Homestead Farm

I'm making it into some October posts now.  Sigh... I am so far behind.  Oh well, The Holmes family joined us at the apple orchard for an unusually warm October day.  Madeline and Faith are such good buddies.  They do MDO, Cubbies, MOPS and church together.   

Before we headed out to the apple trees, the kids played on the hay bails for a little while.  

Since we waited until October to pick apples, the pickin's were slim.  But, we found a few good trees.  

Oliver was happy to devour a few apples.  

 After we filled our buckets, we hung out for a while longer near the lake and jumped off the hay bails a little more.  

 Sweet Lucy.  She was only about a month old.  

Thanks for joining us Holmes.  We had fun with you guys!

Bentos

Since Madeline goes to Mother's Day Out once a week now, I have been having fun making her lunches to take with her.  I haven't taken a picture of most of them.  But, here are a couple from Halloween and Thanksgiving.  I'm pretty doubtful that they arrive to her lunchtime looking that this.  But, she gets to see it before she goes to school.  

I have been getting some ideas from a couple blogs.  Here are 2 that I enjoy looking at.  

This Lunch Rox and Meet the Dubiens.

slip n slide

On a warmish day in September, we set up a new slip n slide.  The kids did actually slide down it with the help of a little dish soap.  But, I only have evidence of them drinking the water.  I think they were both shivering and turning blue.  But, they had fun.  

Backyard Camping

Madeline liked camping so much at the park that she wanted to do it in our backyard as well.  So, just as the weather started turning cooler in September, Andrew decided he would set up the tent for her.  Oliver, Lucy and I spent the night in the warm house.  But, Andrew and Madeline braved the cool night for a night of memory making.  Andrew said she woke up a little chilly in the middle of the night. So, he gave her his sleeping bag and she went off to sleep for the rest of the night while he stayed cold until the morning.  He's such a good dad.  Maybe Oliver can join them next summer.  

Summerfun

Even though it hasn't really felt like winter yet, it is fun to look back at our warm summer that we spent in our new backyard.  As soon as we moved in, a neighbor brought us this big slide that we played with all summer long.  And my dad hung a swing up in a tree.  It's amazing how much more time we spent outside since we no longer had to get ready, walk down 3 flights of stairs and walk to a park.  It was so nice just opening the back door when we pleased.  

Oliver helped up nail some nails back down on our deck.  

Thanks Oliver!

30th Birthday

This summer, I turned the big 3-0.  I have to say, it isn't as traumatic turning 30 as people make it seem. As my mom says, it is better than the alternative.  And really, I was too busy around my birthday to even think about it. 

We closed on our new house the Monday before my birthday, I was 8 months pregnant and we were painting and cleaning our new house all week.  But, on my birthday, my parents kicked me out of the house from cleaning and we went home to get ready to go to the Japanese Steak House to celebrate my birthday with our families.  On our way to dinner, my dad had to stop back by our new house to check on something.  When we got there, I went inside to find all our friends and family there ready to celebrate with me.  I was truly surprised.   

After the party we realized how nice it was to have an empty house for parties.  So, anyone want to go in with us on a party house?  It could be fun!