Stirring, Cutting, & Cooking, Oh My!

Gingerbread Kids

Step One: Stirring the ingredients and chilling the dough.

Step Two: Roll out the dough, cut out shapes, and bake.
Step Three: Cover with homeade icing and decorate!

Lots of Decorating Concentration!

Step four: Eat and Enjoy!

Yummo!

The Gingerbread smell deliciously permeated our home on Monday!

Welcome Fall!

My sister-in-law and I have something in common, we have a great fondness for pumpkin farms and apple orchards. We decided yesterday, that we love to visit these farms in the fall as much as people love to visit the swimming pool in the summertime!

So we traveled a few minutes away from the big city and fell upon an apple orchard:

The girls had so much fun frolicking around the farm and checking out the fun activities to do. They enjoyed acting out an impromptu "Three Little Pigs" (I was the wolf!). They sat down for a few minutes to celebrate an "Unhappy Birthday" with Alice and her friends

(SO CUTE, had tea pots hanging from the tree branches.)

The girls had a lot to jump about on the jumping pillow! This was super cool and now we are trying to talk Grandma & Grandpa Roberts in adding this into their backyard. BUT hold the ropes! Grandma & Grandpa Mehmen would have SO much more room on the farm!

(jumpingpillow.com hint*hint*)

Sistah has got some air!

Nothing like a landslide! Aunt Angie and Marin had a blast going down the slide!
(photographer's angle may make the slide appear super steep!)


To end it all off, the girls took a dip in the corn pool where they had oodles of fun dipping, diving, and making corn angels!

I bought some apple cider so the boys didn't feel left out and boy did that $8.95 pumpkin roll looked scrumptious, but I withheld the urge. . . now it's time to put some cider on the stove top and fill the house with sweet, apple & cinnamon scentsations!

A Birthday Zoo Outing

September 12, 2011

Olivia's official 5 year old Birthday

spent at the zoo. . .

A Big Birthday, Belatedly Posted!

Concentrating on a Big Wish!

Thanks Aunt Sarah, Uncle John, Evie & Ada

We're making gingerbread kids tomorrow!

Arts & Crafts time: paint a butterfly or flower.

Some of my brothers and sisters, enjoying the afternoon together.
(Miss you Jolyn, Jackie & Gwen. . . hopefully everyone is feeling better now.)

The three amigos, up to something??

Look at these cuties!

Butterfly Cakes for the Butterfly Birthday Party!

(easy, easy to make and decorate!)

Our big girl!

I'm on a two week recovery from planning, prepping, & celebrating Olivia's 5 year birthday party. No, it wasn't that kind of hoopla of a party.. . it's just because I've been dealing with back pain and trying to tackle daily projects that should be of something one doesn't think of while doing; but I constantly think of them (either because I've been in pain doing them, or I can't do them because of the pain). Then last week, Paul was gone for a week fishing up in the Northern parts of the country. Anyways, enough feeling sorry for myself. . . let's talk about how my little girl is growing up so big!
Olivia has embraced five with much pride and grace! Never was she in denial like Connor was and that is because he didn't want to start Kindergarten (so he tells me now!).
I'm so proud of my little independent girl. I have no doubt that Olivia will stick up for herself, now and in the future. In fact, she will tell people straight out if they are doing something they should'nt. . . "You don't spit on me!" She exclaimed to a boy at a friend's wedding.
She lets her needs be known; whether she is needing a snack or needing me to not sing anymore! She is full of creativity and will entertain herself (& me) for hours talking to herself or imaginary friends and singing: sometimes I feel we are in a live musical with her around!
I admire Olivia for her sense of humor, unless she is joking so much that I can't get a straight answer out of her. I also love her free-spirited approach to life: her love for animals & music, her brutal, five-year-old honesty ("Mommy, you'd look prettier if you had a dress and make up on."), and her sense of fashion: purple dress, orange socks & pink boots!
I am very impressed with her seriousness: much examination, observation, and thought is conducted when endeavoring a new person or experience in life. She is very eclectic; she can be a girly girl or a down right tom boy. . . depending on the day.
Olivia may not be a cuddly one, but she shows enough care and concern to let one know that she has a big heart and loves all of God's creatures, especially four legged, furry ones!


