FALL BLOCK PARTY . . .

October 2008

*This was the 2nd year that we went to our annual block party.

It is a great time to get to know other couples in our neighborhood. They always have

food and games for the kids to play. This year they also had a firetruck along with a hayride, which all the kids seemed to like.

Daddy, Nicholas and Carlee on the hayride. It was soooooo cold that evening!!!

(Mommy and Camille stayed behind!)

Rounnd two of the hayride!

Daddy helping Carlee with the balloon game. The kids had to get their balloon, blow it up as fast as they could and then sit on it to pop it. Some balloons had a slip of paper inside to tell them what they won. Nicholas and Carlee didn't win.

This is Carlee playing another game with some of the neighborhood kids. She had to make a path with the circles. Whichever team got theirs done first won.

Carlee's team won!!!

Gramling Apple Farm ~ October 2008

GRAMLING APPLE FARM

October 11, 2008

This was our Fall outing with our Bible Fellowship Classs at church.

The kids loved it and we all had a great time!

Carlee and Nick checking out the tractors.

Trying to get a decent picture with all 3 is impossible these days!

Nicholas was more interested in rolling the pumpkins around.

Watching them make homemade apple cider was pretty neat.

Even Nicholas enjoyed watching!

First they ground up the apples . . .

Then out came the cider . . . yum!!!

The horse and buggy ride . . . so much fun!!!

Nicholas enjoying the horse and buggy ride!

Carlee and Camille loved it as well!!!

The corn maze walk . . .or as Nicholas called it, "carrotts"!

(The man was telling us some info. about the unused corn stalks and things

they can make out of it and Nicholas was standing here in the background saying,

"Look Daddy. Carrots"! I coldn't help but laugh.

Everyone found there way out of the corn path . . . eventually :)!

Camille enjoying herself at the apple farm!

There were also horses, rabbits and goats for the kids to pet and see.

I think the kids enjoyed the rabbits the best!

Nicholas enjoyed climbing the horses fence the best!

"Watch me Daddy!"

We had a great time at the farm, and celebrating Fall with our friends from church.

The kids loved it!

At the end we ate our picnic lunch and went home!

Paris Mountain State Park

Greenville, SC

September 20, 2008

* We packed a picnic and headed off to Greenville not long after breakfast.

The weather was perfect- blue sky, sunny and about 70 degrees.

There were several hiking trails you could take, but with 3 kids under the age of 4, we decided to do the simplest one possible . . . and the shortest one!

With the exception of one spot, it was a pretty flat walking trail that followed the lake. It was about 1 1/2 miles long. After walking the trail, we at our picnic lunch and then took the kids to the playground.

Starting off on our "hike". Daddy was responsible for the snack and drink bag, and Mommy was responsible for . . .

Camille!

I always said I would never wear one of these- now look at me :)!

This was about half way around the lake. The dam- which the kids thought was a neat waterfall!

Crossing over the bridge where the dam was.

The kids did GREAT and loved every minute of it!

This was the rockiest part. It was right after you crossed the little bridge and dam.

It was strenuous enough for me though :)!

Nicholas like the "big rocks"!

I spotted this little turtle on a branch right next to the path.

The kids thought he was neat to look at!

Daddy and Nicholas hiking together.

The girls were actually a little ahead of them, and below is what I found next . . .

Look very close and you can see a long black snake. Trust me, my camera was on zoom- I was not about to get close to it- I don't do snakes!!! He was probably about 5 1/2 feet long.

Camille enjoying the sunshine!

We ate our picnic lunch and the kids enjoyed playing.
We had a wonderful morning together as a family, and the kids enjoyed it too!

Camille laughing . . .

Camille was sitting in her bumbo seat by Carlee at dinner time. Carlee was being a big helper by trying to keep Camille entertained while we were eating . . . this video is the result! September 8, 2008 ~ Camille 5 months old.

GIC Conference 2008

The two pictures below of Nicholas in the firetruck were taken at our churches GIC annual Missionary Conference. On Saturday they have a morning of fun for the community and kids. Nicholas enjoyed looking at the firetruck. The fireman actually let him stand in it . . . he was a little shy about doing it but did let me take his picture! He loves Firetrucks!!!

This was the Friday night In-Home Briefing our Bible Fellowship Class had with our class Missionary. We had a great time eating and fellowshiping together. The missionaries then told us all about their life in China!

Pittsburgh Zoo

September 1, 2008

While visitng Grandma and Grandpa in Pittsburgh, PA, we all decided to go to the zoo on Labor Day.

In the photo: Antonia, Judy, little Molly, Carlee, Nicholas, Ricky, Camille and Dan.

Nick and Carlee in front of one of the Aquariums. Nick seemed to really like the monkies and the fish. Carlee enjoyed all the animals.

Daddy, Nick and Carlee ready to go home from a long hot day at the zoo!

Carlee's First Day of School

K-4

St. James Methodist Preschool

9-3-2008

Getting ready to leave for her first day of Preschool.

She was looking forward to it!

I got a babysitter to watch Nicholas and Camille so I was able to take her all by myself and attend the parent meeting.

Carlee . . . being Carlee- this is at the end of her first day when they were lining up to leave.

That is her friend Gracie behind her in line. Gracie is actually in several at her classes at our church, so it was neat that she knew someone already on her first day.

Carlee in front of her K-4 classroom door.

Mrs. Eitel is her teacher.

She was such a big girl! When I dropped her off at her new class she went right in and played. I was proud of her but yet sad too that she is now starting a new chapter in her life . . . school! She will enjoy it so much though and will love meeting new kids.

This morning as she was getting ready, she told me she was going to find someone that didn't have a friend and be nice to them.