one week in one post

i really don’t have any excuse for not posting all week

just up to the usual….cleaning, cooking, baking, yelling at the kids

last night we carved pumpkins…first we have the kids draw what they want the pumpkin face to look like.

Cooper’s

Caroline’s

both kids were completely grossed out…..Cooper actually running away when rob started scrapping out the inside…Caroline scooped out the seeds….very carefully.

 

we went on a leaf walk and waxed our favorites…i got this great idea from Clover Lane.  for lack of a better picture this looks really festive in the kitchen, something i can keep up until Thanksgiving.

Bella is not so happy with me….she got groomed and shivered all day…until she found the warm laundry i folded.

 

and here is a picture for you Nana….cooper LOVES his new socks….loved them so much he didn’t want to put pants on!

down to the wire on costumes…..something borrowed, something old….to be continued!

Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

one. last. trip.

here in New England…you have to take advantage of any warm day…..yesterday it was in the 60s!

so i packed a picnic dinner, sandwiches and chips

and we took the kayak to our local lake….for one last adventure!

we are quite a site…..a family of 4 in one boat…..but we fit!

coop sits in front of me.

and Caroline sits in front of Rob.

we came up on shore at the town beach….the kids thought it was cool to sit up on the lifeguard tower…and have the whole beach to ourselves! Coop wanted to dig of course.

last trip of the season….it was a great little adventure!

playground revisited

last weekend we visited a playground that we hadn’t been to in 3 years…..cooper was just born and caroline was 2! Looking back at the pictures makes me smile…..those cheeks! And her wispy hair i always pulled back in two pony knots.

 

fast forward 3 years…..and here are pictures from last weekend.  Cooper couldn’t get the hang of hanging….good thing we only put him on the lower bar. And what a difference in weather even though its the same month, thats October in New England! One day its hot and the next day we need jackets and hats! Doesn’t stop us from having fun!!!

 

having fun with the family…it really doesn’t get any better then this…..my heart is full.

a fall afternoon

trying to clean up the yard…..

we have already seen the white stuff

just a few flurries

but enough to remind us…winter is on its way!

the colors of fall are amazing! but this zinnia didn’t last long…..our nights are well into the 30s now….and mornings waiting for the bus are freezing!!

happy fall everyone!

apple picking

we finally made it to the orchard this year….bundled up, had a picnic, picked some apples, played hide and seek…so much fun!

came home and made an apple pie….the apples were so big it only took 4! the best ever….a piece of warm apple pie with my coffee in the morning.

Praline topping for apple pie

this topping is for a pie with a top crust….just pour it over a cool pie….to let the topping set and then warm when ready to serve.

1.  Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a small sauce pan. add 1/2 cup of light brown sugar (firmly packed), add 2 Tbsp. of whipping cream.

2.  Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.

3.  Remove from heat and add 1/2 cup of chopped pecans, let stand for 5 minutes and drizzle over cool pie.

lovin some whoopie pies!

pumpkin whoopie pies!

thanks to Martha for this recipe….its a must this fall!!!

instead of cream cheese frosting i did a buttercream…yummy!

this is a picture of our beautiful hills…lit up by the sunset….one night while we were driving home.

all in a day

on Saturday we packed up the car and headed out for the day.

First stop was the local museum…i scored free tickets to the frog exhibit….of course i didn’t get any pictures of all the neat frogs….just pics of the kids climbing all over the dinosaurs.

 

after over 2 hours at the museum we headed to our next stop….Whitney’s Farm Stand….pony rides, hay rides, playground, petting zoo, bouncy slide…and pumpkins!

     

Back in the car…we headed to Grampa and Nonna’s house to get warm and have a few snacks!

and for our last stop of the day…Mt. Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts.  The kids loved being up so high and taking in the view…but it was cold! The kids and Rob climbed the tower and i found the hot chocolate in the lodge.

 

Dentist or Spa?

silly question right? spa day wins hands down…

but according to my kids…going to the dentist is like going to the spa…crazy, i know.

this was Cooper’s first time in the big chair…and boy was he excited! I love how the napkin bib is covering most of his body!

 

Caroline had fun taking a few beauty shots.

yeah, the hygienist was ready for us to leave…..no cavities! bring on the Halloween candy!!