Pumpkin Fest @ Hundsaner Farms

I'll blame it on the weather, this place was not as fun as Fruitville groves for fall pumpkin festivities. First off, it was gloomy and overcast. It had rained all night and the place was a mud fest and flies were everywhere. This festival was much larger by far, 4 times more booths and food. They ever had a game area for kids, but it was a dollar a game for each kid. The enterence we came in didn't have a map, so come lunch time Icouldn't find the food stands and had to settle with a hot dog. Sophia rode the pnoies twice, these were nicer looking ponies. She also got straped into the bounce/jumper thing and loved it.

overall, everthing was more here parking and enterence fees, most similar things cost 1 or more dollars.

Define of "Prefer"

Do you ever notice the word prefer means different things to people in the work world...

For Example:

Common Working Stiff: "I'd prefer not working in that department" which means..."please please please don't make me work there, for the love of God DON'T MAKE ME WORK THERE"

Administrator: "I prefer you didn't take lunch right now" which means... "don't take lunch right now or you're in deep shit"

Pumpkins and Pony Rides @ Fruitville Groves

Yesterday my mom, Sophia and I went to Fruitville Groves in Sarasota (yes I drove over an hour for pumpkins and pony rides, sad isn't it). I decided after the blast we had in Michigan with apple picking and hay ride fun, I had to find something similar here in Florida. I found a few. Yesterday was the first stop.

When we arrived, I was pleased it was larger than I had been fearing. I believe it is run by Amish folks. Today was pumpkin fest, but even on regular weekends there is homemade baked goods (including giant cinnamon rolls), Amish made jams, jellys, jarred fruits, and piked things. There was also Amish made ice cream. Outside the country store was the farmers market...all the fresh fruit and veggies could ever want. And of course there were pumpkins, perfect pumpkins...the best kind for carving. They also had some pretty cool looking gourds, however, Sophia wanted the baby pumpkins so I got those instead.

Because it was Pumpkin Fest, local groups were set up hawking crafts and foods. I was disappointed I couldn't afford it, but one booth had ribs and another giant turkey legs. I opted for a hot dog and a HUGE piece of carmel apple pie (it literally tasted like eating a carmel apple). Sophia had a freshly grilled ear of locally grown sweet corn and some pumpkin ice cream.

The highlight of the festival was Sophia going on her first pony ride. It is actually the first time she has ever ridden anything alive. I'm hoping the trend will continue and she'll ride the elephants at the Sarasota Ren Fair. She absolutely loved the pony rides. So much so that she rode them twice. As we went around and around in circles she kept yelling "YEE HAW" and "RIDE LIKE THE WIND BULLS EYE!" There was also a great playground for the kids. with swings, a slide, lots of climbing, and lookout house, and for some reason a concrete dinosaur?

In two weeks we'll be going to Hunsader Farms which is also where the Sarasota Ren Fest is held in November. This u-pick farm is even bigger so I am sure even more fun will be had by all.

Headbanging Baby

This weekend we stayed home and relaxed as a family. We cooked hot dogs on the grill and were just sitting at the table eatting lunch when Green Day's "American Idiot" started playing. Without realizing it I started boppin' my head the the music. I looked over and saw Sophia mimicing me. I asked her "are you headbanging?" She replied "me banging" and started again. So I started headbanging with her. She began to do it fast. Then I should her how to do it with a more side to side motion (so as to not whiplash yourself) and she picked it right up. The she got down from the table and stood there in the kitchen and began jumping up and down while headbanging. I feel so proud my little girl loves Green Day...