Great Country Farm

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Stefanie

Apple Cider Press Demonstration

Cinderella’s Pumpkin Carriage

Obstacle courses

Slides

Corn Fields

Farm animals including a filthy pig

Cool barns and doors

Rope Swings

Wagon rides

Apple picking

Some were more appreciated than others.

The fan favorites amongst the girls were the roasting marshmellows, the jumping pumpkin, and the roller scooters. Who could argue with the girls on the roller scooters….that was mom’s favorite too!

Justin’s favorite was the filet at Tuscorara Mill….a spontaneous decision to eat in Leesburg and an awesome surprise to find out that the café section serves the full dinner menu in the evening!

Happy Daddy!

It was a muddy but great family day at Great Country Farm in Bluemont, VA.

NY to Vienna to MD and Flowers

Posted on October 16, 2017 by Stefanie

Saturday we decided to turn Vienna into our own little NY. We had a few places we wanted to visit in the heart of Vienna and a few errands we needed to run in Vienna as well. Justin had also wanted to go on a family hike in the near future. After breakfast, we decided to forgo the gym. We packed a backpack (thanks Justin for carrying it for 6 hours straight) and set out to Vienna through our backyard and the path that Justin had cleared in our backyard leading to it. The girls each took a plastic bag and collected leaves along the way there. The three-mile walk to Vienna took us one hour and 15 minutes. We caught the tail end of the Vienna Halloween Character event grabbing a small free cotton candy for the girls along the way. They wanted to go in the moon bounce but it was closing up as we got there. Meanwhile Justin and I were scoping out the historic Vienna area as a possible location for our family pictures next weekend. We then headed to Potomac River Running so I could get some insoles (per the orthopedist’s recommendation) for my running shoes. I even had a $25 coupon that I was able to use, which was awesome since I had forgotten about it until we were steps away from the store that. Next, we made our way to Cuppetts where Avery tried on new tap shoes. They were out of the size she needed so we put our order in; on the bright side we didn’t have to carry them with us through town the rest of the day. Next stop was Walgreens, where Justin got his flu shot. Justin had taken the girls the day prior for theirs and it was not a pretty sight. Emerson tried to hide behind the chairs in the doctor’s office and all three girls screamed. Justin told them to be brave; he told them he would show them how it was done when he got his. After Walgreens, we headed back to Church Street Pizza for lunch. We ordered a bunch of slices and when we were done headed over to Glyndon Park. Justin and I wanted to scope it out as another alternative for family pictures. The girls meanwhile had fun playing on the swings, monkey bars, and slide. Last stop before heading home was Ritas where the girls indulged in some frozen ice and Mommy and Daddy shared a kid size soft serve ice cream. It was also a form of bribery not to whine on the long walk home. The walk home we spent counting and doing math problems for the first half making the walk go by quickly. We were home by 4:45…just in time for Daddy to spend another hour mowing the grass. The girls played on the swing set for a little before showering and putting on their pajamas and staying indoors the rest of the evening. The girls and I walked nine miles that day…Justin probably an additional three with the lawn mowing!

Sunday afternoon we had planned on going to a farm with a pumpkin patch, apple orchard, and petting zoo. When the weather was raining in the morning, we almost scratched that idea and went to the local Reston Farmer’s Market. Miraculously, the sun came out and the forecast said it was going to get up to 80 degrees so we decided to stick with our original plan and go to Homestead Farms in Maryland. It was a huge place with a large orchard, a petting zoo (including goats who walked above ground), a lake, a pumpkin patch, a tractor for hayrides, a general store, and a market. It really was a great place. Our experience wasn’t as carefree and appreciated as much as it should have or could have been. Emerson wasn’t impressed from the moment we got out of the car despite the fact that she could barely see the farms offerings from that vantage point and distance. We had to backtrack after being in the farm all the way out to the last row of the parking lot to get a wheelbarrow for our apples and pumpkins. It became hot…very HOT as in 90 degree hot very quickly and that isn’t something that was anticipated in mid-October! Then when we got deep into the orchard, Avery had to go to the bathroom and claimed she couldn’t hold it. Apple picking was over for Avery and me. Meanwhile on the way back to the porter potty (yes, I went in one a total of four times while we were there), the shoes I was wearing gave me the WORST blisters. I could barely walk. Finally, when Justin got back the girls picked out some pumpkins but I truly don’t think any of us were into it. While Justin was waiting in line to pay, I shopped in the market and got all my fresh vegetables for the week (kale, green peppers, poblano peppers, cherry tomatoes, orange tomatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans…oh yeah, and some snacks for the girls). Homestead Farms had the potential to be great, but unfortunately our attitudes took the amazing experience factor down slightly.

Despite that, I still wanted to stop at the winery that we had seen on the way in that was a mile down the road. It was called Rocklands Farm. We only stayed for a short time, but enough time to do a wine tasting, buy two bottles of wine, a strip steak for Monday night’s dinner, use the rest rooms, and take in the scenery. I absolutely LOVED the feel of this winery. It was rustic with an amazing barn. I didn’t tell Justin this, but if we were to have our wedding again….I think this is the type of venue I would have it at. Deep down, it spoke to me. We were also there at 4:45 so the sun was creating great light….just gorgeous. It was only after we got home that night that I decided to read the reviews on trip advisor. While rated pretty highly overall, there were a few reviews that rated the winery poorly due to the $12 wine tasting and the below average volume wine tasting pour. I definitely noticed both but I didn’t vocalize nor did it consume my thoughts after the initial second I thought it until I read the review. It was that moment in time that I realized that I finally wasn’t trying to see the flowers…I was seeing the flowers:)

Reston Pumpkin Patch

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Stefanie

We went to the Reston Pumpkin Patch for the third year in a row. They added a third moon bounce combo and while the girls were excited when they saw it, it somehow took away from the pumpkin patch experience. The choo-choo train wasn’t operational, the pumpkins seemed to be sparser than normal, the indoor fruit market was only half full, and there were minimal employees working there. While it was disappointing for Justin and me, Avery and Emerson still had a good time playing in the moon bounce combos. Harper had a good time looking at the baby pig and hanging out with Mommy and Daddy. Harper also enjoyed sitting in the wagon and Emerson enjoyed pulling her and picking out the large family pumpkin.

