Pumpkins and Soccer

Every year we go pumpkin picking. The farm we had been going to started having carnival rides etc,,which kind of started taking away from our purpose. So, we found a different place called Salisbury farm last year and went to it again. The kids love it..mostly because they get to ride the tractor to the patch. After this, we went on a little hike to collect fall leaves. We had a great day!



My handsome little boy looks so grown up in this picture...boo hoo. He wanted me to carry him yesterday and I almost couldn't do it. He's so heavy and tall. He's still a momma's boy though..te he!


So,,,I signed Jordan up for soccer a few weeks ago at the YMCA. So far he's more into Trucks, rockets, science and building. For the first weeks, he just wanted to go home and Scott had to push him to participate. ! I thought the dream of being an all-star was all but crushed!! But then a couple of weeks ago....a light went off in Jordan's head and he loved it. Yesterday he played goalie and blocked two from scoring. YEAH,,GO #8!





My little All-star!

I just wanted to share this if You haven't seen it. I LOVE this picture of Emma and Joseph Smith. It really struck a lot of emotion for me. This shows such tenderness and affection. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the reflection in the background out of the shot.



The script at the bottom of the picture is so beautiful. You can click on the picture to enlarge it to make it readable. What devotion between companions and what admiration and love Joseph has for Emma.

Fall in New England

I love Fall in New England!! It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. When I lived in Utah, people would ask me what I missed most. One was the ocean, but my #1 was Autumn in N.E. You just can't beat it anywhere.! If you haven't seen it first hand you just can't explain it. It's a whoosh of color, like your in a painting. It's so peaceful and... well,,,,,it just makes me happy!
Every year since we have been married Scott and I have gone to either New Hampshire, Mass, or Vermont to go "leaf Peeping" (as the locals call it). Since Scott's sister Maline has moved to New York City, they have been joining us every Columbus day weekend. This year his sister Shannon and my niece Bailey also joined us from Arizona AND my parents came also. We had such a great time. It's pretty, it's quiet and it gives you a chance to regroup.

Since there were so many pictures (and I can only post 5 pics under one post), I have separated the pics into Day 1 thru day 4. Grandma and Grandpa Gooch,,,,we expect to see you here next year!



There are tons of covered bridges in Vermont. I just love them. They are so iconic and beautiful. This one is the longest covered bridge in the United States AND in the world. One side is Vermont and when you cross the other,,your in New Hampshire. Once we were in N.H there was a super nice guy selling homemade jam...so we bought some.



I love this picture. Scott and the kids looking through one of the windows of the covered bridge.



This is my dad, Kasey, Scott and Jordan on the bridge spanning the Quechee Gorge in Quechee Vermont. It's a long way up. After this shot, we hiked down to the bottom. At the bottom the kids played on the rocks in the water. Hiking back up was tiring, as I had to carry Kasey most of the way. I really got my work out this weekend. Odes to my dad who had pain in his legs due to his diabetes but walked some of the way with us.


Before the Gorge, we stopped at a Maple sugarhouse farm. We were able to try many different cheeses and 4 kinds of maple syrup all tapped fresh at the farm. There were also some farm animals. Kasey and Jordan loved this baby cow. He was very cute and super friendly. The kids kissed him and gave him a few good tight squeezes. :)

Leaf Peeping Day 2

On day two, the Lewis and Bushman family arrived! The kids couldn't wait to see their cousins. Scott wanted to climb to the top of Ascutney Mountain so we went. I have to say it was one of the hardest hikes I've ever done (especially with my back problems). Hats off to the kids though who also climbed every foot with us. I'm not lieing when I say that both ways up and down were at an incline. Each child had a minor meltdown along the way,,,but we made it! Scott, Alan and I each had to carry one of our kids part of the way. BUT,,, the reward was an amazing view! Double hats off to Maline who climbed this....are you ready?.......at 32 weeks pregnant. Personally I think she's crazy :) I was waiting to use my sweatshirt as a receiving blanket!!!!

Here is Bailey and Kasey on the way up. Bailey was a sweet cousin to Kasey and held his hand up part of the way. Every one of the kids had to have "a walking stick". Look out for upset children if one broke along the way. :)



Here is the view from the top. The colors were beautiful. It was well worth the hike. It was a little past peak color but still vibrant. Here are the three siblings: Maline, Shannon and Scott. There was a "little" rock you could stand on over the wooden plank. I was getting queezy just taking the picture.



