Family Photo

One fall afternoon, we set up the tripod and timer and this happened :)

We Mustache You...

...Trick or Treat?  Reed gave these silly mustache eraser and pencil combos to his classmates at school for Halloween and these kiddos couldn't resist mugging for the camera in disguise! 

Enchanted Beaver Lake

After Reed's Halloween parade at Rockwell Elementary, Willa and her mom, who took the day off, met the Treehouse Kids from Jowonio on a field trip to Beaver Lake. Here the kids walked the trails and saw the beautifully carved pumpkins of Enchanted Beaver Lake in the daylight, when it's a little less frightening to young children.  Willa loved hiking and exploring with her classmates and it was a delightful way to spend a crisp, fall afternoon. 

Mac & Cheese and Memories

On the first anniversary of Pa-Beard's death, we wanted to honor him. We decided to make a meal with one of Pa's favorite dishes, butternut squash mac and cheese, as the main course.  We made this meal to feed the 30 residents and families staying at the Central New York Ronald McDonald House.   When he was in Boston for amyloidosis treatment and a stem cell transplant, Pa and Nana stayed at Hope Lodge, which is like RMH for adults. Nana, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Jenny, Reed, Willa and their parents all delivered and set up the food for serving.  Then we all went out for a meal

at Empire Brewing Company, where Reed continued to honor Pa with a dinner choice of the Big Mamu Platter, another one of Pa's favorites.  While the day was bittersweet, surrounding ourselves with loved ones, giving and good food helped to make it a little sweeter and a little less bitter. 

Captain Hook and Tinkerbell!

Reed and Willa chose to dress up as Captain Hook and Tinkerbell this Halloween!  Reed loves pirates and Willa loves fairies and it was the perfect pair of costumes!  They explored the Zoo Boo in them the week before Halloween and then Reed wore his in his school parade, which was followed by the annual 2nd grade pumpkin-carving party, and they both enjoyed trick-or-treating at Nana's house in Liverpool!  

Raking it In...

...this fall at Stones Throw Farm!

Goleib Farm

We spent another fall afternoon at the Golieb Farm, aka "Our Farm".  Here we ride horses, pick pumpkins, and trek through the area's best corn maze. Fall is our favorite season to explore in CNY and there are not enough weekends to see all the sights but our time spent at "Our Farm" is always worth it!