A visit with LOTS of Grandmas and Grandpas!!!

We had a busy week with normal day to day activities and then getting ready for our weekend guests: Grandma Collene and Ruby, Grandma Pat and Grandpa Roger, and Auntie Julie, Uncle Dan, and cousins.  We also had a quick visit from our old neighbor, Tom (Mr P to the kiddos) AND Pama and her Mom, Bev, stopped by to visit on their way back from a wedding.  It was Apple Festival weekend so we all had our fill of "fair food, rides, and craft booths."  Can't wait until NEXT year :)

Trampoline fun on Monday night.  Lots of giggles, screams, and tears from the kiddos.


Mommy, the kiddos, and a sampling of the apple bounty from two of our own trees!


Tuesday Twin Day:
Giddy Up, Matchy Patchy Cowgirl Boot Twins!


The boy twins:
Red shirts, fleece jackets, jeans, and brown shoes :)


Wednesday night soccer practice.  Addie practiced a bit with the kids but then wanted to play on the slides at the "Big Park"


Daddy helped coach the kiddos.  GO Ayson and Daddy!


On Thursday night, Ayson presented a puppet show that he made in school of the story "Tortoise and the Hare."  Of course the tortoise won!


On Friday, we had a FULL house as Grandma Pat and Grandpa Roger came for a visit and so did Grandma Collene and Ruby.

Mommy and the Grandparents surprised Ayson at school on Friday when we all showed up to pick him up after school.  He was SO excited to see everyone!


Princess time for Grandma Pat!


Watch out, Grandpa, the kiddos are up to something!!!


Grandma and Grandpa gave Addie a cute puppy: "Pretty Puppy."  Addie was SO happy!


THEN, Grandma and Grandpa "pawned" off an obnoxious ghost toy that is LOUD and of course Ayson loves it...thanks Grandma and Grandpa.  I am sure this is pay back for all of the loud toys that Mommy and Daddy have given to other kids over the years (BEFORE we had are own kids and knew better :)
Look at the smile on Ayson!


Daddy had Grandma Collene busy chopping veggies for Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) and gumbo.


While at the other end of the table, Grandma Pat and the kids were busy coloring :)


Apple Festival time!


Addie and Grandma and Grandpa on the Ferris Wheel


Bag Piper that makes the rounds every year.


Addie loved the Merry-Go-Round (a repeat favorite from the State Fair).  THIS merry go round was the fastest one Mommy had ever been on!  Mommy had to hold on tight when she went with Addie!


Mommy and Ayson road on the Scrambler...Ayson LOVED it!  The Scrambler USED to be Mommy's favorite but ever since Mommy had the kiddos, she can barely handle swinging high on the swings at the "Little Park" let alone rides that spin and go up and down :)
SO, Mommy had Grandma Pat take Ayson on the "Spider," a ride that did go up and down and spin around fast :)  Grandma was ready to sit down and chill after THAT ride.  Thanks, Grandma :)  :)


Grandma Pat jumping with the kids and cousins.


The Petting Zoo.




The kids giggled and laughed when the lambs would eat the food out of their hands.  "It tickles!"


An Akbash (guardian dog) that was sleeping rolled over and put it's paw on Ayson.  Mommy had to explain to the kiddos why the dogs slept all day: because they were up all night protecting the lambs, alpacas, and rabbits from predators like coyotes (which we hear at night).


After the petting zoo, we headed over to the BIG tractor that the kids got to climb all over.


PONY RIDES!!!!
Ayson picked Mr Rogers...great name, Big Guy!


And Addie rode Brownie (a cute little pony).


Pama and her mom, Bev, stopped by the house to say "hello."  Unfortunately, ALL of the pics turned out blurry...but look at those smiles!  We had to convince/cajole Addie to give us a smile...but it was worth it :)


Addie has now graduated to a "Toddler" bed!!!
Mommy waited to make the transition when Grandpa Roger (who helped Daddy set up the crib...more than 5 years ago!) was around AND we had a long weekend to work out the kinks of Addie getting out of bed on her own free will.  Believe it or not, Addie had only climbed out of her crib ONCE and she did not fall...that was last week, so we knew we had to make the transition fast.


We carved a few pumpkins while Grandma and Grandpa were with us.


Grandma gave us very cool green battery powered eyes that blinked...thanks Grandma!










Monday morning, enjoying the beautiful day on the back porch.


A picture of A^3...Ayson was not cooperating.


Grandma and Grandpa


After everyone went to breakfast, we went to Camp Adam's Eden (http://adamsedencamp.com/) and checked out the camp that Ayson attended twice a week during the summer program that his elementary school ran.  The weather was GORGEOUS and reached 71 degrees! There were lots of families at Camp Adam's Eden enjoying the perfect day.  We even saw Ayson's "girlfriend," Lilly, and her family.

The sand box and pond.  Ah yes, lots of sand came home with Ayson on Monday and Fridays during the summer :)  In addition to wet clothes.




The rabbit area with tunnels for the rabbits.


Geese and chickens were also on the grounds.


We decided to go for a hike to "Overlook Point" which has an amazing view of the valley that A^4 lives in.