Maline, Jackson, Jordan, Kasey, me, Shannon, Bailey, and Savanna at the top.



The kids achieved quite the feat. They were sad when we had to go back down.



My sweet boys

Day 2 continued

Another beautiful shot of the trees.





Kasey,,,,,where are you? Kasey??? Oh there you are you leaf peeper!



Another shot from the top of the mountain we climbed.


You can imagine that my "motherly instincts" were freaking out about now. Just over that rock is ALL the way down.

Day 3

Day 3 We went to Adam's farm in lower Vermont. We stayed there all day and the kids had a blast.....we had a lot of fun watching them. The kids in front of the farm store where Jordan said "mommy, I gotta get out of here, it's tinky ,I can't stand that smell."



They had a HUGE pile of hay that all the kids jumped in.



Our tickets also came with a horse ride for everyone.


They also took us on a tractor ride. As you can see, the boys are facinated by the BIG tractor tires and stared at them the whole way. When the girl stopped to tell us about the sugar farm and how they make the maple syrup she then asked us if we had any questions....Jordan asked about the tractor!

Scott and I actually came up here on an anniversary weekend one year and we went on a sleigh ride up this same path. We went to a shack where we were then given pancakes with the maple syrup made at the farm. It was yummy. It was one of the coldest I've ever been. It was freezing. So you can imagine my dismay when I asked the girl at the shack where the restroom was and she pointed to an outhouse outside! Brrrrrrrrrrrr. We'll leave it at that!





The kids each got a basket filled with food to feed each animal on the farm. I think this was their favorite part. They fed sheep, llamas, donkeys, horses, chickens, pigs, goats and rabbits. I'll explain that when Jordan asked the sheep if they wanted some coun instead of corn,,,it's not that he has the RI accent ,,he just can't pronounce his r's yet.





This video is of Jordan and the kids chasing the chickens. I was laughing really hard watching them all. The kids were trying so hard to catch them and the chickens looked so funny being chased. Jordan actually eventually caught it. I was so proud of my chicken chaser! ha!

Day 4

On Day 4, we visited the birthplace of the prophet Joseph Smith in Sharon Vermont. This is the driveway up to the memorial. The scenery was perfect. The leaves were falling through the air all around us. This place is absolutely beautiful. The surrounding mountains are gorgeous especially this time of year. I cannot imagine going up these dirt roads in a horse and carriage. The fact that they were able to survive at all trying to farm off the land and last through the Vermont winter is amazing to me.



My parents, Scott, the kids and myself in front of the memorial. The shaft was sculpted from a single granite block quarried in Barre, Vermont, and is one of the largest polished shafts in the world. It stands 38 1/2 feet tall, one foot for every year of the Prophet Joseph Smith's life.



Jordan taking time to smell the roses so to speak. The flowers are all so pretty.


This is the hearth that is left from the original house where Joseph Smith was born. They say that his mother laid him on this hearth in his cradle to keep him warm.

This is what they call a "stone bridge" which was used to cross over the stream along the Old Turnpike road. This was the main road (in the background) which led from Vermont to Boston in the 17 and 1800's. It passes by where Lucy Mack's father Solomon Mack had his home.

Old McDonald had a Farm

Nana and Papa Chilvers live two houses down from a horse farm. The kids love to go feed the horses. My mother keeps the fridge stocked with carrots. The grocer said to her last week,,"gee you really like carrots don't you." Here we are on our way with our carrots ready to feed them.



These horses must appear HUGE to Jordan and Kasey, but they aren't afraid of them. Mommy however, has almost been bucked off a few times, so she keeps a cautious eye out!



I think this picture is hilarious. The horse must have thought Jordan still had carrots left. He just started nibbling on his hair. I'm so glad I caught this picture. Jordan was so hysterical he couldn't stop laughing.



Is this cute or what? This horse is so gentle. He will just stand there really still and let you pet him. Jordan wants me to inform you that he also kissed the horse, but the picture was blurry and we couldn't post it.


These are the precious times I just stand back and watch my childrens' facination with the simple things.

Tag Your It

I have been tagged by my sister-in-law to share 6 quirks about myself. When I actually thought about this, I realized I had more than 6 (which is scary).


