Fall Fun

Fall is definitely in the air! I cannot believe how much it has cooled down. The leaves are turning colors and dropping. The air is crisp. We are searching through Rubbermaid bins for our warm jackets, hats, mittens. Yes, fall is here and winter is not far behind.

With our weekends at the camper winding to a close, Daddy needed some time last weekend to get the boat winterized. Jodi, Shelley, and I decided to take the kids to an apple orchard and pumpkin patch.


Kendall just had to taste the pumpkin!

If you knew about the relationship these girls have with corn on the cob, you would see the humor in this picture of Sydney!

Awww....big sister holding baby brother. Gotta love the belly hanging out!

All of the kids together. This location would be a great photo op if the orchard had paid a little more attention to one aspect of the background. Can you figure out what makes me laugh but really bugs me about this picture????

MMMMOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYY There is an alpaca kissing me!!!!

This was my favorite part of the whole day! The kids were checking out the animals in the petting zoo when this alpaca leaned down to nuzzle Cameron. The poor kid did not know what to think. He didn't cry, but I could tell he was very close!

We are sad to bid summer farewell, but look forward to the beauty of the fall leaves in the coming weeks!

Face Plant

I’ve been predicting all summer.

Cameron loves to play at the door in our camper. Given his love for playing at the door, I just knew the day would come when he would fall out it – and down those heavy metal camper steps.

The day has finally come.

On Sunday the weather was horrible. The wind was gusting at 30+ MPH, the rain was coming down sideways. It was so bitterly cold so the rain felt like sleet. Mike and I decided to close up the camper and head for home. We were nearly finished and Madison came running out of the camper with her jacket and shoes on. So, I closed the door and helped her into the car. Then I went back for Cam.

I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me that he was probably standing at that door. I whipped open the door against the strong winds and out tumbled Cameron!

I remember screaming, but I’m sure the strong winds just blew the screams away.

Cam did two full somersaults before I caught him.

I quickly scooped him up and held him close. Miraculously, he was no worse for the wear! He had a small scrape on his cheek, under his eye but was otherwise unhurt. Of course, he was screaming and had giant crocodile tears rolling down his face. I’m sure he was more scared than anything.

Do you suppose he has learned that he shouldn't play at the door? I can't wait for my deck to be set up, so I don't have to worry about him falling down those stairs anymore!

Halloween Already?

Last weekend was Halloween at Cozy Corners. There were events for the kiddos and for the adults.

Madison and Cameron happily dressed up for a costume contest and for trick or treating around the campground!

Madison’s costume, as she describes it was:

Witch Tights
Witch boots
Witch dress
And a witch hat.

She made a very cute little witch!

Cameron was a round little pumpkin – which is really no different than any other day, except for the hat! I love how cute he looks with the hat on crooked.

I’m not sure how the judging worked out on the costume contest – they never really said. I do know that neither or my little goblins received a ribbon but I’m not sure what they were giving ribbons out for. Cameron didn’t have a chance in his category. There was a newborn dressed as a bumble bee – and, really, how does anyone compete with an uber-cute, fresh from God newborn, let alone one dressed as a bumblebee?

The Dobbelaere twins were dressed as a ladybug and bumble bee. They were very cute and had tons of fun during their first trick or treating experience! They were also joined by their older cousin, Jack, who dressed up as Jeff Gordon. It worked out perfectly for trick or treating because Jack and Madison were able to go with one another and the littler kids didn’t have to worry about keeping up.

There was even a haunted house! The campground pulls in an old semi trailer and converts it into a haunted house. It is free with a donation to the food shelf. Each trip through the haunted house was tailored to those that were going through it. Madison was very adamant that she did not want to go through the haunted house. She would point to it and say “mama, I don’t want to go in that.” Jodi grabbed her anyway and brought her through. The actors were very careful to make it fun for Madison – nobody reached out and grabbed her or jumped out to scare her. She actually enjoyed going through it.

The evening ended with five over-tired, sugared up little goblins. It was a lot of fun and now the kiddos can’t wait for Halloween!

swimming

A few weekends back, we were enjoying a potluck taco dinner. We were at the camper - my parents were visiting and we were joined by many friends from around the campground.

I was being pulled in a million different directions. Cameron and Madison needed plates of food, someone needed a spoon, sour cream, etc. All I wanted to do was sit down and eat my taco.

I was hungry.

Our friends have a kiddie pool on their campsite for the kids to play in. I recall Madison saying she wanted to swim. I recall someone asking me if it was okay.

I said sure. Not really thinking about the fact that she wasn't wearing a swimsuit.

Again, all I wanted to do was eat my taco. I would have agreed to just about anything at that point, just for a moment of silence in which to enjoy the pile of rice, beans, veggies, meat, and cheese that were wrapped in a flour tortilla on my plate.

Minutes later, I look up to see a look of absolute horror on Mike's face.

There was Madison, in the kiddie pool, completely naked!

There is a picture of her in this state. Imagine the picture of her above, but without clothing. Ok, don't imagine it - that's sick. But - you get the idea.

Hand me down jersey

Poor Cameron - he has a hand me down Packers Jersey. Kiddos grow so fast, we don't dare buy a new jersey. So, for now, Daddy has doctored the jersey a bit. We're not bitter or anything.

Despite the old jersey, he is pretty cute in green!

Sunday School

Is it a sign of the H1N1 times? Madison is enjoying a snack on her first day of Sunday School - and there is a full bottle of germX right in front of her!

Madison loved Sunday School. She has a name tag and her teacher sends home notes and information in her very own bible bag. Madison's favorite part of Sunday School was music time where they went to a big music room and sang with a guy who played the guitar.

All morning after Sunday School I could hear Madison singing "My God is so Great. My God is so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do!" It was so cute. I have been teaching her Jesus Loves Me, but this song seems to be an easier tune for her to pick up!

Since it was rally day, there was a carnival for the Sunday School students on the church lawn. It included bounce houses, inflatable slides, popcorn, freeze pops, and tatoos! Madison had a blast and said as we were leaving "I'm coming back to Church everyday!!!"

So - when do we tell her that the inflatable slide and bounce houses won't be there the next time she comes back?

Remembering

On this day last year I was driving home to Monticello as fast as I could. It was pouring down rain and I was trying to make the 120 mile trip on bald tires. Given that I live so far away, I had said my goodbye on my visit the weekend before. Despite that, I still wanted to be there. I wanted to hold her hand, I wanted to hug my mom, and I wanted to just be with my family while an angel got her wings.

Sadly, I did not make it in time. God had patiently waited long enough while my Grandma hung on through the handful of early September birthdays and now he had an urgent need for a new angel.

Rest in Peace, Gramma ‘Doon. I miss you more with each day that passes. Oh – and I’m anxiously awaiting your message on my cell phone!

It is also the day to remember the tragic attacks of 09/11/2001. I’ll never forget that day. I sat on my bed in just a towel, having just finished a shower. I couldn’t take my eyes off the TV as I watched two seemingly indestructible buildings fall to the ground. For all the terrible things that happened that day there is always a silver lining. The worst brought out the best in Americans. Flags are now flown proudly outside our homes, we thank servicemen and women when we pass them on the street, and we send care packages to the troops. People line the streets as a military unit deploys or comes home and we weep over those lost. Yes, the worst really does bring out our best. God Bless America.

Coming soon to a blog near you – more posts to make you laugh! It’s been a tough month, sorry for all the downer posts! I, for one, am ready to tell some fun stories!