Snow...snow...snow

The first glorious batch arrived about 10 days ago. The second batch was in the form of freezing rain in the past week. The third batch...well it is scheduled to start today and continue into Thanksgiving tomorrow. Thankfully we do not have too far to travel for our turkey day festivities.

The Saturday that the first snow fell I saw in the girls all the joy and excitement that kids have when they go to bed with green grass and wake up to a world of white. They could not wait to get out and play. Sam was just as excited as he is NEVER to be left out of the fun...trust me he will let you know how he feels about being left behind. So I bundled him up and took him out to experience the fun of Minnesota snow.

I think the photos may indicate a change of his mind in the future! : )

Shoveling the lawn

Emily their snowGIRL!

Natalie hiding out

Preparing to defend their fort

Launching defensive weapons

Natalie planning her strategy

Sam making Mom be his Sherpa

How Sam really feels about snow

Sunday Smiles

Today was yet another beautiful fall day that we could not let pass by.
Family fun and Sunday smiles at the nearby playground.

Enjoy!

Slide climbing Amelia

Serious Sammy

Swinging Natalie

Sam and Natalie

Sam and Amelia

Sisters

Sliding Siblings

Sunday Smiles

From pumpkin carving to trick-or-treating

Life is crazy around here with three little kids pumped up on sugar.

Getting to a computer to record the funny things the kids say is getting harder everyday.

Please forgive me for the sporadic posts.

I would like to think life will die down and I will get back into the flow of things.

Though with the major holidays around the corner I am not so sure that is going to happen. : )


Enjoy the following pictures from the past weekend.

Natalie and Amelia

Sam

The kids

Mike carving with power tools

The finished product

Amelia

Natalie

and our little monkey Sam

Little Green Bucket

Sam has new favorite thing to carry around the house

some kids carry beloved stuffed animals
other kids are connected to their favorite special blanket

Sam would prefer his little green bucket
the bucket usually kept on his dresser

the green bucket that perfectly matches his room

the little green bucket purchased to help keep little things in their place

I will say that he does not sleep with his bucket
however he is attached to its contents

I have thought of moving the little green bucket
but can't bring myself to do it as he so loves having it close at hand
and to be honest I don't mind the sound of pacifiers hitting the bottom
it is a tool I use to keep track of this very mobile little boy : )

Apple Picking

The annual trip to the orchard took place last weekend.

This year was so different with Sam mobile and eager to run everywhere.
Here are some of our favorite shots!

Amelia, Natalie and Sam

searching for the right ones

Amelia having a snack

Sam looking for worm holes



Amelia and Natalie posing for Dad



Natalie hiding in the hay bale maze



checking out the goats

And my personal favorite...
Natalie deciding she doesn't like skin after all!

Another Year

Another summer has come to an end and with that Mike turns a year older
and I take the traditional first day of school photo.
From kindergarten to senior year I always posed upon request for my Mom on the first day.
I started the tradition again once I had kids
and now I no longer am wearing the new shoes and well thought-out outfit.
I now just wear the
welcoming-I-am-fun-loving-this-is going-to be-a-good-year-
as-long-as-you-try-your-best
middle school teacher attire.

So as I am exhausted after the first day of school
I will just leave you with a few photos from then and now
For those of you parents and non-teachers out there
the first day ranks at the top of the most tiresome days along with
the day before winter break, spring break and the last day of school.

The good thing about the first day is teachers still have some energy to spare. : )

Mike's 33rd birthday

Mike's 34th Birthday

First Day 2009

First Day 2010

Hopefully it is only the kids that look older in these pictures.
If you disagree..please...please don't ever tell us.

Sprinkler Fun

The girls love playing and spraying with their little sprinkler.
They love to bend, twist, pull and aim their sprinkler at anything in firing range.

With all this use and abuse I am not sure it will last until next summer.
But at ten dollars maybe...just maybe...
I could invest in a new one for next year. : )

Sam...well he prefers the quiet and reflective
water play outside of the sprinkler blast zone.

Something tells me that next summer he will be waging a
sprinkler war against his sisters.