1. I hate being late. This attribute comes from my father who shares this quirk. When I was little, it was hard for my parents to get all 5 of us kids out the door on time for 9am church. This would always get my dad a little upset when it happened. So, I just learned that being late was not acceptable and it was rude and impolite to walk into a meeting etc..after it started. This quirk also links to the fact that I am an extremely paranoid person. If you DO happen to walk into a room late, then everyone (in MY mind) is staring at you. This is scary!! This is also the reason (take note all Gooch side of the family) that I don't like to play games where you are singled out in front of everyone......! I really would LOVE to play, but I'm just all around...too paranoid! I know it's really all in MY mind, so take no personal offense. I love you all!

2. I do not like things to be last minute. I was like this before I got married, but since I married Scott and had kids it has gotton worse. I like to plan ahead. Not for the small things, mostly the big ones. Scott constantly reminds me that he is a Gooch and this is just the way it is. He HAS gotton better (thanks honey) and realizes that now that we have kids we need a little planning ahead to prepare for them. If things are done last minute, things are mostly likely going to get forgotton (diapers/wipes) or hotels booked up or tickets sold out,,yada yada. So, since my stress level is at a minimum when I plan ahead I try to plan as much as I can. My parents and brothers are like this also...more seeds from the family tree I guess. Funny thing, when I am on the treadmill all sweaty in the morning I am constantly afraid someone will call and say "hey can you meet me in 5 minutes" HA!

3. I LOVE socks. I know this is not the norm. Most people would rather wear sandals or flip flops or go barefoot year round. But I love having my feet covered. I prefer socks and sneakers or slippers. I think this stems from 2 things: my feet are always cold and I just don't like feet. I think they're ugly. This could also stem from a childhood experience when I was playing tennis in my bare feet and got a piece of glass stuck in my foot. I had to take it out with my hands and it wasn't pleasant. Or it could just be that I like to be compfy cozy (as my kids say) in my nice soft socks.....Yes I also wear them to bed. On a side note, I also have to sleep with by black pillow I've had for 22 yrs. I bring it everywhere even on the plane.

4. I have to have a blanket on me while watching TV. Refer to quirk #3. I like to be wrapped up all compfy cozy. The quirk part of this is that I have to have one on even in the summertime. I could be REALLY hot at the moment, but it's just not the same if I don't have covers on. This might annoy my friends as I always ask them for a blanket to sit on the couch and watch a movie or just talk. I blame my friends the Welch twins as they introduced me to this and we have been doing it since Jr High.

5. Like my sister-in-law Heather, I walk around shutting off all the lights on in the house. I do this even in hotels or condos we're renting when we don't have to pay for electricity. Call it habit, but I think it's a good one. My dad was constantly reminding us to turn off the lights, that it was costing him money. "when you leave a room shut off the lights". Scott leaves on the lights a lot (he will deny this.) so sometimes I will follow him around shutting them off. I have even shut them off when he was still in the room. Sorry!! Thanks honey for staying married to me...he!

6. And last but not last...I despise being tickled. I CANNOT stand it! This also stems from my father who used to lovingly put me in the tickle chamber (as we called it). He would hold my legs down with his legs and hold one of my hands behind his back and one in his hands and just tickle me to dealth. After awhile it became sheer torture. To this day, if someone tickles me I get really mad. I know, I know,,,get over it right? But I just can't stand it, to the point it makes me feel sick. I had to warn Scott when we met that if he tickled me I would have to hit him; I had no control. The worse is my feet. I can't get a pedicure because I am so ticklish and if I get tickled,,,well, I just might have to strike the pedicurist and then I'd be in jail. The theory in my mind is that if I keep my feet covered (refer to quirk #3), people might feel less of an urge to tickle them.

7. I have to leave you with just one more because it drives Scott nuts! After eating, I have to leave just one piece of food on my plate. Even if I am still hungry. If I have a sandwhich, I have to leave a little corner of it and throw it away. 'Wicked' strange huh? Drives Scott absolutely crazy!! "Lora just eat that last piece,,,,,,sorry, can't do it". Ugh!


And so I have let you in on some of my 'issues'. Remember if I annoy you while they are rearing their ugly head, that I have no control over them MOST of the time but I continue to try. Please don't let them stop you from visiting me; just make sure YOUR ON TIME!


I tag April, Shannon, Ashley, Weeze

Rules:
1.Link to the person who tagged you
2.Mention the rules on your blog
3.Tell 6 unspectacular quirks about you
4.Tag 6 following bloggers by linking to them
5.Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs letting them know they've been tagged.