LEEDS FARM 2017

I say this every year but going to the pumpkin patch is consistently one of my favorite days with the boys. And if I'm lucky, we can make it to multiple patches before fall is over (the more the better.) There is nothing about it I don't like and this year was another great one!

This was our first time visiting Leeds Farm, which is about 30 minutes from us, and we were blown away by how many activities they had to do + at the gorgeous property! They had farm animals, hayrides, barrel rolls, ziplines, banana bus, straw barn forts and slides, pedal carts, tractors, corn boxes, all kinds of desserts, and kettle corn. Pretty much had ALL of the fall farm fun you'd ever want and more. We easily spent 2 hours here and could've spent longer.

Grayson kept wanting to pick up all the biggest pumpkins..he was fascinated by them and loved touching them. He would try so hard to lift them up! He loved being able to walk around (fully mobile compared to being only a few months old last year!) I think Camden's favorite parts were all the slides and sitting in the tractor. He loved seeing the goats (as usual) though, too. He literally skipped from area to area happy as can be. His zest and excitement for life always amazes me..he wants to do it all and just loves so hard. We were lucky enough to have my BIL and his wife join us, so that was extra special for the boys and us as well. 😊

As you can probably tell from the photo overload, I hope we will be back to Leeds again next year! (Especially to hopefully carry on this new picture tradition to see how much these handsome boys have grown...)

Love these adventurous, always keeping me on my toes, happy boys to pieces.

WEEKEND RECAP

HAPPY OCTOBER!!

I'm taking a quick break from my California recaps just so I can post some random happenings lately. I feel like it's been so long since I've just posted pictures of the boys and what we've been up to. Grayson has decided to walk full time now (he was still crawling a bit before) so now I'm trying to master wrangling two kids that go off in separate directions. When I thought my hands were full before...ha, wrong. Now I've really got my hands full. Mad props to those of you with more than 2 kids!

Anyway, this time of year is full of SO many of my favorite things...pumpkin patches, apple picking, Thanksgiving, and Halloween. What's not to like? (Besides winter coming after it...) This weekend was a great start to all of that fun! It has been so nice out so we headed to Powell's Oktoberfest during the day on Saturday, which is basically a festival that had music under tents, food trucks and stands, kettle corn, and a playground close by for the kids to play at. Camden was living his best life because he got to take a tour of a firetruck there (actually got to go on a different one earlier that day too that happened so randomly!) They let him touch the hose, their helmets, and sit in the drivers seat. He immediately honked the horn and was screaming because he was so excited that he did it...it was so freaking cute.

 (their matching shirts are from old navy!)

Saturday night we set up our tv outside on our deck and had our neighbors and their boys (they have two boys as well) over to watch the OSU game. We got pizzas and had a fire in the backyard!

On Sunday I knew I wanted to make a yummy soup recipe that we haven't tried before (I've been slacking on trying new recipes lately), so I decided to make this Panera Copycat Chicken + Wild Rice Soup. It tasted just like it + was SO good. Adding to our rotation for this fall and winter, for sure! We also went to my girlfriends sons birthday party in the afternoon which happened to be at one of their favorite play cafes! All the kids had such a good time + the mamas enjoyed catching up. 

Now I'm just sitting here counting down until Tuesday night at 9 when This Is Us is back on. Are they going to throw us a twist or did Jack really die in the fire? What do you guys think? I loved the premiere but figured they would throw something like that in RIGHT at the very end and I NEED answers...

PS: I woke up to the heartbreaking news in Las Vegas and my heart dropped. I'm so sad for our world and all the people/families affected by this heartless crime. Sending so many prayers and love today to Las Vegas today. 

Pumpkin Patch 2016

Every year I look forward to going to our local pumpkin patch. There's not much not to love when there's sweet treats all over the place, pumpkins to bring home, and fun memories made!

Taking TWO little boys, though? My most favorite year as a family yet. I really hope our kids grow up to love going to the pumpkin patch as much as I love taking them! Last year Camden wasn't walking yet and was too little to be into it, so we just snapped some pictures of him looking cute with the pumpkins (which was awesome - and EASY!) but this year, in true Camden fashion, he was running all over the place exploring everything and had so much more fun.

He ran from pumpkin to pumpkin trying to pick them all up (probably to throw...) and of course, suckered us into getting him some candy from inside the barn...

 

 

 

He also got to have his first bounce house experience which, naturally, he loved and got mad at us when we made him get out...

