Haircut day!

BEFORE:


AFTER:

Crane's Orchards

Every year we have a tradition of going apple picking with my dad. This year we decided we would try for the honeycrisp apples. So, last saturday, my dad, Sam and I got to Crane's orchard about an hour before they opened. We were definatly not the first ones! We waited in a long line of cars. Once it opened we had a really fun time picking apples. Sam loves picking apples! the workers there told us that in about 2 hours all the Honeycrisp apples would be picked!!! Anyway, we went home with a total of 3 huge bags and have been really enjoying them- I think Sam eats like 3 a day! So if you have never tasted a Honeycrisp apples- stop on by our house, they are great!

Kitchen Counter - Sink Side

Who knew a cast iron sink was heavy? Last night I got the sink back in and tonight I painted a bit to clean it up. We were only without a sink for 1 day!

Pray Please

It has been a week of joy, stress and tears. Please pray for our friends the Vedra family. To read what is going on with their new baby girl please go to their webpage:(also listed to the left of the page)http://www.vedrafamily.com/

New Kitchen Project

As of Wednesday:


As of Sunday:

backpack

Thanks B for the comments about backpacks! I went to Children's PLace right away- good thing- they had two toddler packs left. Very nice for Sam! And it was 50% off...which was the real reason I waited...

ANOTHER update (quick)

So, when we pick them up we sit in the cars and the teachers bring the kids out. First thing I noticed, my poor boy without a backpack is given a Meijer bag to carry his stuff in. Yea...really need a backpack! Also, he had a lot of fun: It was Jack's birthday so snack time was a real treat- candy, and Jack gave everyone a little playdoh. They played playdoh, sang with the puppets, played on the playground (with 100 kids mommy!) And I am sure they did more but that was all he really said for now!! In response to Nicholas's comment (you can read comment by clicking on comments) which made me laugh really hard, but also, my mother informed my that Olivia's grandpa is her cousin, thus making Sam and Olivia related. Who knew!

First Full Morning of Preschool

People keep asking, especially grandparents, and I like to talk about it, so here is an update about Sam and school. First, I remembered my camera so you can see him sitting by his little hook and box. Above it you can see the one of the pictures we decorated on wednesday. You can also see that all the kids bring backpacks. So I want to get Sam a nice, plain backpack (as opposed to a character backpack) and stitch his name on it and he can use it for a few years. But all the plain backpacks at Target were huge, and all the little backpacks were character. So if anyone can tell me where to get a nice size one for Sam...let me know! Oh, and he saw tha CAillou backpack (right next to his space...) and was all, "I want a Caillou backpack!" I said, well you have a Thomas backpack do you want to take that one?" "No, I don't like Thomas. I want CAillou." So, I need to figure out the whole backpack thingy...

So today he seemed really nervous, he kept asking if I would stay with him. I kept explaining that it was sort of like Little stars at church- sing, stories, play, snacks and mommy will be back to get him. I think that helped. I also explained how there were 17 kids in his class, 8 girls and 9 boys. That really helped. You know Sam and numbers. He talked about it the whole way. (9+8 is 17...look mom, I see 17 kids, you're right! and on and on about the numbers.....)

WE get to his classroom and his teacher is all "Look at the long snake going across the floor!" (GREAT) Sam kind of hides behind me- and then I show him that it isn't a real snake but legos. And he could help build it.
S: "No. I want to play trucks."
Me: look, all the kids are building with legos. Do you think you can build a big tower?
S: "Yes, but it might fall over. You have to stay with me.
Me: I think you will have lots of fun. Why don't you go build, and just like little stars I will be back soon.
S: okay.

And he very slowly walks over to the other kids....so that is all I know for now. I am sure he may tell me more when he gets home! (FYI- for those who may not know, if you click on a picture you can see it bigger).





Josh....so this morning, again, he cries when we leave Sam. (It doesn't help that he sees the trains in Sam's classroom.) So I whisper to him. Mommy and Joshy will go to the bookstore and play trains. That makes him happy. He also likes to see the school buses in the parking lot. He LOVES buses. SChoolbus mommy school bus!!! Anyway, we get to the bookstore (see picture) and he is loving playing trains. I asked him to count his long line of trains (probably about 7) and Josh says, "1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,14,19!!!" ((Okay, so he is no Sam when it comes to numbers. At this age, Sam not only counted to about 13 but he also recognized the numbers. Still, it was so cute!) The only thing that went wrong...was when it was time to go. My eardrums are STILL recovering from his screaming NOOOOOO!! I am surprised someone didn't think I was kidnapping him....

Summers End and First Day of Preschool

Sam's first day of preschool was Wednesday Sept. 5! It was a shortened class time that moms or dad got to go too. Sam and I had a lot of fun- we decorated some pictures of him, played with a lot of the toys and games, and enjoyed circle time. We sang songs, heard a story, and met Mrs. M's puppets. I think he was a little overwhelmed but he seemed really excited and will go back friday all by himself! (Oh, he there is also a snake and a bunny in the room. He didn't like the snake- and last night he woke up crying for me at 3AM saying there was a snake on teddy....greeat....)





Tuesdays in August are free concerts for members of Meijer Gardens. It is a lot of local groups and we enjoyed some really great music!

Garage Doors

What do you think of the garage door color?