Rainy Day Fun

October first we has some major rain.  So major that in parts of the state there was some major flooding.  Fortunately for us only our yard got flooded.


We had a grand time playing in the giant puddle with our friend Lizzie until I realized that the giant puddle included the flooding in the chicken pen.  We terminated all water play very quickly.

Jacob's Birthday in Video

Photo Unload:Jacob's Birthday

Is anyone else out there having major issues with the new blogger editor? I have just about had it with it. Ok there is my gripe.


Today we have Jacob's fourth birthday...from September 29th...

Sophie reading the note she wrote on the wrapping paper she used to wrap her gift to Jacob, a penny and a plastic bug.

One day at a store Jacob wanted this kangaroo so badly.  I very sneakily bought and payed for it hoping that the other clerks who weren't in on the secret wouldn't think I was shoplifting.

The smile says it all!

That night I went up the stairs and found this little scenario set up.  The is the Lego set he was so excited about in the last picture.

Jacob asked for a Lightning McQueen cake and I delivered, but never again.  Reason #1 Way too much dye.  While I am not entirely opposed to dye, I am opposed to huge quantities of it (think purple ketchup and...Lightning McQueen cakes.)
Reason#2 Homemade Fondant is a pain in the neck to make, at least this recipe was.

We had apple crisp on Jacob's actual birthday, but the Saturday after he had one friend (and his family) over for a party.  When he turns 5 we'll have a bigger party.

It is nice to know that even thought the cake did not meet my quality standards, it was met with rave reviews from the kids.

Thanks Mikey for the awesome gifts!!!

Soccer

I am so far behind that soccer season has come and gone. However since it is over I can tell you that Sophie's team was undefeated. This team is going to be awesome when they get to high school.

Sophie is just to the right of green #23

Right in the middle doing drills

Riding the bus to their first away game.


Sophie did really well for her first time ever playing soccer. She is not afraid to get right in there for the ball as long as you hollered at her to get in there.

She was not used to people barking orders at her. The first game when the coach would tell her to move up etc...she would put her hands in the air as if she were saying, "What, I didn't do anything wrong." Once we explained that they weren't "yelling" at her just getting orders out as quicly as possible she did better.

Laundry Room Makeover

We had a little tiny room off of the kitchen that was awkward space. First of all its size was prohibitive, second of all it had a weird diagonal wall that made it so you couldn't fully open the cellar door. Given that the washer and dryer were in the cellar, it made it hard to carry baskets of laundry down there, especially since I have been pregnant twice in this house.

The room has been many things. It was an office, Sophie's room, a guest room, a drop the junk until you sort it room. Finally Aaron decided to bring the laundry out of the basement and make a laundry room.

Here is a picture of the room from when we looking to buy the house. The lighting was bad so I had to alter it.

This video gives the best view of the weird diagonal wall that I can find. I must not have liked that end of the house, because I could only find one picture out of the thousands of pictures I have taken since we moved here.


The first thing to go was the diagonal wall.

In went a microwave cabinet. You can also see the new lighting, spice rack and entry view of the laundry room.

These are more storage cabinets. The nice thing is that the school where Aaron works is doing a major overhaul so Aaron asked for the wainscoting, hinges and latches that they were getting rid of.

We didn't mean to do it, but the space between the dryer and the folding counter fits a laundry basket perfectly so we don't have to bend down so much.

Aaron also added a door that goes right out to the clothes line. Someday there will be a deck out there.

This is the folding counter with....more storage!

I LOVE my new laundry room! Aaron did such an awesome job.

The Place Where I Live

 

I am pretty darn lucky.

When You Don't Have Cable

Here are a couple of videos of things you do for fun when you don't have television or cable.  Of course you can have fun doing them even if you do have cable.

Apple Picking Part 1+2

Apple picking is our favorite time of year.  We like it so much we go to two different orchards.  The first orchard is 20 minutes from our house and we pick Honeycrisps.  They are sweet and crispy and store really well.

The next orchard is close to 2 hours from our house, but is close to my parents so we justify the trip with a visit to them.  There we pick Macoun, Macintosh and Empire apples.  We also get a years supply of the BEST apple cider in the world.  Thick, tangy and unpasteurized...sooo worth the drive.

Worcester Part 2

As mentioned before, we forget the camera when we went to Worcester so we don't have many pictures, but we were able to visit with my missionary companion, Caitlin and her sweet family.  We didn't plan enough time to visit with them and as a result I think we are planning on spending a full week in Worcester next summer so that we have time to visit with them, go into Boston, and visit areas where my family and I used to live.

On the way home we needed a potty break around Quechee.  I have never seen the Quechee Gorge so we made an un-planned stop there.   What started as a potty break turned into hiking/walking to the bottom of the gorge.  

Remember this pose?

This poor frog went through a lot with Ben

Most people admire nature, Aaron contemplates the monetary value of a gorgeous old tree

Partway back up the hill Ben decides he is done.

As does Jacob.  For some reason he felt it was easier to walk on his knees than his feet.

 

A Game that Causes Depression

September 16th through the 19th we took our annual trip to Worcester Massachusetts.  
Unfortunately we forgot our camera.  
Fortunately  half-way through the trip we decided to buy a nice but cheap camera to keep in the car so we don't ever forget the camera again.  
Unfortunately it doesn't the amazing pictures that my other camera takes.
Fortunately it is helping me remember to bring my other camera more often.
Unfortunately this makes the money we spent on the new camera nearly a complete waste.
Fortunately we didn't spend much on the camera.
Unfortunately...
My sister in law Becky taught me that game and it seriously causes me anxiety.  As the game goes on and on I get a knot in my stomach because no matter how hard I try to fix the problems with a nice positive "fortunately" statement, I know it will be undone with an "unfortunately" statement.  Anyway...I totally got off subject.

How many of you know that Aaron LOVES having his head scratched?

We went to the Higgins Armory Museum.  It is a lot of fun.  Sophie's favorite part was the children's room where they had all kinds of dress up.

I don't know if you can see it here, but Ben is lining up his sights and pulling the trigger on this children's rifle.

Aaron is an eager teacher and Ben is an engaged learner when it comes to weapons.

We happened to go on the 18th, International Speak Like a Pirate Day(Sept 19th every year.) They had all kinds of pirates activities, and all of the staff were dressed like pirates.  Sophie enjoyed a riveting games of dominoes with a beautiful red headed female pirate.

They actually had a whole exhibit about female pirates.  They were women to be respected and feared.

We let the kids take some pictures with the new camera.  None of them came out, they were all blurry except this one by Ben.  I think it is pretty cool