AA TREE

In honor of AA's baptism, we planted a beautiful flowering tree (well, we waited for the summer) ...

(2011)

(2012)

and, well ... let's just say that AA's tree had a mind of it's own!  This little tree decided to not flower ... or grow ... or even spout one ounce of green life this year!  I guess we'll need to reconsider a new AA tree for the future.  But for now,  AA continues to blossom!  She was quite excited to prance in front of her dead tree and snap a photo!  

Just another example of how God is teaching me to look for blessings even in the raindrops of life. 

POST-PICK

And the best part of a trip to the apple orchard?

Making caramel apple treats the next day!

AN APPLE A DAY

keeps my kids at play!

 We visited the local apple orchard today.

 We rode a tractor up to the fields of trees.  Definitely a hit.

I think we tasted more apples than we actually ended up buying.

We hid from the "lions" in the corn maze.

And we searched for the perfect pumpkin.

JP enjoyed feeding the goat while AA cheered him on.

I think we're set for a beautiful autumn!

JP-ISMS

JP really keeps me smiling.  I just love all the cute things he says.  I should do a better job of writing them down.  Here's a recent sampling:

JP:  Mamma, does Grandpa T live with a Grandma?

Me:  No, honey … we should find him a girlfriend, shouldn’t we?

JP:  Hmmm … how ‘bout Ava?  (referring to his 3 year old preschool friend)

JP: We can never ever touch fire, right Mamma?

Me: You are correct.

JP:  ‘Cause if we do we’ll need to buy some new fingers … and those are hard to find!

JP: Mamma, will I be a daddy in like a couple of weeks?
Me: Umm, no.

As AA runs from JP’s lego table with a handful of the special cars, JP shouts:  “Addie, you are NOT my favorite ANYMORE!”

Me: JP, what was your favorite part of this weekend?
JP: The part when we all said SOCIAL! (referring to the drinking game he witnessed his uncles, Grandpa A, and A play in which JP chugged water from his sippy cup while the older boys had "spicy" drinks ... of all the fun things we did over Labor Day weekend, I can't say I was very proud of his response!)

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

One last summer weekend up north with the whole crew!

 JP couldn't wait to help Grandma K water her plants ... and he was ecstatic about seeing Grandpa A's toys again!

 On Sunday we settled with Plan D ... an impromptu afternoon at the lake ... and it couldn't have been more fun!

 JP had his very first kayak ride with Aunt J.

 And, of course, AA couldn't just sit by and watch that happen.  Despite previous battles with life jackets, she eagerly put hers on and hopped on with Aunt K ... we were all in disbelief!

 She actually helped with the paddling!

 Granny's Pantry ice cream is just too hard to pass up!

To carry on our Labor Day weekend tradition, we made "State Fair" food last night ... fried cheese curds,  fried pickles, onion rings, funnel cakes, and fried candy bars.  The kids are going to have a rude awakening tomorrow as we get back to reality!

FAMILY DAY

On perhaps one of the last warm weekends of the summer,

 we spent our Sunday

 in the sand

 and in the sun,

 slurping slushies,

and being silly.

COUSINS

 We spent our Saturday playing with my cousin's kids ... such great built in playmates for JP and AA!  JP looks up to the little boys; and AA tries to keep up with all of the girls.  She immediately took off her sandals when she spotted the pile of flip-flops from the other girls ... great find, AA!

Despite the sweetest instructions and coaching, AA just couldn't figure out how to jump rope (I didn't have the heart to tell these 5 year olds that AA can't even jump!)

And the best part of our day?  Daddy came home from his long trip!