Family Fun Day...

On Saturday, we decided to have some fun! As if EVERYDAY isn't fun around here, right?! ha!
Early in the morning, we headed to the orchard to pick the Golden Delicious that we were supposed to pick on Friday afternoon, but couldn't because it started raining...well, Saturday it was beautiful and sunny, so we headed there. I took the camera along and snapped these of my crazies being crazy...Then, upon our return, Dana had the garage all ready for the kids to paint it (the inside). We had some left over gray paint and the kids had begged all summer to let them paint the garage the gray...they want it to be an OSU garage- go figure. So, the donned crappy clothes, paint brushes, rollers and went to town...these are the action shots: (check out how hard they are working...)

I didn't take after shots, but just image the walls this gray color, the garage completely organized and OSU decals all over the walls- beautiful!
The fun continued, as we watched OSU beat EMU- and I got to talk to Jen, completely uninterrupted for nearly 2 hours! Awesome! It had been too long and we needed our alone time! ha!
The best part of Family Fun Day, was dropping the crazies off at Grandma and Grandpa's house to stay the night and going to PF Changs' for dinner, on a date! WOW- a real date! Then shopping at the mall- just shopping, not buying, and then home to watch the 2 hour SVU that we DVR'd- so I'd say it was a really great family day, what do you think?!!!
Oh, and I failed to mention, that on church Sunday, I got to sit ALONE, and it was heavenly! ha!
I did, however, miss seeing our celebrity visitor, David Archuleta, who sat in the same row as me even! Imagine that- I was so enthralled in actually being able to pay attention, that I missed his whole presence! Oh well! It was still great!

Pic of the Week #1

A new Friday Feature for me- presenting my favorite picture that I took within the week. This was from yesterday...I was scoping out some locations for a family whose photo I will be taking soon, so I had Celeste pose in several different spots. This one I adore. This is without editing, too-I will probably go over it at some point, but for now, it stays.

Apples...

A couple weeks ago, a group of us set out at 9am to pick Honeycrisp apples...
Exciting, right?!
UH...YES!! They are only heaven in an apple- the very best variety-I think, and apparently so do thousands of others, because as we got there at 930, one whole orchard of Honeycrisp were already picked and they routed us to another side of the orchard to pick the rest, and we waited 45 minutes to just park!! Yes, I am serious!
We picked $100 worth, (Sean and Stephanie picked 50 pounds, and I picked nearly that)...they are worth it...I promise! I am pretty sure the fruit farm made a decent amount of money that day!
I have never seen such madness though...each year we go and there are a lot of people, but we have always gotten right in and picked without too many people crowding...but this year was way different- I could hardly believe it.

Sadly, it was the last time I got to say goodbye to Suzanne...she moved away that day and it has been hard for me...Celeste misses Abby like crazy and I said that I missed her mom too. I am glad we got to share this fun activity with them this year too.
The weather has been so nice this pre-fall season so far...I am happy that the sun was shining and it was warm that day- and ever since it has been super nice too. I am waiting for fall, to be honest- but I will take these warm days without complaint.
Tomorrow we are picking Golden Delicious and all my kids get to go, so that will be the next photo op with the new camera. Stay tuned...

Family Wall

Thanks to Ashley, I finally got the vinyl up on our family wall...
Here is the best shot I could get...sorry about the reflections....it looks better in person.
I am really pleased- it was a perfect birthday gift from my parents- I love it!

School Picture Days

Well, being the good, money savvy mom that I am...I opted out of purchasing the ridiculously overpriced school pictures and took some myself. I know, I know, it's a rite of passage every year, and I am denying them a book of crappy posed pictures that I far over paid for...
That being said, I can easily make these into wallets if they cared that much- thankfully, they don't! I have taught them well!
Here is the "oh crap, it's school picture day and the bus is nearly here, better just smile, fast" shot of Alex- what a cute 5th grader!
Leah's was a week later and I had just gotten my new BFF, so these were much easier to take of her. I took a bunch, but this one is my favorite. She is still such a blue-eyed beauty in 3rd grade now. Mind you we had just fought about her hair- I usually let her do her own- HUGE disclaimer to her teacher- but this day I insisted I do it- I am not sure she came home looking this way, but for her yearbook shot and this one, I am pleased.
This wasn't Celeste's school picture day- that is coming up- but since the others had one taken, she had to have hers too- this happened to be her first week- and she actually let me put a clip in her hair since it is growing long in the front and she is constantly trying to tuck it- reminds me of when Leah started her grow out- fun, fun...
So far, the kids are adapting well to their new schools. Leah loves 3rd grade and though her teacher is mean to other kids, she adores Leah and therefore, Leah loves her. Alex had a little trouble with 6th graders on the bus, so a few days he chose to walk, but after having a chat with his bus driver, things are good and he is now sitting in the front of the bus. He seems to be thriving in 5th grade- and even wrote a 3 paged typed story about a gecko lizard getting lost in Mexico. He entered a contest...we are awaiting the results. His teachers seemed impressed, so that is a good sign. Celeste is in heaven in pre-school. If only she could go everyday she begs.
She brings home a "happy badge" every day and that has become our new refrigerator decoration- aren't we lucky?! She is so proud of them, and we are of her- she is thriving there.

