Orchard Outing with Grandma

My mom came to visit for a couple of days so we took the girls to a nearby orchard. What a fantastic fall day! Perfect really - the weather and the company! The girls had such a fun time (except for when they spotted any pesky bees ... Lillian and Abigail have both been stung this summer so now they are worried about any flying bug).

Here are some pictures of our orchard outing:

Can you find the three cutest pumpkins?

Riding on the hay wagon with Grandma Lucy.

This one's for you, Uncle Mark (both grandpas, too!)!

Queens of the haystack

Showing off their freshly picked (huge) apples!

Rebecca really liked the apples too!

I had my mom take this picture because I thought it was too funny. We went for a hike on a trail and Rebecca kept bending over like this and then she would stay in this position. I think she liked watching my feet.

Posing with pumpkins while eating their apples (notice how Abigail ate her apple).

Bye! See you next time!

Fall Festival

On our way downtown to the Fall Festival. I've discovered that it's so much easier to stack the girls :) rather than push the double monster stroller! They think it's great!

They were giving free rides with this beautiful horse drawn carriage. This picture was actually taken later in the day after we had already had our ride. I had forgotten to bring the camera with so we went back home to get it. Then later I stopped the carriage to get this picture! Abigail and Rebecca didn't want to get in the carriage for the picture (they were ready for naps). When we rode in it they had the top up so it was enclosed. I wish I had the camera initially ... the girls were SO excited! Lillian said it was like Cinderella going to the ball. She crossed her legs during the entire ride! It was really cute!

"Apple Roll"

"Football Toss"

Yes, Lillian did make it! She won a candy bar! :)

Finding coins in sawdust. Lillian found almost $4 worth! At'a girl!

"Hoola Hooping"

(fyi - We got those Crocs free from someone at church and Abigail loves them even though they're two sizes too big! I thought Daniel would like you to know that we didn't actually buy them ... he's not a huge fan! heehee!)

Can't forget about Becca-roo!

The dam on the St. Croix River.

Some more of the dam and the river. The trees are really starting to change colors now. I'll have to post some pictures when they're at their peak.

Thanks for looking!!

Alan & Delaney's Visit

We were given the privilege of watching my brother Dan's (and sister-in-law, Beth's!) kids this past Saturday and Sunday. 5 kids all ages 4 and under! Alan is 2 (only 1 month younger than Abigail) and Delaney is about 10 months old (only 3 months younger than Rebecca). What fun we had!! It was fun to hang out with Alan and watch all his "boyish" ways (i.e. he liked to take the girls' doll strollers and run them into eachother, or the wall, or whatever might be in his way!)! We're not used to little boys around here (but we'd take one given the chance!)!! Delaney was a delight. She is such a little peanut! Beth realized it was her first time away overnight from Delaney! Delaney did a great job ... she even slept through the whole night! On Sunday morning we got all the kids ready for church (we even ate breakfast) and actually made it there EARLY! That doesn't happen very often around here! Maybe that's what we need to make it to church on time -- 5 kids ...

Here are some pictures of our fun time together:

Rebecca is thinking, "Hey! What do you think you're doing in MY chair!"

Lillian the ever-ready big helper.

Sitting outside enjoying a snack of popsicles and graham crackers!

Delaney and Alan "posing" for Auntie Laura.

This was usually Delaney's reaction to Rebecca getting too close to her. Although ...

... this could be why!

I sure wish we lived closer so we could do this more often!

Stick-On Earrings

On Tuesday, before heading over to Walmart, Lillian was being just a really great helper with a super upbeat attitude. So when we got to the store I told her that she could get the stick-on earrings that she had been wanting for many months. Well, they were out of them and didn't have any other stick-on earrings in the entire Super Walmart (any other "big" store that would have them by us is about 1/2 an hour away). Lillian was devastated. So, trying to get back that great upbeat attitude, I told her that we could call Daddy after lunch and ask him to stop by the Walmart at his work. Lillian was already planning on wearing them to Awana that next night because she just knew that Daddy would come home with them. Well, they didn't have them at that store either. She was crushed again. Really, just crushed.

That next day, Wednesday, Daniel came home without any Walmart bags again. He told Lillian to get his drink container out of his lunch box for him and what do you know ... STICK-ON EARRINGS!!! Once again, Daddy came to the rescue! He had tried calling every Walmart in the area to see if they had stick-on earrings. He finally found some in Stillwater ... a little out of the way but not far enough out of the way for his little girl. So, Lillian got to wear her first ever earrings to Awana and is still wearing them today. The first thing she said to me this morning after waking up was, "My earrings are still on!" She went to sleep on her back because she didn't want her earrings to fall off!

I guess I wanted to share this because it was just too sweet not to share with you! Here are some pictures of Lillian grinning from earring to earring (which, by the way, barely fit on her little earlobe!) ...

Tomatoes and Caramel Pecan Rolls

Picking the last tomatoes of the summer with Daddy.

They've come to an end with all the cold weather we've been having :(

We enjoyed many BLT sandwiches, tacos, spaghetti, pizzas, and hamburgers with our garden fresh tomatoes this summer!

We're going to miss them!

The girls (and the doll) helped me make caramel pecan rolls yesterday. They LOVE to help!

I guess I never took a picture of the finished product- but boy are they good!

Wanna come over and have some too?!

Fun with Daddy

This past Friday and Saturday I attented the Ladies Retreat at Grindstone Lake Bible Camp in Sandstone, MN. It was such a great time. It was fun being a camper again and spending the night in those cabins. I thought the best part was being able to spend time with my sisters-in-law, Susann and Beth, who I don't get to see as often as I'd like (Mom too!)! Mom was one of the three speakers for the weekend. She did an amazing job (would you expect anything different from my mom?!) Mom is also on the planning committee for the retreat and does ALL the decorating. Once again, she did an amazing job! My mom really is the most talented woman I know!

After I got home Daniel told me he overheard Lillian thinking outloud to herself one day. She said, "Mommy is sleeping in a cabinet? -- That's so small!" Kids say and think the craziest things! Daniel never even told her that I was actually sleeping in a cabin and NOT in a cabinet! The poor girl thought I had been sleeping in a tiny cabinet the whole time!

This was my first time ever away overnight from Rebecca. I have only been away overnight from Lillian when Abigail was born and away overnight from Abigail when Rebecca was born! What an exciting life I live! HA! I couldn't even think of the last time I had eaten a meal without having to feed a child (or two or three!) at the same time! It was really a nice "break."

I don't think the girls minded me being gone at all! They had such a fun time with Daniel. They ended up going mini golfing here in St. Croix Falls and also to a park on Friday afternoon. Then on Saturday they went to the "Wheels and Wings" show in Osceola, WI. (they even packed a lunch!). I think they're going to want me to go away more often! Here are some pictures Daniel took of their fun time together ...

Packed in and ready to go golfing!

The next Tiger!

Lillian's favorite "car" of the show was this purple jeep because it's just like Daddy's (only Daddy's isn't purple!) Lillian is standing on the far side of the jeep.

The effects of spending a day out on the town with Daddy!

I think Daddy likes his girls :)