blogging..no pictures

So I haven't really posted anything since our vacation road trip --- I have so many pictures to try and figure out which ones to put up --- and then I am waiting for all of the pictures taken with my parents cameras... It was a blast!

Some crazy fun memories --- I ran over my first dead (it was already dead) animal - and it happened to be a skunk...ewww! That poor tire still smells. Boston is a lot like San Fran but the buildings are much more beautiful -- those roads are not made for mini vans - in fact, I think the person that invented the Smart Car had driven on those streets and realized we need some small cars (we had to push in the mirrors a few times to fit)

My Dad had a few OMGosh moments that were super funny -- in a car long enough with family and you get loopy - just a look can make you crack up with laughter.

We loved Portland Maine! So pretty! The lighthouses were more amazing than I thought they'd be. And someone actually thought I was from the North because I had flips on in weather that was in the low 30s...hehe same with Jon and Shortie.

We saw 5 moose!!! a little freaky to drive at night with a possible moose in the road (look up moose accidents and you'll understand why you should drive slowly when a Moose Crossing sign is up --- they rip tops off of cars...its insane)

We went to the border of Canada! Next time we are going to go to Canada - but we didn't have enough time.

Oh, and I had my first 'road rage' type thing...sort of...I guess I was a typical North Eastern attitude person... there was a lady standing on the side of the road with her dog on a leash, and the dog was in the road! No joke --- standing in the road - and she was letting him... so I yelled "Move Your Dog, Idiot"...I was afraid it would get hit...but I didn't realize my Mom had her window down...ekkk... it was a young lady (my age-ish) and she did move her dog and give me a death but embarrassed type look - but we all started laughing...it was horrible.... I've never really yelled at people ---and the one time I do - the window was down --- I'm still laughing just thinking about it --- not the best moment - but it was funny!

In Vermont we went to a castle --- and 5 covered bridges --- a little freaky driving on them - they make some funky noises - but they are beautiful.

The fall foliage was breathtaking. The Northern New England states had such vibrant colors. Just living there (or visiting) would inspire you to be an artist --- I can't wait to paint some - the colors just went on and on - amazing views - things that you see in art but never dream of it being real -- I can't wait to see my parents photos!

So we went from Virginia to Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Pennsylvania.

that makes 31 states that Jon and I have been to in the last few years!

Playing at the Hammonds

Last weekend when my parents were in town we did a photo shoot at the Hammond's house with some of the kiddos from church. Shortie and Bubba loved hanging out and playing with all the toys -- plus eating some delicious breakfast and lunch.

Shortie, Madeleine, Bubba, and Matthew

Jon giving kids a bath

last week while trying to get ready for the trip Jon was giving the kids a bath --- I walked in and was surprised to see a little boy in the tub with a long sleeve shirt on... Jon said he didn't want to take it off and climbed right in... silly Bubba

Zek and Shortie

Zek holding his bottle and actually keeping it in his mouth!!! yippy!!! This is his first time doing it successfully!

Zek saying "help me mom! What are they doing to me?"

love it!

Shortie pretending to be a baby... but then she couldn't get out... it was pretty funny!

Kiddos picking apples

Shortie and Bubba looking for a nice big tree with apples low enough for them to pick

Baby Zek all nice and cozy

Bubba finding some yummy apples

Shortie not wanting to wait to eat the apple...she was just going to take a bite out of it while it was still attached... silly Shortie

Some of our apples the kids picked

One of them picked a tiny tiny apple... smaller than the nail polish bottle... its so cute you just don't want to eat it :0)

Apple Picking at Stridling Orchard

Today we went apple picking at Stridling Orchard with Rebecca and her five little ones, & Laura and her three little ones. It was a beautiful chilly day.

Green Bubba

Bubba turned himself green... he was coloring lots of pictures, and somehow colored all over his arms. He then rubbed his face, and turned his face green... everything he touched turned green!

Kid pictures at Cox Farms

So yesterday we went to Cox Farms in Centreville - it was a blast. Jon had a doctors appointment that morning so he had the day off - so he got to join us (he was very excited about going - he had almost as much fun as the kids) We went with Laura and her kids (her twins are in between Bubba and Shortie's age, and her little baby girl is a few weeks younger than Zek). Laura's friend and her daughter (three in June) also joined us.

having fun

slides are fun - no matter how big or small - young or old

can you believe Jon fit in this tunnel slide ---

pile up

where did he go? I see feet

Our kids love apples - and they had free fresh local apples - yummy!

feeding the goats... Bubba dropped his cone and all the goats ran over to get some

Baby Zek was in the carrier for the whole time other than lunch - so he got to enjoy the slides too :o) this a picture of him learning about his hands - he has finally figured out that he controls them :0)

Family Pictures at Cox Farming

Jon and two of the kiddos having fun on the bridge

All three kiddos and myself sitting on some of the pumpkins on the way out

another traditional photo... not bad, only Jon got cut out - in the other one, it was only Jon, a little Zek, and a liitle of Bubba

Fun Pictures at Cox Farms

I love indian corn, so pretty! Great colors!

we thought it was funny that the apple cider was in a bourbon whiskey barrel!

Fun fall colors - pumpkins and squash

Funny parking sign

(click on it to enlarge - to read it)

Some of the pigs

church ... practice

This is a video from Sunday, while the worship team was practicing. All Shortie and Bubba wanted to do was go into their Sunday School class, they love church! Jon is singing and playing one of my favorite songs in the background

Date Night

The Brown family was very generous to babysit all three kiddos so we could go on a date night! The kids loved it - and so did Jon and I :0)

Here's our typical picture where one of us has our head cut off.. the picture Jon took doesn't have any of me in it... we are so not good at taking pictures of ourselves... but its become a laughable tradition

It had been raining the last few days --- effects of hurricane Kyle. On our way to our date there was a beautiful double rainbow. Its a little hard to see the second one in the photo - by the time we got the camera out, it was fading... but it was still really cool

Bake Sale Goodies

Here are some of the goodies we made for the Church Bake Sale... for the mission trip

Four bowls getting prepared to make four dozen cinnamon rolls. So Yummy! I love making cinnamon rolls! Although our oven never does the right temp, and it constantly changing...its horrible. Some of the cinnamon rolls were extra gooey...

Some of our cookies...peanut butter oatmeal clusters, messy goodness (extra messy, the rain doesn't allow the caramel to set, and its so gooey and yummy and messy), and gluten free organic p.b. cookies (yummy...so hard not to eat all of these)

Caramel Popcorn and Cinnamon Hazelnut Biscotti

Baking lots of goodies... So Yummy!!!!! Baked lots and lots of goodies.