Harvest Fun~ Part One

I had a pumpkin, that I baked
I made it into a pumpkin cake.
Amanada

A few weekends ago, Sugar Bear and I traveled a fair distance to meet Grandma at the Pumpkin Patch. Our hearts full of anticipation, excitement, and charity. This particular Pumpkin Patch gives all proceeds to a camp for children with cancer. Knowing this makes the festivities all the more delightful. To go along with the theme of pumpkins and children, I have elected to share some random children's poetry among the photos in this post.



With so much to see and do, I was a tad surprised that Sugar chose to EAT first. Awwwwww she is a girl after my own heart. She knew EXACTLY what she wanted...and was excited to share her meal with Grandma.



I can't say I blame her, though. A FRITO PIE pretty much ROCKS THE PARTY!



Please let us go pumpkin picking
Understand we LOVE pumpkin picking!
Many people love pumpkin pie and
Pumpkin pie is the best to eat on Halloween because
Kids love to eat pie!
In the fall we love to get our pumpkins and
Night is the best time to carve pumpkins with your friends!

By: Colin N.,Christian R.,Moises S.Thomas W.



Pumpkins are big and round
Usually pumpkins are hard and orange
My, we LOVE
Pumpkin pie! Some
Kinds of pumpkins are yellow
It is fun to go pumpkin picking
No pumpkin's shape is alike.

By: Matthew B.,Amanda R,Daniel R., Katelyn R



Pumpkin, Pumpkin in the air,
Pumpkin, Pumpkin in my hair.
Aurialle




Pumpkins are spooky when you carve them. Put them
Under your bed until Halloween night
My pumpkin looks so scary! We like
Pumpkins
Kick a pumpkin and make a mess
It's better to pick pumpkins and decorate them with
Noses that are BIG!

By: Ashley A., John D., Craig N., Aidan P.,Dana T.

After adequately lapping up every last morsel of Frito Pie, Sugar Bear set her sights on the Pumpkin Ferris Wheel. Last year, I had not allowed her to participate in this attraction, as adults are not allowed. This year, I cautiously stepped out of my comfort zone, and watched my girl find her wings.






Ten pumpkins sitting on the fence,
Five fell down and when kaplence!
Jessica





Pumpkin, Wumpkin, Bumpkin,
I have a pumpkin.
I saw a pumpkin that bumped a log.
I saw a pumpkin and so did the dog.
It was a silly old pumpkin.

By, Stephanie



I found two pumpkins in a pumpkin patch
And guess what, they both match!
Tatiana

Grandma got the overly coveted honor of riding the train with the Sugar. It was interesting to watch, and realize that in their own little ways they were indulging each other. I'm quite certain, each thought they were giving the other a special treat.



The pumpkin rolled down a hill.
"Oh my!" he said, "What a thrill!"
It rolled too fast,
And then it crashed.
Then it got ill.

By, Garrett





I can’t lie.
I can’t make a pumpkin pie!
Brittnee



(This is a little girl after my own heart)
I like pumpkin pie.
It tastes like pumpkin.
Pumpkin pie is good.
I like pumpkin pie.
Jessica



And this last poem....might be my favorite. These kids are just toooooo cute.

There once was a lady who swallowed a pumpkin seed.
A few days later her tummy grew bigger and bigger 'til she couldn't
see.
She went to the doctor, the doctor said,
"I do not know what is wrong with you."
The lady went home to wonder why.
The pumpkin came out
And she had pumpkin pie.

By Cassandra



Good Food, twirling pumpkins, and a fabulous train ride with Grandma....what more could a Sugar Bear ask for? You'll just have to come back in a few days to find out!

Blissful Framing

You might have noticed that I tend to frame the photos I put on my blog. If you at all interested in the how and why behind it, come on over to Blissfully Domestic, and read my most recent contribution. Soon I'll be sharing my method for making a watermark, and saving for the Web.

