Horses at Apple Hill

Every year we go to High Hill (apple hill) to ride the horses. We've gone and ridden the horses in the same spot since Pearl was one year old. Luckilly, Auntie Maryann lugged her big camera to apple hill that day, or we'd have no pictures ( I haven't been in the picture taking mood lately. I know. Weird.)

Sam loves the horses! And, he knows how to cheese it up for the camera pretty good by now:)
Looking at these pictures makes me realize how big Pearl is. She looks like she fits on those ponies now!
Max... Watching... waiting...
Ahh, this looks interesting!

This is great, Dad! I love it!
This was right before Jared left on one of his many business trips this year... so glad he could come with us!

Fall Feast

Sam goes to a private preschool that places emphasis on the arts. They have singing teachers (he's always singing the songs they learn) and they have a little theatre in their class where they perform for the parents. This was the Fall Feast performance. He took it fairly seriously, and sang his loudest. My favorite part was when he got to be a turkey that popped out of the curtians (it was almost impossible for him to stay hidden, he kept having to check things out...) and sang "stayin' alive" with some very groovy hip action. It was quite hilarious, and he looked like he was having a good time:)
These are the turkey cookies we brought. I am not that creative, I think I've done these cookies with the kids every year since Pearl was 2. They're cute and easy and I like eating the leftover nutter butters:)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Witches Fingers

So, we had what I sense will be the first of many grandkid halloween parties at mom's house, complete with games and spooky food. I did take some pictures, and I will get them up, but I have to write this down before I forget.

Last week Mom was having Pearl make the place cards and write up the menu. When she wrote "witches fingers," Pearl was getting a little nervous. When she was about to cry, I said "do you really think Grandma found some witches and cut off all of their fingers?" As Pearl was about to agree that this would be ridiculous, Mom says, "no, of course not. I told you I dug them up from the graveyard." Pearl begins hysterically crying as Annie and I hysterically laugh. My mom sure is a fun Grandma!!!

PS the witches fingers really were yummy. Max highly approved:)

PPS I am really really really getting tired of my husband not being home. I was feeling guilty for not helping more at mom's house tonight, then I realized that I had my hands full keeping tabs on Max and Sam (who barfed early on in the party, after saying he was feeling "guilty," then quickly recovered. Hopefully it was just too much candy this weekend...) and I didn't have a husband to give that job to. Come home, Jared, and please stay for longer than 2 weeks this time!

Pumpkin Carving

So, this is us, carving pumpkins.

Or I should say, me carving pumpkins. The little kids did put their order in, but refused to touch the guts and were most unhelpful with their knives. But, they sure did have fun!


I love how Pearl drew her own face this year and it is so her style. Love it!

Of pumpkins and things

I was feeling nostalgic today. I was thinking about what I wanted to do for the cousins for christmas, and I realized how fast they're growing up, and what a short time this young family thing is. It sometimes feels like forever, but today it felt too fast. So, I took the boys to the pet store, just becuase. Then, when Pearl got home, I ignored the mess in the kitchen and carved pumkins with Pearl, Sam, and Cumorah in the garden. (pictures soon, as soon as I get them processed...). This means I was up until 10:00 working in the kitchen (I think I just sat down for the first time today, except when I was in the car), but it was worth it. How many more years do I get to scoop Sam's guts out while he tries to cut the retaining wall with his pumpkin knife, then stab his poor pumpkin repeatedly so it has tiny little cuts all over? And Pearl, already so big that she wanted a scary face pumpkin.

Love my kids. So glad I get to have this time with them (even though I'm pretty sure my body will be completely worn out by the time I'm done and I won't be good for anything else...).

Funny

Last night after I got Max in his PJ's he toddled off, then fell over once he noticed the monkeys on the feet of his pajamas. He sat and looked at them and pulled on the little monkey ears for a full thirty seconds. I always wondered why they do that, I mean, do they really think kids care? Apparently, they do. It was pretty funny.

Farmer face.

We went to Apple Hill when Auntie Lora was here, and she LOVES to take pictures. She actually puts me to shame. Really. So, we had to sit Sam on the tractor (it's too dangerous for her 1 year old Maya, or I'm sure she would have been up there. Sam, give us a farmer face!

Ok, Sam, a real farmer face!
Sam, why is that a farmer face?

"because he's holding the straw in the corner of his lip"
"like this."
Ok, I guess I AM funny! (as Lora and I burst out laughing...)
Little boy, even though you're a terrible listener and I might not survive you, I sure do think you're adorable!