Apple Pickin'

We spent some time this afternoon at Verhage Fruit Farm, and had a great time! Taylor rode a small horse for the very first time, we went on a hayride, visited the goats, sheep & bunnies & went apple picking. The kids had a lot of fun, and it was so nice to be outside enjoying a beautiful fall day together.

Taylor picked out the horse she wanted to ride.

SO excited! Taylor and her house whose name was Roy.

Posing with the cat.

Our little pumpkin....

Looks to be about 29"

A little over 38 inches!

Our tractor pulling up for the hay-ride!

Taylor was slightly concerned about getting dirty in the hay, but Mommy assured her it would be fun (little did she know I was thinking the same thing).

Playing in the hay... a regular old country girl. ha..ha :)

The girls......

Trying to keep Zach occupied...

I love this picture... no smiles, but those are my babies.

Time to go apple picking!

Taylor was not quite tall enough to reach some of the prime apples, but she was a great helper!

Zach pointing out the perfect apple....

Zach enjoying the perfect apple... this kid tore it up!

Taking a break...




All picked out, and ready to go home!

Happy 32nd Birthday Daddy!

Helping Daddy blow out his candles!

Daddy & his kids!

Tickle time.

Playing around with the paper..

Last weekend on the 21st we celebrated Ben's 32nd birthday! Festivities included.. Ben and I enjoying a night out on Thursday (thanks Mom), and so we decided to head downtown to a Tapas place called Fandango for dinner, followed up by a trip to The Wine Loft.. and then hit up a movie. It was such a nice escape during the middle of the week & a great way to celebrate. Friday, I made Ben's favorite beef stew for dinner, and we spent a relaxing night at home with the kids..., and Saturday we had breakfast with Ben's mom, Ben's Dad came over in the afternoon, and we went out for dinner in the evening with my parents & came home to enjoy the peanut butter brownies I made per Ben's request & to open presents...of course! On Sunday (Ben's actual birthday), Ben was able to enjoy a cubs came at Wrigley with his buddy Nick. What a weekend! Happy Birthday Babe! I am so thankful I have known you for your last 16 birthdays! (How crazy is that?) I am truly blessed to have you as my best friend, and husband... and I love to see you as the amazing Daddy I always knew you would be.

Anxiety

Taylor is going through a rough stage right now. It started last week, and this week has been full force. She is struggling with pre-school, and pretty much any place I drop her off- where I am not present (or Ben). She has had full force melt downs at school, and she has had to be literally pulled from my arms screaming when I drop her off. She has also been crying in Sunday School at church, and today she cried through her entire dance class. It wouldn't be so bad, if the crying was your normal last for a few minutes, and then when Mom leaves all is good. No, instead she seems to be crying for most of the day. I have no idea what is going on, and I have tried just about every tactic in the book. If it was one place in particular, I might start to draw the conclusion that it was one person she didn't like... but it seems to be everywhere. When I ask her what is wrong, she say's she is crying because she wants me, and today I asked her why didn't participate in class, and she said because I was thinking about you and crying. This is really difficult, and this is another one of those stages for which I have no answer. So, I am going to go with the only thing I know to work... consistency. I will continue to take her places, and continue to tell her I love her, and not give up. I'm just praying it works, and like everything other rough stage... that it TOO shall pass.

Family Pictures...

A few weeks ago we made a trip to Holland to have our family pictures taken by Stephanie TeSlaa of Miracles Photography. Zach was just getting over a week with an ear infection... and so the picture time consisted of quite a bit of crying on his part. After pictures were over we spent a little bit of time swinging on the beach, and of course had to follow it up with a stop at Captain Sundae for some ice cream! It was amazing how quickly the tears went away, as soon as we were away from the lady with the big camera! :) Anyway, I am posting this today because our pictures came in, so please take a look by going to the Miracles Photography website (www.miraclesphotography.com), and clicking on Proofs and entering in password: Leonard. We'd love to hear which ones are your favorites.

Scoping things out... he was pretty excited about this little bench. Just his size.

Oh, look they are sitting so nicely together. Too bad they couldn't do this 10 minutes ago, while we were paying to have their pictures taken... :)

This is what happens....

when you have a big SISTER!

Tap Puppies

Today was Taylor's first day of dance, and for this half of the class she is a Tap Puppy- next half she will be doing ballet, followed by the end of year recital. She was pretty excited about going to class, and was asking me a lot of questions about what to expect. Not long after we arrived at class however, Taylor attached herself to my leg, and the tears came flowing down. It was a bit difficult, because I was already holding Zachie.. and trying to hold Taylor and comfort her at the same time. You Mom's with multiple little ones, know how challenging this can be. So, after a few minutes of tears.. I finally pryed her away.. and said it was time for class and I would be right outside the door. Iwas able to watch her through the one way glass, and the crying stopped pretty quickly after I left, but it took her a few minutes to warm up to the class. Soon, she was hoping around with the rest of the little girls. It was pretty cute to watch. After class, I asked her if she had fun, and she said yes.. we acted like horsies! Hopefully it will get a little bit better with each week. She has already informed me that next week, she will not be sad. Let's hope that is the case! :)

No news is good news...

