Pre-School and Apple-Picking: I love Autumn

I just love Autumn.  I  enjoy back-to-school events, the weather, apple-picking, pumpkin-patching, the smell of fall, and the light layering of clothes.  What is not to like about Autumn, except of course that it leads to winter.  Let's focus on Autumn for now.  My oldest daughter went to pre-school this year for the first time.  She was very much looking forward to it all summer.  Whenever we would drive past it she would shout with joy!  She is in the the 3's program just two short mornings per week.  Her teacher is wonderful providing organic snacks, Fancy Nancy at story time and is very organized and crafty.  She is also being taught the Catholic tradition at this pre-school.  It is a good time for her little sister and I to have some quality time together.  When we drop off "big sister" Isabelle says: "No.  I don't want to go to school."

M.'s First Day of Pre-School

M.'s Second Week of Pre-School

 Apple-picking is a tradition we do every year.  We went back to the same farm we went to last year.  It's about an hour away from the city.  They have farm animals, an orchard, and both a market area and picnic area.  We look forward to making desserts with all of the apples we picked!!!!

Apple-Picking on the Farm in the Rain

Hello fall.

We had a wonderful time in Indiana visiting family.  Of course the trip was not relaxing and full of stress, we have a two and three year old, but it was wonderful to spend time in my brother-in-law and wife's town.  My husband and his brother completed their first Duathlons.  It took place in a rural town about an hour and a half outside of the city.  Remember this was the race I was also signed up for, the sprint triathlon portion, but was strongly advised by the medical world not to do the race due to a foot injury (so sad).  So I watched from the sideline cheering the boys on with my family imagining which girls I would have pummeled if I was racing.  We got to visit a wonderful children's museum and took a quick trip to the city mall.  The best meal of the weekend was at a locally owned Greek restaurant.  One of the appetizer's was cheese that they lit on fire, like a four foot high flamed fire, and pita bread.  Not only did we enjoy the cheese, but the girls enjoyed watching everyone else in the restaurant receive their well lit appetizer.  The entire round trip was about 20 hours on the road.  We left warm weather and returned to fall-like weather-rain, leaves blowing, and shorter days.  Hello fall.