Traditions

I love traditions. Some are ever-changing, and some are stuck like glue. Black Island Farm is a keeper, and has been a place of many fun memories for our family over the years. The other night was our annual rendezvous with Nic's family for some pumpkin-filled, hay-ridin', slippery-slidin', pig-racin', corn-tossin', donut eatin' good times...

It is so fun to see how our family has evolved. This year all of the kiddos were mobile, and everywhere! We had a heck of a time keeping track of them all:)

Ry-bug doin' a little slidin'~

Alie Jo and Ry-bug, some swinging action~

sweet Wyatt, love this boy...

Kade had a birthday party for his buddy Jarron at the farm, so we met him there and this is what we found. I've said it once, and I'll say it again~ I adore this group of boys. They are the best, and I am so grateful that Kade has them:)

Parker lovin' up on Bode~ these two are obsessed with Toy Story at the moment, and it is pretty much all they talk about. "To finity and beyon!" over and over, it melts my heart.

Boys being boys~ I promise it wasn't that long ago that Kade and Kole were the infamous Buzz and Woody in action. Ah, where does the time go?

Somethin' about a big sandbox full of corn kernels that just makes me feel like a kid again. Oh, how i love the fall...

It makes my heart happy to see my kiddos beaming with joy as they run and play with their cousins, footloose and fancy free. Nothin' better I tell ya.

Thanks to Gramy and Papa for yet another fun adventure~ you guys are the best!

Today is Halloween~

Jack-o-lanterns are in place, candy bowl is full, costumes are ready, and kiddos are out of school! It is going to be a good day, i can feel it!

Hope you all have a Happy Halloween!

~xo

Parke's first fieldtrip ~

It has been five years and counting, that at least one or more of my children have had a field trip to the local farm for some pumpkin picking good times. I don't know what it is about sitting on that hay-ride, taking in the crisp fall air, and admiring the unbelievable beauty around me, but I look forward to it every year.

Hmm... some serious deliberation over which pumpkin to pick:)

Rylie and her bestest gal~pals from the hood. These girls are inseparable, we are so blessed to have such great neighbors.

Parke was having no part in that girl business, i can't blame him. He is a man's~man:)

Some bull-riding, and hay-picking~

And we can't forget the baby animals~ always a huge hit with the kiddos. This little goat was a hungry fella...

I would have to say that Parker's first field trip was a great success. I just wish i could pause him right where he is, although it's mighty fun to watch him grow. His latest terminology includes: 'actually'~ "i 'actually' don't want dat."

'besides'~ 'besides,' dose are mine." Can you tell he's 3? ha!

'poos-paste' (toothpaste)~ "Mom, dis poos-paste doesn't taste bery good"

"Here Mom, I got some 'ocean' (lotion) fer you." adorable.

"Ya! Wet's go to the 'cone' place!" referring to Sill's Cafe where we get some amazing scones~ ha!

He loves to watch 'spicle me'...translation: Despicable Me.

He entertains us with tall tales like, "Last night, a fish ate me, and i was dead!" Many different variations of this story, and always ending with 'and i was dead.' True boy.

'Stoy Story' (Toy Story)~ he is totally obsessed. "Mom, you be Woody, and I will be Buzz." This can go on for hours, and i love it.

He loves to ride his tricycle, read books, snuggle his mom and dad, go to preschool, make new friends, destroy everything in sight!, eat sugar(and man does he ever!), sleep in his special bed in our room, and just be plain awesome.

Love this baby boy more than anything. He keeps life interesting, and happy.

So grateful for his sweet spirit in our home.

~xo

Feelin' Squirrely~

With all of the wonderful produce popping up everywhere, I have been in the kitchen. Canning, dehydrating, baking, freezing, and storing everything in sight! So much work!~ but oh, so worth it. It all started with a trip to the farm, the kiddos and I spent an afternoon picking tomatoes. It was good times~ I wish I had pictures of how beautiful it was out there. We found some awesome peppers at the farmer's market, and I got to work on tomatoes and salsa.

As you can see, the house pretty much explodes when the canning begins:) I have a tendency to put my irons in way too many fires. Notice my bags of clothes from cleaning out kiddos closet's~ part of my fall cleaning. Doesn't it look clean?? Ha ha! It's the mess before the organization, always happens that way~ doesn't it?

Then came time for peaches~ can I tell you how much I heart fresh peaches. Words can not describe. I look forward to my bushel and a half every year:)

Look at this picture. Notice anything... unuuusual??

