Enjoying Fall

I can't believe we are about ready to celebrate Thanksgiving! Where has the time gone? The last couple of weeks have offered a lot of fun family activity around here.

We braved the bitter cold for some trick-or-treating. 

Livy doing some school work in the beautiful fall weather. 

We visited Guffey Acres with our church again this year. The kids were excited they all had a friend to take along with our church friends. 

Liv and her friends getting ready for a hay ride. 

Maddy and Mommy going on the tractor ride. 

Time for some apple picking! Jeff's boss owns an apple orchard and blesses us all the apples our heart desires. Nate is a great apple picker. 

Josh helps out too. Time for mom to make applesauce!

It's hunting season! Jeff has been able to take a kiddo each time he has gone out this year. Livy was the first to go. 

Here she is helping dad with the range finder. 

Josh's turn was next. 

I think we can get him dad!

This is Nate's first year going hunting with dad. He loves waiting for the big one! 

Finally, I got my chance on Sunday to go out with my hubby. I take my Kindle and enjoy the peace and quiet of reading while spending some time with my guy. 

Liv's Girls With a Purpose group (a group of home school girls doing various service projects) decorated a Christmas tree for We Care this year. Their theme was Cooking Up Christmas. They did a great job and I'm sure it will do well at the auction. 

Yesterday afternoon we enjoyed the last of the warm weather doing school outdoors. Josh is reading Little House on the Prairie for school right now. So I thought since we have access to so much wood, it would be a great learning experience to build a miniature log cabin like in his story. They were so excited to go collect the wood and have dad help them with it. 

Maddy taking a break. 

Great teamwork kiddos! It's getting there. 

Liv and Maddy taking a break. Liv is such wonderful sister.

I've been drinking my green smoothie's every morning for the last 10 months. I can't believe how much better I feel and all the energy I have since cutting out the caffeine. I continue to buy organic foods whenever possible, taking cod liver oil, coconut oil, cutting out all artificial flavors and colors, along with the least amount of preservatives possible (including what we put on our bodies: lotions, shampoos, etc). It takes baby steps,and a lot of reading, but it feels good to give our family the best and healthiest food possible. For fall I have been drinking this, a green pumpkin smoothie. Here's the recipe for you all to try.....trust me, you just might like it!

  Green Pumpkin Smoothie

1/3 cup pumpkin puree

1/3 cup lowfat greek yogurt 

4 oz almond milk

1 hearty handful spinach

1 tbsp fresh parsley

1/4 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp chia seeds

2 tbsp flax seeds

scoop of protein powder

blend well and enjoy!

Hope you are all enjoying your fall!