Bills Berry Farm

On Friday, we went to Bill's Berry Farm with some family friends.  In the past, we've always gone to the same pumpkin patch every year.  But this year, we decided to give another place a try.

I am so happy that we did!

There were so many things to do and see.  It was a great time!

At Bills, they have a weekly Autumn Festival during this time of year.

During it, they have BBQ burgers and hotdogs, and freshly made pumpkin doughnuts.  Oh my.  So delicious.  Like, I could have eaten a dozen myself, delicious.

The kids rode horses, which is not something Elin or Carson had ever experienced.  When Tayler was young, 2 years in a row she rode the same horse, Midnight, at the fair.  She talked about it for months afterward.  She was a little less excited about this horse riding experience, but she was a good sport.

Tayler didn't ask her horses name :(

 There was a hay pyramid, which the younger kids LOVED. 

 And an apple sling shot which Tayler really loved (and ended up doing like nine times!)  You won a dozen of the awesome doughnuts if you got your apple into a target.  Tayler tried so hard to get it, but never did.  One of the people we were with did though.  It was really fun.  There was a corn maze, which ALL of the kids thought was really fun, and a small "train" that went through the farm with kids on board.

Then it was time for what we'd all been waiting for!!  The great pumpkin hunt!!!

 

As you can tell, Elin was kind of excited about all of the "baby" pumpkins she found.  We did end up letting her and Tayler each get a big pumpkin, and a baby so they could put them in their bedrooms.  Carson on the other hand, was only interested in getting a huge one.

After the farm, we headed over the Carrolls house (one of the families we went with) for dinner, s'mores and carving.  Luckily, we decided to do all of the pumpkin work outside, next to a small fire.  By the end of the night, there was pumpkin and marshmallow EVERYWHERE.



Our booty

Tayler carved her own pumpkin this year.  It turned out very cute

I carved Elin's pumpkin as she directed me. "Triangle eyes mom!"

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE this time of year?



Autumn Weekend



Carson, pumpkin choosing 2010



The weekend is nearly here!!!  I am so excited!  To start with, fall is in full swing!  If you know me at all, you know this is my favorite time of year.  Hands down.  Then, if that isn't fabulous enough, we're doing our annual pumpkin patch visit.  This year, we're scoping out a new patch.  One we've never visited.  I'm very excited.  Word on the street is, this place is amazing.  So, I'm hoping we'll enjoy it as much as we've enjoyed the Country Mercantile in years past.





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After the patch, we're heading to some friends house for dinner and carving...which I have to say, I cannot wait for.  I might be more excited than my kids.  I just love pumpkin carving.  And, to do it with friends while also roasting marshmallows for s'mores?  I just can't really think of a better time.

ALSO, in this fun filled weekend, I'm planning on painting a dresser for Miss E.  It's a Craigslist find (aren't those the greatest?), and isn't in my possession just yet (the meet is planned for this afternoon) but I'm hoping it all works out because I have something beautiful planned.  Here's sort of what I'm thinking....



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Gah!  Have you ever seen anything cuter?  Well, maybe I have too...but I think it's pretty darn cute.  The dresser I'm getting won't be identical to this, but fairly similar.  And I think it will look darling in her room. 

We have hockey pictures for Tayler, a soccer game for Tayler, and other weekend-ly things to do as well.  And I'm just excited to spend time with my family.  And I think, just to round out this glorious fall weekend, I'm flirting with the idea of making these...

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Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins.  Um, yes...I'll take 3.  I think they look, and sound, like a little pillow of heaven.  And I bet, they'll make the house smell amazing!

So, here's to Autumn!  Bring on the pumpkin-spiced everything!

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Happy Birthday, Mom



My mom with her nephew/my cousin Chris 1977



Today marks the 54th anniversary of my Mother's birth.  And oh how thankful I am for that day! 

My mom was the 3rd daughter born to Doug and Betty Sansom on October 8, 1959 in Pasco, Washington. 



she's the sweet baby girl being held by her big sis

Anyone who knows my mother knows that she is one of the most generous, and selfless people on earth.  She is ALWAYS willing to lend a helping hand to someone in need.  She would give the shirt off of her back to almost anyone, and the amount of compassion / empathy she experiences for anyone who crosses her path is remarkable.

