We went a bit earlier than usual this year; as we were purchasing pumpkins for our little boys first birthday party this coming weekend. We found our regular carving pumpkins (four family sized, ie. medium for mom and dad and little for the kiddos). We also purchased three of the pumpkin pie pumpkins (one for a dip bowl, because Pinterest told me that would look cool at a Thanksgiving/Pumpkin themed birthday party) and the other two for decor. We purchased spaghetti squash and butternut squash for eating. Finally, we loaded a box full of small pumpkins and gourds for $15. This was a steal...our house is now bursting with funky gourds, and I have enough small orange pumpkins as favours for each of the kids coming to the party (and then some). We are seriously swimming in gourds, and I LOVE IT!

We also enjoyed the hot apple cider, and the ginormous pepperette sticks. We paid for our daughter to go in the play area for little kids. There was a couple tire swings, a hay stack to play on and crawl through, a giant rope spider web, a giant tube slide (which I tried out, pretty cool), and a massive sandbox with diggers. There was also a small rope maze, which I managed to defeat. They also have a corn maze, but we will save that for when both kids are older.

If you have a chance to go, and love Autumn as much as we do, than take a drive out to Nauman's. 

As you may know, I've recently started a Bookstagram account, @onemamareads. On the account I post photographs of my book collection, what I am reading, what I am reading to the kids, what drinks I am pairing with my books, and my general love for all things bookish.

I have also taken to picking a quote I enjoyed, found held meaning to me, or stayed with me in some way, from books I am reading. I try to do something fun with the quote, either artistically, or using word art. It has been challenging and rewarding. I am currently working on an Agatha Christie double pager, like the Tell the Wolves I'm Home quote, so be on the lookout.

This word art has kept my creativity flowing, especially as I am finding it harder and harder to do anything outside of parenting (which is rewarding in its own right)...even this blog seems to go on the back burner a lot.

I am quite happy with how a few of them turned out. Although, I need to work on my calligraphy and am sometimes to anxious to finish that I make minor mistakes, which I later think compromise the whole piece. My favourite by far is the Eleanor and Park cassette tape, with ribbon writing. 

If you want to leave a comment, letting me know what I can improve on, or which is your favourite quote and word art, that would be wonderful!

Our friends are always on the lookout for a great breakfast/brunch location in Kitchener-Waterloo. Our go-to used to be the Duke of Wellington, but recently we have found it has not lived up to expectations. Especially when we have the kids with us. So, it was nice when they suggested Homestyle Diner a couple weekends ago, as it is close enough for us to walk there and back from our home. 

Enjoyed a lovely Sunday walking along the Health Valley Trail, between St. Jacobs and Conestogo. The trail has lots to do and see, and intersects with a trail from Conestogo River Horseback Adventures. We happened to see a cool red dragonfly, chipmunks running by (one stopped on a log to look at us), a frog hopping off the trail, fish in the water, a woodpecker, and an otter on the other side of the river from where we stopped for a snack break.

We made it halfway to St. Jacobs before we stopped by the riverbank, in a beautiful clearing, to have our granola bars and feed the babe his bottle. We skipped stones, happened upon some kind of high school team building in the style of Man Hunter, and listened to the river lapping at the shore. It was very peaceful, and we relished every minute of it, before heading back. Our little girl walked the whole way, until the last ten minutes when she hopped on my shoulders. Was a beautiful day for it, felt like fall weather, not blistering heat. We will return to the trail again in October, when the leaves are changing colour.

We recommend this trail for families of little ones, as it was not too busy, a nice short or long walk, lots of nature to see, and dog friendly (if you have one, we do not, but saw a couple).