Emma's School Door

Last week I decorated Emma's classroom door.  I saw a super cute idea online that looked really easy, so I copied it. I didn't have my camera with me at her school, but here is the picture I saw online.  It turned out exactly the same (except her classroom door isn't red, so I used red paper).  Love it!

Rivalry

Emma and Eric are deep in the throws of a rivalry.  It's her Green Bay Packers vs his Denver Broncos.  The smack talk is thick at the Meadows household.  Only time will tell who will win, but for now, the dirty glances are cracking me up.  Emma even drew her vision of the outcome of today's game.  Too funny!

** Editor's Note:  Okay, the verdict is in.  The Packers won 49 to 23.  Eric and Emma had a wager too.  The loser had to give the winner a back scratch.  The last photo on this post is Eric paying up.  Emma REALLY enjoyed that back scratch!

I love how Emma included fans in the stands, the goal post, and that the Bronco players are frowning while the Packers are smiling.  So funny!

Apple Picking

If you've ever engaged in conversation with me for more than 5 minutes, first of all, congratulations.  ;-)  And second, you probably know that Fall is my favorite time of year.  I announce this to the world as frequently as possible in the hopes that one of these years God will not only hear one of my declarations, but take pity of me (or at least get really sick of me saying it) and let me enjoy more than a couple weeks of decent Fall weather before Winter comes.  I would live in perpetual Autumn if I could.  I love the sweaters, the crispness to the air, the leaves changing colors, the sounds of leaves crunching beneath your feet, and all the smells of the good things there are to eat and drink this time of year.

So it's no surprise to me that I fell in love with apple picking on my first visit.  I've never done it before, mostly because there was never a super great place to go close by.  But this year, living in a new place, we received a most awesome tip from a friend (thanks again Julie - seriously!), and on Saturday headed to Oriole Springs orchard, only about 20 miles away.  It was the first day you could pick the honey crisp apples.  Oh my, they were/are delicious.  We bought a 1/2 bushel, and are now just salivating at all the possible things we could do with them (besides just eating them, we've already made some applesauce, cider, and sauteed some to go over ice-cream)!

A bunch of friends were caravaning out and we were going to meet them there.  Ha!  It was so crowded that I never even saw one of them.  We did bump into our friends the Van Wagenen's, which was great.  And Emma loved hanging out and wandering around with Abi.  Next year we'll definitely caravan with everyone now that we know how crazy this experience can be.

The weather was perfect, crisp, slightly overcast, sweater wearing weather.  I could've stayed all day just enjoying the ambiance (and of course eating the apples - which I maintain is the best part of going there) and the perfect Autumn-ness that the day offered.  Needless to say, we will definitely be doing this again next year.

The line of cars to get into this place was crazy long!  We were 2 miles back from the front, and within minutes the line behind us was probably at least that long.

Emma was such a great helper.  I love that the trees weren't super huge and tall so she could reach some of the apples.

Even though she could reach plenty of the apples, Emma seemed determined to get some of the apples from the very tops of these trees.

Almost there!  The quest for top apples continues.  I love the action shot!  She jumping up in this picture willing herself to the top.

While in the orchard, you could eat as many apples as you wanted.  Yum is all I can say about that!!

Emma with her friend Abi

Bless her little apple-pickin' heart!  I sure love my girl!!

Campout with the Scouts

Eric is the scoutmaster in our ward, and recently went on an overnighter with the troop.  Emma wanted to go with him, and he was kind enough to oblige her.  There was a little pond close to them, and they tried some fishing.  I just love how relaxed Emma looks in these pictures.  She had a lot of fun playing with the scouts as they ran around being crazy and playing games too.  Thanks Daddy for taking her with you for a fun overnighter!