Looking east


Looking north east.  The white strip in the valley are the apple festival tents.  Mommy could not make out our house BUT she did see the church steeple that is across the street from the park and our house :)


Tully Valley from north to south:








There are SO many things to do at Camp Adam's Eden that we are considering getting an annual pass. This place is less than 10 minutes from our house!  Usually we have at least a 15-20 minute drive to anything we can't walk to!
The Camp had a meadow maze with four points of entry...we did not check out the maze...NEXT time!


A "David and Goliath" sling shot range





The kiddos did great on the hike!  When they got tired, Daddy and Mommy carried them on their shoulders.




After the hike, we went to SWEETIES!!!!


It is so cute to watch Addie eat ice cream.  She licks the ice cream almost like a cat drinks water: short, fast, little licks.


Ayson with his coffee chocolate chip ice cream cone (and face :)


Grandma Pat reading a story to Addie (a local NY author that Mommy found at the apple festival). Grandma and Grandpa also brought the kiddos a book from a local author from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, "The Adventures of Cubby the Bear," by Dan Heuer.

Happy October and Pig Roast!

All is well with A^4th!  We had fun during the week at home and at Wednesday night soccer. We then spent the weekend at Grandma Collene's for a pig roast.  No messing around with a shoulder or side of pig, Grandma bought an ENTIRE pig (85 pounds!), had it put in the trunk of her car, and the boys lifted it out and cooked it on Grandma's redneck cement block smoker. Tasty!  Grandma had friends and family over to help us eat the pig and all of the yummy sides.  Thanks for a great Pig Roast, Grandma and Boys!

A walk in the orchard on Monday night. Addie, needs to give Ayson privacy when he is peeing. For the longest time, Addie would say "privaseat" and Mommy had to help her put together the sounds "prive a see"




Lift me UP, Daddy!


Hi Daddy!


As we were walking back to our house, the fire engine was coming out of the garage near our house. So the kiddos got to wave to the passing fire truck!


Swinging with Mommy


What a busy evening...Gianna even came over to bounce!


On Tuesday night, Daddy showed the kids how to make a "volcano" (baking soda and vinegar).


Addie wanted to color. Mommy wishes she had more time to color:)


Lego time for the Big Guy!


Addie put together (with Mommy's help) the puzzle that "Grandma Barb" (Babs) and "Grandpa Jim" gave to Addie at Christmas.  Babs and Jim are Uncle Dan's Parent's and we see them just about every time we see Auntie Julie, Uncle Dan, and the cousins. SO, we have adopted them and they have adopted us!


Soccer practice was BRRrr cold!  Before a scrimmage (when Addie could not play), Addie got to warm up with the kids.  Ayson was in the process of putting his arm around Addie in this picture...too cute! He is wearing the LaFayette Soccer T-Shirt that he was given last week.


Ayson made a picture book at school (his teacher, Mrs Long, stapled the pages together for him). The big green robot is sad because he does not have electricity.  The next few pages tell a story about the robot. We are CONSTANTLY telling Ayson that electricity is dangerous and that he can not mess with electrical sockets.  Obviously, it does not stop Ayson from thinking about electricity (Back to the Future) and drawing electrical sockets... as the blue and yellow circles  near the top of the page are sockets).


Ayson reading us his story before bedtime.


Cheese!


We read a NEW book that Ayson received as a gift at school last week!  The author, Susan Kiesel, has 2 grandkids in Kindergarten with Ayson, so apparently she gave the book to all of the students! Thank you, Mrs Kiesel!


On Friday, we all headed west to Grandma Collene's house for a pig roast.
THE pig.


Daddy and the piggy.


Uncle Jay, Grandma Collene, and Uncle Dan.


The triplets!
Keep in mind, it was chilly on Friday and Saturday and overalls are drafty unless you have long underwear on underneath.  The boys were not wearing long underwear...brrr.
Adam had a hunk of bread sticking out of the chest pocket of his overalls.  Silly Daddy!


The boys (big and small) went for a hike On Saturdya morning while the girls went to Auntie Julie and Uncle Dan's new house (to check out their new digs).  Mommy loves the house/property and is SO happy for them!


Ayson checking out the smoked pig.  The pig went on at 5 pm on Friday and was done around 9 am the next morning!


Before and After


The kiddos playing Saturday afternoon.


Auntie Fran with the girls.


Jean (a friend of the family's) and Addie.  Addie was telling Jean about the dolly and her purple outfit.


On Saturday night, Mommy was up late chatting with Grandma and Ayson came down (upset because we forgot to brush his teeth). While waiting for Mommy and Grandma to go upstairs, Ayson fell asleep :) Mommy did carry Ayson upstairs, woke him up, and brushed his teeth before putting him back in bed.


Ayson had ALL green boxes this week (stop light colors for behavior) and he was able to pick a prize out of the box! Great job, Big Guy!  The "prize" Ayson picked was a little sticky lizard with a sticky tongue.


A picture that Ayson colored this week.


Mommy did not get a chance to ask Ayson about this picture as Mommy did not check his school folder (from Friday) until after Ayson was in bed on Sunday.  BUT, Mommy thinks the picture might have a Back to the Future theme. Mommy will ask Ayson on Monday and report back, so stay tuned!
UPDATE: Yes, Back to the Future with all of the circles and squiggles being fireworks.  The Stick figure on the left (top) is Doc Brown. You can CLEARLY see the hook on top of the car, can't you? :)  Yes, the clock tower appears to be on wheels in this rendition.


Everyday in class, the kids note the weather. Then they chart it AND graph it!