Awesome Autumn

 Cookies with Martha

 JP Lantern Parade

With the leftover apples from our picking adventures I made some APPLE BUTTER from the recipe out of the wonderful book that Tiffanie gave me last week.

 after coring, peeling, and quartering 8lbs of apples, they go in the oven for 2 hours.

 and they look and smell SO good when they come out!

 then they go into the blender or food processor (I totally wish I had a BIG food processor... and this blender is on it's last leg--- it was making a sound like an airplane taking off the whole time it was on tonight) with a few spices, lemon juice, and a bit of brown sugar.

And voila! The yummiest apple butter you ever did taste! 

Gob made me kiss Franklin. I think my father was here.

Please tell me you're a fan of Arrested Development. (and who doesn't love a themed party?!)

George Michael

Tony Wonder

Rita/ Mr. F

Gob (in his $16,000+ suit)

Maeby

The Narrator- Ron Howard

Tobias Funke (Nevernude!) 

Corn balls

Goodie Bags

This sign was stuck in our big bowl of frozen bananas with chocolate fondu!

This sign was on a huge jug of Hawaiian Punch!

 Fantastic. Absolutely Fantastic.

Happy Hallo-wiener Dog

I took the kiddos to the pumpkin patch on Monday! We chose a family of pumpkins in an array of sizes and carved them up!

 I asked her what face she'd like the pumpkin to have and this is the exact face she made!

 please notice that chunk of pumpkin guts on her cheek!

 I also toasted up our pumpkin seeds! I threw on a little canola oil, sea salt, cinnamon, red pepper, and a sprinkle of sugar and baked at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes!

An Apple A Day

We ventured up to the North Shore yesterday for some late-season apple picking. If I learned a lesson this past weekend it was certainly to seize every opportunity you have to make memories with the one you love.

 cider donuts... fresh. cider. donuts.

 on the hay ride out to the orchard

After we walked around the farm and gathered enough apples, cider, and donuts for one day we took the word of a local friend and made our way out to the famed Clam Box where we waited forever in a line out the door.

It was WELL worth the wait! The clam strips and native clams were fantastic! 

Happy Monday!

The Fair Way

We had a quick trip to Jackson this weekend.

 It was under the most unfortunate of circumstances. We spent most of our time at the hospital visiting with family but were able to meet our friends at the Mississippi State Fair late one night.

 I rode nothing, as you'll remember my last day at the fair: relive the sadness if you must.

 But I did eat as much junk as I could fit in my belly!

 Fried Pickles

 Bryan ate chicken on a stick

 the other boys all had turkey legs

 home made biscuits with local honey

 We did not eat this! Can you even believe this is a thing?!

 We ate funnel cakes

 and I ate this yummy thing. Looks like a corn dog right? Its a fried Milky Way!!

Then I did the dumbest thing I've done in a long time. I was so excited about getting a chocolate covered banana which is one of my favorite fair foods, but because I had just eaten that super sweet fried milky way I couldn't bear the thought of eating more chocolate right away. I asked if I could have just the banana- not chocolate dipped. So instead of using my brain and thinking "I could make that when I get home" I said "yes, I'll take a frozen banana on a stick" DUH!

And of course salt water taffy!

It was so nice to see our friends for a little while. We didn't think we would get to see anyone but family since we were only in Jackson for a day. It was wonderful to see family and we are so blessed to have had the opportunity to go home. Please keep our family in your prayers, if you would!
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!