Happy Birthday to our sweet and sassy girl!

Colby Park

Friends

We met our neighbors around the corner a couple of years ago and discovered that Nolan and Connor are the same age. This was exciting for the two boys because they have a convenient playmate. Nolan is the only boy of three in their family and Connor is the oldest boy in ours and sometimes they need to do boys things and talk about boy stuff, things that sisters or moms just don't understand . . .

It started this summer, they would take turns going to each other's houses and ask the other one to come out and play. Their routine is quite predictable: Nolan knocks on the door and asks if Connor can come out and play, we give Connor a time to be home by; usually for dinner. The boys skateboard or bike and then come back to our house and Nolan may stay until dinner is served or his expected time (whatever comes first). They've settled into this nice routine and are quite responsible at getting home at their desired times.

What I love the best is that they truly enjoy each other's company and never get into any arguments (yet, because every friendship should undergo one). I love listening to them chatter (if they are using their indoor voices) about made up stories, exaggerated plots, and current events, while I prepare dinner.

And in that moment I feel that we are a chapter out of a Judy Blume book: Peter Drexler and Jimmy Fargo playing chess! (Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, if you were wondering)

Their friendship has given Connor some extra responsibilities and the experience to just be a kid.

A Precious "Last"

It was the first day of preschool for little Miss O, or should I say my little young lady. She was excited to meet new friends and wondered what she should buy to bring to school??? Hmmm....she'll have fun going school shopping next year!
This is a bittersweet year because this will be the last of her first day of preschool and then begins kindergarten, grade school, middle school, high school. . . BUT let's not rush it!

and that my friends is what I'm doing: not rushing it!

I have mentioned this book a few times by Karen Kingsbury called, "Let Me Hold You Longer." Today is one of those days that I need to hold on to one of Olivia's precious lasts. Here's a sample of the book:

"Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts:

First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.

But one day you will move away and leave to me your past,

And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts . . ."

Miss Diane, Olivia, & Miss Rhonda

They have known Olivia since she was 2 1/2, so we are so fortunate to have them one more year for school, they have seen her make huge strides in her development and I believe they were essential ingredients to her development. Have a great year, Olivia.

"Let me hold on longer, God, to every precious last."
{Karen Kingsbury}

See Ya Later, Summer

Here I am, in disbelief that summer has come and gone. The bright green leaves, brilliant flower colors, and the penetrating heat will soon be exchanged for some cooler mornings, nut-colored leaves, and flaming orange, red, and yellow flowers. We had one last bout of 90 degree weather last Friday, high humidity & a feels-like-high-90s temp. We celebrated that day like we welcomed summer in May, we swam!
The girls getting in some last little pool time. It's kinda sad that our summer is gone with a blink. We did get to enjoy some summer experiences such as swimming, fishing, picnicking, drive-in movie watching, biking, walking, and baseball playing.

There is something very inviting about feeling chilly, and throwing on a sweatshirt and jeans, sipping on some warm tea, and soaking in the refreshing fall breeze.

Technically, it's not Fall until the 22nd, but this week is a great preview of how I would like the weather all. year. round.

Last plunge into the pool! Olivia has improved her swimming skills and confidence in the pool this summer! We are so excited and proud of her. She will be attending her first swim lessons this fall at the high school pool.

Um, your lips are blue, Liv! Time to get out of the pool for the season :( Marin liked the pool, 80 degrees is her favorite temperature!

Another summer at the pool, I know why Grandma invites us over, look at these faces! She got to see these faces frequently!

Time to plan Halloween costumes, pumpkin farm outings, burn the pumpkin candles, drink warm apple cider, taste pumpkin EVERYTHING, eat honey-crisp apples, make comfort food, get out the jeans, sweatshirts, and long-sleeve shirts, did I mention pumpkin?. . .