2012 Family Pictures

Fall Fun

We LOVE Dollinger's Family Farm!  It's a cute pumpkin farm in Minooka (close to us).  It's only open for the month of October so we try to go as many times as we can.  There are so many (free!) play things there. Our MOPS group plans several playdates (organized and impromptu) on all the warm days we have in October.  These pictures are from one of our play days (Sadie was in school):

October 20th:  We also had fun taking our friends Josh & Stephanie with their kids-Hannah & Jacob.  We're so glad they came to visit for a weekend.  Our plans totally changed from what we originally had in mind but we had so much fun!

Sadie & Hannah--They had SO MUCH fun!

Picnic Lunch

Petting Zoo

Our Best Group Shot... Jacob didn't want to sit!

So thankful for friendships from college!  We don't get to see them too much (especially with our husbands) but it's like no time has passed...

4-Day Weekend!

I had met a friend for a play date at this Children's Garden one day while Sadie was at school.  We told Sadie about this awesome little play place and I promised her I would take her... we made plans to go on Friday October 6th while she was out of school for the day.  The kids had Friday off for teacher's institute and Monday for Columbus Day.  We made lots of plans to pack our weekend with fun things!  As an added bonus, Aunt NeeNee joined us for the weekend of fun.

Unfortunately Friday morning rolled around gloomy, rainy, and COLD--the coldest day of fall so far!  We didn't let that stop us--we headed to the Children's Garden to meet some friends for a fun day.  The kids had a BLAST (while us adults froze).  The children's Garden is full of lots of cool play areas:

 Sadie loved playing teacher in the little schoolhouse!

 Macey liked digging in the dirt (so did all the boys!)

 The kids had fun climbing up these big dirt piles.

 Our friends--Jake, Lucas, & Ethan (Jake's in 1st, Lucas is 4, and Ethan is 1)

 Aunt NeeNee and Macey put on a puppet show.

 The kids were trying to catch goldfish in the coy pond.

 Macey is feeding the (fake) cow.

After several hours at the children's garden we went back to Michelle's house for some hot chocolate and to warm up before our next adventure.  There is a little equestrian farm near where we live.  On the first Friday of every month they have "Family Fun Night".  We decided to check it out with the kids.  It turned out to be a whole lot of fun... and mostly free!  (We paid $2 for horse rides.)

 The kids loved petting this little pony.

 The kids all took a turn riding the horses.

 We went for wagon ride on the farm.

Kinnick got his face painted.  We couldn't stay super long because we had small group but we definitely plan to go back!

On Saturday we told the kids we had a surprise for them... we loaded up without telling them where we were going.  After about 10 minutes in the car, I think Sadie figured it out--she said "Are we driving toward Chicago?"  As soon as she could see the city skyline she asked "Are we going to a place that everyone likes or mostly just girls?"

 She guessed it... we were headed to the American Girl Doll Store.  As an incentive for good school behavior Marc had promised her to buy a new outfit for Mikenna if she made it for 30 consecutive school days without getting into any trouble at school.  We made her a chart and she filled it up.

 We stopped at the cafe for a little refreshment.

 Marc and Kinnick did some shopping and stopped at the Lego store.  We all had lunch in the food court before we headed back home.  Sadie loved being able to share this trip with one of her favorite aunts!

Mikenna's New Leotard

Sadie's Completed Chart

                                     
Steph agreed to babysit for us Saturday night.  Her and the kids had pizza and movie night while Marc and I enjoyed a date night.  I had bought a groupon for a local pumpkin farm that has weekend activities.  We enjoyed doing a haunted corn maze, a flashlight maze, and moonlit hay ride.  Afterwards we enjoyed going out for coffee... fun date with my favorite guy!

WIU Homecoming Weekend

September 22 (Yikes! I'm far behind!!)

We have an annual tradition of going back to WIU for Homecoming weekend with some of our best friends.  Windhams couldn't make it this year (they were busy loving on their brand new baby girl!) but we had a great time with the Knopps and Caseys... and NO KIDS!  

 Our traditions include... a fun overnight (this year at Lindsey's parents' farm), we go to the parade in the morning (this year the guys played some early golf), lunch at Rockey's, a trip to the bookstore for new Western gear, the girls have coffee while the guys watch the game, and we always finish our night at Aurelio's with some great pizza.

 So thankful to have these life-long friends... looking forward to many more years together!