Thursday, October 31, 2013

Trick or Treat Take 3

Our last Halloween outing for the year was to the local outlet mall. I attend a breastfeeding support group there almost every Thursday so when I heard the businesses would be passing out candy I decided our group should try to hit up the shops before hand. Get some of the bigger kids to run off energy and collect candy to bribe them with during group :)

We decided to go a much simpler route this time around since I didn't have the time, energy and extra hands to get them into their other costumes. Easton was our football player with his two cheerleaders to cheer him on.
I had hoped to get some pictures while we were out, but that was wishful thinking with nine kids ages 5 and under!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Our Little Photographer

Emma has been able to hit up the fields with daddy on occasion this fall. She loves the one-on-one time with him. After a recent photo upload to the computer from his phone I was able to see one of the ways she stays busy.


Apparently she is a big fan of selfies.

And Daddy likes to photobomb.


She even took a few artistic ones.
But I think this one might be my favorite. No filter. A Daddy through his daughter's eyes. She loves him, pure and simple. So grateful for everything he does for our family!

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Trick or Treating Take 2

Our second Halloween outing was to the Outdoor Discovery Center where Emma attends school. I wasn't dying to go, but the teachers talked about it a lot and Emma was pumped to go. Jason also said he would go with us so I figured we better take him up on the offer. He's never been trick or treating with us before so I knew we had to accept!






It was a little colder this go round, but the kids had a blast and Emma was excited to show off knowledge that she has gleaned thus far from the school year. Besides loading up on candy, the kids were able to get their faces painted, take a barrel ride behind the tractor, make s'mores and check out some of the wildlife that calls the ODC their home.




We spent the better part of 2 hours there. I was thankful for a warm van to climb into when we were done, that's for sure! I've now gone through the candy we've collected from both outings to consolidate and create a pile that can be donated to our church for their Trunk or Treat festivities. I'm sure the years I can do this are limited so I have to take advantage while I can!

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Dreaming of a White Fall?!?

This was the view out of my window when I woke up this morning- what the heck???
I'm not ready for this white business. Honestly I used to enjoy winter. But now, with little people, winter = twice the work. So I'm not going to lie. While it is beautiful to look at and I do appreciate all four season, I'd be happy if this stuff could disappear for a while yet!

Needless to say, we ended up with almost 3 inches. We spent the day in our jammies and had a special afternoon watching a movie with popcorn and green smoothies. Not such a bad day after all!

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Trick or Treating Take 1

We typically only Trick or Treat one time. That being said, this was an unusual year.

My mom has always wanted to take the munchkins out, but the holiday tends to land during the middle of the week which isn't conducive to a 2.5 hour drive one way. However, there is a state campground around the corner from them that does two weekends of fall festivities including trick or treating.

So Friday night I loaded up the van and made our first maiden voyage east with Elissa. It went relatively well overall. I was more nervous about the late drive home Saturday with two kiddos jacked up on sugar and low on sleep. Some how that's what happens when we visit grandma...

After a crazed rush to get 6 kids in costume, vans loaded, unloaded, the remainder of costumes put on and pictures taken we had less than an hour to hit the trails.
 Strawberry Shortcake and her strawberry
 Strawberry Shortcake's dog Pupcake
Scissors, paper and rock
It wasn't too cold out and we didn't have a ton of time. We only lost one child ad mom during the whole ordeal :) I said it was a success!

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Sick Buddy

Poor little man has a double ear infection again! Tis the season, oh how I miss the warm weather already. Easton has always battled with this. He got his first one when he was less than a month old. On Wednesday morning he seemed normal, but my afternoon he just wasn't acting himself. Clingy. Whiney. Inconsolable.

I finally put him in my Ergo so I could make the big kids lunch and he promptly fell asleep. This sent up a red flag. Then I had to get him out about 20 minutes later when Elissa was ready to eat. I settled him on the couch with a show and when I looked back at him 2 minutes later he was asleep again. So not like him.

