Apple Picking

After Ainsley's soccer game Saturday morning (in which Porter really wanted to play, and daddy pointed out the lack of competitiveness),

we told the kids we had a surprise. . .the apple orchard was open and we were going! They had been asking since they had seen the pics from last year on the calendar. And this year Ainsley was brave enough to ride the little train with her brave little brother.

It was a beautiful day. . .fall was in the air, and it wasn't too busy at the orchard! We spent some time playing in the haybailsI LOVE these pics of the kids. . .Ainsley was very excited that I'd packed her new apple tree outfit!!Mr. King of the Playground himself. . .Ainsley and Porter each got a bag to fill with apples, and we headed out on the tractor rideAPPLES GALORE! They were everywhere, and we couldn't wait to take a bite! Thanks daddy for lifting us up for the biggest, juiciest, reddest ones!Trey couldn't get enough of his apple, but he had a hard time chewing it with only 6 teeth! Have I told you lately I love your chubby little dimpled fingers? And I just want to kiss those sweet cheeks!
I am a very blessed mommy! Thanks for a fun family day at the orchard!We came home and made apple crisp and chilli!

"I LOVE Dance!"

"I want to come back TOMORROW!"

"It wasn't very long!"

Ainsley loves dance. . .it doesn't hurt that her two little friends are there. . .

Maddie, Taetum, Ainsley
I'm so glad you had fun at your first dance class of the year Ainsley!

Top 10 Weekend Adventures!

10. When GooF came home from work Fri he mentioned camping out in the backyard Sun night . . . well, the minute he mentioned it, the kids were EXCITED to do it. . .why wait til Sun? They planned and packed all night long and even took a trip to the beach aka pool. . . We roasted marshmallows on the grill And if you ever want to hear the "gurgle gurgle" story, Ainsley would be happy to tell it :)

The next morning. . . .

9. Grammy brought Chinese chicken over for lunch Fri and Ainsley set the table, complete with a "centerpiece." Grammy also brought a darling dance outfit :)8. Date Night at LifeLight Saturday night!!! The kids spent the night at my parents, so we got to worship with Michael W Smith!!! There was no way I was sitting in my lawn chair. . .thanks GooF for dancin with me up front!

Did I mention I met someone new during the concert. . started talking to a pregnant mom with 2 little ones and found out they camp here every year for lifelight and they're from Ames IA!!!

7. The Big Yellow School Bus!!!!!! Sunday morning we told the kids they got to ride in a big yellow school bus to church outside (LifeLight). They entertained the other people on the bus (who thought they were pretty cute :) ).

6. Funnel cakes and dancing during church5. Big brother giving little brother underdogs. . not so sure he liked it. . .

4. Trey learned how to crawl up and down the steps well enough to get rid of the baby gate!!!

3. Walks around the block with my precious little girlie and little guys. . .2. Ainsley on her 3rd day of preschool.

And the number 1 top ten weekend adventure is. . . .drum roll. . .let's go with warm chocolate chip cookies and game night Monday night!!!!!!

Preschool: Day 2!

Ainsley has been waiting all summer to go eat lunch with daddy at the Coo after preschool. Today was finally the day! Daddy hadn't gotten to see her preschool classroom yet, so he drove her there this morning (with a stop at Hy-Vee for donuts on the way :) ). She was looking forward to playing with him for a bit before he left, but they had to line up for gym when she got there. . . that's when her tears began :( You got your parents tender-heartedness Ainsley. Miss Tarina gave her some snuggles and she was better. When I came to pick her up she was happy. We then brought pizza to eat at the Coo with GooF, and walked around Campus for awhile. Little A got a new hooded Cougar sweatshirt for the fall!! Here she is heading off on her daddy date before preschool. . .While Trey napped, Porter and I played his favorite game "The Marble Game!" That's probably not the real name of it. . we got it at a rummage sale for 5 dollars this summer, so I don't know what it's called, but he loves it (can't you tell by his expression? Just kidding)!
I wish this next pic had sound with it. . .we'll title it Garage Band Thank you Ainsley and Porter for the rocks you gave me today. . flowers yesterday, rocks today, I love you!

