Apple Orchard

I didn't want this season to pass us by without doing some fun fall activities. So Heidi, Hannah, C and I all went to Edward's Apple Orchard (about an hour and a half away) to sip hot apple cider, eat caramel apples and experience such things as apple cinnamon donuts. High sugary treats aside, we also got to see some farm animals including goats, chickens, a calf, pigs and a turkey. C got all excited when she saw the chickens...I think it's because they were the most active of all the animals in the barn.

After visiting the animals we went across the street to the "Pick Your Own Pumpkin" field. Hannah and I traipsed through the mud and selected our pumpkins. I must say, that was a lot of fun, and a new adventure for me. I never picked my own pumpkin from a pumpkin field before.

Autumn Colors

Fall is my absolute favorite season. The smells, crunchy leaves under foot and stroller, the strange phenomenon of beautiful bumpy pumpkins and gourds in multiple sizes and colors, and of course--the colors. Our trees out back are delightful in shades of yellow, orange and red. I can't stop myself from gazing out at them as I write this message to you.

In the spirit of the season, C and I meet up with our dear friend, Heidi, and went to the Arboretum to witness God's imagination at work in all the plant life in this region of America. Stunningly brilliant! It refreshes you, calms the spirit and helps to shake off the ugliness of the day. When looking at something so interesting, like leaves changing colors, it gently reminds you that, yes, we have a creator.

It was a rough day for me, to say the least. So taking the time to wander around the meandering paths of the Arboretum completely fixed my state of mind. I don't know that it was a bad day, but it was an emotional day filled with tears and loneliness. I had such a wonderful time with my sisters and cousins being here, then I got to have lunch with a college roomie of mine in Chicago the day before. I think being reminded that everyone I love is so far away hit home the first day I had to spend by myself. Plus, when close friends are struggling, hurting or are going through major life changing stuff--it makes it that much more difficult to be separated.

With that said, you can see by the photos, that being in such a beautiful place transformed me.

Sisters and Cousins

Last week was fantastic! Both of my sisters came to visit bringing their little ones with them. This was the first time either sister has visited us in our new home. Kat and Daniel arrived on Wednesday and we got to spend some alone time with them for almost two full days before Laurel and Leah flew in to town. It was cold and rainy outside, which forced us to relax and hang out indoors. Carmella took to Daniel immediately. She couldn't take her eyes off of him--or hands for that matter.

When Laurel and Leah came, it was difficult to get the cousins in the room at the same time. Everyone came from a different time zone so naps, eating and bedtime were all over the place. Leaving the house was next to impossible. But we made it work. The weather progressively warmed up and eventually the sun came out too. I think Laurel brought some of her California weather with her. By the time she left it was 60 degrees and sunny--down right beautiful.

Saturday we had a little 1st year birthday party for Carmella. My cousin Andy, Amy and their girls came to celebrate with us. I wasn't too sure how interested C would be in opening gifts...but with Anna's help, she dug through each package with enthusiasm. The first gift she opened had a remote control with all sorts of fun sounds and voices. She almost didn't want to open any more boxes until strongly prompted to move on by Anna. If C didn't move through her gifts, they would have been opened for her, happily and gladly.

The last gift she opened was a baby doll. She gave out a squeal of delight and couldn't seem to wait for me to untie the doll from the package.

[The girls in their matching dresses that Auntie Laurel got for them.]

We managed to get a few shots of all the new generation of cousins, with hand and arm support of course. It was impossible to get everyone to look at the camera at the same time...so this is the best shot we got.

Sadly, Kat and Daniel had to leave Sunday morning. This gave Laurel and I some time to spend together like I had with Kat at the beginning of the visit. So it was super nice to hang with her one on one too. Since the weather cleared up we decided to head into the city to see some sights. One of the first things we did was go up the Hancock building and take a look at the city from above.

We also found a beautiful church courtyard and random spots around the city to take some photos.

It was a wonderful time and I am sooooo happy that we were able to do it. It always leaves such a void when people go, but I am filled up to the brim with new memories and quality sister time.