Siblings say goodbye!

Since this post, Ben has moved to Florida. We are all missing him terribly, This post isn't really a trip we took, but it is some of our last pictures with the all the kids together!

WE MISS HIM TONS!!!

Pumpkin Picking...

Kate's Pumpkin Patch
Baldwinsville, NY
October 19th 2014

My children were not at all interested in pumpkin picking this year, but my neighbor Jen and her twins were ready and willing even on one of the coldest days we had so far this fall...it was supper cold. 

 Kate's pumpkin patch is in Baldwinsville and where I have gone for the last few years to get my pumpkins. $3- pumpkins, a free corn maze and $1- hay rides seems just my style. When my older kids were younger, I was always a big fan of Tim's pumpkin patch (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!! for little one's) but Tim's is closer to the Tully area and much farther south from where I live now. Kate's works well.
Despite the cold, we took the hay ride..

 the view on the ride....miles and miles of fields and tree's.

 Then we spent some time in the corn maze...we didn't get lost....

 We are all trying to decide if this is Cow corn or human corn....we are thinking it is cow corn.

 I'M not a farmer...and have NO idea. Anyone have an answer???/

Up next was picking our pumpkins. I'm not sure why, but these were some pretty sad specimens to pick from. (Next year I am waiting until Halloween night and spending $1- at Walmart). They were all pretty small, and most were starting to rot. Finding some still with stems was very difficult and most had been attacked by animals/bugs. It was quite discouraging...the girls didn't seem to care...they were off to find the PERFECT pumpkin, and IT was going to be found HERE!!!!

Here's one......

 and another....

this one looks a little GREEN...

 Pumpkin picking is hard work...time to take a break in the back of mom's van..

 Jen's pumpkin stash!!!!!

 I found a few too!

After getting our pumpkins, Jen thought we all needed coffee and doughnuts!!!! We headed to dunkin doughnuts.....

I got the bestest doughnut ever...pumpkin pie...YUMMMMMMM, The girls got pumpkins.....something was wrong with these jack-o-lantern faces however. The baker must have been RUSHED....

We ate our treats next to the Seneca River and caught some interesting birds....

 We could clearly see the gulls, but those black birds are not geese, I thought maybe they were loons or maybe blackbirds.... but that would be unusual...

 I know the picture is not the best, but if anyone has any ideas...

What kind of birds is still in question....Jen and I couldn't figure it out. This guy made an appearance....he was more then welcome to let in on what kind of bird he was,

It was such a nice Sunday afternoon adventure. Now the question becomes...do my pumpkins become Jack-o-lanterns or simply sit and be pumpkins for this Halloween, I really do not feel like carving these guys.

Lake George, NY: Octoberfest

Village of Lake George
Lake George, NY
October 13th 2014

The weekend was quickly coming to an end, but we made one last stop at Lake George village. Octoberfest had been going on and we made it just in time to get a head in some cut outs.
We will all miss the days spent in this area. We have enjoyed all seasons in Lake George and have always found fun things to do.

One last look at the Minnie Ha Ha nestled by the multi-colored hills, as it purrs on Lake George.

 The boys enjoyed the arcade. while my mother and law. Mark and I strolled the street catching some end of the season sales in the shops.

I found a beautiful bracelet with Lake George inscribed on it.
Some of the area's decorations.

I couldn't resist getting a picture of these adorable Adirondack chairs. This one has ski's for the back,

 and this one has oars....

There are so many changes taking place for us over the next few months, It's hard to let things go. Change in general is always hard.....saying goodbye is NEVER easy.

Saratoga Racino

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Saratoga, NY
October 13th, 2014

We made our way to Saratoga Racino after our climb to the top of the Saratoga Monument. Mark had some FREE play and we had decided on the buffet for lunch.
Mark reported on his personal relationship with the Raceway. His Grandfather was a harness driver for this very racecourse and he spent many of his days as a youth in these buildings. It was only a racecourse at the time. The Casino has only been here over the last few years. We got there just in time to catch a race.

 There are many difference besides the obvious from harness racing and horse racing. Clearly the horses are pulling the riders vs being riding, but there are other regulations such as limits on weight restrictions, the track itself  how late in the season and evening to how the horses run. Regardless they are beautiful to watch.

We made way to winner circle and watched as this young rider took his prize.

We had a nice meal that kept going and going and going at the buffet. It was cheep too, I think we paid less then $16- for the two of us and we ate our FILL of that $16- for sure.
Mark played his FREE play...no winners, and soon we were on our way back to Lake George for the evening and had a little fun with the family in the village as the Octoberfest wrapped up for the weekend...TTFN