Photostory Friday~ The Growth of a Pumpkin

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Struggling to come up with a suitable Photostory this week, since I am short on time. I have taken a TON of photos, but have edited nearly none. What's a girl to do? Go back in her photo files....THAT'S WHAT!!!!

I'd like to share a few of my favorite photos of Halloween Season's past. The first features a nearly 10 month old Sugar Bear naked in a freshly carved pumpkin. I have to say that this is quite possible one of my most favorite photo shoots I have ever done. While I wish I had a better camera at the time, I think I did quite well for knowing absolutly NOTHING about photography. Sugar Bear was quite the sport if you ask me. Look at her....all happy....trapped in a pumpkin. AWWWWWWW.....you have to admit....you want to pinch those cheeks, huh?



This second shot features a 21 month old Sugar having a blast in our 2006 fall photo shoot. Sigh....she still has those delightful cheeks, and her joy melts my heart.



This last photo, was taken last fall at the pumpkin patch. Sadly, I did not manage a fall photo shoot last year due to some pretty gloomy weather, and a less than cooperative Sugar Bear. I love this photo for entirely different reasons than the other two. Unlike the others, she isn't exuding happiness. In fact she looks quite glum. I cherish this photo none the less, as it brings back such wonderful memories of a fabulously fun family day. It was our first time at this pumpkin patch, and following the Sugar around discovering all it had to offer was a blessing for this mama.

Come back next week to see Sugar Bear Fall 2008. Have a great weekend!

Home....Where I Make a Difference

Tonight I returned from a two and a half day conference. I'm not sure what I missed more.....the INTERNET, or THE SUGAR????? Okay, so anyone who knows me, knows that answer. By a landslide, I missed Sugar Bear, but I am not afraid to admit that I suffered a small case of the shakes this morning realizing it had been over 55 hours since I read a blog. As I type this....I'm deathly afraid to see how many blog posts are in my reader. TERRIFIED!





After a nice evening reuniting with my child, relishing in our night routines, and rubbing her back a tad bit longer, intentionally lingering to make up for lost time, I went about the overwhelming task of checking my email. Among the random SPAM, silly forwards, and a few friendly, yet business related emails, sat an unexpected email that literally MADE MY DAY.





You see, to attend this particular conference, I had to break one of my parenting rules. My Sugar Bear only stays overnight at her Grandparent's house, or her Aunt and Uncle's. This is something I feel very strongly about, and will soon be sharing my reasons in another blog post. Anyhow, both overnight options were completely unavailable for this week, and it was quite necessary that I attend this conference. After much deliberation, I asked a dear friend, Miss D, if she would keep my Sugar for two nights. She gladly accommodated me, and worked to ease my reluctance to break my own rule. Sugar Bear, Miss D, and her significant other, had a lovely time getting to know each other even better. Sugar has often stayed with them for several hours during the day, but an overnight visit gave them a chance to see each other in a different way. Tonight's email was from my friend, and she blessed my heart by describing the Sugar Bear she observed. Hearing these things from someone outside our family truly, honestly touched my heart. I'd like to share her thoughts here:

She is independent and likes to make her own choices. She loves hot chocolate! She can go to the bathroom, brush her teeth, and dress herself (almost!) by herself. She can count, recognize words, say her alphabet, and is beyond her years in academic skills. She loves conversations! (I think she would have sat at the dinner table all night!)





She understands the world beyond her years! She knows she is loved! She sleeps on her tummy. She still likes to nurse before bed. (She gave me a look at bedtime, and I said sorry, mine don't work anymore!)

She knows how to pack her own suitcase, and she remembers everything that went in it! She knows we really like having her visit! She learned how to control the dog! She loves Yoplait whipped orange yogurt! And fresh pears, watermelon, apples; and lots of Parmesan cheese on her spaghetti!





She is very smart! She is very beautiful! She is very grounded and self-confident! She is very perceptive and empathetic! She is very social and understands negotiations and peer play. She has a great sense of humor!

And I say, "Indeed she does...indeed she does!" It's good to be home.....HOME....where I'm making a difference....where everything I do matters. LIFE IS GOOD!