Sunday, October 25, 2009

Our Fall Tradition

It's that time of year again ... we load up and take a scenic drive to Coloma to visit Jollay Orchards. This is our third year, and the kids love it! Our first stop is the diner in town though ...Corey and I have our favorite liver and onions (which is why he fell in love with me) and the kiddos usually split the chicken fingers. They're awarded with a special treat - quarters to get something out of the 'junk' machines ... Isaac's prize was very amusing this year (as you'll see as you scroll down). Then it's off to the farm. Hayrides, apple picking, fishing pond, haunted house, corn maze, pumpkin patch, hot apple cider, puppet shows, petting zoo ... you name it - we do it ... twice!
This morning, I have to admit ... I wasn't feeling it. Staying home sounded like a much better idea ... what was I thinking? It's a tradition. That means every year - no matter what - we go. I'm so glad we did ... and I'm so glad we do. Just the four of us - an afternoon of laughing, smiling ... no tv, no phone ... just us. Memories for the kids, and hopefully something that they carry on some day. And when they're grown and gone ... Corey and I will still be driving up to Coloma every October ... because that's what a tradition is all about!


              
  
               
                           


      the end to another great day ... and many more to come!


Friday, October 16, 2009

Taylor Made...

Miss Taylor has style written all over her, with a capital "S"! She's so easy to photograph, we could have shot all day ... too bad the weather was chilly ... we had to come in to warm up! Her 'pics' turned out amazing - as expected - I've had the honor of photographing her before ... she can't take a bad picture if she tried ... way to go Taylor ... you rock girl!! Here's just a few ...


       





        

                 

                 

         


Thursday, October 15, 2009

Celebrating Love

Corey and I celebrated our 1st Anniversary on October 11th. In one thought, it's hard to believe that it's been a year already ... and thinking twice, it seems as if we've been together forever, like an old pair of shoes - so comfortable and worn in.  As we celebrated 1 year, his youngest daughter celebrated her 1 month. Amanda and Elijah married on September 11th, a perfectly beautiful day for an intimate backyard wedding. The bride and groom were as gorgeous as the weather ... here are a few of my favorites ...

our grandson, Eli, handsome little man slept through the whole thing!! (yes, i'm a grandma ... Eli makes 5 grandkids ... who would have ever thought?!?!?)


 



this is definitely one of my favs!!







Jeffery(the oldest grandson), picking up berries ...






showing off the ring to grandma and grandpa ...



Congratulations you two. Your dad and I wish you many, many years of happiness. Always love each other, always respect each other, and always kiss each other goodnight.

Where have I been?

Well... it's been a busy few weeks. With so many things going on at once, and 'life' thrown into the middle of it, I've been spending my free time on my website instead of here ... so I figured I'd take a moment to at least update my status. The kids are almost done with soccer :(  Alexia will be starting tournament games next week ... and Isaac is the new up and coming "soccer star", as he likes me to call him when I tuck him in now! They're both little naturals on the field, and I love, love, love it!!



My husband and I have much to celebrate as well. He turned the BIG 4 - 0, and I tried to pull off a surprise birthday party for him, though I don't know how much I believe him when he says he was surprised? I think he kind of expected something like that from me!  He, on the other hand, had a wonderful surprise for our anniversary ... a living room full of new furniture! He never fails to amaze me. And to top it all off ... we were able to sneak away, alone, for a few days on our much needed vacation ... and enjoy each other, doing a whole lot of nothing! Happy Anniversary honey ... I love you ... so much.