Cox Farms

I took a half day at work (which is funny since I only work 4 hours) and picked Jared and Lydia up from school at 10:45.  One thing they really wanted to do this year was go back to Cox Farms.  We didn't make it last year and loved being there today.  We tried to time it to get there as the school/preschool kids were leaving but the local families hadn't arrived yet.  The lot was full of buses when we arrived so I was nervous we were too early (we got there at 12:30) but it was perfect.  The crowds died down by 1:00 and we rarely had to wait in line for any of the slides or other events.  One thing I really appreciate it is that everything (food excluded) is included in your entrance ticket.  They offer one free apple and mini pumpkin per ticket and delicious (free) apple cider.  Its really well run, had lots of cool slides, fairly cheesy and really fun.  We had gorgeous Fall weather and bright blue sky.   Its 1.5 hours away and totally worth the drive.  We all loved their beautiful pumpkin display.  It is so cool how pumpkin growers have introduced all kinds of new colored pumpkins.  We loved walking around the display checking out the different shapes and sizes. They also had the biggest pumpkin (winner at the Virginia State Fair) on display.  The same person won 1st and 2nd place.  The first place pumpkin was 1217 pounds.  His 2nd place pumpkin was 1047.  They were massive.

We headed over to the hay pyramid where Lydia and Jared played hide-n-go-seek and tag and then played on the rope swings.  Both Jared and Lydia loved the rope swings this year.  We went on all the slides but contrary to previous visits the big blue slide was not Jared's favorite this year.  He said it gave him a headache.  The farm slide was the winner this year for him and Lydia loved the big blue one the most.  I asked the people at the top which lanes were the fastest and they said 1 and 6 had just been waxed and Lydia and I flew down them.  It was so fun.

After sliding we headed over to the Corm Maze.  The maze here is more of a walk through, you literally cannot get lost in it.  They have weird and random exhibits in it I would say 75% of them are homemade out of wood and then painted.  I was telling Jared about how at night they make their corn maze a haunted corn maze and he is desperate to go.  I think it could be fun to go with a friend for his birthday one year.  But not this year, maybe in 5th grade.

 

Walk through the inside of a pumpkin.  This was pretty cool and life like and grossed you out.  

Tilted house full of bugs and rodents.

We enjoyed fresh apple cider donuts, a hay ride, a walk through Fairy Tale Forest and more sliding.

We also saw goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits and so many pigs.  One set of piglets (12 of them) had just been born on October 04th and were so cute and little (and stinky). Jared was in rare form wanting all kinds of pictures and taking so many good ones.  He is a pretty handsome guy.  

He wanted to play in the penny pit so badly that he stayed there while Lydia and I went back to the blue slides.  It was nice to know that he would be okay by himself while we went on the slides.  Six and a half and nine are awesome ages for kids.  We had such a a fun day together.  I was slightly concerned about traffic going back but it wasn't too bad.  We left the farm just after 4:00 and made it to our dinner stop in an hour and 15 minutes.  It should have been just under an hour but there was some traffic right by the farm.  We stopped and ate at Ihop a place Mark would never want to go.  To our delighted surprise kids 12 and under eat for free on Tuesdays and they have an art project for the kids to work on while you wait.  Today it was a Q-tip skeleton.  So we only had to pay for my dinner which was just the cherry on top of an awesome Fall day. It was definitely worth the drive and skipping school. We rocked out to The Beatles on the way home and it was fun to hear them singing along on parts they knew.  I was a huge Beatles fan from like 10 - 20.  I still love them but it has scaled back a bit.  I'm happy to introduce Lydia and Jared to them.  