While it was somewhat disappointing, the fact that we stayed for a lot less time than I anticipated meant Harper could have a nap at home and Avery and Emerson could have quiet time….which meant Justin got to watch the second half of the Nats Game and the end of the Redskins game and I had time to finish the laundry, do an arm workout, prep tomorrow night’s dinner, and even had a few minutes to watch some of the Nats Game!

Cox’s Farm Fall Festival

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Stefanie

Justin took the day off of work yesterday so we could take the girls to the Cox’s Farm Fall Festival. We wanted to take them on a weekday so that it would be less of a crowd and cheaper admission. As it turned out while admission was cheaper, it was probably busier than some weekends due to a bunch of Maryland daycare centers having field trips there. It was Grandma’s day of the week to watch the girls so she came with us to join in the fun. What a difference a year makes! Last year, while we had a great time, I found myself thinking that Avery and Emerson would really be able to enjoy the festival more next year and that they did indeed! It was a beautiful sunny day; temperature was perfect in the high 60’s….almost identical to the weather we had last year.

We packed as much as we could into three hours before the girls were exhausted and it was time for us to call it a day. We started slow to ease the girls into it by climbing on some hay. Next stop was some kid’s show. We arrived towards the end but I think he (the performer) was rapping (to some extent) some kids songs. All I know was that I was wanting to get my groove on and Emerson was getting her groove on. We only stayed for a few minutes but long enough to snap a few pictures with Daddy before moving on to the slides.

As I was waiting for Grandma and Daddy to come down the slide with the girls I couldn’t help but laugh at this goat who kept getting in this position.

Oh and by the way, in case you are wondering where Harper was, this is how she spent much of the afternoon (except when I was on the slide…she was then lucky enough to hang out in her stroller).

Throughout the afternoon we went on three different slides. All three adults took turns throughout the afternoon with each girl.

Emerson was brave enough to even try a slide herself a few times….

…which ultimately left Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma going down the slide alone on that particular turn.

We also went on the hayride, which we did not do last year. WOW, was I impressed! I was thinking it would be a five minute ride through some cornfields with some scarecrows. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I swear the ride had to have been over 15 minutes and we saw EVERYTHING! We went through haunted houses, water, a town with a jail and general store, saw zoo animals, aliens, cartoon characters, disney characters, and MUCH MORE! Avery sat with Daddy and overall enjoyed the ride with the exception of the haunted house.

Emerson sat with Mommy. She cried at first…then finally stopped but only to stay lying down buried in Mommy’s lap with her eyes closed for the entire ride. (Not certain what Daddy was actually trying to capture here…LOL!)

We had more success this year at taking our pictures in the staged frames.

We even found the perfect one for all three girls to be in together.

And we found the Kid Only (Little Kid) Zone that we somehow missed last year. The girls had a fun time playing on the train, driving the tractor, and catching the bubbles.

Harper just watched it all…

And on the way out, we all picked out our pumpkin and tried for that family of five picture. It took a few snaps but we got some okay ones.

I look at these pictures and still can’t believe I am lucky enough to call each of them mine. I love my family and truly am blessed! We all had a fun time and look forward to going to this event again next year!

October Heat

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Stefanie

This past weekend was so hot out it felt more like August than October. It felt like we should be in the pool, not the pumpkin patch, but I am not complaining. I love extending the summer wardrobe for as long as I can!

We started the weekend early by going up to New Jersey for the day to visit Gigi and Papa Mac. Justin couldn’t take off work, plus it would have been a very tight fit in the car with an additional person, so my parents and I took the girls. Besides the difficulty the girls gave us getting into their carseats on the way home, they were very well behaved. Avery and Emerson were talking up a storm, especially with Gigi. Gigi had just come home from the rehab center a few days prior so we went to her house first and then went to visit Papa Mac afterwards at the rehab center. Here is baby Harper meeting Gigi and Papa Mac for the first time.

Saturday morning we went up to good old Church Street in Vienna for Octoberfest. We do what we do best at festivals and walked up the block past all the booths, but truly interested in none of them. After a quick walk by past the food booths and the beer tent, we settled in the green area for some music and snacks.

It was so hot and my mommy PA (Parental Assessment) was low as I forgot sunscreen and a hat for Harper so we didn’t stay too long. Next stop was Chick Fila for lunch. These girls especially Avery are apparently chicken nugget connoisseurs because Avery wouldn’t touch them just from the smell and Emerson barely ate two small ones. Wendy’s clearly is the chicken nugget of choice. Anyway, after lunch we went to a pumpkin patch in Reston and despite the sweltering August like weather had a great time.

Sunday evening before dinner we walked up to Wolftrap playground where the girls and Justin and I had a great time playing. I’m finally starting to get my energy back and it feels awesome. I even moved up to pushing the double stroller and even ran some on the way home. (I was selective about what streets I ran on because I didn’t want to many drivers passing bye to have to see so much jiggle jangle:)) This really is huge because I haven’t really done much down and dirty playing with the girls to date. I got pregnant with Harper before the girls were really running around all that much outside and while I was pregnant I was only feeling good to keep up with them during the second trimester, so I finally feel like I am back! Anyway, here are some pictures of the girls having a good time.