Field Trip to the Fruit and Berry Patch

Yesterday, Nora's class went on a field trip to the Fruit and Berry Patch in Halls, TN.  I just love this little local farm.  We have taken a trip there almost every year in the fall to pick pumpkins, and this year our trip was with Nora's classmates.  We had a great time!

The kids ran around like animals for the first few minutes, and once everyone arrived, we loaded up on a trailer pulled by a tractor.  This "hay ride" brought us to the pumpkin patch where every child got to choose his or her own pumpkin!  Then, our ride continued to the animals where the kids got to handfeed the sheep and goats.  They loved it!

Afterward, the tractor dropped us off at a corn maze (a very simple corn maze, might I add).  The kids really enjoyed running around in the corn.  We then headed over to an old farmhouse surrounded by these beautiful trees where the leaves where golden yellow and orange.  It was raining leaves, and the children quickly started having leaf fights.  It was gorgeous!

We finished up the trip with apple cider and hot fruit pies.  It was a great class trip, and I know my children loved it!  I can't wait to go back.

Fall Break

No, folks, this isn't college Fall break we are talking about.  This is Kindergarten and Preschool Fall Break!  And man, was it nice.  No last minute research papers to complete, novels to read, or papers to grade.  It was just four glorious days of beautiful weather, family time, and loads of fun.  Since Jonathan had to work on Thursday, we had a little playdate with a few of Nora's classmates at our house.  That evening, we rented "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" and had a movie/popcorn party.  Nora and I had read the book together about a month or so ago, and I told her we could watch the movie after we completed the book.  We loved it!  Nora kept telling me how the book was different from the movie (already like her Momma in that way).

On Friday, Jonathan was off of work, so we wanted to do something outside as a family.  For a while we've heard nothing but wonderful things about Ijam's Nature Center here in Knoxville, so we decided that since it was a beautiful day outside that we would venture out for a family hike.  We loved it and then had a yummy hamburger lunch together at Moo-Yah's afterward. 

The rest of the weekend involved some church activities including our church's annual Corner-copia (Fall Festival) and guest speaker Jerry Bridges (my favorite).  In between all of those things, we were outside playing in the yard, riding bikes, and taking walks.  IT WAS GLORIOUS!  Have I mentioned how much I love living in East Tennessee this time of year!?

Pumpkin Patch 2012

October is HERE! Bring on the Pumpkin Patch

This past weekend, we took the kids to the pumpkin patch. In years past, we have always ventured out to the Fruit and Berry Patch in Halls, TN, but I heard great things about another one a bit further out in Corryton, TN. Then, to make things even better, this pumpkin patch had a great deal on Groupon for discounted tickets, so we got in on that and decided to make a family day out at Oakes Farm on the first of October! What a great way to start off the new season. Last minute we invited some of our good friends to join us, but only the wives and kiddos were able to make it. Since Thomas and Robert had other obligations, Amy and Layla joined us along with Johanna and all of her little ones. It looked hilarious with Jonathan being the only husband. We joked that we were the Sister Wives of TN! (Please know we are kidding!) Anyway, we had a great time and made some fun memories.

The day was gorgeous, but it was so cold and windy. We were experiencing an unseasonably cold spell, and when the wind blew it was frigid. However, we bundled up and enjoyed the spurts of sunshine. Oakes Farm is awesome and has so much to do. We took a tractor-pulled hayride to a giant field where all the kids picked pumpkins. They also had tons of kid activities like inflatables, slides, a petting zoo, and huge sandpiles for the kids to play in. We packed our lunches and enjoyed a beautiful picnic outside with some of our favorite people!