Getting It Done

I had big plans last Saturday... But then again, so did Pops! He climbed up high in the tree tops and took down an enormous branch, effectively blocking the driveway and forcing us all to help in the branch removal. That sneaky devil!

We helped him out, but we were on a mission: #1 Superkid was about a week away from his Cub scout Pack meeting, and I found out about 2 weeks before that that Wolf book he brought home last year is just for 1 year, not all 3! Doh! So we had big work to do to sure up Sam's Wolf badge. Including a visit to the fire station. We were double lucky, not only is the fire station in walking distance (which is good when you are barricaded in), but also they were having an open house! Bonus round! So we mosied down the street to what turned out to be the BEST excursion of all time.

Plenty of fire trucks, utility trucks, and even a police boat to climb on!

This made us all very happy.

We even got to practice turning on the electricity in the neighborhood! 

Those gloves can take 20,000 volts!

We had a great time, but we couldn't stick around forever, we had to get to the farm! Sadly, we missed out on the last of the season's apples. We consoled ourselves by picking some pumpkins instead!

We felt so accomplished after our day's labors that we treated ourselves to freshly made (cows in the back of the stand) ice cream from our favorite place, Peaceful Meadows. Okay, the whole farm trip was just a rouse to get a fantastic ice cream cone on the way home!

So rich!

So creamy!

Even Superkid, the ice cream eating MACHINE, couldn't make it all the way through. 

Seriously, this stuff is deadly.

Half Way There!

9 Years ago today, this sweet little creature joined the family. Pops and I used to stand over his bassinet and watch him blow bubbles and snooze. Not really sure what to do, besides love him. 

I would have never guessed how fast 9 years would fly by and this little monster would grow up!

 Just 9 more years and we will unleash this kid on the world. I am actually dead sure the world is a better place because Superkid has taken his place in it!

There was quite the celebration around here to cheer in Superkid's upcoming year...

And only a Cold Stone peanut butter ice cream cake would do for the occasion.

Superkid made out like a bandit. "D-Rex" took his place in the family. Tadpole and Little Chief were home when he arrived in the mail. Pops swore the two little leaks to secrecy. Of course the 2 little boys screamed the secret from the house top when Superkid got home from school... but for some reason Superkid was still surprised when he opened the dinosaur.

The FX light saber has been the focus of much conversation around here, Superkid was pumped to call it his own.

And lest you think the sword is mightier than the pen, you should know that Superkid put his 3CPO pen to work drawing robots right away. It hasn't left his hand. 

If you didn't know, Superkid is quite the artist!

Superkid, we LOVE you to pieces. Don't grow up too fast. We love having you here and you will always be ours. You have made our lives WONDERFUL. We love your bright, creative mind, and your snuggly tender heart. 

Happy Birthday!

"I Don't Want It To End Mom"

Conference weekend means one thing around here. 

Not even a mother with gestational diabetes is enough to extinguish the greatest tradition of all time. Cinnamon Roll Sunday.

We snarfed them hard and fast.

Even those of us with a freshly plucked front tooth managed to pound down a few sweet tender pillows of goodness.

Finger licking good!

Then it was time to hunker down to hear the sage words of the prophet and his counselors

or not. 

We didn't make it past the opening song before the pillow fight broke out.

Eventually things died down and a few of us even partook in the beloved "conference nap".

Abz and I found a little time between sessions to whip out a Halloween frock.

We've been dying to get back to the sewing machine ever since we sewed a dress for one of her favorite girls. Abz is super happy because she has been taking the driving seat behind the sewing machine these days.

All and all, a fabulous weekend. As the last session was wrapping up, Superkid said, "I don't know why, but I am sad that conference is ending". I hear you Superkid. I always feel sad to see it end too.

Glama Time!

When the cat's away the mice will play!

...with Glama, that is! 

If you think Pops and I had all the fun while in NYC, you obviously didn't poke your head in around here! With Glama in the house, there is never a dull moment. 

She packed a suitcase full of fun. Plenty-o-crafts!

Including Spooky ghost feet to decorate our kitchen!

There were also scrumptious sugar cookies to make, decorate and consume!

And all the time a bounty of Halloween songs to tickle our funny bones! 

We have been singing them all month long.

To thank Glama, the wee Toads and I took her Mermaid soul to the beach to re-connect with her element!

Little Chief did his best to take flight with the seagulls...

We ran and ran and ran!

The Atlantic may be icy, but not nippy enough to keep our dogs from prancing in the surf

But the best part of having Glama in the house is definitely the snuggling!

We can NEVER get enough of that.

We LOVE you Glama. 

Thank-you for coming out and spoiling us!

NYC!

About a year and a half ago, Pops went to the preview of the Book of Mormon musical. 

He was in love. 

He jumped online and bought tickets to the closing weekend performance. I was dubious at the time. 

#1. These tickets were NOT cheap. 

#2. I wasn't sure that I wasn't jepordizing my salvation to attend such a blasphemous show. 

