I am so GRATEFUL that my kids love each other so much, have each other to lean on and like to ride bikes after school while sharing a snack together. Makes me miss my brother even more!

Apple Picking

Sunday was such a beautiful day that we loaded right up and headed out to pick apples. We weren't sure how we would feel post mEATfest, but we were fine and the day was a success. We decided to do all the rides first and try to beat the crowds. Thank goodness we did because as soon as we finished in that area the swarms of people arrived.
It was such a hot day that I wasn't able to dress the kids in their traditional Halloween t-shirts. Bummer!

We checked out the pumpkins, but will wait to buy one at old McDonald's Farm on Columbus Day.

Traditional pumpkin squatting pic.

Hayride

The apple of our eye!

Cutest apple in the whole orchard!

Now onto the picking...let's test it out first before we pile them into the bag.

Grabbing the low to the ground apples until we can find a ladder.

Help me Poppy, the bag is too heavy!

Ahhh a ladder, Seth's favorite part of the whole day.

Leah is just like Roland and is afraid of heights so she opted to stay on the ground.

Then she got tired of the whole process and wanted a ride back to the truck. It was only a mile away! Ouch!

Leah also wanted nothing to do with the group shots so smiley Seth is always ready for his photo opportunity. He is trained very well!

Today I am grateful that my Gram calls me almost every morning on my way to work. We chat and catch up and it's a great way to start the day! Love you Gram!

Grateful Thoughts for the Week...

* I'm down to three band aids instead of five on my feet and I broke free from the sneakers today. I'm still limping, but hoping to be on the mend now.
* Took the kids for an impromptu trip to the cider mill yesterday after school for some donuts, cider and a waterfall on a Monday.
* This past weekend rocked! This weekend will too, we are going to the SU game with some friends and some clients of Roland's and Grandma Charlton is watching the kids. Thanks so much!
* Leah is saying just about everything and it is SO EXCITING!
* I have to get my foot check on Thursday so I get to pick Seth up from school...YIPPEEE!
* Glee is on tonight!
* Seth got a 34/34 (100%) on his first Math test as a kindergartner!
* Roland brought home our SU tickets for Saturday + parking passes + pregame tickets!
* Seth's Halloween costume came in the mail and I was able to bribe a hair cut out of him in order to open the box. I know it's totally mean, but the kid does not like hair cuts so it totally worked. He was so happy to open that box! It's such a cheesy costume, but it made him so happy!
*I'm going to decorate the house for fall tomorrow after school with the kids and make caramel apple cupcakes...yum!

Lots of grateful thoughts this week, let's keep them coming!

mEATfest 2011

Our dear friends The Voss' hosted a giant pig roast this past weekend and titled it "mEATfest". I should have taken a picture of the food table because it was the largest four tables of food I think I have ever seen. They went all out with not only the food, but the t-shirts, cups, themed desserts and home made piggy themed beer. There were more people than I can comprehend and more children then I have ever seen in one place. Our kids played themselves silly and we brought them home to shower and chill before heading back to the party while Johanna hung out with them and put them to bed. Then we had some laid back adult time with our friends.
Leah would have happily spent the whole party in this swing. She was so content to sit here for what seemed like hours.

Hey Linds!

Leah taking a stroll with Molly.

After the kids were tucked safely in their beds the beer pong table seemed to be the hit of the night.

Thank goodness the rain stopped and the weather was perfect.

Poor Lucky got de-headed later in the night.

Robin is one brave woman!

Chris was busting-a-move!

Thank you Voss Family for a kick butt party...can't wait until next year!

Preppy Lucky & Helping The Voss'

Friday night we stopped over at Rod and Jen's to lend a hand and get a preview of the party and of poor, but later yummy Lucky! They went all out for this party. It came fully equipped with a Port-a-Potty, pig lollipops, home brew and specially designed cups.
If only I liked beer!

Prepping Lucky the pig for the big night!

Seth and Leah thought it was pretty amazing!

The beginning stages of the 18 hour cooking process!

