Apple Holler Orchard 2013

We spent a beautiful fall day with the Vlach family at Apple Holler Apple Orchard!  We started the day right with the always-amazing cider donuts, then moved right along to the hayride that took us to the orchards to pick our bagfuls of apples.  We picked as many honeycrisp apples as we could, since those are our favorite!  The kids had fun running through the orchard rows and biting into apples left and right.  After apple-picking, we grabbed a quick lunch at the food stand and played at the playground area to wrap up the day.  I think we left with 3 full bags of apples, so we had plenty to go around for days (weeks!) afterward.  So fun!

A Visit with Friends!

We had the most fun visitors in for a day trip!  3 of my sorority sisters, Tara, Susanne & Meg, and their families stopped over to spend the day.  We made lunch on the grill and had pizzas for dinner.  The 9 kids had so much fun running around the backyard together and the girls and I got to step out for a little afternoon shopping excursion to a row of cute boutiques in Evanston.  I'm so glad we were all able to coordinate such a fun day together!  I just love the photos we snapped- here are a few...

2013-2014 School Year Begins!

We have an official 1st grader and Junior Kindergartener!  The first days of school are always exciting and fun - with a little dose of anxiety as the kids transition back to spending their weekdays away from home.  Our first week back included tears at drop-off, but big smiles at pick-up and both kids are really enjoying their teachers and classmates.  Cheers to another great school year.

Mommy and my big kids!

We take a photo each year by this stone sign...getting bigger already

Off to 1st grade!

Cassidy with her teacher Mrs. Cobia

Our 4-year old Jr. Kindergartener - he goes to school 4 mornings a week and stays through lunch

Gavin and his cubby

His first assignment!

Writing his name and drawing a picture of us together

Now it's just this little rascal keeping me company at home!  :)

A Florida Beach Visit with Grandma & Grandpa

In mid-August, the kids and I headed down to Pompano Beach to meet up with Grandma & Grandpa Reder!  We missed Erik, who was super busy with work and could not get away that particular week, but we made the most of our time in the sun.  We spent the days splashing in the pool, riding ocean waves, checking on the many sea turtle nests both morning and night (one lucky morning we got to see some newborn loggerheads that had just been rescued from the bottom of their nest hours earlier!).  We enjoyed some great meals out at our favorite Pompano restaurants and best of all, got to spend some great quality time with Grandma & Grandpa Reder.  Below are some photos from the trip!  Big thanks to Grandma & Grandpa for a fabulous week!

At O'Hare, waiting for our plane to arrive at the gate!

Grandma Reder's Birthday dinner at Piranha Pat's

Birthday cake for Grandma in the party room!

A newborn loggerhead!  The rescuers were so nice to let us see him up close.

A fun boat ride over to Cap's Place

This is how many of my group kiddie pictures look...2 out of 3 looking isn't so bad

Historic Cap's Place -  the best crab cakes I've ever had, bar none.

Cassidy and Gavin spent hours each afternoon with Grandpa in the ocean

Me and the crew!

Tyler often played with Grandma in the sand while the older two had ocean time

Group photo - they were probably chasing chameleons around the patio here

We found that a family of snails lived in the rocks on the west side of the condo building, so we made daily visits - they were fascinating to watch as they slithered all around

We had fun at the playground at the new boardwalk at Atlantic & A1A

The kids loved strolling along the piers to watch the fishermen at work

A lovely dinner out at Aruba's Beach Cafe

Summer FUN!

We made the most of the relaxing summer months!  Cassidy and Gavin went to summer camp in the mornings and we spent the rest of the time enjoying all that summer has to offer.  Oh how I love the warm sunny weather!  Here are some photos of our summertime adventures...

Playtime at the park!

First lemonade stand of summer

Tyler hams it up these days

Exploring the local beach

It's always fun to run into friends at the beach!

Water gun action with friends

Playdates with the Vlach family up in WI

More beach time...look closely and you'll see a mermaid!  (Her idea and her handiwork!)

This little rascal loves to crawl through the sand

We went for pony rides at a nearby stable

The kids loved it!

A day with Daddy in Chicago

Can't miss The Bean!

Light sabers were a big part of our summer...big Star Wars phase here

Somebody loves her grapefruit!

The beautiful Botanic Garden

The 3 Musketeers!