Halloween Part II - Pumpkin Fest and More

 LL Bean does a great job giving back to the community and Pumpkin Fest is yet another festival they provide that I'll add to my list of annual Fall traditions. While we truly only had a glimpse, as the temperature were dipping and we were ill-prepared to stay warm outside, I did snap a couple pictures of the amazing display of jack-o-lanterns.  Over 6,000 total lit the night on the parameters of the LL Bean flagship store.  It was an amazing and beautiful site and an event I will look forward to returning to next year.

As we fled home from the festival shivering, we sped passed houses where people frantically raked leaves and brought lawn furniture in to prep for the impending snow storm.  Later that night, just days before Halloween, the storm arrived.  Well hello snow.  It's been just a short 6 months since we saw you last and really, we are not quite ready to have you back..Certainly not all 8 inches of you. But with a deep breathe and kids jumping with excitement we were also reminded of the newness and delight of the first snow fall of the season and had to take advantage of a day without power and a snow covered yard.

Nana came to visit just in time for the storm.

We even got to sled in our back yard!

Hooray for Grammy and Pappy

We had another fun filled visit from Grammy and Pappy.  The kids could not have been more excited to get so much attention.  Grammy cooked with Lex and Finn, making pumpkin bread, apple pie, lasagna, lemon meringue pie, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.  I should mention they were here for just 3+ days, so our kitchen was happily at a constant hum.

Both Pappy and Grammy played make believe with the kids, taking them on adventures to Africa, a hair salon, and on many animal and pretend car excursions. They played outside in our yard, enjoyed a Fall festival with us at Wolfe's Neck Farm, and watched movies together.  Ultimately, everyone enjoyed every sliver of time together.  We just wish that Grammy and Pappy lived closer so we could delight in their company more often.  Thank you for a fabulous visit.  We can't wait until the next one!

On our way to Wolfe's Neck Farm

Happy to be there...

Learning how to make apple cider the old fashion way

Heath enjoyed his time with Pappy

 Never a surprise to see Finn in the drivers seat.

The view looking behind the farm

Yes, more pumpkins.  We now have at least a 1/2 dozen at home.

Always in September

There's a sign outside of the Cumberland Fair Grounds that says, "Always in September." It's painted on a building actually. All Summer we drove by and Lexi used to ask me what the sign said until she started to remember what it said AND connected that it was the same month that her birthday was in.  So the moment she heard it was the month of September she started asking when we were going to the Fair.  It's interesting,   the Fair grounds exist all year round and I'm not sure they are actually used for anything else except the Fair, which runs for one week long period.  The grounds span about 5 acres (which is approx 5 square city blocks). So a large space to only be used once a year, but I guess there's no real shortage of space here in Maine.

We really had no idea what the Cumberland Fair would entail, but we had to live up to our promise to Lexi, so we piled into the car on Sunday to head to the Fair. As it turns out, it's a true old fashion Fair.   

 

What do I mean by old fashion?  

Live stock competitions, including cattle competitions and horse and chariot races. 

Showings of every kind of farm animal and breed possible. 

Carnival food, carnival games (yuck!), and carnival rides. 

A largest pumpkin competition. 

A full display of John Deere trucks and farm equipment for sale.  (I have to say that this section was pretty cool.  Have you ever seen shinny new tractors?)

You might guess, but the kids loved it...

Daddy and Heath watching the horse and chariots...

Finny was invited to drive the real fire truck...

Lexi (overexposed sorry) standing by one of the largest pumpkins.  Surreal in person.

Just a random photo of one of the signs above a food vendor.  Not sure what these actually are.  Anyone know?

Loving the carousel

And the motorcycle rides

Dreaming of being  future race car drivers

The gang indulging in freshly cut and prepared french fries

On our way home, we stopped as a local farm to buy a couple of pumpkins.  Each kid got to select their own.

Heath's not sure what to do.

Heath thinks he's getting two.

It was a great Fall day, but Patrick and I can say, we won't miss the Cumberland Fair if we never go back again.