Apple Picking at Conklin Farms in Pamona NY

On Saturday we went apple picking with some friends from church. The kids had a blast, and it was an amazingly beautiful day!! We all ate at least two apples while filling up our bag!! The kids thought it was the coolest thing and Mason actually took a bite out of 10 or more apples, he just couldn' t find the right one:)

Yes, there is a bite out of each of those!!

Camera hog Colin:)

Tree hugger

Trying to get a nice picture of ourselves while keeping our eyes on the kids.

Notice Rylee's baby doll has a matching outfit on.

Mason's 2nd birthday!!

So for Mason's second birthday on the 18th we went to Chuck E Cheese's. My mom was here visiting and my dad and his wife Anita drove over for the day from Connecticut. We went to Chuck e cheeses for dinner and dessert!! It was nice having 3 extra adults at chuck e cheeses with the kids. It allowed for some relaxing (kind of) time for Jim and I.
I can't believe my little man is 2!! They are all growing up so fast, it seems like it was yesterday I moved to Hawaii and only had an 8 month old baby!!

Yes I made this. It actually turned out better than I thought!

Dinner time!!

Papa and Rylee

Party time

The Gingerbread theme continues...........

So as I mentioned in the last blog, Colin's kindergarten class is working on Gingerbread men as their theme for September. As an activity, they brought home a recipe for gingerbread. We decided to try it out this past weekend, and we all had fun, even daddy!!!


And Jim's lovely gingerbread lady!! Anatomically correct!!

Decorating the gingerbread men and eathing the frosting too! Isn't that a guilty face?

The finished product!! Colins is the gigantic one and Rylee's are the three small ones, with help from mom!

Rylee, "are they done yet?"

Making the gingerbread men, Mason was eating him!

Mixing it up!!

The ingredients all laid out and measured for the kids.

Colin's first week at school!

Colin's first week of school went great!! He seems extremely interested and LOVES the books they read. The theme for the month of September is Gingerbread Men. They have been reading books and doing activities with gingerbread. I never knew there were so many versions of the gingerbread man! He is making friends and last Wednesday, Jim and I got to meet the teacher, without kids.
His teacher is wonderful!! She has been teaching for 25 years, and is retiring after this year. She teaches the kids sign language as well! She is energetic, and enthusiastic and excited about being there, which is great because if rubs off on Colin!! Rylee and Mason are still sad every morning when he leaves for school, but it is a nice time to bond with them and do some activites!


Gram DeMola came for a visit the following sunday. September 12th.

Colin getting off the bus the first day of school!

Colin's school bus coming down the street to drop him off!!!

Colins First day of school!!

So, today was Colin's first day of school!! Yes I cried. I will keep you updated on his adventures at school as the days go on. This is a short week for him, so he only has 2 days.
Over the holiday weekend, my In Laws were here visiting and we went to NYC for the day on Saturday. There are a few pictures from that.
Otherwise, all is well. Weather is getting cooler, kids are getting bigger and thats about it.


Colin on the bus

Colin shaking the bus drivers hand.

Here comes the bus!!!

Goodbye hugs.

Superman stance

Colin's new backpack.

Family photo on our front porch. A nice neighbor offered to take this for us.

Mason said he had to go potty, he didn't but he sure looked cute!

People running in the fountain, the security came and kicked them out. Not sure if they were arrested, but it was interesting.

Mom and Dad Stampfer in NYC, Times Square.

I love this picture!!

The princess