Saturday, November 26, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving 2011!

The signs that Thanksgiving has passed in our house include....
-lots of yummy turkey left in the fridge
-plenty of extra side dishes to eat for the next few days
-the china has been used and put back away
-and, most importantly, I can put up Christmas lights outside

Getting Tom the Turkey prepped the night before (eeewwww...)
Thanksgiving morning- turkey-shaped pancakes.



We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner with a stuffing cook-off between Gram and Paul... Paul tried to bribe the guests to vote for his. Both Kaitlyn and Paul picked the legs for their dinner...and ate most of them!



Several attempts to get a picture of the kids...



Mmmm..... dessert time!



Opening new Christmas PJ's from Gram and BB:




Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Paul's 5th Birthday

These are a myriad of photos from the last few weeks including Paul's soccer game and birthday parties.


Coach Redfern getting the team ready to play.

Paul in action.

Daddy and Uncle Chris really look alike when Uncle Chris wears Daddy's clothes.

Kate took a liking to Mr. Jesse.

Making an appetizer.

Working hard on the cake with Aunt Megan. (note the lack of an "H")

The final cake for birthday number 5

2 peas in a pod

Daddy had to go to Chicago the next day so Uncle Chris was on LEGO duty.

helping Aunt Katherine with her hair

Getting Eli and Mater settled into their new home.

Paul's gift from Mom and Dad - a golf bag and clubs.

Monkey see - Monkey Do

More smiles at Gram and BB's

Gram and BB got Paul a new big bike for turning 5.

Last but not least - everyone lending a helping hand with Tom the Turkey.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Snow and Pumpkins - perfect together

Who knew that we would be going sledding and carving pumpkins on the same day this year....



I think the kids were enjoying this run!



Kate on top of the snowman that they built with the Burkes and Mommy
Kate digging in...




Paul with a big smile....



Sunday, October 9, 2011

Apple Harvest Outing

his morning we spent a few hours at the 47th Annual Apple Harvest Festival in Arendtsville, PA- just a few minutes from home. We had a fun time and the weather was beautiful.
Some of the highlights for the kids included:


-We rode in a school bus (WOW!!) from a fire station to the festival.
-They got to meet a real fireman who was there to help people, and explain his outfit. The kids also got fire hats.

-There was a petting zoo with a sheep.... Paul petted the sheep and Kaitlyn kept dragging us back to see him (but wouldn't pet him) and talked about him while reading Old MacDonald at nap.
-There was a place where you could pick apples that were floating...and eat them!


-We went for a hayride- which included riding behind a tractor (which was older than BB- 1939)
-Mommy got funnel cake :)


Kaitlyn loved that there was hand sanitizer all around- and she could reach it... I think there were a few extra potty trips (we still don't know why she likes it so much).

After getting some fresh apple cider we headed back on the bus to our car (and enjoyed a wonderful nap time for everyone).

Monday, August 29, 2011

Summer Vacation- Raquette Lake

Now that August is almost over, I guess I should finish a post from our July vacation!!

We spent the last week of July with Gram and BB at Raquette Lake, and were so fortunate to have wonderful weather for most of the week.
We started out with some book reading with BB- Kaitlyn's favorite, Old McDonald had a Farm.
Although I never got a full action picture, the kids made the canoe and kayak into a variety of items many mornings (I'm sure our neighbors enjoyed their activities at 9am!)- a garbage boat, the WW Durant, a delivery boat and more. Of course they had to check the engines, ropes and bring lots of items from the porch as well as mother nature (including a really big log!) on their adventures.
Wait? They were sitting quietly?! really.... this did happen.
Hanging out with Gram.
Paul and daddy spent some serious time completing a puzzle- and it was saved for the entire week.
This was a HUGE highlight of the trip- little Paul got to help Uncle Steve put in his catamaran.... this involved riding in the Mule, attaching it via rope to the catamaran, pushing it into the lake, riding in the skiff to get the catamaran, towing it to the buoy.... wow.... he was speechless for most of the activity!
Coming to get the catamaran......
Daddy helped a little too....
Off we go!
There was also a golfing adventure to the chip and putt. The three boys started off...
This little guy has quite a swing (if he gets the ball)- but we need to work on yelling "fore" when your ball is headed towards a family member....
The annual picture in front of the kids' trees- both Paul and Kaitlyn as well as their trees are getting so tall!
More golfing....
Watching Gram, Daddy and Mommy take a few swings...
My turn! Kaitlyn tried hard to figure it out.... and might have made a divot or two in the grass (shhh.... don't tell BB!)
Headed back home- both kids loved riding in the Gator- and BB drives nice and fast :)
Enjoying a lunch at the leantoo- Daddy and BB came directly from a big project in the woods digging and installing a 20' culvert pipe to help a stream travel under one of the trails (especially when it rains).... lots of rocks and dirt to be moved!
Check out this hard working guy- he definitely earned his lunch!
Ready for the lake... or a puddle....
Aren't I cute? Frog boots are definitely the right accessory for a polka dot bathing suit.
We also celebrated my 33rd birthday a few weeks early. There was lots of interest in helping me to blow out the candles.
One of the funniest events was when we gave the kids new moose pajamas which we bought while out on a "dinner date"- during which we dodged rain storms to make out rip without getting drenched! The pajamas say "I moose have a hug" and the kids LOVED them.
Paul and daddy also got to test out the 'new' four wheeler- they both really enjoyed it.
The grand opening of the new 'bridge' - thanks to BB and daddy's had work. We had to stage the picture with all of the "toys"- Gator, loader and 4 wheeler
Gram decorated with the flags as well. Kaitlyn and I were in the Gator.
Daddy and Paul showing the stream which will be 'detoured' through the new culvert pipe.
Ready to take off on my own!
Okay, now we can really take off!
Who let her drive?
We enjoyed a wonderful boat cruise one evening for "happy hour"
You might see this one on the Christmas card:
The little daredevil loved sitting by herself....
And then the silly face...
The whole crew in front of the newly built (and stained, thanks to daddy and BB) leantoo.