Golden and Orange and Autumn

We had a fun-filled autumn weekend. With a teacher work day on Friday we took the opportunity to head to a local corn maze. The owners claim that this is the largest corn maze on the east coast. It's pretty awesome. This year's design is of a bunch of hot air balloons with Virginia historical and college logos on them. We decided to tackle the hour long maze which included finding 14 trivia stations and a puzzle at the end. After the maze the kids ran and climbed on a hay mountain and we caught a hay ride. Just a perfect afternoon.

 Later in the weekend we ended up at a local nursery to pick a couple of pumpkins for the kids to carve. They had a great selection and decent prices.  It didn't take them long to pick out some great ones. Since they were still in their church clothes I even got a few cute pictures of them finding just the right medium for carving. Jeff tends to wander towards the taller skinny pumpkins. Erin always likes the rounder ones for her jack-o-lanterns.My rule - you must be able to carry your own pumpkin. This is never an issue for the boy, but Miss Boo tends to be a little over zealous with the heavy ones. She got lucky this year that I wouldn't LET her carry her pumpkin in her church dress so that wasn't an issue.  The Boy, on the other hand did a great job lugging his selection around the store.




This year we made it through our carving night without losing power to a hurricane. Erin found a design online for a kitty and Jeff tried to copy a simple Angry Birds face. Both turned out really cute. I was especially proud of Erin as she did almost ALL the carving on her own as well as scooping the guts. She was asked to change out of her Sunday clothes at carving time, and she reappeared wearing a tank top, jean shorts and a kids cooking apron. I couldn't help but burst out laughing at the difference in apparel.

While the kids carved, dad cleaned and separated the seeds for roasting. I even got the chance to carve my own night scape pumpkin with a moon and stars. Never too old to carve a pumpkin.

She's a daddy's girl

She's a daddy's girl. Always has been. She will almost always choose to hang with her daddy, cook with her daddy, brew with her daddy over cuddling with mommy (that's my boy). Daddy's a goofball and she eats it up. Only recently have there been a few "daaaaads" making their way into conversation.

Last night was one of those moments, something silly happening as we were grabbing burgers for dinner. If I remember correctly dad was stealing her peanuts. She spouted out with her daaaaad (remember she's 10 -- OMG she's 10!!!).  T continued with his usual smile and questioned her, "I hope you'll still talk to me when you're 13."  The following conversation ensued.

E - Sure.  If I can FaceTime you.  (Tom's dinosaur phone has no FaceTime)
T - As long as you talk to me.
E - I will.  Can we message? (The dinosaur does have messaging capabilities)

Me - breaking into conversation - Just where do you think you will be living when you are 13?

E - shrugs her shoulders, pops a fry into her mouth.

I'm wondering if she really understands what's coming to her. Not sure if she thinks that she will be at college when she is 13. Or locked into her room? Apparently though, the only access we might have with her will be through electronic devices.

We try hard to make sure that she knows we are here for her. I tend to still take the brunt of the 10 year old drama so daddy being there is desperately important. I'm the one who ensures that homework is done, teeth are brushed, rooms have an access pathway to the door, the trumpet is practiced. Daddy makes her laugh. He cooks with her. He teaches her to juggle and play table top miniature games. He patiently coaches her soccer team.

He generally jokes with her about "I hope you'll still talk to me when you're a teenager."  I'm thinking we're in pretty good hands (as long as he upgrades his dinosaur within the next 3 years).

 

Back in time

We finally got back in time again this year (AKA the MD Renaissance Festival). For a while we were going every year, but the years got busy and we've missed a few. So last weekend we got together with Noni, Grandpa Donuts and Uncle Jon for a trip back in time.

It was a beautiful, if a little warm, day. Erin decided she wanted to get her hair braided. Finally it's long enough to really hold a pretty braid. Since it was hot, she picked out one that was completely up. It definitely suited her.

Before she got to see it herself.

We spent a lot of the day wandering between shows. There were a few musical groups that the kids really enjoyed, a group of singing sirens known as Sirena, and some drumming and piping Germans, Wolgemut. This is the first year that the kids have really, really been into the shows, especially the music. Erin was totally engrossed by Sirena and when Wolgemut finished their first show she begged to come back to the next one.We also caught several comedy shows including a crazy wire walker, some dagger throwers, a sword sallower and sword play act. We also finally made it to one of the jousts.

Of course there was lots of food on a stick, fried food and sweet treats (and adult beverages for the adults). Jeffrey purchased a new sword,which he sadly shattered 2 days later, and found a place where he could practice his archery skills. Erin used some of her money to ride an "Authentic" Renaissance elephant. Clearly not at all authentic, but how often does one get to ride an elephant.

"Authentic" Elephant

Archer at work

Last but certainly not least there were the bubbles. Lots and lots of bubbles. It's always my favorite part of the day. Watching the kids with their bubble wands.  The sun shining on their faces through the bubbles.Their eyes sparkling with true childhood.  Bubbles are magical, won't convince me otherwise.

Beautiful bubbles

Smiling through the bubbles

Such focus

So the magic of stepping back in time had not been lost at all. Erin has already picked out the braid she wants to have next year, and Jeff is preparing to save his money for a better sword. We are so blessed to have family who find our quirky taste in fun to be enjoyable and are able to spend a day together unplugged from the iPod and DS and just enjoy the Faire. Until next year!!