I had my jars sitting in warm water while they waited to be processed, and I looked back to see Parke just chillin' out. The boy is just plain awesome.

Aren't they pretty? And my favorite~ fresh peach pie.

And if you are going to make one, why not make a dozen? Poor Nic didn't even get a lick! His bad, he was out hunting wild beasts. Teasing. More like innocent deer, luckily he came home empty handed:) We might need just one more round of the peach pie...

Oh! This is so exciting~ my friend Meg and I are making our own extracts. Vanilla and peppermint. Aren't they pretty in their jars?

When Nic was off hunting, I tore into our storage room. What is it about fall that makes me feel the need to start hoarding food like a little squirrel? I cleaned, and organized that puppy! Then I headed to Home Depot, lugged that big daddy shelf home, and assembled it~ all.by.myself. I was feelin' pretty proud:) And I'm pretty sure my muscles are a little bit bigger, ha! Teasing:) Still have a ways to go on the storage, but it's a good start.

And just because it's friday~

Never a dull moment around our house with this guy around. Thank goodness his real Buzz Lightyear costume came, so he doesn't have to squeeze his cute cheeks into this teddy bear version anymore:) Can't believe Halloween is right around the corner.

Headed to Thriller tonight with the girls~ can't wait!

Happy Friday!

~xo

Love the weekends~

Our days have gotten so busy, I am really enjoying our weekends.

I love a good fall~cleaning, just as much as spring. Sissy and I organized and cleaned out the garage, thinking that cooler weather was on it's way... ha! Ya, right:) The kiddos have still been enjoying some bike-riding, sprinkler's & water balloons, and playing outside with their friends. You'd think it was still summer around here~ if it weren't for the crazy schedule we've been keeping. We are back to soccer, football, dance, homework, weekly allergy shots {poor Kade}, and scouts... throw canning in the mix and I am about ready to pull my hair out! Teasing~ but close:) I love when sis helps me out though~ makes my heart happy.

Nic and his dad had this really awesome idea to go jump out of an airplane,

and of course we had to go watch...

Parke pointing up~ yup, that is where your Dad is headed buddy.

At this point I am pretty much freaking out {and thinking it is really awesome all at the same time} I could hardly see the little speck of an airplane. Then one by one, I could see these tiny colored dots start coming out. If you look close in this picture you can see them~

I had no idea which one was Nic, so I just started snapping pictures of them as my camera could actually start to focus on them. There is my baby up there~ high, high, in the sky sky {as my kiddos would say}...

I was so happy to see him on the ground...

This was pretty darn cute to see Nic and his dad walking back together. Feet on the ground, safe and sound... and ready to throw up! Ha ha! Unfortunately, they both got a little motion sick.

But they were greeted with open arms...

The airplane was a little noisy...

Such a fun atmosphere~ next time it's my turn, and Nic can sit on the ground with knots in his stomach;) It was kind of torture watching.

Since we were in O~town, we figured we'd go hit up the farmer's market. Always a good time, and some good grub! Nic was getting some great snuggles...

We loaded up with roasted corn, peaches, popping corn {so.much.fun}, peppers for my salsa, watermelon, and some fresh tamales. It was fabulous~

This Parke is a momma's boy, and I can't get enough of him.

The next morning on our way out the door to church~

This sissy is her daddy's girl~

When we got home~ something inspired the kiddo's to write their Christmas wish list's and mail them off to Santa. Hmmm... Santa better get busy!

{notice the 'claws' rather than 'clause'...

you better believe I wasn't about to correct that, so precious.}

Nic throwing our corn on the grill~

Roasted corn~

If you haven't tried it, you must.

Directions: for those interested.

Cut off tip of cob, and remove the outside layer of the husk (do not remove all layers.) I just got mine nice and clean looking. Soak in cold water for 20 minutes. Remove, and shake off excess water. Grill over hot coals for about 20 minutes, being careful to rotate the cobs every few minutes. When ready, kernels will be tender and pull away easily. Dress with desired toppings~ butter, parmesan cheese, lemon pepper, garlic salt, cayenne pepper, etc.

I love when the weather cools down just a bit, and we can enjoy family dinners out back~

Church shirt, ball shorts, and Nerf shooting vest, doing crazy poses atop of the slippery slide... that's my boy!

{a little pep talk from dad}

The rest of the evening was spent throwing the football around, pushing kiddo's in the swing, and watching sis conquer the monkey bars. Doesn't get much better.

~xo