What are you thankful for?

Each November our family focuses on gratitude.  To symbolize our gratitude we make a tree and every year it turns out a little different.  To make the tree this year we started by writing down 20 things we were thankful for on different pieces of paper.  Once we were all finished writing we took turns reading our strips.  Afterward we made individual chains that were hung on a tree branch chosen from the woods behind our house.  This tree will remain up in our home until we start decorating for Christmas next weekend.  Hopefully until then it will serve as a reminder for us to have an attitude of gratitude.

Can you make the pile bigger Daddy?

Since the beginning of November our family has been busy.  Tim was gone hunting for 9 days in Nebraska and the girls and I enjoyed some bonus time with my mom while he was gone.  Since his return last weekend we've returned to our regular weekly routine of school and gymnastics.  This weekend we were able to do a couple of extra fun things.  Last night we went to the play Annie at Grand Rapids Christian High School.  (Imagine how many times we heard Leah singing "It's a hard knock life" today).  This afternoon  Leah and Elizabeth played in a big pile of leaves after asking Tim to make the biggest pile he can.  Then tonight the girls went to their gymnastics gym for dinner, craft, and bouncing while Tim and I went out to eat and ran some errands. 

Are you ready for a hike?

Earlier this fall the girls and I went with Tim's mom, my nephew, my niece, and her friend for a hike up Mt. Pisgah.  The weather was perfect. I'm not sure how far we hiked in all.  The 250 plus steps to the top were a bit steep, however the kids managed to run up without much trouble.  The view from above was beautiful and worth the effort.  It was a neat hike and one that I would definitely do again. 

Can you do a trick for a treat?

This year for Halloween Leah dressed up as a black cat and Elizabeth was a strawberry.  While Tim was off hunting my mom and I took them trick-or-treating.  Our first stop was downtown Grand Haven.  The past few years it has been busy, but this year with the construction it was almost impossible to move from store to store.  The girls managed to fill their pumpkin bags with a few goodies and enjoyed looking at all the different costumes.  When we returned home they helped pass out candy to the few neighbors who came into our cul de sac.  Then once it was dark the girls and I walked to the limited homes on our street that had lights on and even managed to drive to a larger cul de sac further down the road.  In the end the girls came home with a large load of candy and really enjoyed the holiday.     

How patient are you?

Fall is an exciting time of year and waiting for Halloween is tricky.  So every year in October Tim and I try to teach patience to Leah and Elizabeth by making a pinata.  This 5 day creation process requires a lot of work and patience, but each year it has proven to be worth the wait.  Instead of filling the pinata with candy I bought Halloween related clothing and stuffed them inside.  The girls had a blast trying to hit the pinata and were excited to find the clothes inside. 

How many pumpkins did you pick?

The month of October is almost over and I am behind with my posts.  School has kept me busy (I'm also taking an online technology course), but so have the fun fall activities that we do every year.  It has become a tradition to make a trip to the pumpkin patch at Post Family Farm.  While the real reason we go is to pick pumpkins, the girls enjoy riding the pumpkin train, the ponies, and the zip line.  The weekend we chose to go was packed with people for a festival sponsored by 5/3 bank.  The wait in line for the hay ride was long, but moved quickly.  We were dropped off in the corn field and ventured through a maze to the patch.  A lot of the pumpkins that remained were rotten or teeny tiny, but Leah and Elizabeth didn't seem to mind.  By the time we left we had 6 pumpkins (2 large and 4 small), a dozen donuts, a gallon of apple cider and empty pockets.

Should we go apple picking?

The past couple of years during September our family has gone apple picking.  This year the month came and went without a trip to the apple orchard and it bothered me.  So, early this week after work and school we made the trip to Crane's orchard.  It was a gorgeous afternoon and there were very few other pickers.  Last year we were able to pick Honey Crisp (our favorite), but this late in the season we had to settle for Jonagold and Golden Delicious.  We found some huge apples and the cost was just right.  Leah thought the trip was quite short, not realizing that 4 people can only eat so many apples before they spoil.  I think she would live on apples alone if we allowed her too!  It was a fun family night and I'm glad that we went.