A Day in the Kitchen and Katie's First Fall Festival

So my Wednesday was pretty much spent in the kitchen -- but isn't that where women belong anyway?

Ha.

More accurately: I had just put Katie down for a successful morning nap. I was literally putting my feet up, sighing in contentment, and debating between reading my current novel or taking a muchly-needed nap myself, when I suddenly realized I quite honestly had no idea what Katie was supposed to eat for lunch. 

And lunch was merely an hour away at best when said munster awoke from her slumber (if, in fact, that was what she was doing. I'm honestly not sure what my kid does when I leave her room. Sometimes I return to find her stuffed animals having little meetings and she's sitting on the outside of their circle, nodding, and humming agreement on the debate at hand).

So homemade mac n cheese it twas.

Pumpkin bread was also developed,

in spite of my apparently pumpkin-hating husband.

Alas, I failed to remember my recipe yields two loaves, which, just like the pie, Katie and I should not attempt to eat alone. (If only there were a third person in our household who would help us to eat all the pumpkin yummy-goodness...)
So we proceeded to wrap up the second loaf and bring it to my parents' farm the following afternoon to take with them on their weekend spent out of town at a Reformation Conference. (We are house sitting for them again.)

Literally the best pumpkin bread I've ever had -- moist and sweet and practically perfect in every way when butter is applied and warmed. 

*Note: Instead of using all the individual spices, I simply threw in some pumpkin spice.

But don't ask me how much I used.

It was a perfect autumn day for throwing wide the doors
and letting in some fresh air in a warm kitchen full of
fall baking.

Katie has been feeling under the weather with the change of the seasons the last couple of days (thanks for passing it on, kid). 

She's peculiar in that when she is most unwell, she is a perfect angel, not asking for much at all, with little cherub smiles to share with all. 

The following days of feeling better are when the devil horns start poking through (probably why her hair has been naturally stuck out in two tufts on the sides of her head...)

We were on Day 3 of such recovery with my constant prayer literally, "God, You are my strength -- BEEEEEEE my strength!" When my new friend-from-church Morgan texted me and invited us to our church's fall festival Wednesday evening.
We have not been able to attend church in a few weeks for numerous reasons, so I was unaware of the festival; nevertheless, I immediately confirmed Katie and I would be there, out of the house, socializing, and not murdering each other. (Jacob was scheduled to work 6am-11pm that day -- for the second day in a row.)

As soon as we stepped out of the car, Katie was utterly fascinated seeing all the kids in costumes. (There was one lobster that had her utterly transfixed.) 

Immediately upon entering the gymnasium, she tried to convince me she was big enough to go play in the bouncy castle. 

Sorry, darlin. Maybe next year, when I can bring your dad and sentence him for the evening. 

Morgan had the fantastic idea of distracting her with the game of "picking up ducks".

So cute.

Speaking of cute: Katie's friend Bailey (Morgan's precious 5 month old daughter) made the cutest Wonder Woman there.