Happy Fall

Happy FALL!!  

It's officially my favorite time of the year.
Color changing scenery, saying goodbye to mosquito's, pumpkins for days, planting (which I need to do), the return of HOCKEY and apples upon apples!!!!  

Since we are apple pigs over here I thought I'd share our orchard adventure this week.  The boys and I frequently visit the Patterson's Fruit Farm for donut dates and play, but we've never actually been to their family picking orchard.  Now that we've been, holy smokes, we'll have a hard time deciding which site to visit.  One has freshly baked donuts, apple fritters and apple cider slushes (winning in my eyes), the other has corn mazes, tractor rides, a giant corn play pit, tire swings and haystacks for jumping and climbing (winning for K&A). In any case we enjoyed our pants off and left with apple filled bellies and exhausted toddler tornado's.  

This morning library class was all about apples too!  The boys did a fun coloring craft and had to put their masterpieces in sequence (which I've never thought of working on) and AJ was so brave he actually went in front of the class on his own today.  He jumped up when Miss Debbie called his name, took three steps, looked around.....hesitated, then conquered his fear and completed his task.  I was so proud.  However; the rest of the time he had a difficult time listening, so next week I'll discuss "listening dust" a little more thoroughly with him.

And, although my sister suggested I begin a book review section of the blog (like her's, and it's fabulous), which for now I'm not planning on, I do have to share Ruth Orbach's APPLE PIGS!  It's SO good I simply must buy it!  The illustrations are charming and delightful and the story reads so smooth.  Hints of rhyming throughout, a new scene on every page and a really great meaning!  A must find for all library readers!

Also, Geno is so funny.  He loves story time, and reads books with us every night....and sometimes during the day too.

Tomorrow the boys go to their first KinderMusic class!!  If they love it, I hope to make this a weekly activity.

Zoo Adventures

We were lucky to receive free zoo passes for the second time, and couldn't pass up the adventure.  We had a busy weekend first in Pittsburgh, where I got to celebrate one of my very best girlfriends first baby!  And, we had a pizza party to love and sing a very happy birthday to my big sister! 

AJ was still walking around the house today singing "happy birthday Aunt Rachael", and Kman was standing at the sink, brushing his teeth, and pretending to still eat Aunt Rachael's birthday cake.  They are too funny.

We got home late, late from Pittsburgh, so we didn't get to the zoo the following day until the afternoon.  Since the boys slept in everyone stayed in happy spirits without naps.  Phew!  The weather was cool, sunny and happy!  We seriously had such a perfect day.  

All smiles!  Win!

The twin giraffe's have gotten SO big, and they are by far my favorite animal to visit!  The boys loved the elephants and aquarium best.  Kman was so captivated by all the fish, taking his time between two salt water tanks, talking-watching-trying to touch, then chose a fish to ride on the carousal.  

Uncle Timmy hopping like a kangaroo 

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  Happy last few days of summer.

September Happenings

Mums for Days

I meant to update last weekend, since inspiration was there...but we jumped on the road for a couple days to celebrate Labor Day with family in Pittsburgh, then blinked our eyes and it's Saturday night.

We are half way through September already.  Jeesh, where is this year going?  I'm planning the boys Halloween costumes, downsizing our toy collection, taking advantage of MAJOR sales by stocking the boys closet with some cute summer clothes for next year and making plans for fall activities to keep the boys entertained.  So far, beginning next Wednesday, the boys are signed up for an hour library class with a wonderful teacher named Debbie, who snuck us in even when the class was listed as full.  I'm so grateful!  The boys will be working with other 2 and 3 year olds playing games, listening to stories and doing arts and crafts.  They're going to L.O.V.E it!

Aside from future plans, we'll touch base with past happenings.  

Last weekend we took the boys to the annual county fair, and it was AWESOME!  Firetrucks, animals, rides, food trucks and tractors!  On the way home Kaleb made us laugh so hard when he requested "go back fair, get more funnel cake!"

The boys favorite.  All smiles & laughing, then they put their arms in the air and yelled "weeee"

We had a wonderful visit with family for Labor Day at my Dads.  I don't know what's wrong with me....I only took a picture of the plum cake I made and nothing else.  

We've also been jumping around Apple Orchards, visiting new Farm parks, enjoying the almost complete patio makeover and laying low this weekend since I'm not feeling the best.

Two pink pigs laying in the mud...bottom left.  AJ wanted IN!

Mostly all meals have been out here since last weekend!  We are replacing the fan and plastic siding next!

Hope everyone is enjoying the month.  Shana Tovah my friends and family!

Camping

A couple weeks ago Kaleb and Aiden had their very first camping trip.  For three days and two nights they slept under the stars, swam in the reservoir, drove their cars around in the dirt, tried out the jet-ski for the first time and ate pizza mountain pies.  We had a blast!  Plus, Keith and his brother picked one of the best sites we've ever had!  It was SO pretty and a short distance to the kybo.  Day two K&A could run the trails themselves and knew exactly where to go.

We shared a tent with the boys and everyone slept on air mattresses.  It was so fun and I know they'll be really excited to do it again soon!  It felt great to relax and eat s'more after s'more huddled around the campfire.  I sang kon-o-kwee songs non-stop and loved waking up to sweatshirt weather and excited toddlers.

Big City Chicago Photo Dump

5 months passed too quickly, and the twin cousins wanted to play!

Last week the boys, my Dad and I took off for another big city adventure.  When we parked around the corner of my sisters place we had the best greeting EVER.  When Lucie June rounded that corner and saw her cousins she squealed so loudly traffic should have stopped.  She ran right up to Kaleb and pat him on the shoulder saying HI KK.  Our hearts burst!

Bedtimes basically went out the window but all in good fun, right?  Playground fun, zoo days at Lincoln Park, blowing bubbles and running in the sprinkler, reading bedtime stories, watching Peppa Pig and SOOO MUCH LAUGHING.  Being together IsTheBest.

LJ kills me!  She loves her boys!  So lucky to have captured this.  They were watching the birds

Snack date

Very active sea lions!

Flamingos!

Aunt Becca, take my picture!

The quads have the sweetest bond!  Lucie June seems to always be in charge, which I always expect.  AJ continues to care for everyone, making sure his brother and cousins have a sip of water and saying goodbye gets a little more difficult and heartbreaking for everyone.  Driving away Kaleb proclaims "Aunt Jules, Ucie June, Teddy, go back."

Cousin Love.  Boy does Lucie June give the best kisses

Big thanks to my Dad for driving us all and to my sister for hosting another great trip!