I LOVE Fall!

Alex isn't sure if he does...

These three definitely do!

Erik and Alex

Ava, Anthony, and Alli

I love these two having their own conversation.

Reminded me of the movie Twilight.

On the bridge at Pelican Rapids.

Can you tell? I really love fall. The colors, the smells, the memories. I love it all!

This past weekend we were busy with Kris's benefit on Friday-went really well. So good to see all of you and catch up. Wished it could have lasted the weekend!

Saturday we got up early and picked up the boys from my in-law's. We decided to go to Maplewood State Park by Pelican Rapids and go hiking. Check out the leaves and enjoy the colors. I am so glad we did because it was gorgeous! The sights were really pretty but the weather was simply AMAZING. It was so nice out. We had four kids under the age of 6 on a 2 mile hike with no whining. That was how nice it was!

Check it out for yourself...

I have the BEST pictures of these two since birth.

Alex did so well, at one point he sat down in the middle of a field and said "All done." My camera was done at that point but Brian has it on his-post worthy for sure!

Pelican Rapids

Maplewood

We will be visiting Maplewood again with the kids. There were no rides or cotton candy and they still woke up wanting to go back again on Sunday. Sometimes we forget to keep it simple.

3 wishes today...

1. Freedom

2. Money

3. Happiness

Not necessarily in that order, that is just how they came to me. I wish this for my friend Kris whose benefit is tomorrow. Unless you have been living under a rock I am sure you have heard of it. She is very blessed to have so many people take action in making this event happen. Of course we feel blessed to be part of her second chance. Cuz, you know most of the time we love her and cannot get enough of her. Tomorrow night will definitely be one of those nights so I hope she is prepared for all the hugs, tears, and enormous love coming her way. If you have been living under a rock click on "Kris's Benefit" up above and find out where the best party of Fargo-Moorhead is going to be tomorrow night. Come celebrate with us! I promise you will have a blast, if not hit me up for a drink and we can chat.

I'm a big kid now!

Am I the only one in the process of transitioning my toddler to a big boys room? Big crocodile tears! These feelings are the ones that make you go and do something crazy. I still think it is amazing how we as parents wish them to become independent and in an instant beg the universe to keep them little people.

Regardless, Alex's room is getting an over haul as well. We have him in a big boy bed now but I am rethinking what I want for a headboard. I have been to countless furniture stores, websites, and garage sales. Then it occurred to me that I should check out what CSN stores has, why I did not think of this earlier I am not sure. Maybe pregnancy brain? Ha! Just kidding! 

But do check out what I found at their site. I am leaning towards a bookcase headboard because that frees up some space in Alex's room which is smaller plus gives me additional room for books, water cups, balls, tractors, etc. You get my drift? Besides once I comb through their huge selection I can get it shipped to me for free so there is no hassle of trying to get Erik to go pick it up or me trying to fit it in my crazy schedule.

So I am in the process of checking out more about CSN Stores,  I will be sure to let you know if they are too good to be true, but I can promise you if they are not I will be adding a big boy bookcase headboard to Alex's room very soon. To be continued...

Oh by the way-Anthony lost ANOTHER tooth last night, I am pretty sure he is going to be a jack-o'-lantern for Halloween because he seriously looks like one. Missing front tooth on top and a missing front tooth on the bottom on the opposite side. I am praying to the orthodontist spirits that they all come in straight. My parents had me at the orthodontist in second grade because I had super buck teeth. I wore a head gear to bed all of third grade. Now doesn't that tell a lot?!

5 Staples

So the cupboards are looking barren, the fridge is nearly empty, but you always have these 5 things-consider them the staples you always by at the grocery store. What are they?

I am sick of buying and making the same things. My staples are eggs, baby carrots, yogurt, peanut butter, and bread. No matter what you will find these in our cupboard or fridge.

Tonight I making beef stroganoff...any ideas to share for tomorrow?

The wheels on the bus go round and round!

So like I mentioned yesterday 1st grade hit me harder then expected. Regardless I muddled through the day and around 3 o'clock starting thinking about my big 1st grader getting on the bus to go home. The plan was for him to go to my daycare providers and get dropped off. Works pretty slick because she lives just a couple of blocks from us and will be waiting for both Anthony and her grandson to get dropped off by the bus. About 3:32 phone rings, I see it is "Grandma Lynn", and I know something has not gone smoothly.

 I answer and she is talking really fast and breathless that Anthony did not get off the bus. Clayton said that Anthony stayed on when they came to her stop. It must have been mother's instinct but I knew he was fine. Anthony is pretty independent. Lynn told me she was going to call the bus company. We hung up. I called her two minutes later to say I was going to go to our house. My drive home I was a little anxious because I didn't want his first day of 1st grade to be traumatic.

I pull up. No Anthony on the step. I open the garage door and run into the house. By this time my heart is racing. "Anthony, Anthony, are you here?" No response. But there's Betty who should be in her kennel staring at me at the top of the stairs. 

"Hi Mom, I'm up here watching I-Carly and eating goldfish." My little stud goes through to tell me that he knew our garage code and let himself in. He knew after the bus left Lynn's he needed to get off at our house. He wasn't sure if he should walk there or go in. He thought it was safer to go in.

I was SO PROUD! He did exactly what he should have done from my perspective and I was really proud he went with his instinct. The situation could have gone many other ways.

Go Anthony! He did ask if he could come home everyday after school and I made it clear that even though today was an accident from now on we have to follow the plan. But I feel better that if he is in a position like that again he will be able to handle it without panic and think it through. Now my daycare provider on the other hand-she was in tough shape. Told her things happen, especially with 60 kids on a bus. Pretty sure she took a hot bath last night...

Lake buddies!

Since I am too depressed to post first day of school pictures, I am going to post end of summer pictures when Anthony was not quite an official first grader yet (I had no idea 1st grade was going to be so tough on me).

This is our other family from Tony's Campground at Lake Ida whom we have too much fun with!

Sammy

Landon and Baxter

Conner and Alex

Bailey Girl

Sam and Dylan

Bree

Kuntz Boys Carson and Conner

Gina...always on a mission!

Ry Guy

Anthony loves a crowd!

Bailey Boy, Dylan, and Anthony

Nothing like an"old school" swing-set

Never too old to hold them?

Because I feel like it...

Alex is goofy, uninhibited, and a whole lot of fun!

He is my wild child! He is my joy!

I look forward to seeing him spread joy as he grows...hopefully with clothes on.

But for now he is clearly dancing like nobody is watching and I LOVE IT!