Browsing Tag

outdoors

Blog, Family, iphone, kids

September iPhone photos



Happy October! I’ve been looking forward to this month all year because we’ll finally get to meet this precious little life inside of me. I can’t believe we’re just days away now!

But before we jump into October, I still want to share our September of iphone pictures. There are some repeats from my instagram but half of them are pictures that I never did share.

3 of these photos are from my Grandma’s house, on the prettiest property. The front porch steps are where I would sit as a child to do sibling/cousin photos. So it’s fun to carry on that tradition. Then there’s this picture of Desmond sleeping–it totally cracks me up. Most days I feel like how he looks.

kids on tree swing and playing outside cute baby sleeping with head covered in blankie

Not much to say here except that I love my family and can’t wait to squeeze another sweet face in the mix.

dad and baby kids playing mom and baby boy

Anniversary dates are a bit different when you’re a month away from meeting baby #6. We went over to the side of our church to take some photos for the blog header. Then we had Liam snap a few pictures of Don and I before we all headed out to dinner. We took the kids through McD’s drive thru, then planned to get them shakes at Fuddruckers while we ate our meals there. Shake machine was down, lame! So we took them to Lion’s Choice for those 25 cent ice cream cones. It wasn’t how I would have pictured spending our 9th anniversary but it was perfect!

married couple anniversary photoshoot

When it feels overwhelming to have all these children, all close in ages, I need to look back at pictures like these because it’s so worth it all.

lots of cuddling and a picnic for the kids

Joining with everyone else out there, I took some “first day of school” pictures of the boys. In the past, I don’t think I ever did them. I guess this year was the year to start. Liam started 3rd and he is loving it. Kai is in 1st and he likes it but is not as enthused as his brother. Of course we had to start the day with a donut tower!! (that last picture is unrelated but Liam had an irritated, itchy eye one day so I gave him benedryl. He passed out for like 3 hours. It was adorable and had to be documented. He says he was “awake with my eyes closed.” Sure.)

first day of school and donut tower

1) 37 weeks.

2) Evangeline helping me make some brownies.

3) and 4) a lazy day, reading in the little nook in Evangeline’s room.
37 week bumpdate and kids reading books

A couple of weeks ago was National Talk Like a Pirate Day. If you dressed like a pirate, you received a free dozen glazed donuts from Krispy Kreme. All 7 of us dressed up (no shame in our game!) and got our free donuts (it should be noted that we gave away a few dozen to friends!) The Wendys right by Krispy Kreme was giving away free Frostys if you talked like a pirate! And Long John Silvers was giving out a two piece fish or chicken meal if you were dressed as pirates. Can you guess what all we did that day? The kids loved it!

getting free stuff on pirate day

Fall adventures and pregnancy documentation! I’m going to miss this belly soon! I’m trying to enjoy it as much as I can right now.

apple picking and pregnancy pictures

 

Right behind my dad’s backyard is a field of cows. The picture of the 4 kids and the 4 cows totally cracks me up.

That picture of me on my couch? Pretty much how I’ve attempted to pass the past few days…eating a 3lb tub of cake in my pajamas and robe. Yes, I linked to the cake. Because it was amazing. And is it just me, or do fresh flowers make everything better?

kids looking at cow, eating cake and colorful flower bouquets

A few iphone shots from our pumpkin patch adventure this past week.
picking out pumpkins at the pumpkin patch

For any of you Kids Say enthusiasts, I’m sorry to tell you that either 1) my kids fell short on saying notably cute/hilarious things this month or 2) I just failed to document them! I only had two little entries that I’ll just save for next time around! Sorry!

And can I just say this one more time? It’s October! We will be meeting our baby girl any day now and I can finally start referring to her by her sweet little name! Any final guesses on the birth date? Or does anyone want to take it to the extra level and guess her birth weight?

Blog, Fall, Family, kids, park

Celebrating fall with apple picking


Happy first day of Fall! We went apple picking this past Sunday and I thought the first day of fall would be the perfect time to share!

baby boy holding and eating an apple

It’s been our tradition to pick apples to kick off the Fall festivities. And I guess if you want to be technical, we didn’t actually go in fall . But I say it still counts! To start out, the number one rule when you go apple picking, you HAVE to buy apple cider donuts. Don’t argue with me, just do it. Trust me. The kids already started scarfing them down before I could get a decent picture. They are totally worth all the sticky fingers and faces that will follow.

toddler girl eating an apple cinnamon donut

girl taking bites of the donut

Desmond’s face just proves that he agrees.

cute baby boy smiling

At the orchard we go to, there are a few places for the kids to play (the bounce houses cost extra) but they are always more than content with even the simplest playground equipment. Don is working on some new projects with the GoPro (borrowed from our dear friends.) I hope that he is able to share those with you before too long! I just couldn’t resist this picture of Kingston’s pure happiness, and Desmond’s pure boredom.

dad and boys going down a slide

After a bumpy tractor ride to the orchards, we were ready to pick some apples. I’m always jealous of those people who experience those beautiful overcast days for apple picking, perfect lighting for gorgeous photos. We had the full on sun, hitting our faces awkwardly at almost all times. Anyone have advice for shooting in direct daylight? Anyway, a sweet woman asked if she could take a family picture of us. The kids may not look super thrilled in this photo (maybe a bit confused? haha) but it’s still a sweet picture and I was so thankful for her thoughtfulness!

big family

boy holding a green apple

Desmond is super serious about his apple bites. He was cracking us up. As long as he could gnaw on an apple, he was content (even while making this adorable scrunched up face!) But if he got peel in his mouth, he would start spitting it on the ground and then throw the apple. But then his apple was gone so he’d start crying for another one. Repeat cycle–over and over haha. We love going to Thierbach’s because you can eat as many apples off of the trees as you want. And our group ate quite a few.

baby boy eating and digging face into apple

dad and baby

I thought I could easily stand there all afternoon, watching her take her bites, quietly munching, while she watched her brothers pull apples from all the different trees.
little girl looking at apple
girl watching brothers pick apples

Don snapped this of me and the crew. We weren’t winning any group photo awards that day haha. At that point, everyone was ready to head back to the tractor and head home.
mom and kids posing for picture

Love this little crew—sun spots and all!!
the kids love apples
5 kids sitting in the grass

young boy looking up into tree

Apple picking is just one of my favorite ways to celebrate fall. And while I’m not a fan of pumpkin flavored anything, I do love visiting the pumpkin patch! So that will be on our agenda pretty soon. What are your favorite fall activities? Any good ideas for us to do as a family of almost 8??