Fall Festivities

We spent the weekend in North Manchester with Jeremy's family, and there was no shortage of celebrating the season - from visiting a fall-themed party at Grandma Jennifer's factory, to jumping in piles of leaves at Maw and Grandpa's, to picking out a pumpkin at the pumpkin patch - we did it all!

The Party at Grandma Jennifer's Factory

There were numerous activities to partake in at the factory party, but Ava's favorite was riding the ponies.  We let her go three times, although I'm sure she would have ridden those ponies the entire day if we'd let her.  I guess she's a country girl at heart...just like her mama.  (Yes...I admit it.  While I thoroughly enjoy the city life, I yearn for land, huge expanses of sky in my backyard, no neighbors, and an endless supply of fields, tall grass and green hills.)

We also toured the factory, ate pumpkin shaped cookies, drank cool apple cider, and visited the balloon tent so that Ava could sport a bracelet made solely out of colorful balloons...and then she promptly pulled it off and deflated one of the balloons, but that's besides the point.  Hey, just keepin' it real.

Fall Fun at Maw & Grandpa's

Numerous tall trees surround Maw and Grandpa's house, which means endless piles of leaves for Ava to jump into, run through, crunch in, and throw around.

It had been a long day though, which led to moments like this:

Which were cured by doing this:

The Pumpkin Patch

Oh, what a fun day!  Upon arrival, we immediately jumped onto the hay ride and bumped along the property, where we could view rows upon rows of corn, a few donkeys munching on grass - yes, I said donkeys, and that huge expanse of sky that I secretly yearn for, with no tall buildings obstructing the sun.

There were corn mazes to walk through, dried up corn to carry around, and a bounty of pumpkins to pick from.  And thankfully, the weather was gorgeous...bright and sunny without a hint of a cloud in the sky.

I also managed to squeeze in a quick picture of cousin Leah.  I wish we'd had time for a full photo shoot.  Look at this gorgeous girl!  Hopefully I'll get to do her senior pictures in a few years!

Not only was the weekend filled with fall festivities, it was also filled with family...and love.  These memories we're making with Ava will last her a lifetime, and that is so important to me.  I want her to remember her childhood as a time of happiness and fun times, just as I remember mine!