Apple Hill

Although it was a month ago, I still wanted to post about our trip to Apple Hill.

Apple Hill is on the California side of the Sierra Mountains. It's a collection of 50 apple orchards that you can visit. They sell everything apple, they also have craft booths, pumpkin patches, horse rides, train rides, petting zoos and fishing ponds.

Ellie atop a HUGE pumpkin.

Our darling Clara!

She was such a trooper all day. She is not used to being on the go so much, but she stayed happy all day.

Ellie loving her pony ride.

McKay is quite a timid soul. I was surprised that he wanted to ride the ponies, and even more surprised by how much he loved it.

The train ride was the kids highlight of the day.

We rode it once and then had to stick around to watch it 4 times.

McKay even raced it, and won by a long shot. It was a slow train.

We tried a few family pictures throughout the day. None really turned out. This was the best we got.

McKay and Ellie loved the petting zoo.

Dad and Clara

Ellie's beautiful butterfly mask face paint.

McKay choose a Dinosaur.

After the kids were done the face painting lady asked me to sit down. I couldn't really say no but it came off as soon as we were in the car.
The perfect peaceful ending to a wonderful day.

Mmmmm, Fruit!

I love these little mesh food holders. Clara loves them too. They enable her to go to town on food that I would normally be scared to give her. I think she was working on a peach in this picture, and obviously enjoying it. Take a look at her shirt.

I can't believe she is almost 9 months! Before I know it she will be a year old. Wow, time flies.

McKay's Fall Program

McKay had his fall program a few weeks ago. I was impressed with his amount of participation. Although he got a little too excited and distracted by the fact that Mom & Dad were there. He did do a lot better than at his preschool program.

It was so fun to see him up there singing all the songs that I had been hearing bits and pieces of for weeks. He is growing up way too fast.

Clapping for himself with his excited face.

Pumpkin Carving

Ryan thought it would be a fun activity to carve pumpkins with the kids. I thought it would be fun but I knew what it would turn into, us doing the pumpkins. Ellie got into it for a little while until she had had enough. McKay was content just to watch.

Watching Dad clean out the pumpkin.

The finished product!

From left to right: Clara's pumpkin (by mom), McKay's pumpkin (by dad),

Ellie's pumpkin (by dad)

I picked the design for Clara's thinking it would be easy, but it took me the amount of time that it took Ryan to carve the other two. Ryan spent his time cursing Ellie and her choice of the scared cat.

Smashed Together Cookies!

The kids love to help me bake, cookies especially. Their favorite cookies to help make are homemade oreos, or as they call them "smashed together cookies". They get that name because you "smash" two cookies together with frosting in the middle. They love to be involved in the shaping of the cookie dough.

Ellie hard at work on her cookies.

Not exactly round balls.

McKay after I had instructed them that they needed to be round. He interpreted that as round, and flat.

McKay's handy work.

Ellie's attempt at round.

Finally, after I thought they had man handled the dough enough, mom stepped in.

There Are No Words!!

What can I say about how much I love this little girl?

She has the sweetest most angelic face paired with wide open big baby blues. I got the cutest one.

Just tonight in the car she was sooo tired and could not fall asleep, probably because she has a perfect view of the zoo in the back seat, so the two monkeys and I were singing her songs to keep her happy until we got home. Within 5 minutes she went from full out crying, to silently watching the show, to giggling at her siblings singing who-knows-what made up song.

Some of her "looks"

"There is something on the floor here that I'm really excited about."

"Mom, I'm not sure about this anymore. Can we be done? "

Girls Trip

Rosie, Me, Jen, Christie, Shannon, Tina

Photographer: Susanna

Home sick on her couch: Breanna

In September I met up with 6 of my 7 high school friends in Vegas for an all girls weekend. We had such a wonderful time. Three days of eating, shopping, movies, talking, laughing, laughing, and laughing. It's amazing how the years just melt away when we all get together. I love all you girls.

Hope Community Fair

A local church, Hope Community, threw a free neighborhood fair at our local park. They sent home a flier from school that pictured bounce houses, so of course the kids wanted to go.

Waiting their turn.

Clara enjoyed the view from her stroller.

I was very impressed with McKay's climbing ability.

Ellie after her turn down the slide.

Their favorite was an inflatable obstacle course. They waited in line 5 times for that one.

Ellie's First Day of School

As promised, I'm trying to get caught up on my blogging. These are from Ellie's first day of preschool back in September. She was so excited to start. She is still loving school and asks me every morning if she gets to go to school today. She impresses me everyday with what she has learned. So far they have covered letters A, B, C, & F. She loves pointing out the letters she has learned, in addition to the letters in her name, on billboards, in books, and all around. She has made some new friends and loves her teacher Mrs. Turner. We look forward to a successful year of learning.

New Posts to Come

To all my devoted readers out there, all 4 of you, I will soon get back to posting on a regular basis. Our computer that our pictures are stored on is a dinosaur and has been acting up and taking too long to do anything. Good news though! We are getting a new computer today. I am anxious to transfer all our pictures and get everyone up to speed on our lives. I haven't even posted Ellie's first day of school and she started the first of September. You will have more to look at soon.

Tagged

A- Attached or single: Attached

B- Best Friend: Ryan

C-Cake or Pie: Cake

D- Day of choice: A day spent with Ryan and the kids and then date night

E- Essential Item: food, hair elastic, baby wipes

F- Favorite Color: green, blue, golden yellow

G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Bears

H- Hometown: Provo, Utah

I- Indulgence(s): TV, shopping, good food

J- January or July: July

K-Kids: 3, two girls and a boy

L-Life is Incomplete without: family

M- Marriage Date: June 29. 2000

N- Number of Siblings: 4 sisters, 2 brothers

O- Oranges or Apples: Apples

P- Phobias or Fears: spiders and bugs

Q- Quote(s): You do what you know, and when you know better, you do better. Dr. Phil

R- Reason To Smile: kids, husband, family, friends, food

S- Season: spring and fall

T- Tag Three : I have no one to tag

U- Unknown Fact About Me: I don't know? I am not a woman of mystery.

V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: I love meat!

W- Worst Habit: picking my cuticles

X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: ultrasounds

Y- Your Favorite Food: Mexican, Italian, Dessert

Z- Zodiac: Aquarius

Clara 7 Months

I know I'm late, considering that she will be 8 months in two weeks, but better late than never.

7 month stats

Length: 25 1/2 inches = 25%

Weight: 14 lbs 6 oz = 10%

Head Circumference: 42 cm = 25%

When we were thinking of names for Clara we had a few in mind that just didn't sit right. In my mind they were not refined and feminine enough for what I was feeling like her personality would be. Now I need to add dainty to that list.

She is such a pleasant baby. Most of the time she is content just to sit and be entertained by her two older siblings.

This is Clara at 7 1/2 months.
Who do you think she looks like?

Ellie at 7 1/2 months . . .

or McKay at 7 1/2 months?

French Braids

Ellie with her first set of french braids.

Now most of you are probably thinking "What's the big deal?" It's a big deal for me because I barely ever got french braids as a girl.

My mom tried but she never really got the hang of it. If I wanted braids I had to wake up 45 minutes early . . . so I learned how to do it to myself in like 3rd grade. I never mastered the "around the world" braid on myself that I so often admired on my friend Rosie.
So here is to many years of french braids whenever my girl wants them. And thanks to you mom for making me learn how.

McKay and Clara

I have a feeling these two are going to be great friends.

McKay already has the uncanny ablity to make Clara laugh more than anyone else. Everyday he just can't wait till we get home from school and wash his hands so he can play with his sister.