My kids adore her.  They ask about her all of the time, saying "When can we hang out with Grandma Shanna?"  She's a lot of fun, and she loves them like crazy.  There is no doubt that they feel that when they're with her.  And it's not just my kids.  ALL kids love my mom.  She shows love and caring to every child she comes in contact with, and they all leave adoring her.




My mom with a baby C



I love my mother very dearly.  There almost isn't a day that goes by that I don't speak to her.  Just to say hi, and check on how she's doing.  I feel very lucky to have such a strong relationship with her.

My mom and I, celebrating her birthday a few years ago



Train museum with Elin Dec 2012



Easter 2013



 

We have our disagreements.  No doubt.  Often, it's due to our opposing opinions on particular people. She has compassion for days. Weeks. Always giving people the benefit of the doubt.  Taking into to account their past, as a possible explanation for they way they are.  She believes people are generally good, and befriends even the people who are difficult to like.  Even people who've wronged her, she refuses to bad mouth.  I think she learned this from her dad.  Always finding the good in people, and trying to focus on it.   




My mom and I, Leavenworth 2004

 

I love this woman so very much.  I do not know where I would be without her.  She reminds me that there is good in this world.  And that we are all fighting a tough battle.  If there were more people like her on earth, this place would be a lot easier to navigate.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

Thrifted and Lifted

I am not certain what has gotten into my sister and I as of late, but SOMETHING certainly has.  In the last couple of weeks, I'd say she and I have visited various Goodwills and second hand stores in our area, no less than 6 times.  This might be a normal occurrence for some.  It just wasn't for us.  And all I can ask myself now is "WHY THE HECK NOT??"  Holy treasures.  We have found some beauties.  But, I'd like to share my largest, and most exciting!  So, without further ado, I present to you, E'S NEW TODDLER BED!!!!

(we refrained from purchasing the cool Barbie car on this trip)

The price was $18.99.  I asked the store employee if I could buy just the bed, without the mattress, for a lower price.  NO, was the answer to that.  This had only been put on the floor in the last few hours, so they weren't budging just yet.  Even still, the price was nice...and I decided it was solid wood, it was sturdy, and I could quite possibly sell the mattress on Craigslist. (she'll be using the mattress we already have in her crib) So, with the assistance of an employee, (who may or may not have made my eyes water with the aroma of cigarette smoke)we got the beauty into the back of the van.

I decided while looking the piece over that it would indeed need a paint job.  At first, I thought I'd just re-paint the entire thing white again.  Giving it a face lift and restoring it to it's original beauty.  But then my sister had a brilliant idea!  We headed straight for Home Depot where we decided on this:

(insert shrieks of excitement!!)

This, my friends, is Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch 2X in Seaside Spray Gloss.  I really, really, really like this color.  I was a tiny bit nervous about doing an entire piece of furniture this color when I was buying it, but at under $4 a can, I decided to give it a try. 

I got home, and unloaded this little darling as quickly as I could.  I used an Allen Wrench to tighten all of the loose bolts.  It took only minutes, and just like I suspected, made this bed as solid as can be.  Then I took a sanding block and started roughing up the existing paint of the bed.  It was messy work, and a little bit tedious, but I wanted to make sure that the paint had a nice, clear surface to stick to.  After giving it a quick wipe down with a damp cloth, I was only a short drying time away from getting started.  Seaside Spray, here I come!!

I laid out a sheet of painters plastic and got to work.  I stopped after only a few minutes to snap this next picture because I was so excited at how it was turning out.

I just light coats, keeping the spray can moving the entire time to avoid drips.  It took me three, two and a half coats to get the coverage I wanted (the last coat was mostly touching up the spots I could still see a peek of white through), and I gave it a good hour of dry time between coats (like the can suggested).

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten the bed set up in E's bedroom yet. I wanted to give the paint a good 48 hours to dry, and I have been working, so this week will be when we will be moving it upstairs and setting up for her.  I am very excited!  Now here's to a weekend of teaching her to stay in it all night.

WALLA WALLA

Yesterday, Brian had to do some business in Walla Walla...so, we tagged along!

Twins

Happy Holidays