Fall is Coming!!!

Sorry there was no post in July. We were busier than ever! We have had lots of fun with weddings and other photography. We're a little behind on that blog too, but make sure to check out our photography blog, www.wohlfordphotography.blogspot.com over the next couple of weeks for lots of photos and updates!

Even though I can't post a photo at this time, I wanted to go ahead and put up a new background and small post. Notice the school background. I have been lusting after all the cheap school supplies. This year, more than the 2 previous years, I have missed setting up a classroom. (And the paycheck!) Don't get me wrong...it's a LOT of work! Most of that organization wears off pretty quickly once the students arrive. But I love to plan and organize, love the excitement of a new year, fresh classroom, eager students, all the possibilities. I also love the line in You've Got Mail when Tom Hanks sends Meg Ryan an email and talks about a "bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils."

I'll get a little school fix this year when Will starts preschool in a just a couple of weeks! There will definitely be first day of school photos to post then! He warmed up by attending 3 1/2 VBS programs this summer and was away from me far more than he will be on his 2-morning-a-week school schedule. When I ask him if he is excited about going to school, he says, "No. I will miss you." But even right now he is asking me where we are going today, so I know he will be glad to have places to go and things to do! Just this morning he told me he wanted to go to Bible School, even though at the time he said the same thing he is saying about school, "I don't want to go. I will miss you."

I'm sure even though it's less than 6 hours a week, I'm really going to miss him too. I anticipate some tears, as he is my baby, going off to grow up. I know, preschool is optional, but I also know it's what's best for my smart little man. I also plan on spending my 6-7 weeks (hopefully!) of pre-Baby preschool getting a few things done, relaxing in a coffee shop or two (drinking hot chocolate, not yucky coffee), relishing the EXTREMELY rare chance to be alone without an agenda. And then it will all be over, hello Baby!

But before she gets here we do hope to squeeze in a few trips to the pumpkin patch. We probably won't be able to make it 3 or 4 times like last year, but we better make it some. Looking forward to the joys of a pregnant woman being hoisted onto a hayride. That should make for some comic relief!

Recipe for a Spooktacular Halloween (Circa 2009)

Mix together:
1 rambunctious 2 1/2 year old
2 child-like parents
1 best-ever chicken costume
31 days praying for Halloween health
4 festive shirts
3 trips to the pumpkin patch
piles of colorful leaves
1 fall family photo shoot
2 Halloween crafts at Michael's Craft Store
3 night-time visits to the Tanbark Halloween house
1 Moms Club costume parade
2 Halloween parties
1 Halloween story-time at the library
1 card from Mimi and Papaw
2 big Halloween events
1 ride on top of a real firetruck
1 glowing Jack-o-lantern
1 tour of local stores celebrating Halloween morning
1 free kids meal at Qdoba for Halloween lunch
1 night Trick-or-Treating at Fayette Mall
1 stop at Jo's for a special treat
1 Jack-o-Lantern full of num-nahs

Cook at unusually cold temperatures until the very tired chicken declares, "Go home! Will ready to go home!" Top off with some Yummy Mummy Sausages and Ghoul-Aid. Savor the memories and enjoy.


****Sometimes if you cook it too long, it will become a little bitter. For example, during one of the trick-or-treat stops, I said, "Smile for a picture!" Will turned around and yelled, "I said NO!" in his very meanest 2 year old voice, which is surprisingly mean for a 2 year old.

Trick-or-Treat!!!

It was my first official trick-or-treat in 19 years. I've handed out candy, but it's just not the same--especially since we've only had a few trick-or-treaters the past couple of years. So John and I were both extra excited to go trick-or-treating. We decided to go to the mall since we only know a few neighbors here and there. Definitely a good choice. We got to see the Kentucky Wildcat, pirates, and a giant cookie passing out candy, among others. There were lots of Tootsie Rolls, which Will can actually eat, but there were a couple fresh cookies and caramel corn thrown in the mix. Yum! Will knew what the jack-o-lantern was for. We had a hard time keeping him out of it!

Then it was off to Aunt Jo's house for the best treat of all--a giant Reese cup. Will shares the same love of peanut butter as his dear old mom.

Will seemed to have a good time, but probably not as much fun as John and I did, especially me. Only 365 days until next Halloween. And we've already picked out his next costume!

