Fall, Fruit and Funny Faces

My favorite thing about fall, well, really the only thing I enjoy about fall (I shiver at the thought of the cold days ahead) has become our annual family trip to the pumpkin patch and apple orchard...
This year Jackson was old enough to experience all of the fun fall festivities at Nivens Apple Farm, including the hay ride, so we headed there first...

He wasn't quite sure about it...neither was Daddy :)

Baby girl and I set off to get some memorable "first pumpkin patch" pictures. This one was the best we could get..

But, this one is my favorite...

Jackson said hello to Bubba the cow...this time with a "hey" instead of a "moo". Here's last years identical pic.

He's such a big boy!

Besides the model train that circled the ceiling of the barn, Jackson's favorite thing about the farm was the hay! He threw the hay, he jumped in the hay, he climbed on the hay... we've pretty much decided we just need to get him a big 'ole bale of hay.

He chased mommy with the hay!

He also loved the bouncy tire thingies... I mean seriously, it really takes very little to entertain kids..why do we spend so much on STUFF...

We also have this picture of me in front of the teepee last year. We realized that Jenna Claire was there too- we just didn't know it.

We let Jackson pick out his pumpkin. The delight over his find was followed by a really exaggerated "ughhhhh" as he tried to pick it up...

A basket full of "Sissy" pumpkins... (this will make more sense in a second)

The "Sissy" pumpkin is a hat mama!

Working hard carving the perfect pick...

Can I really make a mess?! Knock yourself out bubba, that's what pumpkin goo is for!

Realizing that the perfect pick became...what else.... ELMO!.....

Jackson's Elmo pumpkin and Sissy's baby pumpkin. Sissy had to have the tiniest pumpkin at the patch because she is the tiniest baby girl we know...

Scary Elmo....

Tiny Sissy with her Daddy ....

We didn't have the time for our traditional Daddy, Mommy and Baby pumpkins this year... there are too many babies in our house for that kind of spare time! Next year we will have an entire family to display.

Thanks Nivens Apple Farm for another great fall memory!

Before you go anywhere, I've got to tell you about my newest recipe.. Of course I came home with way too many apples than I know what to do with, so I've had to come up with creative ways to use them up.

I guess I can call this Stuffed Apples.. it is oh so heavenly, so really deserves a more creative name. Anyway, here it is..

First cut the top off of the apples and scoop out the cores. Then mix together brown sugar and granola. Do yourself a favor and make sure it is all natural granola- you don't want a rice krispyish texture in your stuffing. Then you stuff this mixture into each apple. I don't usually measure things so I have no idea how much- maybe a couple of tablespoons? Make sure it is overflowing. Then you put a pat of butter on top of the stuffing. Place the apples in a baking dish with about 1/2 inch water in the bottom of the dish. Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 5o minutes. Serve with vanilla bean ice cream and drizzle caramel over the top..

All I can say is YUMMMMMO!! Enjoy and Happy Fall!