Days with the Dorans

 It was cold- rainy- gray and one of the only moments we didn't have to run to soccer so instead of going on our hayride to get pumpkins, we went to our local barn to just grab the pumpkins they had and get some warm cider and donuts. The kids sat in the same chair they did when they were little! We hadn't gone to this place in years when they hiked up the prices for the kid stuff. The things is- we really don't do any of the kid stuff anymore so local was easy (though I hope to get back to Three Cedars one of these falls for a proper hayride). We met my mom there. She was going to pick up some donuts and cider to head to Danny's and we wanted some for ourselves. The kids had fun watching how the donuts are made while we waiting in the (not too bad) line.  The cider was delicious and really there isn't much better than warm cinnamon donuts in the fall! With a dozen, we each got two which was tasty! The kids got their pumpkins so quick and I r...

So after we left the football game, we decided to hit the pumpkin patch. After all, we had a two soccer games the next day and the following weekend we have games and Halloween Parties so we were cutting it pretty close to the big day. The weather we have had has been unseasonably warm! Shorts and flip-flops?! Sean was so excited and couldn't wait to get on the hayride to choose the perfect pumpkin. We did get donuts and cider too of course! Jeff was less than thrilled to go on the hayride even though he was the one who stopped at an ATM to get cash for the pumpkins... We need to teach him the "fake it until you make it" line. He got on the hay ride with us though. My mom just had hip surgery so no fall family pic for us... (We'll have to get one in her yard or something.) Kind of sad since we have had 15 years of family pics at a pumpkin patch~ beginning when Joe was just a little baby no bigger than a pumpkin. There were lots of pumpkins to c...

It was a cold weekend but the sun was out and it was getting late in the month so we decided to brave the cold and head to the pumpkin patch! We talked my mom into coming with us (tradition is tradition). As crowded as it was, it didn't feel that way. We went on a hayride out to the patch and the kids were off to pick their perfect pumpkin. After the patch,  I took the pumpkins to the car and the rest of the crew got donuts and cider (don't worry... I joined them later).  After that we let the Littles play (a little) on the kid stuff but it was so cold we didn't stay long. I don't think Sean minded... (too much). ;-)

 Finding a time to get pumpkins wasn't easy.  We went after a day of soccer games when we (at least Jeff, my mom and I) were tired and the sky was threatening rain.  We went to Three Cedars Farm (love that place) again this year and heard that our old neighborhood farm was charging for cups this year (more proof we made the right choice by leaving).  When we got to the hay ride, the worker there said the weather radar said rain was coming in so we may want to wait about 20 minutes since it looked like it was going to blow over. We went in the barn and got some yummy cider and donuts to enjoy.  The Littles were so excited they gave each other a spontaneous hug (it was so sweet to me).  Then we found a table where we could all sit and eat and drink. A lot of people had the same idea as us but we found a table.  We looked outside and it wasn't raining. We wondered if we should have just gone out to the pumpkin patch. The kids decided to ...

 We went to the Pumpkin Patch on the most perfect day!  The air was crisp but the sun was out.  It was a Sunday, and Jeff was leading worship at church and Joe had a soccer game.  Jeff left church as soon as it was over to help coach the second half of the soccer game and then we were off.  We continue to go out a bit further from home to Three Cedars Farm, but to us it is well worth the drive! It is still cheaper than what our local farm was years ago.  We paid $5/family to take a long hayride out to the pumpkin patch (the 6 of us + my mom who snapped pictures) and the pumpkins were about $6 a piece.  What was fun was when we got to the patch, the kids just went off in search of their perfect pumpkin.  Jeff and I walked hand-in-hand thinking about how lucky we are.  How perfect the day was.  Joe got a big pumpkin (as always) and of course it was far away but he managed to carry it.  Ali got a cute pumpkin and she als...

Jeff and I had a rare Sunday off from music (church), so we loaded up the kids and after school on a Friday and headed to Three Cedars, our new favorite farm!  We went there last year after our neighborhood farm had prices that were crazy high!!  I'm kind of glad they charged so much because had we stayed there, we wouldn't have made the drive to this place (and we've found a gem)! It was a perfect fall day!  When we arrived at the farm, there weren't too many people there so we had a wagon ride almost all to ourselves (a family of 3 was there too)!  Once we made it to the pumpkin patch, the kids were off in search of the 'perfect' pumpkin!  Sean learned the hard way that running in a pumpkin patch is NOT a good idea.  There were vines everywhere.  Thankfully he learned from his mistake and was soon off (walking) with his sibs. Zach found his pumpkin almost immediately.  It was on the far end of the patch.  He literally took off an...