apple picking

We have wanted to take Asher apple picking for the past few years, but there aren't many orchards in North Carolina, so it didn't really work out.  Now that we're living in the northeast there are lots of apple orchards and going apple picking was a fall MUST!

First stop - cider donuts!

Asher's love language is donuts.  No, but really.  

After donuts we were ready to pick some apples!

We all had such a fun time!  This will definitely be a yearly tradition - can't wait to come again next year with baby peanut!

september happenings: week four

These kiddos have been begging for a sleepover. so one Friday night we decided to give it a go.  Drew drug Asher mattress into Hadley's room (we didn't want her sleeping on a high up bed) and settled them in.  After a couple false starts with talking and getting up they slept through the night with no trouble!

I've been wanting a chalkboard for while and finally got one!  It's so fun to be able to change the design with the seasons and holidays.  Fall is here so we're starting a decorate a little.  :-)

These goobers are still enjoying school and doing great at it!

I love how we bought this big sofa and this is where Asher and Hadley choose to sit.  ha!  They are best friends and like to be close.  Ok by me.  :-)

A little girl in this family has a birthday coming up quickly!  She asked for a "kitty party" this year so that's what we're doing.  Party planning is full steam ahead!

Baby peanut is growing right along.  He/she is doing great and we have the BIG ultrasound in early October.

Is there anything better when you are a kid then having a big rainstorm?  Lucky for these two our new house has terrible drainage at the bottom of our driveway.  Puddles galore!

september happenings: weeks one and two

We started September with one very sick little girl.  Hadley has this way of developing really high fevers, but no other symptoms.  She kept going up to 103 then I'd give her more Advil/Tylenol and it would come down...until it went back up.  Poor thing was so miserable!  The doctor said it was just a virus so as long as she was drinking and acting ok then she was fine to ride it out.  No fun for sure.

After Hadley got well we had to take a pilgrimage to the mothership for some things for the new house!  We didn't have a local Ikea in Raleigh, so it was pretty thrilling for all.  ;-) 

I've been working on a couple projects but wanted to make something special for Drew.  He loves the Black Keys, so when I saw this song lyric I thought it would be fun to make a board to hang.

We decided to get a sectional to maximize the seating in our family room and I looove it!  It gives plenty of space for all of us (and family and friends...)  The room hasn't been so clean and empty since this picture was taken - ha!

The rest of our time has been spent getting settled into the house.  I'm not one to have boxes around, so unpacking and hanging pictures has been a priority.  I'm SO glad that I saved the frame templates that I made the last time I did a stairway gallery.  It's such a big timesaver!

before...

after!

back to school 2015

Well, somehow, when I wasn't looking Asher became old enough for Kindergarten!  I'm really not sure how this happened.

He has been in part-time preschool for the past 3 years and loved it, so I was sure that Kindergarten would fit him like a glove (it has).

Hadley started preschool this year!  She's going 3 mornings a week and Miss Independent couldn't wait to get going.

We started the first day of school with a special pancake breakfast, of course.

Then he was off!

Seeing his room and finding the sign in sheet.

Asher is so lucky to be in a small class - only 10 kids!  It's wonderful for him, but I know it will be tough for all of these kiddos to go to a much bigger class next year.  

Hadley didn't start her school until a few days later and after she realized that Asher was leaving us for the entire day she got pretty upset.  I was tiny bit upset myself after leaving my little guy at Kindergarten so we both needed a 9am pick-me-up in the form of cake pops.  :-)

A few days later Hadley started school herself and was bursting with pride to be such a BIG girl!

Unlike Asher at age 3 she had no tears and barely a wave goodbye for ole Mom.  ha!

She loves school and has completely embraced it.  I'm so glad we still have our afternoons and a couple full days each week together.  I'm not ready to leave her all the time yet (although I don't think she would complain...)

I'm so proud of these 2!  Here's to a wonderful school year!