Leaf Raking Fun

Elli wanted to take my picture as well.

Look at that smile:)

Love her little face. She was having so much fun.

Ready-set-go! She did this over and over and over. Oh the fun of splashing in leaves. Look at that facial expression. Do you remember the last time you ran into the leaves with pure joy and not a care in the world?

Craft and Pumpkins

Elli very carefully chose where to place her leaves.

Trying to iron the wax paper to make a place mat of her leaves.

She couldn't risk geting dirty:)

She was using the knife on the inside while daddy was using the knife on the outside.

Elli was very excited to make her leaves into a place mat, but sadly it didn't work. We will try again, but as of now, it was a good idea gone wrong:) She also had fun carving the pumpkin. She liked scooping it out and she also loved the knives! Uh-oh.

Happy Birthday Matt

Taking turns being wrapped up like a hot dog! Elli is tickling Papa's toes:)

Laughing and playing with Aunt Heather and Leah.

Leah made Matt's choices for dessert instead of birthday cake. Yummy Key Lime Pie and Chocolate/strawberry cheesecake. Delicious!

The gang getting ready for the Bengals game. Good thing they won on Matt's special day!

The cheesecake! That Leah is crazy:)

Barnes and Noble

What kind of cookie did we get?

Strangely, it looked like a Christmas cookie? She didn't mind, it was still delicious!

Yummy, whipped cream on top!

And here it is, the hot chocolate "mustache."

Elli and I went to Barnes and Noble to get a free hot chocolate and cookie after our picture taking session. She was so excited. After our "coffee" as Elli called it, we looked at books. We walked out with one of my favorite books from when I was a child, "Harry, the Dirty Dog." It was a 50th Anniversary edition. Elli "read" it all the way home and couldn't wait for me to read it to her. She liked it too! How fun to share those memories with her and make new ones!

Photo Shoot

There was a professional photographer taking pictures of a girl while we were there. Elli wanted to get her picture taken with the girl, but I convinced her that since we didn't know her, it wasn't a good idea. So, she decided to do her own posing, similar to what the girl was doing. (I think maybe she was getting senior pictures)

Cox Arboretum

He wanted us to let him in. We think he was cold, so Elli decided he needed a little extra love.

Posing by the butterfly.

Petting the gorilla!

Telling me she was going to go in the pond for a little bit.

We brought her pumpkin to collect leaves. She found a beautiful array of colorful leaves. We will turn them into some sort of craft later. Wax paper? We'll see.

Elli and I went to see the trees and take pictures at the Cox Arboretum. It started raining and was a little chilly, but fun. She posed for a few pictures, then wanted to play house in the gazebos all over the property. Then, she found the dog who lives there to keep the geese away. She loved him and wanted to follow him around. Such an animal lover. Enjoy the cheesy smiles and know they were staged all so she could play:)

Cooking

Elli really likes to help cook. She pulls up her stool and does anything I will let her do. She loves it! Lately, I have been giving her more chances to cook with me because she really is getting better at doing it. Here, we are preparing lots of desserts for a jewelry party I had. Elli said she also wanted to put her candy out in a bowl to share with the ladies, just like Jesus would do. She likes to use her apron. I actually kept it out, hanging on the pantry door because it got flour all over it and was so cute!

Care Group at Young's

Elli and Lily watching the cows getting milked.

Caitin, Elli, Caroline, Madilynn, Emma Grace, Andrew, Caleb, Reagan, Lily. (Front left then around the circle.)

Saturday the 17th, we went to Young's with our Care Group, aka friends:). The kids played with the goats, watched the cows, climbed on a big pumpkin, and then we all ate dinner and ice cream. It was a fun evening with great memories as always when we get together. So blessed to have these families in our life.

Best Mommy in the World

In the car yesterday Elli said to me, "Mommy, when I get bigger, bigger, and bigger, I want to be a mommy and a teacher just like you. You are the best mommy in the world." How sweet is that? Later that day, I found a 2 DVD set of Angelina Ballerina for 50% off and got it for her as well. When we got home she wanted to watch it. So, she came up to me, hugged my legs and said, "I love you so much, mommy." So, I am recording these stories here to read to Elli as she gets older as proof that she loves me and thinks I am the best!

A Few more Pumpkin Pics

The whole gang.

Elli posing for her rightfully fitted picture. Just kidding. Elli is a sweetie not a witchie!

Leah took this sweet picture of Elli walking with Matt. She couldn't wait for the rest of us. She took off with him ready to see all the animals.

The Pumpkin Barn

Not bad for a family picture this year.

Leah and Matt with Elli. She picked out this spot for us to get all our pictures taken.

The annual "crying with Aunt Heather" picture. Poor girl. We do have one from each year though.

A smiley girl with her Gonga and Papa. Heading back to the car with the pumpkins. Elli picked out a little one and said, "This one is just perfect." She did a good job choosing great pumpkins.

Cider Party with the Beams

Lindy holding 2 1/2 month old Lorien. Such a sweetie. (Both of them)

Mashing the apples to get the juice out. Joe was working hard this evening to make delicious cider.

This is the grinding machine. It chops the apples into very small pieces to get ready for the smashing part.

Elli was a big help when it came to throwing the apples in to be washed She asked if she could be the next big helper.

And finally, the final product. It was absolutely delicious. Elli had about 3 cups and wanted even more. We walked out though with a half gallon of apple cider to take home and enjoy. Thank you Beams for making us part of your wonderful tradition!

The best part

This is the best part of our craft. She was so proud of this pumpkin, that she put it in her bed and slept with it that night. She is so sweet!

Our Craft!

The finished product.

Elli is working on stringing the beads together that will make the handle for the "pumpkin basket."

She was so excited to paint this pumpkin. She picked out all the supplies, the colors, the accessories, and did about 90% of the work. She was so proud of the finished product!

Homecoming at Cedarville with Sarah and McKenna

Elli and Kenna waving to the people in the parade. Kenna kept saying, "Please drop candy!"

Showing their bags fullcof candy after the parade.

We went to Young's after enjoying some of the Homecoming festivities. The girls thought this gigantic pumpkin was pretty cool, as did we.

Such big girls on the barrel ride. They had fun as you can see.

Elli couldn't visit Young's without nearly choking a goat with huge hugs, could she? She so loves animals. Good thing they are used to people being around!

Sadly, Sarah and McKenna were only here for a day and a half, but we loved visiting with them. I have no pictures of Sarah and I on my camera, though I do have some from Homecoming of the two of us, so I cannot show here how we haven't changed a bit in the last ten years:) I am so very thankful for the friend I have in Sarah. She is a blessing and a true "friend for life!"