Catching up...a little late

Last weekend we had a great time with Grandma Sue visiting. We had a few sports games to go to but we also got to do some of the fun fall things. We took advantage of the extra set of hands and ventured to our favorite apple orchard.


We all absolutely love going to this orchard. It is so beautiful and so absolutely packed with apples. I am always so shocked how many apples there are to pick! We also love taking some time to roast some marshmallows in their wonderful fire pit.












I took some yummy pictures of our girls!!





Look at that smile!





Daddy carrying all of our goodies!!

Here's what our apples were destined to become:

It was oh so yummy!!


We got to spend some great time together with Grandma Sue and as a family, which as you all know is rare. On Sunday, we spent some time outside.






While we were playing a beautiful woodpecker came and start messing around on our tree. It was so cool. We haven't had those around, ever.

He was so cool and stuck around for quite a while.

This week the sports and weather gods have been very kind to us. Our baseball game on Monday night was forfeited by the other team. Nanie was visiting so again I had an extra set of hands around here which is so nice. Plus, having an adult to talk to almost all day is just what this momma needed. Dreary and rainy days have lended themselves to lots of movies and books. We are looking forward to this weekend. We are hoping to have the front porch railing done and get the front of our house all cleaned up. Throw in a football game on Sunday, it will be a good weekend!! Happy Thursday to you all!!

Oh what a weekend!

We  had a rather busy weekend with all sorts of activities!! It was fun but I am glad that we have nothing but laundry to do today! It all started on Friday.....



it is garage sale time around these parts! Our house needs some serious purging, I think I found things that I had when I was still in college. I think it is time for some new decorating :). Anyway, we had a sale to see if we could rid ourselves of these items. You know what is my trash might be your treasure. It always amazes me how much work a garage sale is. I can say that I hate it. At least for the amount that you actually get out of it. Oh well. It is over and Goodwill is on their way to pick up those items that didn't sell.


Friday was also Pirate day for Miss Sassypants. She was excited and had a great time learning the 'ar' sound. They went on a treasure hunt and found the gold (chocolate) coins in the principals office. Oh to have a camera for that discovery!!

Then it continued onto Saturday with more garage sale-ing. But we threw in a baseball tournament. So daddy headed to the game with the girls while I stayed behind to clean sale stuff. I was happy to shut down the sale and head out to get grocery shopping done before everyone returned. Ryan got home just in time to sit down for about an hour before he headed to the football fields. We headed up there a little later. The boys had a great game! It is always nice to win!!


Gettin' pumped up


Love it when the cheerleaders are here!


Chase had some good catches and some good blocks






I believe this was an interception


Pep talk afterwards!!

We all came home and slept for 10 hours, woke up, and headed back to the ballpark for the remainder of our baseball tournament!

Coffee was a must at this point.


Thank goodness for the playground close to the fields. This occupied them instead of driving us all crazy.

The boys did awesome for 3 back to back games. We were at the ballfields from 8:30am to 6pm but we took home the Championship Trophy! We were excited to finally win a tournament.



The little ones were celebrating as well....but only because it was over which meant we could go eat and go home. And I just adore this picture! This is Chase's half brother in between his half sisters. We have become quite the blended family these days! It is truly a beautiful thing and OH SO GOOD our son. And I have to believe that it is just as good for us all, his parents and siblings. No fighting or hate or grudges. The past is gone and the future looks so peaceful. We couldn't start the next chapter of our lives if we kept rereading the past ones.

It was a crazy weekend but oh so fun! We are looking forward to another fun weekend next weekend. Maybe not as busy but still loving all the fun things to go to. Happy Monday to all!!

Enjoying our time

Our past week was packed full of football, homework, playdates, and rain. We are falling into a nice routine and slowly getting used to the crazy. Here are some pictures from the past week and weekend!

Yummy hand pies we made for us and for Ella's teacher.

My love getting the garden ready for me to plant fall stuff!

Little Miss enjoying her afternoon with books and mommy!

Miss Ava celebrated her 2nd birthday this week!!

Hello hurricane style rain!

Kindergarten

Ella is doing superb in class. She is a great helper and is all smiles after school! She is learning so much and can't wait to come home to share.

 

She had her very first birthday party this weekend. She had a great time and I just adore watching her with all of her friends!

Football

We had our first football game on Saturday night. We got the short end of the straw with our first game. We played the division champs. This is the team that last year caused such a rukus. We wanted to beat this team so bad but we couldn't. The refs were on his side and you can't win when that happens. 

This game was a stepping stone or lesson for our boys. They played as well as they could.

That was our week. Here's looking forward to another weekend full of garage sale and football games!

Our so called crazy life....

I think we are finally settling into a routine with the craziness of life that will work to keep us all sane. School is going great for all kiddos. Chase is getting more involved with clubs and intermurals. Ella is forever asking how many days or hours until she can go back to school. They both make us proud with how much they love school, friends, and learning.

One big thing that happened this week was Ella got a new haircut. It is really cute but momma had so wished it would come from a hairdresser and not her little sister. Thank goodness she has curly hair that is forgiving when it comes to a trim. At any rate, she loves it and does look pretty stinking cute. 

Fall decorations went up just in time for Hurricane Isaac to hit our town. It was wonderful. Slow and steady rain for two whole days. Everything looks greener! Last I checked we got over 5 inches of rain, some say even 7 inches. It was much needed and made for some pretty lazy afternoons with the pumpkin candles lit!

We made a quick trip to see the Wildcats play on Saturday. It was a lot of fun to be at a football game again and see everyone. It was a little hot and the sweat that rolled down my back constantly was a reminder that I am more of a couch watching football fan. Oh well. The kids had fun and so did we :)

I am so jealous of the band. They are wearing shorts! Which is soooo necessary but we never had that option. The colorguard looked awesome and makes me miss my college days so much!

We stuck around for the fireworks!

We are gearing up for our first football game next weekend, yay!! The boys have been working so extremely hard for this season. Here are a few pics from this last week. I am hoping this week to get a few more.

I have been baking and cooking so much lately. I love it. 

Took these beauties (concord grapes) and turned them into concord grape sorbet. It was delish!!

Peach cake with only 5 ingredients! It is one of my favorite cake recipes.

I am still loving waking up early to cook breakfast for the kids and just wake up with the sun. It is a beautiful thing.

Ryan and Chase are headed to the Royals game this afternoon while the girls and I have a spa day. Footbaths and mani/pedi's sound alot more fun than sitting in 100+ heat, FOR SURE.  Tonight we will all enjoy some yummy ribs and gear up for the week ahead. Happy Labor Day!!