New Year's Resolution

Hello, my few dedicated followers. Sorry I've been such a slacker. I've been sitting here this evening reading the posts from the past year and lamenting that I was not a more diligent blogger. And so, I feel renewed and ready to rededicate myself to this blogging thing. Maybe I needed a break. Maybe my other blog was just taking too much of my time. (you should probably read that one too, if you want to keep up with us a little better. It's over there to the left and it's called Pieces of Molly.) Anyway, here's hoping I can get back on top of things.

Peck's Market

Saturday we made our way up to Peck's Farm Market. We go there each fall, usually in conjunction with grape picking and apple purchasing. This year, unfortunately, we missed grape season. The farm we usually go to for grapes and apples had a fire on October 10th. Apparently the orchard and vineyard are OK, it was the buildings that burned. They closed down for the rest of the season but hope to be open next year. I'm so sad! I'm not sure if we would have made it there before the end of grape season anyway, but I hope the damage was not too extensive and that they will indeed be up and running by next fall.

We enjoyed our time at Peck's, as usual. Next year, I hope I remember that Peck's Farm Market EAST has the free "train" ride.

DO NOT pay for the train at Peck's Market WEST. It is shorter and costs a dollar per rider.

Peck's Market West DOES have more kiddie activities, many free, some for a dollar.





Oh yeah, and the corn maze is better AND cheaper at Peck's Market EAST. So you really have to go to both of them.





Saturday night we made caramel apples with a new caramel recipe and apples from Peck's.


Monday night we picked out our pumpkins and Tuesday night we carved them.



Tonight we are off to the Trunk or Treat at church, then the kids are off school Thursday and Friday, and Friday night is our Halloween party at our house. Busy busy, but fun fun!

(For more pictures from Peck's, go on over to my other blog, Pieces of Molly.)

Stage Two

Today I became aware that I am totally and completely OK with my family being complete at five kids. Now, I have known since Jesse was still a newborn and I had a DVT that I should and would be done. But for a few years I still had these lingering thoughts about how dangerous would it be- REALLY- for me to have another baby. I could do the daily injections of bloodthinner (which I always knew I couldn't really do because I'm a big fat wimp) or something. I just would get baby hungry. And pregnancy hungry. I love being pregnant. I will never get over the loss I feel at not being able to feel another baby growing and moving inside me. I will never get over the loss I feel at not being able to hold another baby in my arms as I nurse him. But babies grow up. And they become sassy and independent. They delight in pushing Mom's buttons. They go to school and they come home with piles of homework and want your undivided attention and assistance as they plow through it. They can no longer suckle at your breast and instead demand cheese crackers and granola bars-- and lots of 'em. They run around like maniacs rather than cooing contentedly in the bouncy seat. They dump your nail polish on the bathroom floor and use your favorite scarf as the sail of their ship...then leave it in the yard for several rainfalls. They make some sort of pact with their siblings to all demand your attention at the same time using the most obnoxious whiny voices imaginable. Also in their agreement is a schedule they follow to be sure they are not all happy at the same time. They pretend they can't hear you asking them to do something until you are finally screaming at them, then they say, "You don't have to yell at me, Mom!" They break your stuff and create mounds of laundry. More babies would just become more kids.

But they also learn to bathe themselves. They do- eventually- move out of diapers and master using the toilet. They learn to read- to themselves and to their younger siblings. They develop a sense of humor and they eventually learn how to use it. They can play outside without supervision and can even walk home from school. They thank you for making their favorite dessert. They will bring you dead dandelions and present them to you like it's the rarest bloom- with a big smile and a wet kiss. They will sing to you in church on Mother's Day and bring home art projects featuring their handprints. They bring you breakfast in bed and they serve it with dancing eyes full of excitement. They love you despite the yelling and are infinitely forgiving.

And you know? I'm ready. I'm ready to move on from the baby stage. I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get into this "raising them" stage. I'm not saying I'm good at it or that I have any idea what I'm doing, but we'll learn and we'll make it. And I really don't think I will wish that I was having more babies. I've got my hands full as it is. I'm good with not having diapers to change and baby swings and bouncers and exersaucers and carriers and jumpers all over the house. No diaper bag to pack and no rushing home from a short date to make it in time for the next feeding.

Let the next chapter begin.

Renie's First Day of Kindergarten

Renie's favorite things about full day Kindergarten? Bringing a lunch and gym class- or PhyEd, as they call it here in the Dairyland.


Try as I would, I could NOT get a normal smile out of her.

Sunset After A Storm Last Night

First Day of School 2010

Kennedy- 6th grade- MIDDLE school!



Julia- 4th, Devon 1st



Renie's first day is tomorrow.

Devon

Turns Out, Life Gets Busy When You Have Five Kids...

I really wish that I was writing more. And I especially wish that I was writing HERE more. Life is busy, sure, and I'm sad that I'm not better at recording the events of our life here. Because in all that busy-ness, funny, special moments happen. Moments that it is all too easy to forget if you don't capture them in word or picture. Little things like Devon suddenly becoming attached to the quilt my mother made him when he was a baby. He pulled it out of his closet one day and started using it on his bed. Now, keep in mind, it is baby-sized. It doesn't even cover his whole body. But he likes it. I reminded him one day that Grandma had made it for him when he was a baby and that somewhere I have a picture of him laying on it when he was just a few days old. He thought that was pretty cool and asked me to take a picture of him with it now.



In more event-type news, Renie had her spring sing:






Kennedy had her spring concert:




Julia had her spring concert:



But now (I'm just finally getting this published in August) we're at the point that we're winding down the summer. As usual, the last couple of months have been a whirlwind, but it has been (mostly) fun!

Balloonfest 2010

The end of the school year is always marked by Balloonfest at Bloomfield Manor. It always takes place the night before the last day of school and attending it has become a bit of a tradition. The theme this year was Hollywood, as you will see in the photos. We took a whole slew of kids with us and had a lovely time as usual.

Memorial Day

This year for Memorial Day, our friends the Prowses invited a few families to camp in their lovely backyard. We had a fun time jumping on the trampoline, having a campfire, watching a movie in the backyard, and taking a short hike. I'll let the pictures do the talking.