As for Dana and I...well, Dana is still teaching at both Jr. High's- which he doesn't love, but he doesn't mind being able to come home for lunch everyday, and since Celeste doesn't go to school until after he leaves, she loves it. Soccer season is in full swing and his team is coming along- I will be happier when it is over to be honest, because being a single mom and prego isn't that fun...but sure enough when the season is over and he is home, he will drive me crazy, so really it doesn't matter! I have taught 3 days this year so far- I like doing a day a week, or maybe 1.5 like this past week- it's just enough and I really still love it. The baby is growing fine, I guess, I hope....I am nearly 10 weeks and desperately trying to hold on a couple more before I break out the wardrobe I will be in for the next 200 days! It isn't easy- I am feeling better, trying to drink more water, but still having to eat every 2 hours....so gaining weight surely hasn't been a problem for me! Might as well soak it up now....right?!

My New BFF

Well, after much (truly not much) contemplation, I decided to not replace my point and shoot camera with another that I was bound to break, and instead purchase a brand new Nikon D3000! I couldn't be happier! The SLR is all I thought and hoped it would be plus some other really cool additives! I am thrilled!
I have been snapping away- if you can imagine- and here are a few of my favorites:

It doesn't hurt when your subject is this adorable!

There are so many things I need to learn about photography- but these were the first day- morning, actually, and for a novice, they aren't that bad- I love the zoom, and close-up shots I am able to get, and my ultimate favorite is the rapid shoot feature-

Too funny!

I could easily become a photo addict with this new toy- seriously, it is so easy to use, and once I figure out more features, I will show you more! These were just a few of that first day- I have taken more, but since none of these were edited, I should work on the others before I post more- but know that this purchase was well worth it! Dana likes to say that it is for Christmas, and Valentine's Day, and our Anniversary, and my Birthday- for another couple of years- yeah, I highly doubt that will work! Ha ha!

8.3 Weeks

So cute already, huh?! Good thing we make adorable kids- this one has a big head like the others do too! They get that from their Dad!
Just think, in 31 weeks, he/she will add to this:
and we will be a family of 6!! No way did I think that would ever happen...good thing we make em' cute! The countdown begins...

Labor Day Golf

We scored a few free passes to miniature golf this summer- and because it was super hot or we just didn't feel like going, we never made it!! However, Monday, it was beautiful- not too hot, and humid, so I went to the grocery (alone = heaven on earth sometimes!), and Dana took the kiddos golfing. Leah got 2 hole in ones!! Celeste just wanted to pick the perfect color ball and Alex coudld miniature golf all day long! They had a blast and even brought home lunch for them and a smoothie for me- I am a lucky girl!
Here is their fun:Too bad everyday can't be this fun- they had to go to school the next day- boo hoo!! Kidding- they are all LOVING school right now! Life is still good...

Celeste Starts Pre-School

Finally...1:20 could not come fast enough for her today!! My goodness it was a long morning!
It took her all that time to figure out that she doesn't go to school in the mornings when Alex and Leah do- I think she asked me at least a hundred times if it was time for school yet...

YES!!!!!!!
Here she is all ready to go:

These were at 8:30 this morning- but she was ready nonetheless!

The sun was bright and it is near 90 today- so hot to go to school- thank goodness for air conditioned buildings!!

Celeste and Emma- big Pre-schoolers now!!

She is partners with Charlotte today as they line up to go inside...

I am so excited for her! She has been waiting a long time to go to school! She will be 5 in just 2 months, so she couldn't go to Kindergarten, so she needed something! I didn't put Alex or Leah in school before K, for various reasons, but mainly because they turned 5 and started school soon after- but poor Fall baby has to wait nearly a whole year! She is thrilled to be going and is such a big girl-
Can't wait to hear all about her fun day in just over an hour!!

Raingutter Regatta 2010

Last Thursday was the first day of school, and also the annual kickoff to Scouts for the season....they do the Raingutter Regatta as the activity and it is usually super fun...last year we got soaked, but the boys had fun, and that is the most important thing!
Alex, on the other hand, was not that excited this year...he waited until 4 o'clock to even paint his boat- and had I not sanded it and glued it for him, might not have even floated! BUT, he still had a little fun, and managed to get 4th place...not a huge excitement, but decent enough.
Here is his night of pictures.