Saturday's in the Fall

In my opinion every day is better in the Fall but Saturday's are the best in the Fall.  This past Saturday we started the day with Jared's soccer game.  I ran to the field his game was at from our house again which worked perfectly.  With my new job I am having a hard time getting a run in first thing in the morning so even though the weather has been great for running I haven't been able to make it out except for Saturdays.  He has been really happy with his team, the Aggressive Rats.  They only play one other team of 9-10 year olds and so far they have won each game which is of course fun for him.  I have been happy to see that the kids are all really good sports to each other which is really all I care about. On Saturday's game Jared and a kid (Nathan) on the other team crashed and Jared ended up on the ground (for real, not a flop).  Nathan immediately stopped and asked Jared if he was okay.  I was so impressed.  Later in the game this same kid kicked a ball out of bounds and it came right near Lydia and I (we were on a blanket on the ground) and he ran over and apologized so sincerely.  He is that team's best player and such a thoughtful kid.  I need to find his parents and tell them and ask them for some tips.  Not that Jared and Lydia aren't thoughtful but it was like second nature to this kid.  I'd like to tell him too, hopefully it wouldn't embarrass him too much. It led to a great conversation in the car with Jared and Lydia.  Jared commented on how nice he thought Nathan was too and we talked about how we could follow his example.  I think I have seen him at Baker-Butler when kids are walking to buses, I'm pretty sure he is in 4th grade.  So soccer has been great now that the rain has stopped and they are actually able to have practices and games. 

Jared is in the blue soccer socks and maroon shirt, close to Mark who is the assistant coach.  The official coach actually broke his nose last week so he is stepping aside and Mark will fill in. 

We went home after and finally did some yard work.  We pretty much took the summer off from doing anything in our yard and weeds are taking over even more than usual.  We were gone so much and it rained so much that it was hard to even get it mowed this year.  We cleaned out our garden beds (just in time for winter?) trimmed bushes and little trees that had grown but could be cut with hand clippers, pulled weeds, and moved some big rocks that had suspiciously moved to different places.  For someone who doesn't come to our house often it wouldn't look much different but it looks much better to us.  Like we actually tried to do something.  The woods will always be the winner here though. People are kind though and often say that the fact that we are in the woods is great because you don't have to try to control it.  I would like it to be more cleaned out but its such an overwhelming task and I hate yard work.  It being Fall just makes it tolerable.  At least it feels nice outside. 

We came inside and tried (unsuccessfully) to get tickets to the Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert in Salt Lake.  The guest performer is Kristin Chenoweth who I think is amazing. Tickets became available at 10:00 am MST Saturday.  I had my sister Susanna, Mark's mom, myself and 2 friends who all tried to get tickets for us.  Super lucky to have such great people in my list.  One of my friends here was actually able to get 2 tickets for me!  I am so excited.  Mark and I happened to be on Temple Square when we were dating (so 2003) and were given extra tickets and attended it and had a great time. I think it has only gotten better since then.  So as long as Mark is still working at the airport then I will fly out and hopefully go with my sister Susanna.  I am so grateful that Mark is willing to work there so it is even an option. Its really cool to have the option of hopping on a flight to Salt Lake to meet up with my sister for a day.  

After that we drove over to UVA to meet some friends and watch the men's soccer game.  We always enjoy going and had been bummed that the dates hadn't worked out but finally they did and on a beautiful Fall day.  They were playing Wake Forest the #1 ranked team and for about 10 minutes UVA looked like they were going to win but then Wake Forest came through to win it 3-2.   

Not a view I would have thought of to use for a soccer game. Or anything really...

Jared, Lydia and I took dinner to Mark who had to be at the airport at 4:00 and then watched Hocus Pocus for our movie night.  They had never seen it and it had been many years since I had.  Lydia can't wait to watch it again and Jared in true Harry Potter lingo (or British) kept calling Sarah Jessica Parker's character (and other parts) mental.  

Happy Birthday Jared!

It was a very Harry Potter birthday this year which was in no way surprising.  Friday after school Jared had Marcus, Tyler and Sam over for cake and playing.  I had a fun time making his cake and some fun theme snacks.  He requested Harry Potter Legos, a complete set of the books, and a quidditch cake.  I was determined to find the books with the original art work because I already had Year 6 and 7 and planned on passing them on to him.  I went onto eBay and was fortunate enough to find books 1- 5 that were hardcover and the original art work.  I had to bid on them and got them for 32 dollars!  5 hardcover books for 32 dollars.  It was great.  I told him about bidding but then didn't ever tell him that I actually won.  For his balloons this year I chose a gold one for the snitch and then 2 of each house color.  On each balloon I wrote three different spells.  It was fun.

