Apple Picking

Last Friday Monte left for a long weekend away. He went to Green Bay with some friends to see a Packers game. While he was away I tried to think of a few fun things to do with the kids. I like to keep busy normally, but it is a must when he is out of town (thankfully it isn't often). It helps all of us since we miss him like crazy when he is not here.

I decided to take the kids apple picking. It was a little late in the season and the apples didn't look very healthy, but we still had fun. It was the girls' first time and I honestly don't remember the last time I took the boys.

Here are some pictures from our adventure! I hope you all are having a great week.

Not letting go of summer...

If you know me well, you know that I LOVE summer! Today is October 11th and for a few days now we have had summer like temps! It makes me happy, very happy.

Last Friday afternoon the kids and I met some friends at a local park and the park ranger came up to us and told us that the new splash pad and park was open and we should really check it out. He was very persistent, so off we went to check it out. The kids had a lot of fun, but because we were not dressed for the splash pad we didn't let them try that part out.

Today the temperature is 86, so after school I told the kids to go get their swimming things on. HOW CRAZY IS THAT? Off we went to the splash park. Because it is brand new we were the only ones there. There were a lot of people driving by probably thinking, "Who is the WORLD lets their kids go in the splash pad in October?" That would be me and oh what fun they had...

Chloe is my water baby! She stayed in the water till it was almost time to go.

Hannah having fun!

Josiah was a little chilly. There is no humidity today and a slight breeze, so it doesn't feel like 86.

Lots of fun was had by all...

You can see that they were a little cold...

When they were done, they played at the park for a while. I am so excited about this new park. It'll be another place we can go and make memories!

The whole time we were at the park the girls were asking me to take their picture... love it! This one was my favorite.

We ended our "not letting go of summer" outing by going to Dairy Queen...

I am pretty sure life doesn't get any better!

It is very close to insanity...

Late Friday night, this Dad and Mom...

will be driving these five munchkins...

and the dog...

to Maine, my birthplace.

That is a 20 hour drive... ONE WAY! We will drive straight through (minus a visit with a cousin in PA). We have always drove it in one day. We leave at night and it makes it so much easier. As long as we are loaded up on coffee and soda. I have made it a two day trip only once, when I drove by myself (with three boys and a dog).

It really isn't too bad and it's great quality family time! See that? I am giving myself my annual pep talk!

Here are some things we don't leave home without when we are taking road trips:

1. DVD player with a couple new movies (this year, UP and Monsters v Aliens) and our old faithfuls

2. Nintendo ds x2

3. HEADPHONES...a must for this momma sanity

4. coloring books

5. crayons/colored pencils

6. paper

7. stickers

8. books

9. Tag reading system

10. Tag Junior reading system (for the girls)

11. lots and lots of snacks...

and lots of caffeine for Dad and Mom

Am I missing anything??

I am not sure if I'll get time to blog while I am there, so if not...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

A Sweet Reunion...

When we traveled to Ethiopia we were with five other families. Even though we only spent four days with them, we shared an experience that will bond us forever. Most of the families live in the midwest, but there was a family from Texas and Washington. The others were in Wisconsin, Michigan, and two from Indiana.

Saturday we drove to Kokomo, Indiana to get together with the other family from the Hoosier state.

We drove by this diner and gas station... Eat Here and Get Gas... cracks me up!

The Stout's adopted two girls. One is six and the other is three. It was wonderful to see them again and share our experiences since we have been home. They now have four children and with us having five, we haven't talked often in the last three months. I am sure you remember the issues that arise when I talk on the phone.

Hannah has been talking about B a lot since leaving Hannah's Hope. We have been counting down her Mah-tah Mah-tah (sleep) for the last couple of days till we could see B. Here is a picture of Hannah and B, but I got an arm in there at the last minute. You can still see that they are holding hands. I was very emotional seeing my girls reunited with friends from the orphanage.

Hannah was shy at first. Chloe was shy too, but she ran off to play with her brothers.

The girls eating lunch...

The guy table...

All the kiddos...

Having fun...

Chloe actually stopped playing so I could get a picture...

And to give Daddy some lovin'...

I am so thankful that they live nearby. Now on my list... get together with the others in our travel group!

SIDE NOTE: Yesterday was the first day we have both left the girls for an extended amount of time. We left them in their class, at church. The first six weeks we were home we didn't take them to church. Monte and I would trade who would stay home with them and who would take the boys to church. For the last two months we have been teaching their class each week. We did this so they would get used to the room and the other kids.

Yesterday was THE BIG DAY! I really had mixed emotions leaving them. I wanted them to have a good time, but I also wanted them to miss us. As an adoptive parent you want your child to have separation anxiety. Even at 2 1/2 years old. It shows that true bonding is happening. The girls didn't need us during service, but after service once they saw us they RAN to us. It took me back to Ethiopia... the two times that we left them at the orphanage, they ran into our arms when we picked them up. Hannah did tell me later... "Momma go, Hannah cry." I am not sure if she really cried or just missed us. I believe the first day was a success and we are well on our way to our new normal. Going to church every week and actually being able to go to service.

Fall is in the air

This year we went to a local farmers market to get our pumpkins. The kids spotted the caramel apples when we were getting ready to check out. Of course they asked for one. I also wanted one when I saw them. So yummy! When I looked the price I thought I was going to choke like I swallowed a caramel apple whole. $3.50/caramel apple is a little much when you have five kids plus a Mom who doesn't want to miss out. I told the kids that we could go to Target and buy all the supplies, make our own caramel apples and save money. Well, we really didn't save money because I had...ur... I mean... the kids had to have those cute little M&M's on theirs. But we were able to make over twice as many apples. We had so much fun making them. That may need to become a new family tradition.

Yes, Chloe did dress herself in her jammies this day. She gets her fashion sense from her mother!

I am sure you noticed that only John had M&M's on his, so yes they were for me. There, I said it!

There are two things about parenting that I could do without. One of them is potty training and the other is... carving Pumpkins. It must be a sensory thing. I hate the feel of it. But just like potty training I roll up my sleeves and get to it. The oldest two boys helped a lot this year. Thankfully!

I will be honest, I am not a huge fan of Halloween. The carved pumpkin will be the only Halloween decoration at our house. We do trick or treat on Halloween and we will give out candy, but I do it for my kids! My boys have always enjoyed it and as long as we keep it low key, I am happy. This past weekend we participated in two Halloween activities. One was at our local park and the other was at the Indianapolis Zoo. They were all excited and the girls QUICKLY caught on to the whole open you bag and get candy thing. The love dressing up in, what they call, their "Ethiopia Pretty". Monte got these dresses for the girls while we were in Ethiopia. They are traditional clothes often worn for special occasions or holidays in Ethiopia.

Isaac (Football Player), Hanna (Ethiopian Princess), John (Storm Trooper), Chloe (Ethiopian Princess) and Josiah (Storm Trooper)

Josiah and Daddy. Monte worked all weekend, but took a break and brought us to the zoo.

Pumpkin bowling...

Corn Maze

When my parents were here, they took all the grandkids and my sister and I to a local corn maze. Even though it was chilly we still had a good time.