Fall has arrived and the Le Creuset is working hard! Soup is magical - you throw a bunch of stuff in a pot with some liquid and you get a meal in a bowl that's just as satisfying as if you had a separate meat, starch and vegetable. But with less work. Magic, I tell you!
First off - back to school pictures:
I know they're my kids and all but they are adorable!! I just love those two to pieces!
Will's been working hard since August playing football. We've been spending our Friday nights live streaming his game through our family room TV. I've no doubt my couch is way more comfortable than a seat in the stands, but then I miss the smells and feeling of being at a high school football game and hitting the concession stand for a hot chocolate.
Part of me is a little bitter that it's because of football that I loose a whole 3 weeks of summer with my kid and then he doesn't even get much playing time. But it's worth it when it's still worth it to him to be part of a team, to share in the highs and lows with his teammates and to have the experience and fun of representing your school.
For me, watching one of these live games gives me a chance to see exactly what my child is doing in the moment. I look for #82 and breathe a sigh of relief - he's good, he's alive and isn't he cute?!!!
Meanwhile, Hosanna had a chance to spend two nights at Upper Canada Village - a living, working museum set in the 1860's. For those two day and nights, she dressed and worked as a young girl would in that time.
Will had done it when he was around the same age and had such a good time! They really get a feel for a different life in a different time and learn in a way that is so unique.
Zanna and I accompanied Wayne to his pastor's conference in Vermont. We met up with the Gumm family and we moms proceeded to show our kids a good time by eating our way through Vermont.
We packed 2 moms, 5 kids, an IKEA bed, stroller and a cooler into the minivan and headed up to Stow. We took the Trap Family Lodge tour (of Sound of Music fame) and learned the real story behind the famous musical. Truth is more interesting than fiction in this case! At least for the moms ... the kids were wondering when we were going to eat ice cream.
Next we headed to Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream factory to take their tour which is really an 8 minute video, a brief birds' eye view into the factory (which wasn't running at the time) and the free sample at the end. We followed this up by buying everyone more ice cream for what we liked to refer to as "lunch".
We allowed for some important play time on the jungle gym area that helped burn off the sugar high before we piled back into the minivan for the next adventure (we're not stupid, you know!)
Last stop before heading back to the hotel to meet up with the guys was a nearby apple cider mill. This was really just a video that you watch the process of milling the apples and then you help yourself to a huge vat of cold apple cider. I would of tried one of the tempting apple cider doughnuts but then I just had ice cream. Next time!
We had a nice dinner out with the group before settling into the hotel for the evening. The kids burned off more energy in the pool and the older girls enjoyed a sleep over in our room.
The final morning continued our attempt at eating through Vermont. We toured the Cabot cheese factory and sampled every kind of cheese they make both before the tour and after the tour. I'm a sucker for cheese. A 3 pound block of sharp cheddar and $50 later we were out of there ...
The colours were GORGEOUS and I'm not trying to be mean when I say I really feel sorry for those that aren't able to enjoy a real fall season of vibrant foliage and leaves worth pulling over on the side of the road to photograph while a logging truck almost runs you over while your children watch from the minivan. Totally worth the risk!!
Finally, I leave you with the BEST recipe for homemade pumpkin lattes that are way better than the local chain coffee shop.
Makes enough for 2 servings:
2 cups milk (I substitute almond milk sometimes)
2 Tbl sugar
2 Tbl canned pumpkin
2 Tbl vanilla extract
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup hot brewed espresso
Put milk, sugar and pumpkin in saucepan and stir until steaming. Off heat add 2 Tbl vanilla and 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice. Transfer to a blender; cover and process for 15 seconds or until foamy.
Pour into two mugs, add espresso. Garnish with whipped cream and spices if desired. Which I usually desire very much.
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