We Are Family!

This past weekend we went to Williamsville for the first time since August! The whole family came over Saturday--my brothers and their families. But let me back up, Friday night we met my parents for dinner at D'Arcy's...if you're from the area and have never been...you need to experience the buffalo chicken pony shoe! Then Saturday was a lot of activity but a ton of fun. It's always a good time when the whole family gets together! We played outside, played inside and ate fish (well I had a cheese hotdog, of course!) My brother Eric and his wife Mary stayed Saturday night with the kids and we all went to church together Sunday. Then we all got together for lunch at Noodles and Co.--very delic!! What a great weekend, I was sad we had to come back on Sunday. Enjoy some family pics...

Miss Ava Grace

Myself and Ava

All the kids...Nolan, River, Natalie, Hannah and Ava

The whole clan

Us :)

Fall Break=Fall Fun!

Friday was our "Fall Break" at EIU (those who went/go there know its a bit misleading to call it a 'break' when you only get one day off). But we gladly took that day of no work and slept in! I made pumpkin bars for the first time (they're my friend Rachel's famous recipe and I attempted them this weekend). After baking them we headed over to Champaign to hit up Curtis Apple Orchard. We left w/ a pumpkin to carve, some apple butter, and soup mix. I just love little places like this. Then we took our pumpkin and pumpkin bars over to our friends Matt and Shannon's to have a fun fall evening: apple pie and pumpkin bars, pumpkin carving, hot apple cider. It doesn't get much better than that! This was my first time ever carving a pumpkin, which explains why mine turned out so not-good. I'll do better next year :)

Saturday was a whole lot of nothing for me. Brent has a take home midterm due later this evening so he literally spent the entire day in the bedroom working on the test. I was bored out of my mind. And when bedtime came around, I desparetely needed attention but he was too tired and I was too giddy and wired.

And that's about the extent of our "fall break"! Next weekend we're going to my parent's house for the first time since August and I can't wait!!

A before picture...

I was slightly frustrated as Brent started sawing away at the walls of our pumpkin

Haha, my finished jack-o-lantern with a HUGE smile!

looking good :)

Bonfires and Pumpkin Patches

Two of my most favorite things about this season I got to experience this weekend, a bonfire Friday night and a pumpkin patch Saturday. And at night, windows open making it just cool enough to snuggle under the down comforter in my flannel pj pants. I love everything about FALL!!

My friend Carly brought her puppy out to the bonfire and I fell instantly in love w/ Indie :)

Good friends at the bonfire

At the pumpkin patch in KansasBrent w/ a one of our pumpkins

The ride home :)