Open House

I left my camera home on purpose last night so I could really take it all in and have my full attention on Seth. He was so excited to ride his bike to school as well as show us all around his new second home. His teacher was wonderful and she set up a detective game to make it fun for Seth to show us around his classroom. I think we saw every square inch and he explained it all. Then he showed us all around the building and introduced us to his speech teacher, gym teacher, etc. We saw many familiar faces and met some new. Roland and I also picked up our PTO membership cards. Seriously, are we old enough to be part of a PTO? It was a fantastic evening! It makes us so relieved to know that he is happy where he is this year! Grateful.

Grateful Grateful!


I can't wait to go and visit Seth's classroom tonight and to have him show us around now that he is two and a half weeks into school and such an old pro! He is adjusting to the routine now and things are going well. We are excited to see it all through his eyes now.


Ungrateful!

Leah is all about Daddy! In the morning I walk into her room as smiles and all I hear is "No Daddy!" I try and help her put her coat and shoes on and all I hear is, "No Daddy!" It's breaking my heart!


Grateful Grateful!


Roland has been asked to be in one of his best friends from HS's wedding in less than a month. He got called yesterday for a brief on the two part bachelor party. Yes, 2 part! These people don't mess around. The first part is the weekend before the wedding and the second part is in Vegas in February. Yes, Vegas! He is very excited as I am for him! What fun!

Today I am grateful that my kids love to spend time together, that Seth can swing on his own like a big boy, Leah's huge smile and her newest word...grandma and that my Mom and Tom love to come and visit the kids so much!

Today I'm grateful for the sun and warmth for as long as I can get it! I love the warmth of the summer, but I also love the warm crisp weather in the fall too!

I'm also grateful for the kick butt day I was able to spend with the kids yesterday. Roland was in a golf tourney with my dad so despite the limp and uncomfortable foot, we made the very most of the fall day with a trip to the zoo, picnic lunch in the sun, trip to the playground and to visit Poppy, nap time to rest and recharge, a visit from Papa, homemade beef stew and Roland's return home. What a day and what a life!

Cream Cheese Festival

I wasn't sure if my foot could handle all of the walking, but I sucked it up and away we went to the annual Lowville Cream Cheese Festival. The kids had an utter blast and the foot was fantastic. We even went super early to avoid the mob. Seth was so upset because for the last two weeks of the Watertown Farmer's Market Scotty's didn't come and bring their "Potatoes on a Stick" (Seth's all time fave!) When he saw that they were at the fest he had to have one...any it was only 10:30am!

Then he and Ro painted with cream cheese. In all of the years that we have been going we had never done this. Seth loved it!

He is so sweet, never leaving his little sister out!

This year bounce houses were old hat for our kindergartner. Seth was on to more challenging activities LIKE rock wall climbing!

He got two pegs from the top, looked down and dropped. We were so proud of him!

Next was the human Velcro wall. One word...hysterical!

I have this on video that I will upload later. Why anyone would want to do this is beyond me, but Seth thought it was super funny.

Last, but not least was the stickiest treat of them all...cotton candy. The kids love it just like I did as a kid.

It was such a fun fall family morning! One of many to come...

A GREAT big thank you to my mom for accompanying me to my procedure yesterday and holding my hand. It meant a ton that you were there for me!

Thank you also to my family for calling to check on me and for three special friends who have been texting and calling to check on me. Thanks KC, JV and EM!

On the mend, hobbling around, but on the mend! Don't ask me to go bike riding or walking this weekend though! :)

Grateful thoughts for the the day; two words speech & undies!

Speech: Leah is making such progress with her speech that she has been dropped to visits every other week. Miss Lindsey is so pleased with her progress as well as everyone around her daily. You just never know what she will say now and we look forward to listening to her every day minus the whines! Ha ha!

Undies: Seth cracks us up. Plain.And.Simple! As soon as that boy walks in the house, off go his shirt and pants and he is down to his undies. I'm not talking once in a while when he gets overheated. I'm talking on a daily basis. If it's cold he snuggles under a blanket. If it's hot out he runs around and plays in his undies. Dead serious! Can't wait to tell his future girlfriends all about this.

