Picking the Perfect Pumpkin...

Picking the perfect pumpkin….say that three times fast! Whew!  We had the best time driving out to Eastern Long Island to pick out our pumpkins.  The kids took their time selecting their favorite one and loading it up in the wagon.  Mitch guessed within 5 pounds of our total pumpkin-weight so we got $5 off our total.  Bonus!  

Afterward, we let the kids get all their energy out in the bounce house, climbing on the wooden John Deer tractor and just running around.  It didn't hurt that they were cooking up some fresh cider donuts.  Who knew I loved cider donuts?  I sure didn't, but I'm sure I'll never be able to make it through another fall without at least one batch. 

Besides the wind, it was the perfect pumpkin patchin' day.  I feel so lucky to have these people belong to me.  Happy Fall!

Port Jefferson Harbor...

Here I am, playing catch up, again.

If you're like us, Sundays are beautiful, relaxing days.  But, there comes a time - usually around 4pm - that you just have to get out of the house.  One of our favorite spots to burn off some energy is down by the Port Jefferson Harbor.  There are rocks to be thrown, sea creatures to discover, and when we remember to pack them along, bubbles to be popped.  

A beautiful bonus, we usually get to watch the sun set over the harbor, and spot boats coming and going.  We can't wait until the weather warms up again, so we can resume our Sundays skipping rocks in the harbor.

 

East Coast Apple Picking...

A couple weeks ago we headed East to the North Fork of Long Island to Harbes Farm & Orchard for some good old fashion apple picking.  We met up with our friends the Sorbers, and ate apples until our bellies could take no more.  The kids were in heaven - picking, eating, picking, eating, picking, eating!  The weather was perfect too - sunny, with a slight fall chill.  

We filled up our bags with Honeycrisp and Gala apples, and took a few homemade cider donuts with us as well.  The kids loved the train ride back to the orchard, running around the apple trees, and checking out all the exhibits and animals that were out.

It really was the perfect way to kick-off fall.  Now, we just hope this weather holds for a little bit longer...we're not quite ready for another East Coast winter just yet!

We also picked up a huge bag of fresh corn and split it with the Sorbers.  We decided we needed to get together the following day to cook up some of that "candy corn" and had a yummy dinner.  The corn was DELISH.  Thanks for the fun day!

Dieter and Ossie waiting patiently for the cider donuts.

Diane & Damon come East...

 

Mitch's mom was kind enough to come out to Long Island a few days early to help with our kids while I headed upstate for our stake youth conference in Palmyra.  Damon was on break from dental school, so he came too!  They partied all weekend long.  I'm pretty sure my kids didn't miss me one bit.  They hit the city and visited the World Trade Center memorial in NYC, and came home with almost-life-size stuffed animals from Target.  I'd say they were happy campers.  Thank you, thank you for watching our kids. You're the best!

 

 

 

I got home on Saturday, and Sunday after church we took a drive out to the Hamptons to let them see all the gorgeous homes and beautiful beaches.

 

 

We said goodbye to Uncle Damon on Tuesday, and hello to Grandpa Doug that very same night.  We all had a blast and hope it doesn't take them a year to come back and visit us again!

Montauk Point...

A couple weeks ago, Mitch and our friend Josh Psillos decided to ride their bikes out to Montauk Point, the Eastern tip of the south fork on Long Island.  They ended up doing 75 miles and had a great ride.  Katie and I drove out to meet them with the kids, and we all spent the rest of the day enjoying Montauk together.  After lunch at a cute deli in town, we headed to the beach to relax.  We finished off the night with dinner at Bay Burger in Sag Harbor.  It was such a great day, with great people!

Cora & Remi

Finn found this crab leg and was so excited about it.  I guess she decided to keep it because a few days after our beach day I got in the car and it smelled AWFUL!  I said out loud, "ewe, what is that smell?  Is there a rotten sippy in here or something?" Finnley just looked at me and said, "Oh, that's my crab leg."  She had left it in the side compartment of her door and let it bake in our hot car over the weekend.  I told her to throw it away, but a few days later I found it wrapped up in tissue in a plastic baggy in her desk drawer.  This girl is such a hoarder, she makes me laugh.  I finally got her to throw it in the trash, and supervised her in the act!

Finnley has been working on her cartwheel all summer.  Luckily, Katie was a gymnast growing up and gave Finnley some tips to help her out.  She starts gymnastics this fall and is so excited about it!

 

 

 

Thanks Katie and Josh for such a fun day! 

Smith Point Beach Day...

 

We've been hitting the beach as much as possible this summer, knowing its going to be our last living within a short drive of one.  A few weeks ago, we got together with a bunch of friends from our ward and hit up Smith Point.  The kids were in heaven searching for sand crabs, jelly fish, and digging big deep holes.  We stayed all day, and enjoyed the sun and the sand.

 

 

The dads braved the cold Atlantic waters and did a little body surfing.  Its good to know that boys never grow up...and I mean that in the best way!

Remi & Cora

 

This girl is constantly snatching my diet coke.  Luckily I love her to pieces and she gets away with murder.