Rye Street Fair

Rye closed down downtown Purchase Street today for it's annual Christmas Street Fair. They had Santa, reindeer, train rides, sleigh rides, bouncy castles, food, and all sorts of fun.

Ava really wanted to get her face painted, so we waiting patiently in line and she got transformed into a snow princess!

She doesn't look very happy, but I swear she was as happy as a kid in a candy store.

Cutting down our christmas tree...

...makes me happy. VERY happy!!

There is nothing like cutting down your own tree and having your house smell of fresh pine. We used to have an artificial tree, but a few years ago we started cutting down our tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It gets a little tricky with kids...especially in Colorado when you have to wander the National Forest a while to find your PERFECT tree, but we've found a great place here that works great for our family.

Jones Family Farm.

I have vivid memories of cutting down our tree in the mountains of Colorado growing up, and I remember one particular year Dad leading us into the forest with snow thigh deep and I believe our little Jeep got stuck more than once. Very Griswold-esque. Ever had one of those experiences??!!!

The nice thing about Jones is that you don't have to wander very far to find a tree, since it is a tree farm, and for a pregnant lady with two young kids?? Heaven!

Mom and Emma flew in yesterday from Phoenix for their NYC Gran/Grandaughter week, so we had two more helping hands. I'm sorry, but Christmas in Phoenix just doesn't sound appealing! Luckily my sister and her family will be in Colorado for Christmas.

The property had candy canes scattered all around, and Tyson just had to have his picture at every one. "Nother picture, Gran?" Just look at this cousin love Emma is giving him!


I just love Mom's face in this one. Pure delight. Tyson was a big boy this year and helped Daddy cut it down. Meanwhile, Ava stood back with me and took pictures with her camera. Like Mother like daughter!






The farm binds your tree for you, then we all enjoyed lunch in the van while Wade mounted our White Pine beauty to the roof.



Then off to the barn for some play time...








...and a letter to Santa. Ava's letter said, "Santa, Barbie please. Ava."


Yummy homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies at the Christmas canteen...


...and checking out the fresh garland and cones for sale.





We got the tree home no problem, and we picked out such a PERFECT tree that it needed NO trimming!! It was the perfect height, and I LOVE white pine. The needles are so soft it's like touching velvet! Mom and the kids made construction paper chains while we listened to Christmas music and decorated the whole house.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!

A Little More of Fall....

So before the Advent season kicks into high gear, I wanted to share some more "fall" with you. I still haven't shared our whole Vermont trip with you.

I don't think I've told you before how much I loved Vermont. Oh...I have? I did?? Oh, sorry. Well I do.

So this was a day we spent at Shelburne Farms. And I use the term "farm" lightly. The farms I've spent time in England and South Dakota are farms. This was an estate that oh-by-the-way has sheep, cows and makes their own cheese.

It's 1400 acres. A Vanderbilt estate whose grounds were designed by the same guy who did Central Park. Ya, it's no ordinary farm. We hopped in a wagon for a grand tour of the estate. Check it out...

So this is the "house". The summer house for the family, when they wanted to get away to the country after being in New York. Nice, eh? It backs up to Lake Champlain and you can see the New York Adironacks on the other side of the lake. It's now a working B&B, and if I had the opportunity or the funds to stay as a guest, I would!


Here's the back....


And the view from the back....




We did decide to splurge a little bit and we all (4 adults and 4 kids under 4) had brunch in the house. This restaurant is a fine china kind of place, so we had an adult sitting on either side of a child, and we brought in our arsenal of car toys for everyone to play with. We only had one drink spill, and overall it was quite a success! We took the last reservation time, so we were practically the only guests eating, so that helped too.

It was an amazing breakfast. Everything was homemade and farm fresh. Tyson enjoyed his pancakes with real Vermont maple syrup...


Then we took a little time to let the kids play off their maple syrup and fresh orange juice high.


And then onto the "barn". No, this isn't the house. This is for the animals.



Here is our transportation. The kids LOVED it.




Tyson and Evan checking out the big tractor tires. Although I have to say, this tire has NOTHING on the South Dakota tires I've sat in.


The barn is now used for educational purposes. They host all sorts of children's programs throughout the year. This is also where the farm makes their own cheese. The whole place is geared towards children and the children's farm, so there was plenty for us to see and do.



We got to meet and pet a baby calf...


...play dress up....


...go inside the largest chicken coop I've ever seen....


....play "farm"...with John Deere of course....


....and meet and milk a cow!






Oh, and Ava and Wade learned how to identify different kind of animal poop. You never know when that life skill may come in handy!


And then back to our wagon to finish our tour back to the visitor center to taste all the homemade cheddar.

If you ever get the chance, a visit to Shelburne Farms is a must!!!!


Oh, and this is Tyson on the wagon ride. I entered my kids for the Gap casting call, and this is one of the pictures of Tyson I entered. Can't you see him hanging in Gap Kids windows nationwide???!!!


Happy Day after Thanksgiving!!