MMM... me want rainy orchard cookies!!

This past weekend we did not let the rain stop our need for an adventure! We held tight to our annual tradition of picking apples (kind of) fresh from the orchard and enjoying some freshly made apple cider donuts and B's personal fav: apple caramel cookies! YUM!
My mouth is yearning for the last smidgen of a crumb that I couldn't resist savoring last night.

While we were meandering around the orchard, we could not help ourselves from tasting the biggest apple on the mountain top.

What are we planning to do with all of our newly acquired, carefully chosen granny smith apples? Well, turn them into one tempting, delicioso pie!

This is one of J's most favorite fall traditions.

By the way, if anyone should like to visit us in the fall, we will make you a fresh apple pie.
The Hoffs, fresh apple pie...what more could one ask for in life?:)

Is it just us??

Are we (and the aisles in Wal-mart) the only ones thinking of Thanksgiving already?
We realize that we just passed the half way mark in October, but Halloween just doesn't have that exciting edge like it used to. With the hopes of a short get-away attached to Turkey Day........ahh! sigh.
We can't stop thinking of it.......
So, amidst the hub-bub of financial disaster, destruction, and fall out on Wall Street, Main Street and Sesame Street let us be grateful today and not post-pone our expression of gratitude until the potatoes are mashed and the dark meat is calling J's name in sweet turkish lullabies.

We are grateful for:
laughter
blogs
water
colors
food
toilet paper
sight
books
creativity
words
trees
singing birds
the sun
imagination
kindness
parents
love
innocence of little ones
chocolate milk
you!

and the list goes on and on...

Let us all find joy in our journey and appreciate more the many things we take for granted.

Oh the wonder and the joy!

Here I am wondering to myself what to post about, so as to get those un-kind green and red pillows off my screen. When alas! I remembered how we were able to finally (it took us 4 attempts) land The Parent Trap movie. Can you believe that Joshua had never seen, let alone heard of this jewel? I often find myself wondering if he had a childhood, but realize he has the movies and pictures to prove it, while I have the exact opposite. Still love you Mom! :)
So, here is an ode to the original The Parent Trap movie! Hooray for good, clean fun!