweet memories

There just have been too many pumpkin smiles to count this fall. My love for pumpkin patches and all things pumpkin certainly took over our lives this past month as my family and I traipsed around various farms and fields in search of the most perfect pumpkins and vilest looking gourds.

One particularly ambitious afternoon I managed to wash, gut and carve all three of the boys pumpkins in one sitting as they hovered over my steady sawing and directed all my incisions. It depleted all my focus and determination for the next week, but nonetheless, I did it.
When all was said and done, I felt like I accomplished a day's work in one afternoon. Before me sat three different pumpkin faces, two batches of roasted pumpkin seeds (one burned black..so I guess that doesn't count...) and two loaves of pumpkin bread.
Now to clean up the mess.
I'm going to need some candy corn.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With the time change now, it really feels like fall.
Darkness penetrates large portions of our days. The hardest part is getting used to after school in the dark. By 4:30, the kids are wandering around asking for dinner and I'm asking for bed!

Gone are the long afternoons at the sunny pumpkin patches and cow train rides.
Cow train magic!  A Patton Pumpkin Patch tradition!


All aboard!



Pumpkin magic
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In other news...Evelyn lost another front tooth. She came into the car recently after school and casually commented that she pulled out another tooth during class. Hmmm. Why does a child who supposedly is terrified of her wiggly teeth at home suddenly decide to yank them out at a school?!

I have some theories here.
1. She waits until school to pull it out because she gets more recognition and a prize
2. She sees her friends at school who have this really cool techie watch. It reminds her how much she wants to continue to save up for that watch and decides that pulling her teeth is easy money. 


Teeth. The new investment strategy.



Another curious decision in our household recently has been our boys sleeping in boxes. Levi and James  decided one night to forgo their beds and instead sleep together in a rather large shipment a box. 
It was all giggles until they realized there were one too many people to get comfortable. 


The rain held off for Patton Trick or Treating 2018. After a somewhat blustery and cloudy Halloween day, we were delighted that by night fall we could walk the neighborhood without carrying an umbrella or running for cover.

Iron Man, Captain America, Flash and Miss Kitty Cat were able to satisfy their sweet tooth and journey through the neighborhood, dodging dark shadows and creepy house cats. 
 We had a large trick or treating caravan this year; in addition to our family of six, we had John's parents and my mom! Those kids sure have a fan club!



Yes, my Mom came for a weeks visit, staying just long enough to trick or treat with the kids. She was able to see Evie's last soccer game (and trophy ceremony) 
Another trophy for showing up

She spent an afternoon at the pumpkin patch, played countless hours of make believe and "Mother May I", sat in the back of the car, and listened to Evie as she practiced reading her chapter books. 

A definite highlight for Evie was that my mom and I helped out in her classroom  on Monday. Evie was so ecstatic to see us both. She ran right up and gave Grandma a huge hug, holding both of our hands as she walked proudly down the hallway. This kind of excitement for Mom and Grandma at school will only last so long, so we are going to embrace it!

Overall, the fall has been wonderful. 
I find myself pausing a lot during the day and noticing the beauty because it is just so magical. I never want the changing seasons to be something I zip past. 

One day my family and I  were walking in the woods and there was a fallen log among leaves. I stopped right in my tracks because the colors were just so stunning.  The wood and leaves looked like they were electric, glowing radiantly. I simply couldn't take my eyes off of this. Pictures don't do justice. 


SO Onward, onward we march...toward darker days and colder nights... and handprint turkeys and little pilgrim hats!  
James is already excited about the pumpkin pie. 


No comments:

Post a Comment