I made butter beer, broomsticks and sorting hat cookies.  The butter beer was delicious and the sorting hats were a hit.  His friend Marcus actually went to Harry Potter world this Summer and said that my butter beer was better than the stuff he had there.  I was happy I found a good recipe. They played quidditch in the yard while I made the butter beer and after cake and snacks they went off into the woods with their wands.  Everyone had a great time and Jared felt very celebrated.

Butter Beer, the topping was so yummy. 

Expelliarmus!

Leftover cake on Sunday, his actual birthday. 

We enjoyed crepes and chocolate milk for breakfast and meat rolls and Ham, Potato, and Broccoli Soup for dinner.  Originally he was kind of bummed his birthday was on a Sunday but had a fun day in the end.  He spent the morning in bed reading Harry Potter and then played Settlers in Zarahemla with Mark and Lydia.  

9 Year old Birthday Interview

1. What is your favorite color? Blue

2. What is your favorite toy? Harry Potter robe and wands

3. What is your favorite fruit? Grapes

4. What is your favorite movie? Harry Potter 3

5. What do you do well? Spell Duels

6. What do you like to do with Daddy? Play catch

7. What makes you happy? Playing Harry Potter 

8. What is your favorite scripture story? The Stripling Warriors

9. What is your favorite song? Army of Helaman

10. What is your favorite animal? Orca

11. What is your favorite book? Harry Potter

12. Who is your best friend? Marcus, Tyler and Sam

13. Where is your favorite place to go?  Harry Potter World (not that he's been)

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play in the woods

15. What is your favorite drink? Mom's Butter Beer

16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas (my birthday and Halloween)

17. What do you like to do with Mommy?  Go on Pottermore

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Crepes

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Ham, Potato, and Broccoli Soup

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? No idea whatsoever

Conference Trip

Mark is so close to putting in his 2 weeks notice at the airport.  I feel like I have written this a lot but now there is a new station manager.  He went in to talk to her about changing his schedule on Thursday.  Last Fall he was hired on as part time but the manager said doing 2 nights was fine.  Then the manager changed and the new one said he had to do 3 nights.  Now he has been in school for over a month and feels like 3 nights is too many.  So he brought up switching back to 2 nights and the new person asked if he could wait until after the hiring fair (in 2 weeks) and then they could talk and he said okay.  Its nice that this person is actually willing to talk to him about it but if she can't make it happen then he will call it good.

Mark Jared and Lydia left to head out to Utah Thursday night.  They were hoping to catch a direct flight from Dulles in Northern VA to Salt Lake City.  A friend of ours was driving up to Northern VA to stay with his in laws and then go to a work meeting the next morning.  The three of them were able to catch a ride with him stay the night and then make the direct flight.  It worked out perfectly.  Once in Utah they had fun with cousins, went swimming with Grandma Sue and had In-N-Out Burger.  Mark and Jared took TRAX into Salt Lake for the first session on Saturday and were there for the new schedule announcement, which we are all super excited about!  It will be so much better for all those kids!

It was Jared and Mark's first time attending a session in the Conference Center.  I actually didn't know that Mark had not attended one in there yet.  Jared enjoyed it and was amazed at how big the room was.  They flew back early Sunday and were able to fly into Charlottesville which was so nice.

I had a lovely quiet weekend at home.  People asked me what I was going to do and I said whatever I wanted to do.  I made conference cinnamon rolls, went clothes shopping, slept in, organized some closets, went on a long walk by Chris Greene Lake, watched all of conference with no distractions, and attended the women's session with a friend.  It was such a nice weekend and I was so happy to welcome them back Sunday evening.  I was also so happy to hear it announced that my hometown, Yuba City is a new temple spot!  I was not expecting it in the least.  I am sure it will be on the North side of town so people in Chico will be closer to one.  They had either Medford OR (3.5 + hours away) or Sacramento (just under 2 hours away).  It will be great.  I talked to my Mom and she told me that she just burst into tears.  Sacramento is about 50 minute away for her so not too bad but 15 minutes will be amazing.  There are lots of good people there and I'm so happy for them.

