GE Fall Family Fest

We went to the Fall Family Fest in Glen Ellyn a few weeks ago & just got a copy of the family picture we had taken. It was a gorgeous day for a picnic and a great event to meet up with some people we have recently met...and the kids loved the big bouncy slide!

 

Tanner's Apple Orchard



We went to Peoria this weekend and went to Tanner's, a well known apple orchard & pumpkin farm not too far away from where Gramee & Granddad live. We all had a great time & enjoyed watching the kids. They had so much fun - they were able to feed goats, ride a pony, and they had a kid play area with swings, wooden trains/planes/etc to climb on, a hay maze, and a barrel tractor ride. It was a perfect fall day!

 

I did get it off the ground! But, unfortunately, we didn't go home with this one:( 

Feeding the goats

 

 Doesn't it look like they are smiling at eachother?!?

Getting ready for the barrel ride, where they were pulled by a tractor around the field and through the orchard! Brooke was quickly moving her steering wheel back and forth almost constantly, while Isaac was strategically moving his steering wheel when the tractor would actually turn!

Pony rides

Brooke loved it, although she was mildly disappointed she didn't get to ride the horsey with pink zebra stripes! 

Isaac wasn't into pony rides AT ALL in the past, but hopped right on this year! 

And...last but not least...finishing the day with cider donuts and apple cider...YUM!

Little miss independent...carrying the pumpkins!

Ravens & some Houser time!

The Housers came from Cleveland for a much awaited weekend visit. Although it was quick, we had such a great time. Isaac & his team (The Ravens) had a soccer game, so we all went to cheer him on. Thankfully, Jeff brought his photog skills & got some great shots of Isaac (thank you!). It was a slow start to the season, as Isaac only wanted to play goalie and not on the field, but for the last few games, he has been doing soooo well & absolutely loves it! We are so proud of him for overcoming his nerves and fears...he has come so far!

Spectators, Braeden & Brooke

 

 

 

Crazy Brooke & Braeden! 2 peas in a pod...

 

Brooke with baby Graeme 

Brooke, Braeden, Isaac, Owen, Matthew...so fun the Huffmans came over for the afternoon



1st day of school!

Isaac started kindergarten last week & he LOVES it! We've been playing it up since we moved in and frequently walk the few blocks to the school playground to play, so he was pretty comfortable with the whole set-up. It's 1/2 day, so he's there for a quick 2 hours and 40 minutes, which is quite a contrast from his full-day preschool he has been used to. This week he started kindergarten enrichment at the park district, which fills up 2 afternoons/week. He asked to eat lunch with some kids he met in his class on the 2nd day, so I dropped him off early. Isaac is always a little hesitant when in new situations, but I've been so proud with how he has been transitioning into this new adventure!

Brooke started a 2+ preschool program this week. Since Isaac started kindergarten, she has been wearing her backpack around the house and keeps asking when she can go to preschool. I went with her for an hour on the 1st day & today I dropped her off for the 1st time EVER! I was truly amazed with how well she did...she just gave me a hug and walked right in! Although there were some tears throughout the morning, she was all smiles and was telling me how much fun she had! She said her favorite thing she did was read books and eat Cheerios for snack. So cute:)

                                             "Cheese!"

August - Grandy's visit and celebrating 88!

Grandy came to Naperville for a couple of weeks to visit and celebrate his 88th birthday. It was perfect summer weather (70's and 80's) and special, because it is the 1st time he has been around all 4 of his great-grandkids at the same time. He came to see our new house, we went out to dinner and spent plenty of time together fishing and playing in the lake at my parents house.

Stacking blocks with Grandy...Brooke was also, for some reason, obsessed with untying his shoe laces!

 

 Showing a bit of sass!