Fall!

So, apparently other places actually have a fall season where it gets cool and the trees turn pretty colors. Who knew!?! The trees in Indianapolis started changing a couple weeks ago and they are gorgeous! I've never taken the time to really look at the beautifulness that is God's creation. I mean, He could have just made the green leaves fall off the trees at winter, but he made them change into the most amazing, vibrant colors you can imagine. Add to it some cool weather, and life couldn't get better. I'm so glad we got to experience Indiana's fall before we left (yes, we are home in the still-hot Tennessee).

 

Can you get more pretty than that?

 

 

 

I didn't know you were allowed to wear hats and hoodies this early.

 

 

 

I hope he holds this memory forever. You don't see this much back home.

 

 

 

Sorry this picture is sideways. Couldn't figure out how to flip it, but didn't want you to miss this adorable face. Even with jacked up teeth and a mullet he's still the cutest baby in the world.

 

 

And the cutest little girl in the world.

 

As we got closer to home, driving through the Tennessee Valley, I was disappointed that all of the beautiful trees are still green. Better not blink, or I'll miss the pretty colors when they do change. Happy Fall!!



Colts vs. Bengals

Yesterday I got to check one thing off my bucket list. Daniel and I were able to go to the Colts game! The Bengals were in town, and I found good tickets on Craig's List. Luckily, Mamaw and Natalie came up and kept the kids. They stayed a couple nights at the camper, and Daniel and I stayed in a cabin at the campground.

I beg you, if you value your sleep at all, don't ever stay here. I never complain about mattresses and can sleep anywhere, but this bed was the devil.

 



 

We found good parking and got to the stadium early. There was a lot of fun stuff going on! We walked around a bit and got to meet some of the cheerleaders. They autographed some photos for Colt and Avery. I was a little too excited about this.

 

 

 

I wish I had gotten more pictures of the inside of the stadium. It was amazing. We had a long walk to our seats and enjoyed looking around and checking out our food options.

 

 

The view from our seats. That big window on the left looks out on downtown Indy.

 

 

The top was open for a beautiful day. It was in the 50s so we were pretty chilly, but it was perfect football weather.

 

 

 

The players coming out of the chute and the National Anthem. I have to find out how to be a flag waver person. Next item on my bucket list. NFL games seem much quicker than college football games, and before we knew it, the Colts had beat the Bengals 27-0. I was sitting next to a Bengals fan who kept me entertained throughout the game. So that's two shutouts for us this weekend!

 

 

We walked back around after the game and got one more selfie at the stadium. This was after we walked up and down aisles hoarding the good stadium cups. We ended up with nine...score!

 

 

What an amazing afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium! So excited to have been able to cheer on the Colts! Oh, and speaking of Colts, I have a little anxiety about saying Colt's name in public. I mean, 32 NFL teams, and we live where the Colt's play. Our next child shall be called Seahawk.





Spencer Farms

Last Sunday we went to the pumpkin patch at Spencer Farms in Noblesville. We got there right as it was opening and were first in line for the hay ride. The hay ride where we go outside of Birmingham has bales of hay that you sit on. We actually sat on the hay here, and it really felt like a hay ride! We still have hay in the diaper bag. Our driver took us through the farm and we got to see all the pretty trees beginning to turn. We were dropped off at the pumpkin patch, and the fun began.

Colt wanted this big pumpkin...

 

 

But settled for this one he could actually carry.

 

 

 

It was so windy and cold while we were picking our pumpkin! And the pumpkins are huge! The farmer said this was the best crop of pumpkins he's ever seen. We hauled it to the car then had fun looking in the farm store. We got some peach preserves and apple butter...yummy!

 

Tuesday I took the kids over the Apple Store at Conner Prairie. Conner Prairie is some kind of interactive museum that I didn't really want to go to. So we just went to see what kind of apple goodies we could find.

 

 

Avery got a caramel apple sucker and some Halloween gummy bears to share with Colt. I can't remember the last time I have eaten a caramel apple so I got one. Now I know why I don't eat them. My teeth almost fell out and I could feel the cavities eating into my teeth. And that was only after a couple bites. I also got some applesauce donut holes. They were absolutely delicious. Daniel has been talking about them all week. We will be heading out there again to get more.

 

Yesterday we went to Broad Ripple to play at the park. It was a really pretty park with a playground and sports fields and lots of trees. The kids had a blast.

 

 

 

 

We came home and waited for Daniel to get home so we could watch some football. We had fun cheering on the Dawgs. We shook our head and said, "What the heck?" through the Alabama game. Another fun football Saturday.

 

And this is what happens when you drag a 3-year-old around Indy all day...

 

 



Donuts, Pork, and a Pink Elephant

I should really get paid for all the advertising I am doing for Indianapolis. Cause, you know, so many people read my blog. I've been trying to check things off my Indy to do list. This week was a success. On Monday we went to lunch at Binkley's in Broad Ripple. Indianapolis is known for its fried pork tenderloin sandwich, and I'd been dying to have one. My brother-in-law's coworker is from Indy and she suggested a few places to get a good one. Honestly, I was a little nervous. I'm a picky eater and I was scared I wouldn't like it after I had built it up in my mind. Boy, was I wrong!!

 

This is heaven on a plate! Before I started eating it, I decided to only eat half and take the other half to Daniel. Didn't happen. And those are the good homemade fries. So yummy!

 

 

And my sweet, rambunctious Colt actually sat in his high chair the whole time so I could fully enjoy my delicious sandwich. I know, it's not normal for him to be smiling these days!!

 

 

I have read about this place several times. Martha Stewart even tweeted about eating here. They are famous for their donuts. It wasn't in a familiar part of town, so we got our donuts and headed downtown. I felt pressure to order quickly, so I didn't get to see all they had. We got two chocolate covered and one powdered.

 

 

Avery enjoyed hers, till she dropped it on the ground. They were ok, but if it's not a Shipley or Krispy Kreme, I don't really care for it.

 

 

Thursday we went to this little town that I had been reading about, Fortville. It's pretty close to the campground. They have this café called Indulge where we got lunch. They have amazing desserts, too. However, because of one toddler, who shall remain nameless, we had to leave halfway through our lunch and didn't get to "indulge" in dessert, or even finish our lunch. We went to Fortville to eat at Indulge, but we also went because I read about this.

 

 

It's a liquor store with this big pink elephant wearing glasses and holding a martini glass. Being a Tide fan, I had to see this. I quickly snapped this picture and took the hooligans home.

 

Still much to do in Indy. Slowing but surely seeing the city before we leave!



Tuttle Orchards

On Tuesday we went to pick apples at Tuttle Orchards. I had been wanting to go for a while, but it's been so hot. Tuesday was a perfect day. Luckily the place is only a few miles from the campground.

Avery enjoyed picking the apples and filling our little bag. We went for the red delicious apples.

 

 

Colt got mad when I tried to take his apple away.

 

They also had a play area where we spent the rest of the afternoon. It had play sets, swings, tractors, a bunch of hay, and a sandbox. The kids had so much fun running around in the beautiful weather. Notice Colt is still holding the apple.

 

 

 

 

 

The play area also had a small hay bale maze. I wasn't sure Avery would be able to do it, but she loved it! After she got out of it the first time, she said, "I'm a good mazer!" She even got Colt in to do it, but he didn't make it to the center.

 

 

 

 

We are enjoying our yummy apples. We will definitely be visiting Tuttle Orchards again before we leave.