 

Grayson also ran around from pumpkin to pumpkin trying to pick one out to take home. We could hardly contain him! Just kidding...when he wasn't snoozing in the carrier, he laid by some pumpkins and flashed me some cute smiles.

 

 

We also saw Cam have his little brothers back for the first time...and by that I mean saving him from his pumpkin hat that his Mom dressed him in. ;)

"don't worry brother, Mom made you wear this cheesy hat but I got you!" 

The only downside to the day was that it was a little muddy when we went so we didn't get to go on a hayride, but I hope that we can fit one in on another weekend coming up. It's a good thing their delicious apples made up for it!

Such a fun time with my boys!

And guess who's already looking forward to next year's trip? I'll give you one guess... :)

CURRENTLY...

(from my snapchat: katiewkrysh)

Reading: I can't tell you how long it has been since I read a book, but this weekend I picked up After You because of how much I loved Me Before You. I'm on chapter 5 already and really enjoying it (the book and the extra quiet time.)

Wishing: that the current colds and sickness going through our house would GO AWAY. Both boys have been sick for over a week and it has been pretty rough having two sick kids (especially since Gray is so young!) at the same time. Camden had a stomach bug and is teething really bad (fun combo) and Grayson is up coughing a lot in the middle of night. Sleep has been minimal to say the least...hoping and praying this week they both feel better!

 

Happening: We decided to transition Grayson from the rock and play to his crib over the weekend. I wanted to do the transition earlier than we did with Camden, and I also felt like he would nap/sleep better in his own space. Turns out, he is actually sleeping better in his own room like I thought! I do miss having him right next to me though, kinda makes me feel like he's getting too big too fast!


Loving: The low-key weekend was pretty much everything. The only real plans we had was a friends son birthday party (happy birthday Macklin!) yesterday at a park nearby. We didn't stay very long because it was chilly and breezy and the last thing I want are the kids getting more sick, but Cam had so much fun and it was good to hang out with some friends!

 
 

Looking Forward To: Halloween with both kids! I just got the kids costumes in the mail last week and am so excited to see them dressed up. Billy and I plan to dress up too...if we can find what we need!

 oh, and of course I'm excited because Texas is only 1 month away!

Thinking: Sometimes I will look at the boys and be like, "OMG-I really do have 2 babies under 2 years old" like it hasn't sunk in yet or something. ha! It always reminds me to slow down and take a breather from time to time, because time moves so quickly.

I mean, look at this boy...he's getting so big. Love those pretty eyes!



Don't forget to enter my current giveaway here! Hope everyone has a great week!

Top 3 Fall Recipes

Happy Fall!

While I'm sad to see summer go, I welcome fall with open arms because it means I can make these three recipes whenever I want and not be judged for it. What would make fall even better is if winter didn't come right after it, but hey let's not think about that right now.

These are some of my absolute favorite things to make this time of year and they're incredibly easy, too.

1. APPLE PIE APPLES 

(because hello...apple.pie.apples. Enough said)

 full post here

What You Need:

-2 apples (or 1 per person; we used Honeycrisp but you can use your favorite type) 

-1 Can Apple Pie Filling 

-1 Pie Crust

-Cinnamon

-Vanilla Ice Cream (optional) 

Instructions:

1. Cut the tops off your apples and scoop out the insides with a knife or spoon. 

2. In a small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon (or more-whatever suits your tastes!) cinnamon in with the can of apple pie filling, then fill the mixture in the apples.

3. Unroll 1 pie crust, cut into fourths, then cut into small strips. Lay 3 strips horizontally on top of the apple, then weave 3 vertical strips in and out to go on top. Cut the edges off around the apple.

4. Bake in a baking dish filled with 1/2 cup water in the bottom at 375-400 degrees for 25-30 minutes!

2. APPLE CHIPS

full post here

3. PUMPKIN PIE YOGURT DOTS

(a recipe for your little ones!)

full post here

What You Need:

+Vanilla Greek Yogurt (one of the single containers)

+Pumpkin Puree

+Pumpkin Pie Spice, optional

+Sweetener, optional

Instructions:

+Pour an individual cup of greek yogurt into a bowl. Use the same cup to measure 1/2 full of pumpkin puree. Add 1/8 tsp of pumpkin pie spice and your desired amount of sweetener and mix all of it together with a spoon. Transfer mixture into a large zip lock bag (cut one of the bottom corners off so that you can easily make "drops") and drop small amounts onto a sheet of parchment paper. Freeze for 20 minutes. Use a resealable container for leftovers!

Enjoy!