HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIAGO

Today, 4 years ago my nephew Tiago was born at the same hospital as Finn.......meant to be close from their first breath on Earth!  They are only 5 months apart and Tiago is always game to try anything Finn suggests.  God help me!!

 (October 2009)

(December 2009)

(At Finn's Soccer Game this September)

Love you Nephew!!

Can't wait to celebrate with you on Sunday!

HALLOWEEN SPIDERS

As Finn and I headed off to school this morning we were greeted by this lovely Halloween spider.  Another reason I love October...this time of year the big grand daddy spiders appear and make the most exquisite webs.

Finn asked many questions:

Where does the web come from?

What is the web made of?

Can they swim?

This is what I've learned, since at the time I couldn't answer truthfully and told him I would find out for him.

The web comes from spider silk that is created by spinning glands inside the spider.  Spider silk is both light & strong and provides an instant home to the spider as well as a place to capture their prey.

Most spiders cannot swim, however they all can float.  Watch out next time you jump into a pond or river!!! 

PUMPKIN PATCH

How to beat Monday night blues?

Head over to your local pumpkin patch!

What is your favorite kind of  pumpkin?

Short and Squat

Tall and Skinny

Lop sided

Distorded

Extra Extra Large

My personal favorite? I love them all but find myself drawn to the pear shaped ones, wonder why, haha!

I never get tired of these glorious vegetables! 

Picking our Pumpkins

Serious Business

Does my son know how to take a centered photograph or what?

Gentle my son with the giant hands.....

Can anyone tell me what type of chicken this is?

Very different feather pattern.

The entire family gets involved with feeding the animals.....

 Finn found his perfect pumpkin,

and my dream pumpkin....

Pear Shaped Masterpiece

So after you have found & paid for your perfect pumpkin you must finish the evening up with Hot Chocolate and Cafe Mocha's, which we most definitely did!

Hot Chocolate anyone?

Happy Pumpkin Hunting!

OKTOBERFEST

TWO BIG DIFFERENCES THIS YEAR AT OKTOBERFEST.......

1.  Grandma Cher went with us!  This is the first year she's attended.....she's never been a big fan of large groups of silly, drunk people dancing like chickens!     She may kill me for saying that but it was wonderful having her there sharing cotton candy with Finn & Tiago.

Finn was over the top with Grandma Cher riding in the backseat with him on the way to Oktoberfest.  (Not sure what look I was going for with his hair, I think it dried this way; he looks like Alfalfa from Little Rascal.

Our usual parking/meeting spot (Violet's driveway)

Photo compliments of Finn

2. Grandpa Robert held a new position.....he was promoted to "Security" which included a special vest.  The photo below is out of focus but shows how impressed Finn was by Grandpa's new job.....raised him to Superhero status in Finn's eyes!! 

Superhero Grandpa Robert

My mother with the Superhero,

my father was also very happy to have my mother present.

Tiago dove into the Cotton Candy...

nothing better than hot, fresh Cotton Candy!

Where are our beer steins?  Isn't this an Oktoberfest?

Lucas - Julianna - Devon

Yet again we had a fabulous time....thanks Dad as always!

Ohhhhh, I do have one small complaint....

next year Rotarians....

don't run out of Struedel, it's as crutial as the beer.

Apples, Donkeys and Pie OH MY!!!

A more perfect first day of October does not exist, at least in my opinion! 

Raven Hill Orchard

Julian, CA

Have you ever picked apple's from an orchard?  I haven't and every year when they advertise the beginning of apple picking season in Julian I always want to go but it never seems to come together.  This year I made it and it was one of the best days I've had with Todd, Devon and the boys! 

Our destination after careful online research was the Raven Hill Orchard, owned by two Irish brothers who also dable in Ironworks (which you see throughout the orchard).  It is the ideal apple orchard for children to pick from because the entire orchard is full of Dwarf Apple Trees that the children can reach without using a fruit picker. 

For $10.00 a bag you can pick as many apples and varieties as you can fit in the bag, they even allow you to stuff your pockets and eat them along the way.  The apple's tasted out of this world, sweet and pesticide free......beware of wiggling worms!

Finn's off, apple in hand.

I couldn't get enough apples...

they were everywhere! 

This is what it is all about....family!

 Devon & Tiago

Tiago picking from the tree.  The boys didn't need any instruction other than keeping a look out for worm holes before picking or eating one. 

Orchard Fun

SISTERS

2 Little Boys...1 Big Boy

 

Todd picking

Yum

Orchard

Fruit of our Labor

APPLES, APPLES, APPLES

Then it was on to the Menghini Winery for wine tasting which coincindentally happened to be right next door.  Violet and I had been here before and I was hoping to catch a peak at their resident sheep dog.... 

Thank goodness.....

the dog was still there guarding the wine.  

Finn looks a little too happy in a dentist's chair!

(Todd prentending to massage Finn's gums....it was hilarious)

While Devon and I were wine tasting (loved the cab), my darling husband was entertaining Finn & Tiago.  The proprietors of this winery are children friendly and provide various areas that appeal to them (antique dental chairs?!?!).  

Finn raising Tiago for his turn

with Dr. Gustafson & the gum massaging!

Chardonnay the Cat

There was another cat named Zela waiting  for the sound of scurrying mice feet, customers kept trying to buy her but were told she was "priceless".

Not only was Todd keeping the boys under wraps...

he took this sweet photo!

My favorite photo of Devon.  She looks so happy and relaxed....isn't it amazing what one little wine tasting can accomplish?

After we left the winery we headed over to the Wynola Train Store where our apple picking came in handy.....we had treats to feed the Donkey behind the store.  

This day kept getting better and better....we soon realized after feeding the donkey how very hungry we all were so off to dinner at Wynola Pizza.

Wynola Pizza

(a must stop on your way to Julian)

Loved their Wood Fired Oven

Pizza paired with Julian Hard Cider

Match made in Heaven

Finn - Setting Sun

Julian Pumpkins

After dinner we headed into Julian for Pumpkin Apple Pie with coffee, the boys had Vanilla Ice Cream Sundae's with Chocolate Syrup.  Could you imagine a better way to end the day in Wynola/Julian?  We did window shop down mainstreet to try and burn some calories after dessert (every little bit counts you know).

 

I want to stay here someday!

 

Homeward bound.....just caught the setting sun as we headed West.  Astonishing really to think Julian is only 1 1/2 hours away.

I never get tired of seeing this in the rearview mirror.  

**I apologize for the length of this post, I couldn't choose what pictures to leave out, it really was the perfect afternoon/evening in the mountains surrounded by apple orchards and the family I love.