A Day at Honeysuckle Hill Farm

Just in case you missed this blaring fact, let me remind you once more... I love fall!  But in all honesty, who doesn't?!  I don't believe I've ever met anyone who doesn't enjoy most things about this beautiful season.

One of my favorite activities to do this time of year is to visit a pumpkin patch.  My children, husband and I anticipate our annual excursion all year long.  Fortunately, in middle Tennessee where we live, there is quite the picking when it comes to choosing a pumpkin farm to visit.  There are many great locations throughout the area offering festive activities for families each weekend.  Amidst all the various choices, we decided this past weekend to take the longer, scenic drive up to the same location which we discovered last year: Honeysuckle Hill Farm in Springfield, Tennessee.

Funny enough, we unknowingly chose the very same weekend on the calendar that we had visited the year before.  But, boy, was it a completely different experience this time around!  Last year, with daytime temperatures in the 50's, we were dressed in our warm clothes, drinking delicious apple cider and hot chocolate.  NOT this year.  The afternoon temperature rose well above 80 degrees, which is certainly obvious by our children's red cheeks in our photographs below.  As you can imagine, we were quite warm and hot apple cider was the last thing on our minds.

Despite being a bit toasty, we had a wonderful time enjoying all that Honeysuckle Hill Farm has to offer.  With the hayride, petting zoo, slides, swings, jumping pillow, and pumpkin cannon (just to name a few highlights), there was something for each member of the family to enjoy.

One thing I do have to complain about mention is the steep admission price.  Each person over 2 years of age is charged $9.00 + tax to enter the farm.  For a family of four, that's FORTY bucks.  Add to that the money for the gasoline needed to drive over an hour to get to Springfield, plus any food or beverages purchased while at the farm... that all makes for NOT a cheap day.  WHEW!

So, if you're near the Springfield area and have a chunk of change to spend on an incredibly fun family outing, this is the farm to visit.  But you better hurry- the last day of their Fall Festival Season is October 31st.

 

 

My sweet punkin' niece, Annslee.

The Klapper girlies.

Daddy & sister flying down the "Monster Rippler."

 

$40 admission and my son just wants to kick a ball around.  
Go figure.

 

Note to self:  Purchasing ring pops before attempting a family photo is never a good idea.

Here we are... the four "krazy" Klappers.

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Let's Take the Long Way Home

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Geile Leon. All opinions are 100% mine.

Autumn is truly my favorite time of the year.  I pretty much love everything this season has to offer:  warm days, chilly nights, shorter daylight hours, football games and festivals galore.  And then there's the best highlight of them all... the gorgeous show of colors that nature proudly displays.

These are the days when I find myself hunting for every opportunity to hop in the car to just drive.  I'll take the extra long route to the post office or bank just to soak in the sights of fall.  Every now and then, we'll happen to catch some free time as a family to head off down a country road to see what the city doesn't offer.  The natural beauty of the season is just plain therapeutic.

If we were financially able, I'd load my family into our van and head west to Branson, Missouri.  I imagine it to be an absolutely beautiful location to spend an autumn weekend.  From the fall foliage driving tours of the Ozarks to the annual craft and music festivals, Branson is rich with sights and sounds of the harvest season.

What about you?  Are you a nature lover during the fall or would you rather soak up the warm fall colors in your favorite clothing store?  Does the fall season have a tendency to give you the itch to just drive around, or better yet, take a long road trip somewhere?  Maybe you've considered spending a weekend with your family in Branson, Missouri, but just haven't decided when to do it.

Now through November, the autumn landscape in the Branson area explodes into an array of rich colors.  For any outdoor enthusiasts, this is prime time to explore the lakes, rivers and hills of the Ozarks.  For those who prefer to view nature from a distance, it's always a great time for shopping in Branson, which features everything from arts and crafts markets to outlet mall shopping unlike any other in the region.

As if all of this doesn't sound fabulous enough, top it all off with incredible lodging accommodations at either the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing or Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel.  Both locations are currently offering a Fall in the City package, starting at $309.50 per night, as well as a unique Shopping Package that starts at just $164 per night.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a drive to Branson.  With the current temperate weather, shockingly gorgeous natural beauty of the area and the excitement of the fall season,  I can't imagine a more perfect time to visit.

"Frame-It Friday"- An Early Winter Edition

So, who do you think is more excited about the arrival of fall and its cooler weather?

Me...............

or this little fashionista?

The outdoor temperature when this picture was snapped was a frigid 79 degrees.

Who argues with a three year old and wins?

Not this mama...

10 Reasons Why I'm Glad it's FALL!

1. The weather is FINALLY getting cooler!  I love warm days and chilly nights.
2. Fall colors are my fave. 
3. The smell of bonfires make me giddy.
4. F O O T B A L L.
5. Who doesn't love a memorable trip to a good old punkin' patch?!
6. Watching season premieres of the best television shows makes for a great late night activity.
7. Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks. Non-fat, extra hot.
8. Hoodies and jeans become my daily uniform of choice.
9. Halloween costumes and Thanksgiving menu planning.
10. Eating my favorite vegetable is both accepted and encouraged this time of year.  And by vegetable, I mean, Brach's candy corn.

HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!