Hayride

Two Fridays ago both of the kids had the opportunity to go on a hayride. Xander's was his first field trip that I desperately wanted to attend, but they won't let you chaperone if you have other children with you, so I wasn't able to go. However, my bible study had a hayride scheduled at a local farm, so Jordis and I went to that.

When I went to get Jordis out of the car I saw that she was wearing flip flops after I had told her to put on socks and shoes. The mom in me thought I should just let her stay that way so she'd learn a lesson about following directions, but the police wife in me figured someone would probably call Children's Services on me if they saw my 4-year-old out in flip flops when it was 42 degrees. Luckily we got there early enough that I had time to run home and grab her some socks and shoes.

I know, right, you're still not believing I was early somewhere.

We each got to pick two Indian corns and one pumpkin.

Someone was pretty feisty most of the time.

Then we had a potluck.

Junk food makes everything better, doesn't it?

The pumpkin patch

Last month I took the kids to the pumpkin patch we typically go to, so today we decided to try somewhere new. Living close to some rural areas is nice because it gives us multiple locations to choose from. The first thing we did was go on a hayride.

Then we navigated our way through an 8 acre corn maze.

After the maze we went to the front of the property where the kids jumped in an inflatable, sat on some tractors, grudgingly posed for pictures, and picked out a few pumpkins and some homemade black raspberry preserves.

After leaving we decided to go check out a new BBQ restaurant that came to town. I didn't want to go there because I hate that their name is Dickey's, but Jason wanted to try it so we were going to go get something and take it home. Turns out that kids eat free on Sundays if you dine in, and they also have free soft-serve ice cream. So it ended up being pretty economical.

The kids even sat next to each other without fighting. It wasn't amazing food, but it was good enough that we'll go back. Especially if it's somewhere that the kids will cooperate. We had such a fun time!

Pumpkin Patch

It's that time of year! The pumpkin patch is open. They kindly open early the first day for families with children who have autism and we always have such a great time. Jason couldn't go so I took my mom. We got in line for the hayride early so it wasn't crowded, and we had the whole ride to ourselves.

I love my little man's eyebrows!

They enjoyed lots of other fun stuff, too.

It was such a great time the kids are already asking when we can go back with their dad. It's one of their favorite events of the year.

Musical Moments

The kids felt tortured had the opportunity to go to two concerts this past week. On Sunday night after Jason's softball game we took a picnic to Alum Creek Park in Westerville to listen to British Invasion. We first heard them last summer at the balloon show we went to where Jordis was really showing off her far out dance moves. It was a nice night and we thought the kids would have fun. They complained the whole way there but once we got some food in them and it was time to leave, they decided that they were having a good time.

On Thursday night Jason had to work so my mom accompanied the kids and me to Gallant Woods Preserve to listen to some steel drum music.

Xander wasn't keen on this event, either, but we did the best we could. BaDee tried to engage the kids in some dancing and we also let them take turns using the camera.


We also took them on a walk through one of the paths.


Since we had to park across the street we also got shuttled back and forth on a little hayride, which the kids loved.

Along the way we saw a deer and they also liked this windmill.


A trip to the library netted the kids some books about bears and sharks, and movies about manta-rays and crocodiles. They also painted birdhouses.

Can't to see what this week holds.

Maple Syrup Festival

Yesterday my mom and I took the kids to the Maple Syrup Festival at Camp Lazarus, which is a local Boy Scouts camp.
First things first we went on a hayride pulled by horses. Jordis and my mom got to sit up front with the driver. Xander sat with me.



Then we went to throw a tomahawk.

Next we ate some fry bread that was cooked outside in black kettles.

We were covered in sugar and cinnamon.


After our snack we did some stamping of leather.

Then off to some Indian dancing where Xander unwillingly became part of a skit. The Boy Scouts were nice and came and apologized to him afterward since he was upset about it. They also gave him a feather as a peace offering. I have some pictures but they're kind of blurry since there was movement in all of them. After that Xander helped make some rope.

Playing on the obstacle course.

Our final stop, the Sugar Shack, where they convert sap to syrup.