wordless wednesdays - Oktoberfest style

Maple Leaf Parade 2013

Stella was a little "nervous" at first.....big brother to the rescue

our kiddie band, led by director Evan

winner for most entertained child during the parade goes to Mr. Evan, this little guy was loving every minute of it 

Happy Friday

 

 

Happy Friday everyone!  It's the beginning of Oktoberfest around these parts and the weather is sunny and warm - weekend here we come!

Enjoy it!!!

one on one

Stella and Daddy on their "daddy/daughter date day"

they went to see Sesame Street Live and out for lunch

me and my baseball cap wearing Buddy for the day 

just hanging out being goofy together

 

the view from above

 while we spend most of our time looking out our windows up at Grandad's Bluff, from time to time we travel up the bluff to take in the views from above.  It never gets old - we live in such a beautiful place that we're glad to call home.

Jack trying to spot his school

we've been having some perfect fall weather here, sunny and warm during the day, nice and cool at night......ahhhhhh, love it!

 

 thanks for the visit Auntie Corinne & Dave

moments captured

"a picture is worth a thousand words" 

 so true, so true.....so for this post, I will let the pictures tell their own story

 

 

 

hope you enjoy your moments today, whether they be moments of stress or moments of peace, all of it is what makes up this wonderful crazy life 

adventures in mini golf

 

Stella started out strong.....

  

....but quickly grew tired....

.......until golfing for Stella turned into this

and me, well with a view like this, I didn't mind hanging out on the bench, sitting out the rest of mini golf with Stella

 

and while the looks on their faces don't look good here....

....Jack pulled out a whole in one towards the end, which ups his lifetime record of holes in one for mini golf to three!  Jack has become quite the little golfer this summer.

 

Happy Fall

We have been experiencing a heat wave around these parts, and I think this is just what mother nature needed to do to get us who were feeling a little jipped on summer this year ready for some fall weather.  Well mission accomplished mother nature, this girl is ready for fall and come to think of it the kiddos are too.  Jack's new tennis shoes and thick polo uniform shirts will be much more comfortable with some fall temps instead of the near record breaking highs we have been experiencing. 

The fall decorations are slowly starting to creep upstairs from the basement, Halloween costumes are being brainstormed and fall clothes shopping and kids closet reorganization are all in full swing around here.  We had some delicious apples yesterday that Jack declared tasted "just like candy......Dad, you have to try it, Dad it tasted just like candy, it really does!" Apples have always been Jack's favorite fruit so he was pretty pumped.

Of course this warm weather does warrant one last trip to the ice cream shop, and has made it easier to squeeze in most of the things on our summer bucket list.  We were able to pull out the pool for our Labor Day get together with friends. 

 we had a fun and pretty relaxing Labor Day weekend enjoying a little extra time together, and enjoying the company of good friends too. 

 Stella is running a Moka drive-thru here, Lily was her first customer.  Hmmmm, I guess we must frequent Moka quite often, but can you blame us, Momma gets her coffee and the kids get a kid sized fruit smoothie that comes with a sticker and a tootsie roll. 

Hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of fall and getting used to any new routines that come along with the changing of the season.  What is your favorite fall activity?  We're always looking for fun new ideas here!

Happy Fall Everyone!

off to great places, take 2

 Today it was Stella's turn today to have the first day of school excitement, all the pictures, walking into school for the first time with a new backpack and new shoes.  And although she was nervous for about a minute, that quickly faded and turned to excitement once she got settled in with some play dough in her classroom.  She has the same classroom and same teacher that Jack had when he was three. Stella was just learning to walk when Jack started preschool, so she has been toddling in and out these doors for two years already.  Her teacher commented how fun it is to watch the little ones grow and then get to have them in her class.  So hopefully this should continue to be a smooth transition for everyone.

 

Jack seriously does half the work for us with getting Stella ready for these new adventures.  When it was time for her first dentist visit, he told her how cool it was because they have a playroom and get to pick out a prize.  He also told her in great detail all about preschool, how much fun it is, all the cool toys, and fun things you do there.  And the best part is that Jack does this without us asking him, he's just genuinely trying to help his little sister out (and maybe thinks he's a little cool because he knows all this stuff!)

 We feel so lucky to have such a great little school so close to us to provide Stella with a wonderful first experience to learning what school's all about.  Go get 'em Stella, we know you will do great, have so much fun and learn a lot!  We are so proud of you!

 first day = a success