{apple picking}

We've picked a lot of different kinds of berries, and we've visited apple orchards, but we've never actually picked apples before.  This was the year to change that, and we wanted to start a new tradition in our new area.  We heard about a really amazing apple farm, and decided we just had to try it. It's really popular here in upstate New York, and now I know why!

We had SUCH a great time.  It was a gorgeous day--a little windy, but the sky was blue, and the sun was out.  I loved the farm as soon as I saw it, and couldn't wait to get my hands on all those apples! The kids were super excited about it, and were thrilled to pick apples to eat and to make things with.

The orchard rows were neatly labeled with all the different types of apples to choose from, and there were almost 30 kinds of apples! It was hard to choose, but finally we narrowed it down. We had to reign them in a little bit, because they could have picked apples all day long. You can pick 20 pounds of apples pretty quickly!

After we finished picking apples, the kids played for awhile, and then we had hot apple cider.

It was so much fun, and we can't wait for next year...and every year after that! We love our new fall tradition!

{soccer!!}

I didn't get a lot of pictures from the soccer season, but I did get these from the last game!

 Kate, Henry, and Jack had a really great time playing, and it was really fun to watch them play.  It was a lot--they each and a practice or two, plus the games on Saturday, so our life was pretty much all about soccer for two months.  Which is okay--the loved it, and the weather was perfect most of the time.

They each did a great job, learning new techniques and skills, and improving their game. Way to go!!

{another school year here!}

This summer was a blur.  I knew it was going to go fast, but it really went too fast. I just wasn't ready to say goodbye yet, but the kids were excited to see their friends, and I think we were all ready to get back into a routine.

The biggest news?  Jack & Henry started kindergarten!! I really did cry over this--I'm always sad when it's time for my kids to leave for school and be gone during the day. I miss them like crazy, and these boys have made my life very interesting and exciting. It's just not going to be the same, but I'm happy for all of their new adventures.

I took them to school the first day, so they could carry all of their school supplies and teacher gifts.  Rick was even able to tag along, which made it even more fun!  The boys were super nervous, and I knew that they were scared that first morning. I hugged them tight, told them it would be okay, and then walked out the door. I turned around and saw Henry's face, and I barely held it together while I waved and smiled. Oh man, that was hard.  I cried all day.

Caroline missed them too. She missed all the adventures and entertainment that the boys have always provided her, and I'm just not the same!  I think she is enjoying her alone time with me, but she definitely wants to know where the boys are. It's going to be an adjustment, for sure.

The bus couldn't come fast enough that afternoon, and it was so fun to see four kiddos getting off!  I was bombarded by papers and stories and lots of school news, and it was a super busy afternoon.  Kate had a really hard time at school--she was the only one from her previous class and didn't know anyone else, and it's been a difficult adjustment, but it's getting better now.

That day was also our anniversary, so we weren't home long before we headed out the door to meet friends for dinner. It was a whirlwind day!!

Just the two of us!! I haven't been alone with just one child in many years, and it's SO quiet!

{august tidbits}

August literally flew by. Here I am, the middle of September, and it still doesn't seem real!  We had a really interesting August--full of disappointment and heartache, but also adventures and fun. Here are a few more tidbits of the month!

We had quite the scare this month. Emma and I were at her violin lesson when she suddenly fainted and fell straight backward while she was playing.  She wasn't responsive when she woke up, so we called 911, and an ambulance took her to children's hospital in Buffalo.  After a long afternoon in the ER, she was feeling much better and they sent her home.  Hopefully it was just an isolated incident, and it won't happen again. It was SO scary! Her sweet teacher came to the hospital, stayed there the whole time, then drove us back home.  She is amazing.

The boys' well check!  Happy and healthy!!

Backyard campout!!

We spent the day with friends...creating! The kids all made bracelets, and then played while Carolyn and I had our turn. It was a perfect rainy day!

One of our favorite discoveries this summer was a place where you can go and watch airplanes land and take off. It's not very far from the landing strip, and you can literally smell the jet fuel and feel the ground shake.  The kids LOVED it. It's definitely a place we will be back to often!

She was so proud the chalk outline she made in nursery!

My Henry.  Good thing Wendy's has a value menu, because this boy can down four cheeseburgers and a ton of fries in to time flat!

The "bunkhouse".  These kid safe really going to miss being in the same room once our house is finished! 

The girls also had their well check. Kate is 90th percentile in height much to her delight, and Emma is 70th. They are both 100th percentile for personality! 

{new york, new york}

About a month ago, Kyla texted me and told me that they were taking a girls' trip to New York City, and wondered if I would be able to join them.  Ummmm....YES!!

Rick was able to take that Friday off, and I found a cheap flight into JFK. It's only about 5 hours driving distance, but I really wanted to spend as much time there as possible, plus the parking is a killer-I still spent less than I would have if I had paid parking and gas!  I left super early on Friday morning, and got there around 8:15am.  I took a cab...all by myself! I've never done that before--I've had a car and driver take me somewhere, but never hailed a cab from the airport alone.  I made it alive. :)  It took over an hour to get to our hotel in Times Square with all of the traffic, but I had gotten up so early, it was nice to relax a bit longer.

When I arrived, I was bombarded with so many childhood memories.  The Cox Family was an integral part of my growing up years, and I spent a lot of time with them and in their home.  It had been awhile since I had seen most of them, and two years since I had seen Kyla. They say that a sign of true friendship is that when you can see a friend even after a long time and it's as if no time has passed.  That's exactly what happened, and I spent a glorious three days exploring the city with them. We stayed at the Marriott Marquis right in the middle of Times Square, and literally a few blocks from Broadway, which is where we spent a lot of time.

There were nine of us, plus three babies, so navigating the city was interesting...but so fun. The babies did really well, and we all took turns watching them and going to shows. Between us all, we say four Broadway plays!!  I saw Matilda and Wicked.  I liked Matilda and LOVED Wicked. I have seen it a couple of times before, but this was by far the best.  The girl who played Elphaba was actually the stand-in, but she was phenomenal.  Those three hours went by so fast!!

We also went shopping, strolled the street fair and the yummiest food ever, went up to the top of the Empire State Building, explored Central Park, went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and attended church in Manhattan, in the Manhattan Temple. We had ice cream parties in the middle of the hotel hallway (babies were sleeping), and spent hours talking. It was wonderful.

We all had flights Sunday evening, and even though mine was a couple of hours later, we all took cabs together to JFK.  There ended up being an accident on the way there, and the traffic was extremely backed up.  They were cutting it very close already, and then they were stuck at check-in because of a baby mix-up--they and different records for the babies that were with them, and after 30-40 minutes of waiting and trying to get it fixed, they were down to minutes before the flight was supposed to leave---and they still and to get through security. Thankfully, the agent escorted us to security, and had us go to the very front of the line, and we made it with literally seconds to spare.  It was a very quick goodbye, which in some ways was probably good, because it was a hard one.

I'm so grateful for wonderful, lifelong friends. I met Kyla the beginning of 7th grade, and there was no separating us from that time forward.  How blessed I was (am) to have her in my life!!