Festival of Trees

Creating traditions. Making memories.
*And, a new playlist?!  Volume: On.
Suggestions welcomed.

Festival of Tress. Paramount Arts Center. Well done.

My girls were in "tree trances".

The Snowmen at Christmas tree. This one got my vote because this book has become a favorite of ours.

The Goodnight Moon tree. I had to vote for this tree, because this book is such a staple in our bedtime routine.

I remember going to the Festival of Trees as a small child. You're still given two tokens to vote for your favorite trees. One on the lower level (the "professionals") and one for the upper level (the local schools). I remember being so careful in my choice, as if my choice in token placement would make or break the whole system.

Anyone else notice the creepy, floating Cinderella? I thought she looked like something from Criminal Minds, but Avery loved her.

I forget how beautiful this building is. When I do make it to the Paramount, it's usually for a show and it's dark... buzzing with excitement, energy, and conversation. Yesterday was nice. It was quiet (unless, of course, you count the one minor meltdown, when Avery realized she wasn't allowed to go up on the stage; situation was easily diffused by the distraction of the train... no big deal). Peaceful. Surreal, almost.

Blake's favorite part.

It was a lovely afternoon. But, we had to have a small photo session with our favorite "star" before we left. Avery and Elliot's "Wahwah" is on the board (the President, actually) of the Paramount Arts Center. We hang with celebrities. That's just how we roll.

Our festive outing was followed up with lunch at Griffith & Feil Pharmacy Old Fashioned Soda Fountain. I am loving this place. I have decided to just have my mother order for me next time though. Last time we went: I ordered the Philly cheese steak, which was good. She got the black and bleu burger which was *drool amazing.

This time: I ordered a cheeseburger, which was very good. She ordered the Reuben, which was *double drool delicious.

What traditions are you creating or carrying out with your family this holiday season? Anyone making memories? Share 'em. Please. :)

Happy Thanksgiving.

Enjoy your families and fellowship.

Enjoy the food.

Thank you for reading. Feel free to share the love.

Until next time...

The Search

Discovering my deeply buried love of writing has been a very enjoyable experience. I feel so inspired... not every day, but it's becoming more of a prevalent feeling in my life. Today was definitely one of those days.

Got a late night text from my mother last night, saying something like blah blah blah... PUMPKIN PATCH ... blah blah... LET'S GO tomorrow. I was so ready. Practically dreaming of the pictures I was going to take of my girls and their FIRST Pumpkin Patch experience. *drool

Avery is very into "pumptens" right now, shrieking in excitement when we pass the house by our park that looks like Halloween barfed all over it. She LOVES it. Which means, I drive past this house daily, even if we don't need to go that way.

One of my favorite blogs to follow is ENJOYING the SMALL THINGS. Kelle Hampton (the author) is so cute and funny, inspiring, and... just seems so...honest. I adore her. You should definitely check out her blog, if you're not already. Point: I was reading a fall-inspiring post (link is above) and thought to myself: Self, I want my girls to grow up talking about things we did and shared together... about OUR family traditions. Well, traditions HAVE to start somewhere, right? So, when my mother mentioned this "pumpten patch", I knew that that was it. This is what we would find ourselves doing every year, without fail, in order to officially kick-off our holiday season. So, needless to say, I had high expectations.

Maybe a little too high... Ready?

We drove for almost 2 hrs (ish) to Jackson, OH. As we're nearing our destination, I'm getting butterflies in my stomach. So excited to see the spot where we will start the Caudill memory-making.

Looks perfect... right?

To say these pictures are misleading is the understatement of the year.

 You can feel the anticipation building as we continue, following our directions into this... Wait, is this a... Yes, this is a driveway.... Not a soul in sight. We stop, get out, and look around. Nothing. Just a house. A metal garage... wait, are those pumpkins in there?

Yes. The "patch" is a metal garage.

Mom and I lose it. Doubled over, cracking up. Where is the corn maze? The mums? The sign said something about apples? Nope. Just a metal garage.

 This is what I get for forcing my Kelle Hampton moments. Trying too hard to create a picturesque "Hallmark" memory.

Then, again...

This is us. Pathetically comical. 

These are our memories in the making. And, I'll take 'em.

After awhile, someone came around a corner asking us... well, what we wanted. To play. To run through your advertised pumpkin patch. To get some beautiful mums for my front porch, in bright oranges and yellows, deep burgundy... wait, I don't see any mums.

We, finally purchase a pumpkin or two, and then hit the road, with new directions to an apple orchard. Could it be? Maybe this is it. An apple orchard. Caudill girls. Woven baskets. Yes.

Well... No. **But, I will say, that it was better than the ghost town of a pumpkin patch garage we'd just come from. There were no woven baskets... but there were wagons. *happy

*WHAT A DAY?! 6 hours to try to find the "perfect" start to, what hopes to become a family tradition. The day ended a little rough around the edges, but you'll have that with a 2 year old + a 5.5 month old in the car all day. Over all rating of the day? I give it a solid "perfect". Not PERFECT, but my kind of perfect.

**But, I will say... The search continues.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thank you for reading & sharing. Be back soon.

 

Possible Pumpkins

It's Friday. There may or may not be a pumpkin patch trip planned for this afternoon/early evening & I'm really excited about it. This will be my girls' first trip to a pumpkin patch (I know... my "Mother-of-the-Year" award is in the mail) and I can't wait to capture this one. Stay tuned!

Well, hello there 21st century. Is that you?

Instagram. I'm in love, as of this moment. I'm sure it will fade. Until then, however, I'm afraid you will forced to endure things like this in every almost every post. I apologize in advance.

Hoping to be back with some colorful pumpkin pictures this evening. See you then. Here's to a fantastic Friday!