Apple Picking

I think that apple picking is one of my most favorite fall activities.  Now it's something that the kids look forward to as well!

I took a ton of photos. . . so I'll just let them tell the story of our day.

We made three batches of apple crisp and one apple pie. This is my only photo from that.  Three kiddos in the kitchen can get a little crazy!

Our house smelled so good and our treats tasted even better!

Hello October!

Hello Halloween crafts!

And beautiful messes!

Two cool dudes.

I took my camera outside one morning.  It's been a while - I've been super lazy about taking pictures.  But on this morning, I just kept clicking away.  It was fun.

Took this one of Curtis after I caught him drinking my tea!

The end of the week was so beautiful - the boys asked if they could go in the sprinkler.  Why not?  When we got outside, this was the scene for a little bit.  I started to wonder if they would really jump in.

So I lowered the water even more.  That seemed to do it.  Can you even see those little trickles of water?

Such goofballs!

All of my photos are from during the day when Bella was at school.  Naptime/quiet time ends, Bella comes home from school. . . and then the house gets CRAZY!  The boys start fighting, Bella's trying to do homework, I'm getting dinner ready. . . and some days it's just not pretty.  Hoping this week will be better!

We went apple picking yesterday.  I always look forward to that every year.  Photos from that to come! 

Anniversary trip to the Poconos

If you'd have asked Andy or me where we wanted to go for our tenth anniversary getaway, both of us would have immediately said "Door County!"  That was our honeymoon location and we have so many great memories from that place.  But heading back there for a couple of days just wasn't too practical for us, so we decided to find a similar location out east.  It didn't take long to decide on the Poconos.  It's about two hours away and especially beautiful this time of year.

We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast that had a small lake on the property where we went out boating a few times.  There were also bikes for riding, which we also did.  

On the actual day of our anniversary, we got the entire house and property to ourselves!  There were no other guests at the time and the owners had to be away all day!  Such a great anniversary gift to be spend some quality time at such a peaceful, beautiful location.   We shared some tender moments under this covered bridge where we read our wedding vows to each other and Andy presented me with a beautiful new ring!  Photos don't really do it justice. . . you'll just have to see it in person!   

Self timer at its best!  Andy hid behind me since photos weren't planned and he didn't exactly dress the part.  :-)

So incredibly beautiful. 

Doors to the chapel that was also located on this property. 

Meanwhile, my mom was back at our home tending to our three little munchkins.  They had a little plan up their sleeves while we were gone.  While Bella was at school on Friday, my mom took the boys out grocery shopping to buy some ingredients for a special anniversary dinner for when we got back. 

That evening, Bella and my mom decorated an anniversary cake.  If you look closely at Bella's mouth, you'll notice that she lost a tooth at school on Friday.  Thankfully Grandma was around that evening to make sure the Tooth Fairy knew to come.  :-)

The Kilps family - ten years later!

Delicious cake!

We had a great anniversary celebration.  It was everything that I hoped it would be.  Such a happy time! 

Ten Years!

Dear Andy,

I remember the morning of our wedding.  I was nervous.  Not about getting married. . . but about walking down the aisle and all of those eyes on me.  We both know that I'm not much of a spotlight kind of person.  But when I got down to the end of the aisle and joined you, I felt better.  The eyes were not no longer on me, but us.  And that is how it's been since.  We are US.  In this together.  And it has been a great ride so far.  I am so thankful for you and for our life together.  We are very blessed.  The past ten years have been a gift and leave me very hopeful for what is to come.  I love you always.

Karen

Playschool

The boys started playschool on Thursday!  It's just one morning every week and it's a cooperative program which means that I stay in the room with them and each of us moms take a turn being the teacher each week.  This is the same program that we had Bella in four years ago.  Shortly after we arrived, Curtis took off and started playing with the doll house. 

Graydon lingered by my side a bit longer, but soon found a bin of blocks and was on his own from there.

I think that gym time was the favorite for both of them.

And I believe I have a photo of Bella playing on this very slide on her first day of playschool.   

I will say it again. . . I love fall!  Cool mornings, hot afternoons. . . and that that time in between when the temperature is just perfect.  We had some a few nice play times outside this week.  And I owe a deep thanks to whoever invented sand/water tables.  It kept my boys entertained for at least a half hour each time they played with it.  

And we had an impromptu science lesson when this praying mantis showed up on our patio.

 

Yesterday, we attended a Fall Fair.  The kids had fun checking out the fire truck.

And getting their faces painted.

Graydon opted out.  They also jumped in a Moon Bounce and ate lots of good food.

We started Curtis's potty chart.  He's doing really well!  Not quite ready for underwear (I tried one morning and it didn't work out too well), but I am very encouraged with how well he is doing. 

The boys and I have had icky colds these past few days.  I haven't been sick in a while, so I forgot how crummy a cold can feel.  As long as we're all better by Thursday, then I'll be happy.  My mom is flying out and then Andy and I are heading to the Poconos for a couple of days to celebrate our tenth anniversary!!!  I.am.so.excited!!!!