A Great Big Pile of Leaves

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Nothing says autumn like a trip to the pumpkin patch! Peyton and Kali love everything about pumpkins - picking them, carving them, eating them and most of all, roasting the seeds. This is our 1st round of the big orange gourds. We still have a couple pumpkin farms to visit and we never leave one empty handed. A friend of ours has a farm, we have to ask him for some "undesirables" to hack up for their seeds. There are never enough pumpkin seeds to satisfy my family. We even have to share them with Kali's teacher. Apparently, Kali is the only kid in the class who delights in seed roasting and Mrs. DeBerry made it clear she wants to cash in. I think Kali can continue her straight A's without the bribe, but we send them in for a little insurance! This is my favorite time of year. The foliage is gorgeous, the air is clean and crisp and the pumpkin spice latte has returned to Starbucks. Life doesn't get any better in Akron, OH. Add to that the pumpkin-flavored donuts, bagels, cream cheese, cakes, pies.......You get the picture. Somewhere I've heard how healthy pumpkin is for you. If this is true, I am simply exuding good health!

89 and Going Strong

We spent Sunday afternoon celebrating my Grandma's 89th birthday! The whole family came together to make it a very special day for Kali's "grandma with the white hair." We teased her that next year, the big 9-0, will warrant a bona fide "shindig" - her word, not mine.