fall days

Spending an afternoon at the park is lovely.

Especially when doing so with a good friend.

We met Neli, Izaac and Jakob at the park last week.

We ended up hanging out there for 6 hours!

We played, took a long walk and played some more.

It was wonderful!

 Izaac loved his shadow!

Baby Jakob.

 Hello, Mr. Big Eyes!

 Izaac and Henry were major buds that day.

pumpkin patch

Our homeschool get-together this month was at the pumpkin patch.

It was a warm day!

One mom joked that up North the children's faces would be flushed

from the cold;

here the kid's faces are flushed from the heat.

Henry loved the patch so much!

He found some fantastic pumpkins but was only able to choose one.

Marcail and Toby with our friends.

I'm thinking hard about this pumpkin.  I didn't even know anyone was taking my picture.

Esther, Toby, Marc and Abby

Our whole group!

After we were all finished at the patch we drove to a nearby park

for a picnic and play time.

I always enjoy the fellowship with these mom's as much as the kids love the playtime

with their friends.

apple day 2012

Our homeschool group tries to get together once a month for some type of activity.

Last month we gathered for apple day.

We had so much fun!

We had a story time, led by the hostess' eldest daughter.

After storytime, all the families dispersed to go participate in the various centers that

us mom's had organized and put together for the kids to do.

We had an apple magnet craft.

Apple science.

Apple painting.

(Put together by yours truly.)

We made an apple empanada out of

apple butter made fresh from the apples we all brought and taste-tested

and rolled up in a croissant.

They were a delicious snack!

Here my friend took this picture of me acting like I'm mad.

I was being a dork.

(Aren't I always?)

I totally knew I was photo bombing this group picture.

 Pots on their heads in honor of Johnny Appleseed!

around here

Here's some more randomness for you all.

Last month, for a "back-to-school" kick-off, we met with our 

little homeschool group from our church at the beach.

We had a scavenger hunt and read some stories about the ocean.

There was splashing in the ocean and lots of laughter.

Henry found this little crab!

It was a good day!

We met with my friend Susan and her three boys at a water park the day before school started.

It was nice to spend time with Susan, but it got cut short

after someone pooped in the water (gross mehoff)

and then it started pouring rain.

This pic was taken about 10 minutes before both events took place.

I took Henry out on a date last month.

He chose to eat at Panda Express

and browse through the children's section at Barnes and Noble.

It was good to have that one-on-one time with my boy.

I want to do this with each of the girls too.

Some Saturdays, James takes the big kids out

on his little motor boat.

They cruise around the intercoastal and even visit the beach.

The kids love it!

I do too, becasue I get a little break from the kiddos

and special time alone with the little dude.

One such Saturday, we went to Whole Foods and got stuck 

waiting outside the store for a torrential downpour

to let up enough for me to run to the car.

Once I was finally able to run us to the car, the parking lot was so flooded

that my ankles were covered in water

and the back of my shorts got splattered from running.

Quite the adventure! 

JcPenney's offered free kid's cuts through the month of August

so we took advantage of that!

Henry had never had his hair cut at a salon before.

He was pretty excited!

So were the girls, but they'd had this experience before.

I'm cracking up, because the guy in the mirror looks like he's checking

out my boot-ay

but really, he's looking down at his son who

was getting his hair cut behind me.

I'm glad I didn't have to pay for the kid's cuts.

When we got home I noticed

that all three had pieces of hair that were missed

and some of the girl's hair, in spots, were uneven.

At least it will grow!

After their cuts were finished,

we walked around the mall for a bit.

a trip within a trip

About two weeks ago, the kids and I were able to

visit Princess and her family in Overland Park for a few days.

It was an unplanned and wonderful surprise visit.

The kids all got along so well and Princess and I enjoyed

some much-needed friend time together.

We got to watch

Faesal (Princess' son) play baseball.

This is Salma at Faesal's ballgame.

Faesal, in the middle, getting ready for his game.

Rayon is watching,

shaded by his cap.

Abe loved Toby.  He thought it was pretty

awesome to get to hold him.

Henry, Ray, Nay Nay and Marc

My lovely friend since 3rd grade!

Love Abe's smile!

All the kids!

Rayon, Henry, Abe, Toby, Salma, Naomi, Marcail and Faesal

We put a clown wig on the baby.

Rayon is cracking up!

Foosball time!

We sent the kids to pick apples from a neighbor's tree.

We made 4 apple crisps with them!

At the neighborhood pool,

cooling off!

Breakfast time

Getting ready to grill some burgers!

Rayon playing "get away from Tab"!  Ha!  I got him.