Lone Pine Farms

Today Joel and I decided it was time to do something Fallish. So after finding the website for Lone Pine Farms, we drove over to Junction City with the Lu-belle to see what they had to offer.

And it was fantastic. Seriously, Eugene locals, if you haven't been before you should check this farm out. There were tractor and horse-drawn rides, a huge corn maze, a magnificent farmer's market, a hay-bale maze for the little 'uns as well as a playground, goats to feed, and a huge pumpkin patch. Lucy had a great time and we came away with several different pumpkins, gourds, and some indian corn.

Lucy loves this little display of the old lady in the shoe:

She helped us pick out a pumpkin:

It had to pass the "can I whack it hard with my palms" test:

The chosen pumpkin:

Isn't that a fabulous display?

We tried to get Lucy to pose in their photo-op standups but she didn't really get what was happening.

So Joel tried to show her. Doesn't he make a splendid witch?

The horse-drawn ride (we didn't go on it, Lucy loved petting the horses but would have gotten bored quickly):

Off to pet the goats!

The over-exposed quality of this picture makes me laugh. Doesn't it look like a floating goat-head?

And here's the baby at home, thrilled with her outing and her new pumpkin friend!

Pictures I love recently

Friends:



First time eating an orange:


Posing:

Balancing (that's a cracker in her right hand):

Flowers from Farmer's Market bought for me by the best husband in the world:

The parents visit

My parents came to visit for the weekend, and even though Lu and I both came down with colds (murphy's law for family get-togethers), we still had a great time.

Dad and Lu got along swimmingly (Lucy forgot she was terrified of his laugh):

If dad's hair looks a little....windswept, it's because it was! On Saturday we went to Florence for the day and it was very, very windy down by the seashore. But I'll take it. I love being just a little over an hour from the coast.

And it's such a neat little town! We wandered down on the docks and looked at the little boats:

Lucy learned about anchors:

We toured the shops (and I got some amazing fudge):

Lucy got loads of Papa time:

For which she was very grateful:

Joel and Lucy at Mo's (yummy clam chowder):

And of course Lucy soaked up lots of Nana time too:

Mom and dad spent most of the day on Friday helping me hang pictures and decorate around our new place. It was SO wonderful to have my mom give her fabulous decorating advice. Pictures of our little duplex coming shortly!

Girls' Weekend

Lydia, Rachel and Hope came to visit us this past weekend and we had a blast showing them around Eugene. We went to the usual spots: 5th street market, shopping, Trader Joes, plus we got to try out a few new places which is always fun. We went to the Wandering Goat coffee shop for the first time which had amazing coffee, and we went for a walk down to the beautiful Rose Gardens (how did I not know those were there??). Plus we went out to eat at Belly restaurant (DELICIOUS) and on our last night Joel kindly stayed at home with the sleeping kiddos while us girls went out to The Rabbit for drinks and then over to Market of Choice for dessert. I was too busy having a ball with the girls to take many pictures, but here are a few....

Lydia wandering around Market of Choice



and Rachel:



Pretty Rachel out on the town:



Hope hiding behind her own Nikon

The four of us at the Rabbit:

Lydia and I:

Rachel and Hope:

We also spent a fair bit of time at our apartment hanging out with the babies. Here's Hope's kiddo, Brody (isn't he a cutie?):

Brody and Lucy had a hard time sharing. If one of them had a bottle (or a paci or a toy) then the other would work hard to take it from them. There were quite a few tug of war sessions which were hilarious to watch.

Brody got a rice cracker which Lucy succeeded in yanking away from him. Naturally it crumbled all over the floor and the two of them had at it trying to get as much of it off the floor and into their mouths as possible.

I miss those girls already, but it was so much fun getting to catch up and show them Eugene!

The parents come to visit

Shortly after Grandma Sunny's visit, we got to host my parents for a few days before they took me back to Moscow! The weather wasn't as nice as it had been in weeks prior, but we still got outside a bit. Here's a paparazzi shot of Papa and Lucy enjoying the warmth.



And a close-up. Check out Lu's thighs. Epic.



Papa and Lucy share an inside joke:




My parents being fish-and-chips lovers, we naturally had to go out to Steelhead Brewery for dinner. We sat inside this time, and my mom noticed this sign hanging on the wall.

The Royal Troon golf club is located in my mom's home county of Ayrshire, Scotland! What a coincidence.

My parents got to worship with us on Sunday, here's a picture of little Lu in her Sunday best:

Papa and Lu hanging out on the couch after church:

On one of the days when it wasn't raining (wasn't sunny either, but you take what you can get), we walked around the University of Oregon campus. There was some sort of street fair going on. Lucy had a blast, particularly when Joel held her in this position. I think she thought she was walking:

There were so many neat buildings on campus. Here we are outside of the Museum of Art:

It actually had a quote from Proverbs engraved above the entryway! Lovely architecture.

I'm so glad we were able to show them around Eugene a bit. Maybe next time they come it will actually be sunny!