apples, apples, apples

Sunday we had friends over with the intention of having the kids help make apple pies and apple crisps. The kids have not seen each other for quite some time so they took off to play immediately. Issac helped for awhile peeling, cutting, and making desserts but then went to enjoy watching some football. The adults and Joel were left at the table to complete the creations. It was nice and the desserts turned out very yummy! Thanks to our friends for coming over to play, bake and chat.

Kimmel Orchard

 We parted ways and we continued on to another orchard. We took a hay rake ride out to the apples and grapes and picked till our box was full. Pete and I were disappointed as the honey crisp apples were all gone and had been for a couple weeks.  :~(

Brie has the most devilish looking face on!

Another part of this place is the horse ride and other activities. The girls were thrilled with their horse rides and PJ experienced his first horse ride! He too was beyond excited!

 A sweet little kiddo took a family picture for us on our ride back to the van. Our box of apples and grapes made it home as did the kids who were exhausted after our day of fun!

an apple birthday for Makayla

 We did Makayla's birthday with her godmother, Coke and husband Jeff and my mom at the Apple Festival this year. We went to Arbor Day Farm, a worthwhile trip for those that live around here. The kids had a great time and the adults were entertained as well. They had a few extra's but most of it happens year round. We climbed to the top of the tree house and stop for another group picture.

 At the bottom of the tree house was face painting. The big girls waited patiently in line to have their faces done.

PJ and Brie continued down the path to see what else they could find. BUBBLES!! It was a beautiful scene with bubbles everywhere, what fun!

 Kayla had found some flowers and put them in Maggie's hair.

 We took a wagon ride around the Arbor Farm property and got the history of the place, a interesting ride. We stopped off and were able to try a few apples. Our picnic table was next to the peach orchard so mom and the kids ran and collected MANY peaches!

We packed a picnic lunch and all enjoyed a sandwich and some yummy birthday brownies per the 9 year olds request.

 Godmother Coke and Kayla, not sure but I do not have a picture of my mom and Kayla, I will get one this weekend.

 Present time! Makayla is very excited to go shopping and thrilled that her mother is not making her share her peanut butter cups! She also got new art supplies and if I would have know how much time she was going to spend with that stuff I would have done that a long time ago. She is loving the new art supplies.

 A final group picture prior to everyone going separate ways.  We had a great time and appreciate my family coming to hang out at the festival.

Yucky Thursday

 A vomiting Brie and a PJ with pneumonia makes a long Thursday with out much fun. PJ had a cold that seemed to be getting worse, so yesterday had the great Dr. we know listen and sure enough the nasty "P" word. Home for a couple days of rest and some medicine and we should be good to go! Little Miss Brie said her tummy hurt last night and this morning and now we all know why! Good thing I did not make her eat her supper and breakfast, clean up was already not fun! She has just kind of moped around here today and had a little more unpleasant personality. Haven't had one of these kind of days in a long time, hope we do not start a trend! Happy Thursday to everyone else.

soccer begins

The soccer season has begun!

We are gearing up for a couple months of new Saturday routines. Now each of the girls play soccer so we are often on the go morning and afternoon. This is Maggie's first year and she did great at her first game. She even got a goal. She tried her game at goalie but was pulled before the ball even made it to her side of the field. She said it was very fun and cannot wait to play again!(phew, this is the child who was protesting soccer stating she was NOT going to play because she wanted to take ballet lessons, NOT soccer lessons!) Dodged a bullet there!

 Makayla did well also, she moved up a level and now has much stricter rules. Our season opener was on a gorgeous turf field that was beautifully marked. The girls were a little shocked I think to see actual markings for boundaries, etc... instead of the cones and flags we use at practice. Playing goalie is right up Makayla's alley, however with the rules and boundaries this year she is realizing she will have to work a little harder. She too is excited to get back to practice again and talk about the game and get ready for the next one!

picture day

Picture day at school today meant lots of curlers last night and some prepping this morning. I do not usually purchase school pictures so I tend to do as they ask for this set of pictures. (that way when there store pictures happen I have a little more to do with them, I remind them they got to decide the school ones so I get to decide these ones :~) ) Unfortunately  the pictures do not come back forever so it remains a mystery as to how the actual picture turns out.

fun at Granny's and Pop's

 Pop and Granny hosted 3 of the 4 kids this past weekend. It was the local school's Fall Fun Festival and that means kiddie rides and fun! Pop is all about amusement parks and having a good time! He purchased SEVERAL books of tickets so the kids had endless rides for the weekend. Ride they did and they enjoyed every minute of it! This is an attempt at a group photo, minus two half pints who were not quite up to a photo. I missed the photo of the kids running up to granny all with open arms and smothering her with hugs. It was precious to watch though. By the end of Sunday most of the kids were loving the dragon ride.

The cars that go in a slow circle were a great hit for the younger crowd.

 The ship was a hit even for the little ones. The operator wanted to protest Brie getting on, she was not going to hear of it. She marched right by him and climbed right up to her seat, waited for Kayla to help buckle her in and then waved to her mama. The man looked at me and said, "well I guess I am not going to argue with her!"

This picture was just laugh out loud funny for me. The story is: the ride had not started and so as to get a good picture I told Josh and Kayla to pretend it was going and to put on their best scared face! When I reviewed the pictures it just made me laugh!


Granny and Pop's house also proved to be a good time as well. The front yard collected several of the kids at multiple times, each just loving life.

 Auntie Leigh Ann playing BINGO with a small group.

Wii was also a fun time as was jumping on the bed! Granny and Pop's house is just so fun,  all the kids just love it!

 Uncle Sean's birthday is coming up so we had a quick impromptu birthday party Monday morning before we  went our separate ways. The kids are always up for singing Happy Birthday and watching someone blow out candles.

 Once again THANK YOU THANK YOU Granny and Pop for a very fun and enjoyable weekend! Everyone at my house was completely worn out and exhausted but slept with the biggest smiles ever! Thanks for a great weekend full of many happy memories! So glad we were able to have a long weekend to hang out and play.