Golden yellow

Two gorgeous trees glowed outside our windows this fall. I wish they could stay these brilliant colors all year round. I love fall. I love the colors, I love the crisp air and the chance to be outside without sweating or freezing. Fall is my favorite season. We captured these few pictures as we were running out the door one morning--Ben to work and the kids and I to a play group. For a few short minutes we just stopped and took it all in. We need to do this more often. It's well worth it.

little chef

Ella has just recently figured out that if she pushes her chair over to the counter she can easily take part in anything mommy is doing and cooking. She has also decided lately that nap times are not really her favorite part of the day. She would rather not miss out on all the fun things that mommy does during this sacred time alone.
On this particular day she had decided to take a rather short nap and I was tired of listening to her cry so I decided we would attempt to make her first apple cake. She loved it. She measured and mix the ingredients but more importantly she thought it was necessary to taste everything she added. The end product was delicious!

A pile of fresh apples from our trip to the orchard

Measuring out the many cups of apples

Scooping out the flour

Pouring the flour

Mixing all the dry ingredients

Spicing it up

Mixing everything together

The finished product before baking

Apple Picking

After finding this great family owned apple orchard a couple years ago it doesn't take too much convincing to let go of a busy day around the house and head to the country. The kids and I have actaully gone three times already this fall. We love to spend a few hours wandering the orchard, tasting every kind of apple, filling our bags full of granny smiths, jonathans, and jonnygolds, riding the tractor and picking out the perfect pumpkin.

Pigs and Pumpkins

Trick or treating just got more exciting in the Porter household. As I followed my adorable daughter from door to door I couldn't stop smiling. I was that mom who couldn't stop taking pictures (as you can tell) and couldn't stop commenting on the cute little tail that wiggled back and forth. Ben and I were so intrigued to watch as Ella slowly caught on to trick or treating. When we started she didn't want to hold her pumpkin basket. As she saw the other kids with theirs she decided she had to have her pumpkin. At the first house she went to, she was handed candy and wanted to immediately devour it. But again she saw that the other kids threw their candy into their bags. So she decided she shouldn't eat hers. She learned to knock, say "treat" and wait patiently to be handed her candy. It is amazing how a one and a half year old can pick up stuff so quickly.
Ella was a cute little pig and Drew was the traditional first year pumpkin. We spent the evening walking the neighborhood with some of our close friends and their kids.

the curly tail

chowing down on her first sucker
I love this picture. She was so patient waiting her turn to get her candy

A quick taste of chocolate

wow, two candy bars...yum!

too cute

me and my kiddos

The fam (the camera fund has begun--ahhh it drives me crazy!)

getting all dolled up

the end of the evening..Drew's asleep, Ella is eating her candy with holes in her tights

"Cheese"

(again, my camera makes me so frustrated! But the picture is still cute)