We’ve been to a half dozen farms during Autumn, but none compares to Webers Farm in Parkville. We have so many memories there.

(Like these crazy pumpkin storybook characters)

(And these wild slides)

(These fun bikes)

(And these colorful climbing tires)

This year we went with friends, which is always a good way to go.

Brian found a gazillion feathers for his collection.

The kids loved the upgraded hay maze.

I, the claustrophobe I am, loved the new platform above the maze where I could keep an eye on the little ones while still breathing calmly.

Of course no visit to Webers is complete without a trip to the pumpkin shack.

Webers, we wait with baited breath until next October.

I dreamed last night that I forgot Christmas. Somehow, without explanation, I forgot the most celebrated holiday of the year, and didn’t figure it out until Christmas Eve!

My solution? To convince the children that it would be a new tradition for us to celebrate by decorating on Christmas Day. Then, even worse, to open IOU’s for $100 each and go shopping the day after Christmas, when everything is on sale.

Who was I kidding? How could I completely forget such a huge celebration and then try to assuage the guilt with less-than-kosher offerings?

BINGO!

That’s the key to our lackluster school year. Somehow I forgot all about it. I forgot to write out our plans and forgot to get our supplies ready. While the rest of the country was singing the praises of back-to-school day, I was lost in some after-a-whirlwind-summer recovery process.

We’re going to start over. We’re going to use this week to finish up our summer and pretend we didn’t miss the whole beginning-of-the-school-year bungle. We’ll shop for new tenners and crayons. I’ll finish up our plans for the rest of the semester, and we’ll plan some big shindig for the first day.

Whew! I’m so glad life allows do-overs.

For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12

Fall is about slowing down and enjoying

all the glorious works of God.

Fall is for noticing the ways in which He provides

for the least of these.

It’s about savoring that which we can observe from our back porch.

Did you know there are about a gazillion ways to classify animals? Maybe you’re stuck in the old rut of mammal, reptile or bird; but we’re free enough around here to group them by color, size, sleeping and eating habits, location, and a myriad of other ways.

We even added the categories PomPon

and Pipe Cleaner to our repertoire.

When the children were set to deliver oral reports about an animal of their choice, they set up quite a display.

Brooke on Gorillas

Brad on Tyrannosaurus Rex

Brian on Chimpanzees

(oops, I need to fold the laundry before I take photos!)

I like when we’re able to see things from a fresh perspective.

Recently, my children attended a Jedi Training birthday party for friends.

Master Yoda (aka Mr. Frank trying not to laugh out loud) provided messages for the trainees at every station.

It was a hot day, so they really enjoyed the water training.

As they made their way successfully through the course,

they grew closer and closer to

becoming true Jedi Knights.

Jedi Knights must defeat their evil adversaries.

When they are finished, they play as hard as they fought.

I love my little Jedi Knights.

This season has been very dry financially; milk and honey are not flowing. But God is good to provide us with manna and quail every single day. And a double portion on Saturday.

All that thinking about food got me wondering what kinds of foods we keep in our frig during the summer:

• Milk
• Lemons to make fresh lemonade
• 1/2 and 1/2 for my morning tea
• Activia yogurt in blueberry, cherry, vanilla and peach
• Sliced cheddar cheese
• Garlic
• Strawberries
• Green Grapes
• Blueberries
• Apples
• Pears
• Peaches
• Bananas
• Spring onions
• Tomatoes
• Baby carrots

and in our freezer:

• Salmon
• Ground beef
• Steak
• Shrimp

and what we keep stocked in our pantry:

• Breakfast cereals
• Rice Krispies treats for day camps
• Potato bread
• Peanut butter
• Albacore tuna
• Spaghetti and sauce

What do you keep on hand during summer to feed your family?

Stay tuned for more installments of our Trading Spaces, Boys v. Girls series…and some great photos of camping with friends!

I’ve been experiencing a few life and blog technical difficulties. I’m hoping they’re over and I can return.

This week I’m weeding through all the learning we’ve done this year in preparation for my Friday home school review. If it’s quiet here, you know why.

My baby’s full of life!