Apples, Kettle Corn & Donuts

Yesterday we went to our favorite apple orchard and this year it was big brother (instead of Dad) who lifted the girls way up high to pick the apples.  He loved his new job...

dramatic Julia...

Gianna wanted to recreate a picture I took of her when she was little eating an apple while apple picking...so here she is at 11...

and at just one years old...

The apples were so delicious!!

And this is what you look like when you have a mouth full of braces and bite into an apple...yuck!!

Nicholas is now at that age where you have to talk him into coming with the family to do things...and then if he says "no I'm not going" and we want him to go...we just tell him it's not his choice...sigh...but honestly he always ends up having a good time...

and this picture was taken from our apple picking day nine years ago...time flies so enjoy every minute with your babies...

My goofball...

and their apple cider donuts are amazing...

and so is their freshly made kettle corn...it's best when it's warm...yum!!!

Did I mention the donuts???

Our sleeping beauty was very tired after her long weekend...

Newport RI for the day

I had the best day today! Danny and I spent the day in Newport to celebrate our anniversary coming up.  We've been to Newport before but we've never done a tour or visited any of the mansions. It was the most perfectly gorgeous day today too...sunny and cool.  My kind of weather!

So we started the day with a scenic tour of Newport.  We did an official tour on a trolley.  I was really enjoying hearing about the history of Newport and all the gorgeous ocean views...until I got STUNG BY A STUPID BEE!!!  And boy oh boy did it hurt! My arm is still tender eleven hours later!  I have no idea where that little bugger came from. We never even saw it. But I wasn't going to let that ruin my day. So on we went to tour the Breakers...

It really was fabulous!  Not at all a place I would want to call home but you have to admire all the gorgeous elaborate details...

Just look at that ceiling...

And like I said...it was the most picture perfect fall day...

I could have sat and looked at the ocean all day...what gorgeous views...

I could live in that house over looking the ocean...it looks a little bit cozier than the Breakers... : )

I felt like I was in Downton Abbey...just look how many floors there are...and that's where all the servants lived way up there...

I had to take this picture of all the pineapples for Julia...she has an obsession with pineapples lately...

I thought this tree was so pretty...

After our tour, Danny and I had a delicious lunch and walked around for a while. After a yummy ice cream we headed home. It was the perfect day.

The Willis Clan

So anyone that knows me knows how much I love the Duggars...and how devastated I was when their scandal broke last year.  

So everything was right with my little reality TV world until it happened yet again to another one of my favorite families...the Willis Clan.  I cannot tell you how much this has devastated me.  I'm sure there will be a lot more information coming out about the family in the next few weeks and I am so incredibly sad for them. I'm praying for the family.  And I'm hoping...truly hoping...these charges are not true. They are such a talented group of kids and I wish them the very best.

Happenings

My cute fur baby KoKo...

I just love when he lies like this...

We took CeCe out to dinner for her birthday to our favorite burger place, KC's Burger Bar...

They make the most delicious shakes...

Gianna's tooth is really moving down!! Yay!! I'm so glad we made the decision for the second surgery!!

Julia worked our church fair this year in the face painting booth...

She's giving me the evil eye because I'm taking pictures...

She did a great job on Gianna!!

and she did an owl for me...love...

First day of school

We have a freshman in high school this year...gulp...

and two middle schoolers...Julia is off to 8th grade and Gianna is off to 6th grade...

Gianna is very excited to be at the Middle School this year.  She has quite a few good friends on her team so that should really help with the transition.  I know she'll make lots of new friends too. Julia has some good friends on her team this year too. She's always excited to start a new school year. She loves to get her backpack organized with all her matching folders, pens, pencils and markers. She was a great big sister and helped Gianna get her backpack ready too by organizing all her things. But I'm the most anxious about my boy...and for so many reasons. He's the typical boy though...he has his old backpack from last year (a new one is on the way thank goodness) and just a notebook and a pencil. Haha!! Simplicity is best for him I guess. I'm just praying he'll have a great year and make some nice high school memories. Fingers crossed!! : ) 

Back to School Ice Cream

School starts tomorrow!  So these friends met up for some ice cream to celebrate the new school year. 

8th graders...

and 6th graders...it's the first day of Middle School tomorrow for these girls!

Gianna flying through the air...

Talent Show

So we waited and waited and waited for Gianna's talent show to come on our local cable TV...and the recording was terrible. So this is a recording of a bad recording.  Oh well.  At least I have a copy of her dance.  She did such a great job! She's never danced on the stage all by herself...and in front of her school no less!! Brave girl!!  And I absolutely loved how the kids cheered each other on!!