Punkin' Patch

Well, we finally did it. What did we do, you may wonder? Why, we finally made it to the Punkin' Patch. Our weekends had been full and busy, so by the time we actually made it to the patch most of the leaves were gone from the trees and a lot of the pumpkins were rotting. However, that did not deter us from having fun. And if you're local, you really should check this place out. It's called The Pumpkin Patch (some members of our stake own it) and it has it all: hay rides, pumpkins, a tree house, farm animals, a corn maze, cider donuts, etc., etc., but best of all it's free! Will had a ball and, I daresay, so did we. Pumpkin Patch in Schoharie, we're believers. And of course we have pictures of the fun that you now get to enjoy (lucky you).

Will and Mama in the school bus.
Will and Dada in the scary witch.
The hay ride.

The search for the perfect pumpkin.

Our two pumpkins.

The tree house with tire horse.

The go carts. This was a serious hit. We could never get a picture of Will's face because he was riding that there pedal cart way too fast.

Will referred to his shirt all day as his "punkin' patch shirt" and he insisted Josh wear a matching one. And then he fell asleep on the way home. Isn't he so peaceful and cute? I do believe this may be the last nap he ever takes. Sob, sigh.

Fall is where it's at

Yes, you must listen to me drone on and on yet again about my love of all things fall. But really--what isn't there to love? We are definitely taking advantage of all fall has to offer here. And, of course, I will now post about it. Don't worry, though. Come January and February no posts will be made, for who wants to see me going crazy with cabin fever, watching yet another episode of Thomas the Train with my child or putting on a good ten pounds readying myself for the winter cold? I thought not. So enjoy these posts while you've got 'em.

Here's us enjoying two of our favorite fall activities: apple picking and our favorite little hike just down the road from us (Indian Kill).

Will looooves to go on hikes. The entire time we were on the hike he just kept chanting: "I'm a big boy exercising!" Who knows where he came up with that? And it's true--I just must look like a bag lady while taking this hike (look here for evidence), but who showers before a hike?

On a side note: since the hike was a little chilly, we insisted Will wear gloves. And now he cannot get enough of said gloves. He wears them everywhere. Often, he just wears one glove and we call him our little Michael Jackson. Here are the pics of our glove-wearin' friend (and pictures of my not-so-clean house):

Sometimes you're up and sometimes you're down

Pixar has a darling little short film called Boundin' (on the extras of the film Incredibles) about a little sheep who has a coat of hair with the most remarkable sheen, but then one day a truck comes along, sheers the poor sheep and then dumps him back in his home in the middle of a rain storm. The down-trodden sheep is so very sad and in the dumps until a-bounding up the slope comes a great American jackal ope who has some very sound advice for the poor sheep: "Sometimes you're up and sometimes you're down. When you find you're down, just look around and you'll bound, bound, bound and rebound." (And then, of course, a lot of jumping up and down ensues). Will loves this little film and I love it too because I love the message. Sometimes in life we're up and sometimes we're down but if we just look around we'll see it ain't all so bad and we'll bound, bound, bound and re-bound. And Monday was just a down, down day. And I needed a little boundin'. So I took Will to our favorite park on a beautiful, crisp fall day in NY and basked in the goodness that it is to be the mom of this energetic, funny, vibrant little boy. Then I went to the City Mission to serve dinner and recognized that I am so blessed, that I have so much. Then I came home to a clean, quiet house and snuggled with my hubby and read this talk with him from last General Conference that stated:

"If you have been wronged--by anyone (a family member, a friend, another member of the Church, a Church leader, a business associate) or by anything (The death of a loved one, health problems, a financial reversal, abuse, addictions)--deal with the matter directly and with all the strength you have. "Hold on the way"; giving up is not an option. And, without delay, turn to the Lord. Exercise all of the faith you have in Him. Let Him share your burden. Allow His grace to lighten your load. We are promised that we will "suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ" (Alma 31:38). Never let an earthly circumstance disable you spiritually."

And I realized that I am not alone, that I am never alone. And that however it all turns out, it will all turn out right. And now I've bounded, bounded, bounded and re-bounded. Things are looking up again.

Now because no post is a good post without pictures, here are some photos of my boy at the "firetruck park".

How can you look at this photo and not be up?

So Long, Summer

It's official: summer's over. And while I typically have a love/hate relationship with summer (love all the fun summer festivities, like bbqs, summer produce, swimming, etc.; hate the humidity and heat that make me sweat every hour of every day), I find myself now longing for those sunny, summery days and wholly unprepared and unready for the dark and dreary days of winter. So, here's one last sad good-bye to summer and a final look at some of our fun summer times.

Wolfe's Neck, Maine

Madsen family vacation May 2010

The dreamy house we stayed in whilst in Maine. It was gorgeous.

Trips to Vermont.

Two, in fact. Once before baby James and once after.

Here's the sole picture we took while at Shelburne Farms.

Family Movie Nights

This time I made my boys endure Enchanted, though Will only lasted for the animated portion. I love that he thought that the princess' dress was made out of toilet paper (instead of lace).

Days at the Lake.
Moreau Lake August 2010. Will was made for the water. I was made for this kind of water. Since it is a tiny lake, 35 minutes north of us, it is soooooo very warm. Per-fect.



So long, summer!