I finally called the doctor and they said they could squeeze us in a little later in the afternoon. Easton would wake up, cry, move to a new location and fall back to sleep. I am glad I listened to my mommy instincts- the doctor said his ears were really ugly. Like a 10 on a pain scale from 1-10. Poor buddy! Thankfully we were able to get him going on antibiotics and he is a new boy today. Praise God for doctors who can help relive pain and administer medicine to heal our little man!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park

We took the kids to Alto this past Sunday to check this place out. What an awesome place so close to home! I definitely plan to go back. They recently expanded and now have a mom and baby giraffe. How many people can say they have fed one?



You can buy crackers and lettuce leaves to feed giraffes, water buffalo, and zebra. There's other food for the alligators. And you can get bird seed on a stick to take into the aviary and feed the birds. Never mind that Emma was petrified when a bird would land on her and Easton kept busy trying to stomp on any within range.
There is a bus that takes you on safari as well where you can see ostrich, bison, wildebeest and lots of other animals you don't typically see at the zoo. Of course, we go had to spend a few minutes at the sand box as well. Can't forget to spend some time getting dirty when you paid a bunch of money to see all the cool animals :) It's all about the simple things...

What a great way to spend a fall Sunday afternoon!

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Worth a Thousand Words...

Emma has been getting a ton of use out of her quad. It's now a ritual for Sunday afternoons while the weather is still nice. Of course daddy has gotten creative so Easton can join in on the fun...


We still haven't found helmets, so the kids are required to wear their bicycle helmets until we get the proper equipment. This setup worked even better after Jason realized the kids were sucking in exhaust fumes and decided to put the rain shield down. After success with the burley, they attempted the wagon.

Please ignore my much neglected flower bed that seems to make it in all of my pictures. Between Elissa and the older two, there's not much time to think about it. Plus we plan to get rid of it next spring anyway, so why put too much effort into it?

Easton didn't enjoy the wagon ride though. Emma has yet to master the 'smooth throttle' so the poor kid got jerked around quite a bit. Hard on the back I'd imagine. Emma had a blast letting daddy pull her though.

Then there's times where daddy has to get out his old quad and join in the fun. Love the time they get to spend together, thank God for Sundays!

Friday, October 4, 2013

Another Round at the Orchards

On Tuesday this week we headed back to Cranes to pick some more apples with a wonderful group of ladies.

About a year and a half ago I met DeAnna at the 'Great Cloth Diaper Change' at EcoBuns. Shortly after she started the cloth diaper playgroup that we are a part of and it has continued to slowly grow in numbers- both in adults and little people!

We typically get together every other weekish. Most of the time we hit the park to let the kids play. This was an off week for group, but we decided to get the whole crew together to pick apples.




Despite the weather (silly weather man called for 80 and sunny- it was 65 and overcast), we still had a great time. There was a total of 7 mommies, 12 children and one still baking.

I love the friendships that are forming in this group- what a bunch of beautiful women!

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

TWO Months!

Sorry folks, I know I say it every month. But it's so hard to believe our baby is two months old today. Based on how the infant stage passed with our now five year old I believe I will always feel this way.

Life continues to move at a hectic pace with 3. This past month brought lots of 'firsts'. Trip to the zoo, apple picking, smiles, a cold. Some good along with the bad, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Still have no real schedule. You do have more periods of alertness, but after about 1.5 hours you are over it and ready to snooze again. Nights seem to alternate between 2 longer stretches or up every 2.5 hours to eat. Still nursing 10-12 times per day.

You are still wearing the newborn cloth diapers and I'm trying to use up the disposables we bought before you were born. The newborn size still fits, but they are starting to get snug.

As for clothes, newborn still fit. However most of it is strictly summer attire so we've had to use 0-3 month and even some 3 month these days (mommy can't seem to stay on top of the laundry for some reason!).

You're sister and brother are still so fascinated with you. They fight over who gets to be by 'sissy'. I pray that you three have a special bond that continues to grow and develop with you!