Halloween Howdown

Our local library hosted a Halloween Howdown early Halloween morning. The library was packed with so many people that we had to park at the bank down the street. We sang Halloween songs, marched in the costume parade, practiced trick-or-treating for the upcoming night (see the cute little trick-or-treat station in the photo), and did a scarecrow craft. We'll definitely be attending again next year.

Sophie Throws a Great Party!

Sophie is one of Will's friends from church. (You may recognize her as Pebbles in the front row, next to Bamm- Bamm.) This was our first official party with friends. Will did a great job keeping his costume on, even his hood. We had a great time making pumpkin crafts, eating Halloween goodies, and playing with other people's toys! Thanks for the invitation, Sophie. You throw a great party!

Huber Farms

There are some good pumpkin patches around here, but for us, if you haven't been to Joe Huber's, then it really isn't Halloween. I don't know what it is about it--the country food, the beautiful ponds, the winery, the cute gift shops, the ice cream and cheese shop, the long hay ride, the large pumpkin patches, the barnyard playground, the apple launch, or the corn maze--but for some reason I think it will always be our favorite pumpkin patch. (And it's not too bad during the strawberry festival either!)

Pumpkin Patch Party

Every year Crossroads Christian Church has a giant Pumpkin Patch Party. We've volunteered before when we use to go to church there, but we were especially excited this year because we had our own little one to take. There was so much going on, that I'm not sure Will knew what to make of it. I'm sure however, that the highlight was getting Mommy to take him up a giant inflatable slide. (Take that, Boyd's Orchard!) For you parents who have never done that, you haven't lived until you've tried to climb a giant slide with a 28lb weight in your arms. Very funny to watch, but I thought I'd spare you the pictures of that!

Will's First Football Game

For someone who doesn't understand a thing about football, I sure love the atmosphere of a good football game. In spite of that, we managed not to make it to any of my nephew's games until the last one. Sorry, Josh.

I love watching Josh play and figured Will would too--and I was right! Here he is cheering on his one and only cousin, Josh. Will clapped and screamed with the rest of the crowd (sometimes for the wrong team!). Will did manage to scream, "Go!" and give a high-five. At the end of the night, he also managed a few, "Yeah, Josh!" s. (Big deal since we have said very few multiple word phrases and never said Josh's name before.) And, with Will's encouragement, our team won the game.

Boyd's Orchard

Our second AND third pumpkin patch trips were to Boyd's Orchard. The first time we tried going there with some friends, it rained. We shopped the gift shop, but that was about all we could do. On the bright side, we did get some very yummy apples.

So when some other friends asked us to go again, we thought we'd give it a try. This time we got to go to the petting zoo and the patch. Much to my and Will's disappointment, adults were not aloud on the playground slides, so we didn't get to go. (Mommy had been down one of the giant slides on a field trip with her k-1s a couple years ago. Big fun!)

Vinefest '08

Every fall our church, the Vineyard, has a big throw down complete with potluck, paddle boats, hayrides, corn hole...the works. This year Will experienced his first inflatables at Vinefest.

Oh, A Camping We Will Go!!!

Most thought we were crazy (especially the family), but we did it anyway. The last time we went camping as a childless couple, we saw some people there with a baby. We decided if they could do it, so could we.

Will became an official camper this past Monday. Being the outdoors man that he is, he loved it. His favorite part was watching the boats that we could see on the lake from our campsite. (Yes, the danger of fire AND drowning!) But we all made it back in one piece.

Bi-Water Farm with Friends

We organized a trip to Bi-Water Farm in Georgetown with Amy and Shelley, 2 of my college roommates, and their kids. I had been many times with my kindergartners, but it's just as exhausting taking 5 kids as it is taking 30 or so!

Hannah and Will are pictured to the left, sporting their latest Halloween gear. To check out all the pictures, visit http://taralovesjohn.shutterfly.com. It's easier to upload a bunch of pictures there. If you're looking for a little more visual stimulation, that's where we'll be uploading more pics in the future. Don't forget to check us out on Facebook too! Different sites, different pictures!

October--The Best Month of the Year!

Beautiful leaves, Halloween, candy, pumpkins, apple cider, cool weather, church picnic...I could just scream!!!