My Little Praying Ladybugs

I love planning activities for the kids, but it's even better when the kids come up with their own ideas!! For instance, today they found a lady bug outside, caught it, and then worried it would be scared of them since they're not ladybugs. . .SOOOO, they decided to trick that ladybug and DRESS UP as ladybugs, so as to not scare it! Of course, Porter is a BLUE ladybug.All the while, mobile mess is at work. . .Then we read stories outside and all the while, Trey just wants to swing. . . He really is pretty good at entertaining himself!

The kids ate lunch outside today and as a helicopter flew over, Ainsley folded her hands, bowed her head and prayed for the people in it. . so sweet. We always pray for ambulances and helicopters as lots of people do, but it was neat to see the kids do it on their own. Porter said, "Mommy, Ainsley prayed for the helicopter. . the people in it are broken!" Shortly after, an airplane flew over so he said, "We need to pray for the airplane too!" They folded their hands and began praying for the airplane :)

Now before we run to play

Let us not forget to pray

To God who kept us through the night

And woke us with the morning light

Help us Lord to love you more

Than we've ever loved before

In our work, and in our play

Be thou with us through the day!

Amen

This is the prayer we said every morning on the way to school as a child. This morning was Ainsley's 1st day of preschool, and we said the same prayer on our way. It made me think about how as a child I knew I could pray to God to calm me before tests, etc at school, and this morning it reminded me that God would be with Ainsley even if I couldn't be a little mouse in the preschool room :) We arrived 15 min early. . .think I was excited? This morning GooF wondered who was more excited for preschool. . Ainsley or I. We dropped her off and she gave Porter, Trey and I big hugs. When I picked her up she had a few tears bc she said two little girls weren't listening to the teacher and weren't keeping their hands to themselves, so it took longer to come out and see me. But she said she liked it. . music class was her favorite. Here's a pic of her 1st preschool artwork she had to do at home and bring with her today. She also had to pack three things to show about herself. . she chose a dolly, a tutu, and a teapot :) We celebrated with Happy Meals at McDonalds.
When Porter started telling her about his day (am pretty sure he liked his mommy time while Trey napped. . we built a ramp, raced cars, rode bike, etc), Ainsley said, "Next year when Porter goes to preschool can I stay home with you?" Porter said, "I'm proud of you for going to Beeschool Ainsley." And how did mommy do? No major tears. . just a little choked up when I was asking another mom I know how she was doing, and she asked me. . .I was like, "just great, til now :)"

We are so proud of you Ainsley for going to your first day of Preschool!

Oh, and I can't forget on my bike ride with Porter this morning when he asked me, "Mommy do you like flowers?" I replied yes, and he went and picked me these. . .

Thanks Porter. . I love your handpicked flowers. . you even called them sunflowers.

As for Trey today, we just got home from meeting daddy at the corner after work. While we were waiting for him, trucks would come by and we'd move our arms up and down to get them to honk, and Trey started doing it too!!! Way to keep up with those big siblings!

1st Soccer Game

Quite the quality entertainment! Taetum and Ainsley each scored a goal during the first game!Ainsley also (scored?) one in which the ball was going out of bounds and so she picked it up, threw it in, and kicked it through the goal :) Another highlight was when she threw the ball out of the other teams goal :) She was quite the little cheerleader. . one of the other parents commented on her hops as she was cheering for the team. All of the little girls were so fun to watch and cheer for!The sad part was that GooF has strep throat, so he had to miss the game. We missed him!!! We'll have to see if she remembers. . .he still remembers when his mom missed a football game in which he scored :) He also had to miss her open house for preschool. I took Ainsley and Porter to it. . she gave her teacher a hug, and their favorite part was the train rides!

And how are those boys you may ask? I got a neat pic of Porter tonight as we were playing sidewalk chalk outside. . .today he said, "Mommy, Jesus lives in our hearts!"Trey has become more verbal. . his new words are ball and puppy. His favorite thing to do is swing. . when we're outside or at a park, he crawls to the baby swing and lifts his arms up :) Then he giggles as we give him little underdogs. Here he is making us laugh. . .Way to go girls on your 1st game! Enjoy those juiceboxes!