I'm in love...

I have the coolest friends ever! Yep...some of my friends from church all went in together and bought me this beeyyuutiful pink kitchen aid mixer for my birthday. What used to be only a dream is now a reality sitting prettily on my kitchen counter.

Today, we christened it by making chocolate chip blondies.

Naomi was fascinated and begged to pour the flour in. I obliged.

Emma helped with clean-up.

While Ruth colored and looked on. 

Yes, I truly do have awesome friends. But, not just because they got me a pink kitchen aid mixer. Nope. They are awesome friends because of their thoughtfulness, kindness and love for me and my family. For bending over backwards to make sure I had a great birthday. For taking the time to do something that they totally did not have to do.

I LOVE the friends that God has put in my life! Thank you dear ones, not just for the pink kitchen aid mixer (though I'm LOVING it), but for your friendship and love!

Friends and Firsts

This weekend, we visited our friends James and Sarah and their kids. As usual we had lots of fun. On Saturday, we rode the metro to D.C. and visited the Smithsonian Museum to watch an IMAX video. All firsts for the girls and I had to document it. Quite an experience dragging 5 kids around D.C. but so much fun and lots of memories! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apple Pickin'

Today, we went apple picking. It was another beautiful day in our neck of the woods...perfect weather for being outside and picking apples. The girls really enjoyed it. And me, too...although I didn't do as much apple picking as I did picture taking.

We had to walk a country mile to get to and from the apple trees. The way there...not too bad. The way back toting bags of apples and dealing with a not so happy little girl by the name of Ruth whose biggest complaint was that her legs were too heavy and she was sooo slow...bad. Lord help us all. We survived the walk, had lunch and watched the boys and girls play hide and go seek behind apple trees. Fun stuff!

Yesterday, pumpkin picking. Today, apple picking. Tomorrow, sleeping in...hopefully. 

We're all tuckered picked out.

Pumpkin Patch

Today was a beautiful pumpkin picking day, so I loaded up the car with the little girlies and we went with some friends to a nearby pick your own pumpkin patch. There was so much excitement and lots of indecision in picking their perfect pumpkin.

And, of course, with little girls there comes a little drama...such as screaming at the top of one's lungs when being attacked by a ferocious pumpkin vine, or a killer ant, or venomous snails.

Overall, a very fun, beautiful fall day!

         

A friend comes to visit

Today, we had a visit from a friend.  

 

Emma kept giving him hugs.

Ruth decided to smile a genuine smile for the camera.

 

We discovered something on the tree. Any guesses what it is?

Yes! They are bug shells. I know that's not the technical term for it, but that's what we now call them at our house.

Icky, Icky, says Me!

 

While the girls picked bug shells off the tree, Emma had fun putting a bucket on her head...

 

...which I thought was quite hilarious to watch and couldn't help but chuckle. 

 

Meanwhile, the girls tried to come up with a way to pick the bug shells off that were out of their reach.

And, Ruth fell off the bucket.

So, Naomi tried.  {With no success, I might add}

And, I took a REALLY, REALLY up close picture of myself and Emma and thought that it was cute of her so I decided to share.

I love her squishy cheeks.

And, then we ate lunch.

Make the most out of your everyday moments...and be sure to photograph them, even if you do fill up 100 hard drives with all of the pictures!

You'll thank yourself for it one day!