Conners A-Maize-Ing Acres

We spent the day out at Conners A-Maize-Ing acres in a family fun day that included Mimi and Uncle Cory.  After our morning soccer games, we headed out to Hilliard to explore the corn maze and to get us all out of the house.  We are all a little anxious and stir crazy waiting on baby girl's arrival, so the busier the better. 

First up was the cow train in which Allison picked the appropriately names "Sugar" cow.  And Jack picked the cow with the smallest opening for him to ride in with Uncle Cory. 

That is why we sucker the uncle into riding the cow train with our kids.  Hopefully he won't remember this moment next year...

While we were waiting for the cow train to pull into the station, we got a nice visit from the donkey who lived in the pen we were resting beside.  Allison and Jack enjoyed petting his backside.  Thank goodness for metal fences and tame donkeys.  Feel free to insert donkey jokes here, I have a few captions that I think would be funny, but not necessarily appropriate. 

There are animals all over this farm and while we waited for the hayride, Jack got to know this horse.  It was a very vocal horse and Jack though it was hilarious to hear a real horse neigh.  It was a lot louder than he expected!

Daddy and his kiddos

Feeding the cows

The highlight of the hayride is feeding the herd of cows that eat hay all day long, every ten minutes or so as each hayride passes by.  Jack initially threw his handful of hay onto the back of a cow proceeding to really peg it with it's morning snack.  With a little coaxing, he did feed them properly.  Allison was in the mix from the beginning and was gathering as much hay as she could to feed the cows.

 

 

Happy Cows

Next up was the petting area where Jack and Allison both took affinity to the three legged goat.  Both of them fed it so much food that it couldn't finish what they were offering. 

Horseback riding is always a favorite.  This horse's name is "Belle" and she is pregnant, but she didn't mind giving my kiddos a few laps around the ring. 

After a good BBQ lunch we headed out to the corn maze with our sheet of clues to navigate with.  Allison and Jack were very excited this year and we actually figured out all the clues and made it past all ten points to get through the maze. 

Maximizing Allison's reading skills, she would read the clue and we would all figure it out together.

All in all we had an "A-Maize-Ing" time!  The kids were caked with dirt and sweat by the end of the day and of course exhausted.  Mission accomplished for us all and a fun fall day to boot!

Pumpkin Patch

This weekend we joined some friends at a local church pumpkin patch.  Despite an Allison injury less than two minutes into our excursion, we had a fun time.  Allison and Jack loved picking out the pumpkins and playing with their friends.  The photo opportunities with all of us together or even just the two together were frustrating as usual, but I think we got a few that captured the spirit!

Allison jumped at the photo ops available to us immediately upon entering the pumpkin patch.  The cow in the back left of the picture was the source of the injury, but she made a full and complete recovery after just enough drama.

Hitching a ride with Daddy

My sweet little pumpkins.  Jack is into picking out his own outfits.  He picked his "rainbow shirt" and Elmo boots...totally appropriate pumpkin picking gear.

Picking out a good one.

Hauling pumpkins

Jack has a new picture smile.  It could be worse, and sometimes it is kind of cute!

Our family picture.  I am 38 weeks pregnant with our newest pumpkin. I was tempted to paint the belly after our evening at the patch.

Our final pumpkin selection

When you can see the love.

My little brother got married on September 17, 2011.  He married Brandi Marks whom we love and cherish as a member of our family.  We have known her for years and are so excited that she is now official and we can refer to her as "Aunt Brandi".  I have known for a long time that Joe and Brandi would get married. Seeing the man that my brother has become while in his relationship with her has me excited for their future together.  A couple holidays ago when I asked Joe about his feelings for Brandi and whether she was "the one".  He answered, "I just can't see my life without her."  Yep, when you know, you know. 

The Groom's Family

Their ceremony was small and intimate and a casual family affair.  They got married at a beach house in Panama City Beach under a bamboo awning made by family members.  The decorations and food were all provided by a multitude of loving family and friends who had a part in adding their touches to their celebration.  Brandi asked me to do a reading during the service which I was more than happy to do.  Except that when I read it, the words were so profound and so touching that I got emotional just thinking about reading it aloud.  I read it over and over trying to detach my feelings from the words on the page and thought that I had accomplished this task.  However, when the ceremony was underway and the magnitude of the words was combined with the love that I could feel between my brother and his new wife, I was a goner.  

“These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and as in today, tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children, the hands that will help you to hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch."

When I read this passage I cannot help but apply them to my own life.  At every wedding I attend I am reaffirmed in the vows that I made to Jason seven years ago.  When we were getting married they were promises, giving my word that I would be there with him as his partner.  In the few short years that make up the history of our marriage we have lived "for better and for worse" and we know that we are both here together, no matter what.  Seven years is a short amount of time in the married world and I am blessed to know that those vows I made May 30, 2004 have not been broken.  So far we have passed each test this world has thrown at us, stronger for the battle.  I read the passage and think of my husband, my provider, my love who cradles our babies and wraps me in an embrace that makes everything right in the world.  

Our babies were the flower girl and ring bearer.  They performed their jobs perfectly!  Allison was overjoyed at being in a real wedding and having her moment to throw the flowers.  She did just as she was told, carefully doling out each individual flower petal as she walked down the aisle.  When she arrived by my side she still had a basket full of petals.  Jack was instructed to hold Allison's dress while they walked.  He did.  In a tight fist with white knuckles with a look of concentration knowing that he could not mess this up since it was too important.  I think he knew that if that walk down the aisle went wrong, his sister might never forgive him.  

Walking down the aisle

 One of my favorite pictures from the wedding is of Allison and Jack walking back up the aisle.  We had practiced walking back up as a family since each of them stood with us during the ceremony.  As they watched the other members of the bridal party parade up the aisle as couples, they grabbed hands and walked ahead of us.  It was so sweet and now I have documentation that they might actually have affection for each other!

A moment of love

There are times that we are blessed with moments when we can see love.  Often they are where you expect it, like at a wedding.  Other times it witnessed between a father and son, in child's eyes as they look at you, or in a glance between husband and wife who truly know each other.  These moments take my breath away.  The way that my brother looked at his wife and promised to be true to her, seeing the love flow between them as they committed their lives to each other, these are moments that are to be treasured.  I try to catalog these moments in my mind, because film does a decent job but nothing can replace the emotions that are evoked when you are present in these moments.  

                          "Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life. "     

Leo Buscaglia