For today I am thankful for my little munchkins; their progress and their quirks. Love you Bean's and Patter's!

Today I am grateful that my mom is retired so that she can accompany me to some minor, yet painful outpatient surgery. No matter what age you may be, it is always nice to be able to take your mom along with you for comfort and support.

I am grateful for you Mom. xoxo

Grateful

It is all too easy to complain about the little things that hassle us in life on a daily basis, to think of the negative rather and than the positive, to criticize someone else without walking in their shoes, and to wish for what someone else has, but what you really want.

We will always have something in our life that we want, but if we work hard I believe that in time we should be able to get all that we dream of. I think A LOT in the twenty minutes to and from work, minus the times that my Gram or Kristen call just to chat. I think about the good, the bad and the ugly. I try to calm myself down before I pick up the kids and to remember that I only get to spend 3 to 4 hours with them on week days now so why am I rushing around like a mad woman? There is no point to it so my new mantra is to slow down and relax more after work. If the floors aren't spick and span oh well. At least I went for a bike ride with the kids, played outside or danced to the Wii with them.

So many horrible things have been happening lately and so much scares me that I just want to enjoy each and every day that I have and watch my kids grow. Instead of complaining, I'm going to think about one amazingly positive aspect of my day, each and every day and share it with you. It might be pretty random from time to time, but it will be something that I appreciate or love about my day.

My job has changed so much in the past twelve years. Is it the job that I dreamed of in college and the job that I started, no it isn't. The world is ever changing and I have to change with it. I plan to come to work and enjoy every minute with the wonderful, innocent and heart warming students that I have and leave the rest behind.

Today I am grateful that Seth and Leah love music so much. They love to sing and dance. They dance in the driveway, in the truck and in their seats at dinner. Their newest love is Just Dance Kids for the Wii. It was gifted to us about a year ago and they didn't care for it all too much, but as of two nights ago they fell in love. They sing and dance along with it as much as they can and that is exactly how they wanted to start out their days after breakfast this morning. Roland and I sat and watched as our little midgets danced their hearts out to "Mickey" and "Who Let the Dogs Out". It totally made their day and started ours out on a positive note. This is what I am grateful for today.

Stay tuned for a grateful thought daily...

Black River Fest

Saturday the boys went off in search of our next boat, while the girls headed downtown in search of some yummy treats and boy did we find them. The ice cream company "Mr. Whippy" was at Black River Fest once again this year and that ice cream is super yummy so Leah and I shared a bowl.
April's Cake Shop was also at the fest and we tried one of each of her flavors. I was bummed that they hadn't made their red velvet flavor, but we are enjoying the rest of the flavors. I highly recommend stopping down on the square and trying their cupcakes...so delish!

Happy Birthday...Cook Your Own Food!

Friday night we celebrated Roland's birthday. I asked him prior for a menu of his ultimate request and he finally decided what he wanted. He wanted steak on the grill along with other items. I told him that steak was fantastic, but he would need to cook it himself because last week I literally caught myself on fire trying to cook kielbasa on our grill. For some reason the igniter wasn't cooperating so I tried to light it with the aim and flame (will never do this again) and caught my entire arm on fire. To make a long story short, lots of pain, ice, peeling, etc. I won't be grilling any time soon, so when Roland wanted steak I was on board, but he would need to grill his own birthday steak.


Birthday banner made by the kindergartner in the family and Grandma P.

Our 9/11 tribute clothing.

Happy Birthday Daddy, we love you!

Kiddo Love

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

Hey Hey...They Say It's Your Birthday!

Happy Birthday to the most amazing husband, fantastic father and wonderful person! We love you to pieces and can't wait to celebrate with you all weekend long!
We love all the adventures you take us on...

We love your singing and dance moves...

I love our mini get-a-ways...

I love that you will eat anything I put in front of you...

You are the BEST big kid around...

We love your boating confidence and love for the water...

You are the most dedicated worker we know...

Thank you for taking care of all of us!

Thank you for being a survivor and kicking cancer's butt!

WE LOVE YOU!

Happy 36th Birthday (Young) Man!