Over the months Pops has blasted the musical through the house and I have to admit the music is really catchy. As the big day approached we decided to make it an anniversary retreat. We flew Glama out to take care of the kiddos and Pops booked us accomadations in the Marriot in Times Square. 

This is the view from our hotel window.

With a view like this, and being the lumbering pregnant lady I am, I saw very little need to do much beyond lay around our fabulous hotel. However, on the other hand, we had to take advantage of traveling without a hoard of children so we did hit a few of NYC's *MUSTS*. 

First off on Pop's list, Federal Hall.

You know, the place where George Washington was sworn into office. The actual building is gone, but here is the stone Washington stood on for the ceremony...

...and the bible he placed his hand upon while taking the oath of office. 

Very Exciting.

Right across the street is the New York Stock Exchange

And 23 Wall Street. In its hayday the headquarters of JP Morgan and company, now a Halloween costume shop. Pops was disgusted that the very institution where JP Morgan provided liquidy to the govenrment before the Federal Reserve was established back in the 1880s, was now a seasonal shop. God bless commerce!

We also circumnavigated Ground Zero and the new Freedom tower that is being erected.

That evening we dined at the restaurant on top of our hotel called , The View. 

The food was DELICIOUS, and the restaurant rotates 360 degrees in an hour. 

Very cool.

First up on the docket Saturday morning, a session at the new Manhattan Temple.

Followed by a stroll through Central Park, where we bumped into Benjamin Netanyahu, his wife (in blue) and about 30 of his security detail.

And what else do you do after bumping into the Prime Minister of Isreal but go to the Carnegie Deli for a bowl of matzah ball and borcht soup?

That evening we met up with some of our favs. Pops went to the Book of Mormon Musical preview with his buddies Dave and Ben. His best buds both soon moved away. We were VERY glad that David and  Shannon could meet us in NYC for the big night. We joined them for dinner at McCormick and Schmit's, their past regular lunch place. 

It was SO good to be with old friends! We miss them terribly.

Here are the guys.

The Musical is seriously good. We enjoyed ourselves immensely.

I LOVE this guy's smile. 

It was WONDERFUL to spend the weekend ALONE with him. That hasn't happened in 9 years. Love our kids, and we talked about them a lot, but it was fun to just be together. 

Let's do it again!

Word Economy

Tadpole's nightly prayer:

"Heavenly Father, I am thankful for everything I'm supposed to say in a prayer, except for bad guys. Amen".

Dedicated to the Honey Crisp

I *LOVE* Honey Crisp apples.

Obviously more than I love my sanity. 

The window was narrowing for Honey Crisp harvest and I counted my weekends and knew I needed to strike or loose the chance to pluck my own sweet gem of goodness straight off the tree and let it burst in my mouth. I probably eat an apple every single day, but as Honey Crisp season approaches I cannot even gag down one of those tasteless store bought apples.

So what's a girl to do? Pops was unavailable for back-up, and I couldn't be swayed. Maybe you have to have experienced an outing with Little Chief to fully appreciate the courage and effort it takes to leave the house with the little guy... not to mention the other 3 Toads and the bulging 5th. Add to that the hoards of New Englanders that descend on orchards on Autumn Saturdays. But the call of Honey Crisp cannot be ignored. So I came up with a plan. 

#1 Get to the farm right when it opens.

#2 Park *right* next to the farm store.

#3 Buy the apple cider donuts (all 3 dozen of them) 1st thing to avoid long lines and tantruming children later.

#4 Stuff a donut in everyone's mouth and toss the rest in the conveniently parked van.

#5 Hop on the hay ride out to the orchard.

#6 Cut straight to the Honey Crisps and pick 1/2 bushel (This took A LOT of self control. I normally go for MUCH more, but knew my limitations. I couldn't carry 2 giant bags of apples and a tantruming 2 year old out. I also knew I couldn't be trusted to make the socially acceptable decision between the apples and the fit throwing 2 year old, so 1 giant bag it was).

#7 Cut through the pumpkin patch for photo opp.

#8 Get out before the crowds descend.

Everything went off exactly as planned. 

So perfect that we completed steps #1-#8 in 45 minutes.

 I benevolently allowed the Toads 15 whole minutes to play at the play ground for falling in line behind my plan. No dawdling for us... we still had our monthly Costco trip ahead of us.

Here are my conquering Toads. Look, everyone made it without melting down! Even me!

The hay ride is a must. It is what Tadpole and Little Chief LIVE for.

Oh! Sweet! Honey Crisp!

A little tricky if you are missing one of your front teeth...

Okay, maybe this one was a little less sweet...

I am proud to say that apple picking is a ritual for Superkid. 

He can't imagine autumn without it.

See, I even let the troops take a break in the pumpkin patch.

I am delighted to have a fridge full of goodness and I have loved every single sweet orb. 

We had a great time. 

 I have to say that I miss all of my apple picking pals and leisurely days in the orchards. 

Okay, we are going to have to do it again, even if the Honey Crisps are past.