Finally Fall

This past weekend was our first weekend of Fall weather.  I loved it so much.  Now that we have been here for 4 years I know I should not get my hopes up for cooler weather in September.  Its a long hot, humid month.  This one was pretty rainy too which seems to be a pretty common thing here too.  Looking at the 10 day forecast for Charlottesville has given me hope that Fall is really here now.  To celebrate the Fall weather we went to a high school football game.  

Charlottesville was playing Albemarle and it was Charlottesville's homecoming.  I had planned on sitting in the stands but Mark thought it would be more fun for Jared and Lydia if we stayed on the track down by the end zone.  This was a great plan as Jared and Lydia each got to chase down the balls from the field goal kicks.  They loved it.  They chased down the ball and then ran it over to the football player who was collecting the balls for the referees. We spent the first half on one side of the field walked around to watch the cheerleaders cheer  for a minute then waited for balls at the other end zone.  Since it was homecoming I was looking forward to a cool half time show but we sadly ended up missing it.  The band took the field but the whole break was spent announcing the candidates for Homecoming queen and king.  I figured it would be a part of it but didn't know it would take the whole time.  It didn't really matter though because it was kind of helpful for Jared and Lydia to hear about the things that students can do while in high school.  After listening to all the candidates profiles I had picked a girl and boy I wanted to win and they actually won!  The girl was in the national honors society, the french honors society, one of the band drum majors (she was in her uniform for marching band) and was escorted by her younger brother who looked like he was 10 or 11. The boy was the number one singles tennis player, one of 100 Influential Young African American leaders, a member of the National honors society and escorted by his mom.  I enjoyed seeing someone other than the stereotypical kids win.  As we walked out Jared talked about how he wanted to be one of the people nominated when he was in high school and it was a good opportunity to sort of talk about high school and things that can set you apart not only for things like this but for college too.  Neither Jared or Lydia know a lot about high school so it was a fun way to sort of show them good and bad things and have fun at a game.  We left at half time and they both were sad to go.  The performances were scheduled for the end of the game so we were bummed to miss them.  I'm not sure we would go to another game this season but I think taking them to a basketball game could be fun too. 

Returning the ball

Jared had a soccer game Saturday morning.  So many of his games and practices have been rained out but this game had the perfect weather.  I had Mark drop me off at the airport roundabout and then ran the rest of the way to the soccer field to meet up with them.  It was about 1.75 miles.  The first mile was pretty rough but as I got closer to the field I was sad to be done.  I am really looking froward to running again now that the weather has turned.  He ended up winning his game and scored 2 of the 5 goals.  His team is the Aggressive Rats.  Jared is a pretty decent soccer player and has seemed really happy with his team this year.  Three of the kids are in our ward and one he knew from a previous year.  Lydia seems perfectly happy to not be playing soccer this year.  She was pretty much just in it for the snacks in the past.  

After soccer we came home for an early lunch and then headed over to the Blue Ridge School for a hike.  I really hope to get more hikes in this Fall.  There are really so many great options near us and we have not taken advantage of them.  Jared and Lydia were really good sports about it.  Lydia commented that at first her legs were tired but then she got used to it and it didn't feel long at all.  On the drive over I mentioned to Jared that he needed to start going running with me so he would be ready for the Turkey trot next month.  Lydia commented that she did not want to do marathon in a month this year.  I told her that was fine and she asked if she could still get a popsicle.  I told her that she would need to participate some to get her popsicle.  After the hike she said that she actually thought she could run a mile and was willing to try marathon in a month again.  We will see where she is at next March.  The hike was nice.  It felt a lot like Preddy Creek and Ivy Creek places we have  done a few times.  Sort of a simple walk in the woods.  I prefer places that end up with a view and will have to look up some good hikes in Shenandoah.  It was a perfect outing for the weather though and it was great to try out somewhere new.  They are both really good ages for hikes and I really hope we get out there.