Hikes and apples

We were lucky to have beautiful weather for most of this fall.  One Saturday Trent, Hailey and I took advantage of it for a ride up north.  We headed to Baldwin first to turn off the water at the cabin and make sure it was ready for the winter. It was a gorgeous day and the river looked so pretty with the changing colors on the trees.  We saw dozens of salmon in the river right in front of the cabin.  They were huge and so loud when the broke the surface of the water.  Hailey was mesmerized.  It was really interesting to see - it has been a long time since I was up north this late in the fall to see it myself. 

When I was in college I hiked around in Ludington State Park for a day.  It left an impression on me as being a very interesting and fun place to hike with hidden little turn outs and majestic views.  I have always wanted to go back there.  Since Ludington is only a half hour drive from Baldwin and sort of on the way home - my dream came true.

It was much windier and more chilly closer to Lake Michigan.  We probably should have brought warmer coats. 

It was quite crowded in the park on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon but once we got out on a trail a bit we lost most of the people.  The park was much like I remember and did not disappoint.  I think we will add it to our list of places to visit more often. 

One of the activities Hailey had on her fall bucket list was to go apple picking.  On a Friday afternoon when Trent had a half day and the other kids were finished with school, we got to check that item off of her list. 

Evan brought his girlfriend April along and Hailey invited her friend Sarah.  She had also asked her other bestie Eleni, but sadly Eleni woke up that day to find out her Grandma had passed away.  We picked some extra apples for their family and Trent baked them one of his famous apple pies. 

It was another stellar fall day.  We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.  The kids had fun tasting the various kinds of apples and taking selfies and giggling among the trees. 

Trent the circus performer likes to show off his juggling skills.  

I think we have enough apples now.  We may have over picked just a little bit.  

 

I think Trent baked around ten apple pies.  He made applesauce and we of course ate them in their original form.   When we were "appled" out, we sliced, cut and cored them and froze another two freezer bags full.  If the apple a day saying is true - we have nothing to fear this fall! 

Halloween 2019

Warning: There is a picture heavy post ahead.  I love Halloween.  I love helping the kids put their costumes together.  I think it is the extras and little details on the costumes that make me most happy.  

Hailey dressed up as a "campfire" this year.  We found the idea on Pinterest and copied some, but also made it our own.   She initially wasn't sure about the tu tu aspect of it.  She is so into the "not standing out" at all phase of her middle school career.  Most days she dresses in black or gray so she thought the tu tu might be a bit much.  When I agreed to not make it super poofy - she got on board.  It might be one of my favorite costumes she has ever worn. 

It's hard to tell in these photos but the tu tu had a string of fairy lights in it so it actually lit up. 

My favorite part of the whole costume was the headband.  This was our idea - the Pinterest photo didn't have any kind of head gear.  We originally wanted to put them through her bun kind of like chopsticks but they were too floppy.  We ended up hot gluing them onto an old headband.  It was perfection!

Spencer and I spent the last month of summer watching Stranger Things together.  We both love Steve and when I suggested that Spencer dress as him for Halloween - he was (SHOCKER) totally into it.

His favorite part is of course the Demogorgon killing nail bat.

The best part was that his girlfriend dressed up as Robin. They even look like the actors that play the characters.

Evan and his girlfriend dressed up as each other.  They won the costume contest in their choir class for the most creative.

All three kids invited friends over to our house before Trick Or Treating started.  We had a houseful.  It was fun to see all the kids in costume and having fun.

Evan and his Bros.

The high school group.

Hailey and her friends.

The group that comes over for D & D - minus a few.

The only pics I have of my three before school on Halloween.  The weather was so terrible we couldn't take any outside photos.

It was a super fun Halloween.  I can't wait until next year!

Monday moments...

For my personal theme of 2016 I am challenging my inner Elsa and trying to "let it go" (more on that later).  With that mantra in mind I was vacillating about doing a 365 day photo project this year.  I absolutely LOVE the one I did a couple of years ago but just was not totally feeling the commitment of having to take a picture every day. Yet I always have pictures on my phone that don't really warrant a full blog post but are still things I love to look back on and remember.  

That is where Monday moments came from.  I am going to try to post the random phone pictures that I have every Monday and that will hopefully quench my nostalgia thirst while not having the pressure of a photo a day hanging over me. 

Hailey's back to school breakfast face.  Don't think she didn't ask for a different one every day after this.

Birthday treat rainbow cupcakes.  Kind of a pain, but not too much of a pain that I would never do it again.

They looked pretty cool in the pan.

And turned out pretty awesome!  The birthday girl was thrilled!

Making mini cut out cookies with the leftover sugar cookie dough.

I love looking into her room and seeing her reading.  She is starting to do it a lot more.  She has discovered graphic type novels that seems to be less intimidating to her than a page full of words.

Bowling alley birthday fun!  I love this age.  We could just sit back and watch the fun.

A screen shot of a video that the cousin's sent Hailey on her birthday.  She watched it over and over. She laughed so hard at how excited they seemed singing to her and their crazy antics.

The Graduate

On Monday night Hailey graduated from Kindergarten.  From the amount of pictures I took, you would think it was a high school graduation, but no.  In my defense, little Kindergartners in mortar boards and tassels are way cuter anyway. 

I found these iron on graduation decals on a site online and knew I had to have one for Hailey.  I ordered one for two of her best girlfriends as well.  You couldn't pick a color for the letter - you were set with whatever color they made that letter in.  In a weird coincidence, Olivia's Grandma had made all three girls tutus for Christmas and the tutus wound up matching each girl's shirt perfectly.  

When I was ironing the decal on to the shirt I totally messed up and set the iron back down right on the shirt.  It adhered to and pulled off part of the top of the graduation hat.  I was furious at myself.  Oh well.  I guess she will only wear the shirt a few times anyway.

Then we got the hot rollers out of the back of the closet and tried to fancy up that mop of hers for the evenings festivities!

Look at my beautiful little graduate!

Are those hats not the cutest things ever?  When I saw them in the classroom I told her teacher that I just might cry after all.

They sang three or four songs about what they had learned in Kindergarten.

 And then the teacher's called out their names to come up and get their diploma.

This shot makes me laugh.  It looks like she can't believe something that is going on.

Hailey and her fabulous teacher.  All three of my kids were lucky enough to have her for Kindergarten.  Spencer even got to have her twice because he had her for DK as well.

The graduate and her proud brothers.

I am sure Grama will kill me for posting this because she was sick this night, but I am doing it anyway because I think she looks fine!

It was such a cute ceremony and Hailey did great in it.  It was a super way to end a fantastic year.  I can't believe that my baby girl will be a first grader next year.  Oh my!  I know it will only be a few short years and she will be wearing a cap and gown for real.  I am so tired of my kids growing up so fast!