October 3, 2009

This afternoon, we headed off to our first corn maze. We let Bayleigh be the leader, and although we ran around in a lot of circles, she finally led us out again.



We also went on a hayride . . .



played in the "corn" box . . .



slid down "the pipe" on gunny sacks . . .



jumped hay bales . . .



and filled up on funnel cake.



Bayleigh and I went through the haunted maze, under a full moon, and I thought we were going to have to head back. Bayleigh was TERRIFIED. And you'd have thought I'd have slapped the costumed kid across the face, when I asked him if there was a shortcut out of the maze, for my petrified kid, but the guys behind us, let us join their Boy Scout group, and let Bayleigh carry a flashlight, and we all made it through unscathed (at least for the most part). I think it will be a few more years before Bayleigh is ready to tackle that again.

October 2, 2009

My little guy was being feisty today. If he weren't so stinking cute, he would be unbearable!



And today is Dave and my, 10th Anniversary. He bought me a crepe myrtle, and even planted it for me! Then we headed out on a date (without the kids)! I think this is the first time we've both gotten away for a date night, without one or both of the kids.



We ate at our favorite restaurant, and went bowling for the first time in about 7 years.



Loads and loads of fun! We need to get out and do that more often! Maybe if we practised a little more we could get a combined score of over 100. ;)

October 1, 2009

I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed . . . with all of our end of the month activities behind us, I'm wondering how I will ever get caught up with decorating, classes and dealing with all the upcoming things scheduled on my calendar for the month of October. This looks as good a place to start as any! Our Michigan pumpkin on the front step. Maybe by the end of the month, I'll have gotten around to getting all the Fall/Halloween decorations out of the tote and into their proper locations.



We had a nice front move in this afternoon and it dumped quite a bit of rain on us.



but luckily the sun briefly came out and I finished up my layout for the L.O.A.D. challenge. Day 1:



I think the sun is just beautiful when it filters through the clouds like this.



Especially after a cloudy, gloomy day!

September 30, 2009

Another busy, unmotivated day . . .



the kids, however, were both motivated to help daddy hull black beans before bedtime.

I can remember the days when I too, liked to help my mom hull beans. But, that's been a long time ago.

Today was mom's birthday, so I took over her gift, and then a little later we surprised her with cupcakes and a Honey Crisp Apple from Michigan. Happy Birthday Mom!

September 29, 2009

A beautiful Fall sunrise . . .



a field on the verge of harvest . . .



and a cat up a tree.


The first two were fabulous . . . but after being stuck in a tree all night and several hours this morning, I finally brought out the ladder and rescued Fuzz Face. Hopefully she's learned her lesson! Going up is MUCH easier than coming down.

I spent the day trying to do a little recuperating from the trip, but I think it's going to take WEEKS. UGH!

September 28, 2009

Needless to say . . . after getting home around 4:30 a.m., I slept in a little. My "sunrise" shot ended up being a 9:00 a.m. shot.

It feels so good to be home!

I let Bayleigh sleep in today, and got her to school about 10:00. She was looking SO forward to catching up with all her friends. And I was looking forward to some recuperation time.

September 27, 2009

After we stayed all night at a roach (literally) motel in Lansing . . .



we fueled up . . .



and headed for Doug and Kasi's for brunch.




Eli, of course, was starving . . . but the rest of us waited until it was actually time to eat.




Before everyone arrived, I made a quick dash upstairs, just to make sure we hadn't left anything behind (like big messes that needed cleaning up or Dave's toiletries), and I came upon the bride's paraphernalia laying on the bed with a ray of sunlight streaming across it.



It was just begging to be photographed, and who am I to turn something like that down?!




After brunch the newlyweds opened gifts . . .




and we hit the road, in search of Lake Michigan. Dave drove and I randomly selected a turn-off, in hopes that we would actually get to see part of the beautiful Lake. We ended up stopping at this produce stand to ask for directions . . .



I loved all the brightly colored fruits . . .



and veggies.



And we ended up buying a perfect pumpkin and a bag of Honey Crisp apples for the trip home. We also found that we were only a few blocks away from Lake Michigan, and a little town called South Haven.



The first thing we did was ooooo . . . and ahhhhh over the lighthouse. So we headed on out to the pier.



The lighthouse was lovely . . .



and a super nice couple from Indiana, even offered to take our picture! (Thanks guys!)




It didn't take us long to decide we needed a walk on the beach, though . . .



So we braved the sand, the waves and the seagulls and took a stroll along the beach.




The kids took a little time to unwind on the playground equipment . . .




and I feel that we were VERY privileged to get to visit on the last warm day of the year.



The temperature was dropping, and a cold front was moving in, even as we were getting ready to leave. I ended up driving from South Haven, across Indiana . . .

and into Illinois.



We stopped at the Whistle Stop Cafe for supper (where Eli proceeded to vomit all over the bathroom floor), and then Dave took the wheel for a few hours.




We stopped for fuel in Springfield, Illinois and I was back at the helm. We finally made it to the Missouri state line around 1:00 a.m. . . .

and we switched drivers again at Fulton, around 2:45 a.m. Dave got us home around 4:30 a.m. and we ALL sacked out in our own beds. It was SO good to be home. Though it be ever so humble (and messy), there truly is no place like home.