It's Apple Time!

While the leaves have yet to turn and show their autumn colors, our family is very aware that fall has arrived. Here in Nashville, the pumpkin patches are now in full swing, the Halloween programs which require advance reservations are already filling up, and the apples are being harvested. My girls chatter eagerly about skeletons, witches, and anything spooky. They make drawings of pumpkins and collages with leaves. Natalie constantly wants to know how long until Halloween, and then til her birthday, and then until Thanksgiving. To Natalie, 31 days until Halloween seems like a painfully long reality. Thus we fill our days with adventures to keep her mind off of that special night on the 31st.
Today we went with our lovely playgroup to Pratt Farm to glean what seems like the very last of their apple harvest for the year. It was a beautiful day in the high 60s to low 70s. It was just cool enough for the autumn jacket when we arrived. Jackets had to be peeled off later after much running around. There is something very special about apples, wagons, and the freedom to run and pick. While the trees weren't loaded with apples, the kids were fascinated with the ones that were there. These were not your picture perfect apples and many were quite spotty. Natalie adored them. She pointed out ones with pink polka dots and others that were "very colorful." Noelle followed behind and made sure not to miss any branch that her sis had picked her apple from. Noelle was also insistent upon pulling the wagon herself at one point since she is such a big girl these days! After getting our apples weighed, the kids played on the John Deere tractor and we all had a picnic lunch. It was a delightful fall day.
Now my question: What do I do with over three pounds of small spotty apples?







Answer: Lots and lots of these apple crisps!

We Care for Kids Day

Today I took the girls to We Care for Kids Day put on by Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. It was two hours of completely free games, booths, education and entertainment for the children. The girls loved getting their pictures taken with some crazy looking men that they didn't recognize (storm troopers and Superman) and some familiar favorites (Snow White and a giant dog). The girls played countless carnival style games, watched singing and dancing, climbed through a kiddie obstacle course, and accumulated a stroller full of goodies. By the time we left, the girls each had three coloring books, a box of crayons, bottles of bubbles, a dozen stickers or so, free bags, books, and pumpkins. The favorite activity of the day was when the girls were asked to "adopt a baby." They each got a cloth doll to decorate and make their own. Both girls are happily carrying them around this evening and were so excited to show them to Dada. Now the girls are resting after having some chicken noodle soup for dinner. Noelle still wants me to tell her exactly where Snow White went!


Going to the dark side..






Noelle is smitten with Snow White!

A Gymnastics Morning

Toddler headstand anyone?

We went to a gymnastic center called "Let it Shine" today. It was a heaven-sent playland for the girls with many trampolines, a giant pit of foam that the kids can swing into, and all the typical gymnastics staples. Natalie is my bouncer. She took to the trampolines like a flea takes to a dog. Meanwhile, Noelle is my ball girl. She spent nearly the entire time there chasing and kicking around two colorful balls. I can certainly see soccer in Noelle's future!





Cowabunga!




Practicing my pre-soccer moves..



Like the foam but LOVE the ball!

Nashville's Newest Firefighters!

Natalie's Art

Today Natalie drew these guys. They are monsters. Their names are "Little Monster," "Blue Monster," "Orange Monster," and "Orange Spider." I love them!

Look Out Ballet Class...Here We Come!

Today was the girls' first day of Ballet! We are taking it through the YMCA. Natalie and Noelle were both ecstatic about this endeavor and loved picking out their little leotards and tights (we struck out so far with the shoes). Yea for ballet!

Balancing beanbags on their Heads

At the Bar



Look How Cute I Am!


Dance Sisters

Hollow Creek Falls and a Visit to The Farm

This morning was one of those times where I didn't have any other plans so I hopped online and looked at all my options. We started off driving about an hour and a half near to Summertown. There, the girls and I hiked down to gorgous Hollow Creek Falls. While the trail was a bit steep and bumpy for Natalie's taste at times, we all made it and really enjoyed the view. We also discovered a millipede on the trail to the girls' delight.







While researching back at home this morning, I had noticed that this hike is near "The Farm." The Farm is a community that actually was started by the hippies back in 1971. It was created with the goal of establishing a strongly cohesive, outwardly-directed community. The whole community is vegetarian and does not consume any animal products. They are also very spiritual, anti-war, and believe that everyone is "one." Farm inhabitants grow most of their own produce, sell products in their general store, publish books on site (mostly vegetarian cookbooks), run a mid-wifery program, teach at an eco-village training center, and maintain a school for all the children that live there. Unlike some hippie-embraced concepts, the community is anti-substance abuse and very family oriented these days. While The Farm is no longer communal, many families live there in their own houses or buildings.

The girls had a good time playing on The Farm's playground and shopping at the general store (we bought some carob covered peanut clusters). I was fascinated about the community and chatted with two different ladies who had lived there since the '70s. Very interesting place! I just wish I could have found an old psychodelically painted hippie bus or two, rusting away on someone's lawn!

Warner Park Playtime

We went to Warner Park today to play with our friends and dig in our beloved mud again!


Momma obviously dressed us inappropriately!


I love getting dirty!


Wide open spaces to run..can't ask for more!


Natalie's new caterpillar friend

Back to Cheekwood

Today our whole family went to Franklin's lovely Farmer's Market. I go there primarily every week for their mint infused lemonade which is my favorite beverage on Earth! The girls love the live music and the gigantic rocking chair inside the Factory at Franklin. An extra perk: the greyhounds were visitng today!

After lunch, we took Dada to see the Scarecrows at Cheekwood. While last time, only a few scarecrows were on display, all 65 were out today. The girls joyfully ran from one scarecrow to the next while yelling out their observations. The scarecrows really make the gardens much more exciting. If only they could stay up all year long!