Nothing exciting to post about this week. That's good news, right? Daycare has been closed because of flooding issues, so my friend Julie is watching both kids today, and just Zach on the days Taylor is at school. So far, so good. Zach of course, freaks out when I first drop him off, but appear to settle right in. We have been flip-floppers about signing Taylor up for soccer, ballet, tap, etc. We had her signed up for soccer, and she was supposed to start this last weekend, but we decided last minute to do Tap Puppies & Budding Ballerinas which will begin this week. We decided to try soccer out in the spring. She is pretty excited, and I need to he head out on my lunch hour today to purchase her first pink leotard, pink tights, skirt, and of course her tap and ballet shoes-(who knew their was a dress code?) Taylor has been picking up so much at school, it's hard to believe the little mind can absorb so much in just a few short weeks. She has been busy showing us how she prays now, with hands together & head bowed down (Of course, we have only been teaching her that for the last 3 1/2 years of her life but it takes a stranger to make her do it), Criss Cross applesauce (which means sitting Indian style), She washes her hands like a pro, and must show me how it is done properly (again, have only been working on this one since birth) & she has learned how to zip up her own coat. I've decided, I might not teach her to tie her shoes, since they seem to have it all under control. HA! Life is busy moving along, and we have a lot of fun things coming up in the next month... including Ben's big 32nd birthday this weekend, a weekend get together with my College girls in Holland & a trip to Florida with the Harris family. We are looking forward to the next month! Stay tuned.

Weather girl

This morning when Ben got up, Taylor was already awake and sitting downstairs on the couch. "I'm watching the weather Dad", she told Ben. "It's going to rain today". For those of you, who don't have the privilege of being around our daughter on a regular basis.... you should know this is a pretty common statement these days. She is obsessed with the weather (and specifically rain), and is continually giving us forecasts, and telling us what she thinks is going to happen. She often tells me I should turn on the t.v. to check the weather. I'm not sure if we are the reason she is like this, or if being around my parents has had an influence as well... but it's pretty hilarious. Here is a list of things I have heard out of Taylor's mouth just TODAY regarding the weather.

"Huh! Sure, looks like it's going to rain today."

"Whoa, would you take a look at those rain clouds over there?"

"I think there are some pretty dark clouds up ahead, will you look at that?"

"Boy, I sure think it's going to rain today- that's what the weather man said"

"Mama, I think it's going to rain today, I saw some rain clouds out there right behind Brian & Becky's house ( our neighbors)- come on let's go see".

"I am not scared of thunder anymore Mama". (Yeah right)

"Mama, I think you better bring your umbrella, I think it looks like rain".

"Did it rain while I was taking a nap"?

What do you think? Future meteorologist?

Sick Again

Daddy and Zach.. resting. Please note the picture Ben is holding in his hand. This was a picture Taylor drew for Zach- so he will feel better. Aww.. so cute.

Zach is sick again. Poor thing has an ear infection this time, and he has been doing poorly since about midnight on Sunday morning. It's been a long, hard week to say the least. I am ready to have a normal little boy again. Not only was this Taylor's first week of pre-school, but Ben's first week of class.. so it was a busy week to begin with, and I have been juggling a sick screaming child, daycare, pre-school, visits to the Dr., denist, work, and all sorts of other things. We are also scheduled to have our pictures taken with Miracles Photography this Saturday at the beach.... Should be an interesting time! The good news is that as of this morning (Friday), his fever has finally dropped, and he has been happier today than he has been all week. I'm telling you, dealing with sickness back to back, is enough to make you lock your kids up and never let them out.

First day of Preschool

Today, my baby went off to pre-school. Emotional, nervous, anxious... those would be words used to describe Mommy on this first day of school! Ha. Seriously, I was feeling those things, and I left school with a big lump in my throat. Taylor on the other hand, was happy, calm and excited about going to school. Don't worry, I didn't let her know how I was feeling about the day. I am so proud of her, and so happy my baby doesn't have any of those fears I had as a little one... I dropped her off in her classroom this morning, and she went right to work at a table alone playing with some little blocks. I talked to the teacher, and about mid-way through Taylor looked up and said- Bye Mama! I think she was ready for me to leave, and maybe she knew that is what she needed to do to get me out of there! Ha. I gave her a big hug, and off I was. Where have the last 3 years gone? It has gone by so fast, and I know this is just the first of many times I will let her go.

Last days of summer....

School starts tomorrow. So, we decided to have an impromptu run through the sprinkler ball tonight on our 90 degree September day. Why is that as soon as school starts we feel like time is running out? Maybe it's just me. I think it's just all that fall brings with it.. long sleeves, jeans, cool nights, shorter days, leaves... and lack of sunshine. I'm a summer girl myself.. so it's nights like these that I will always cherish. Tomorrow is just the beginning of the end of summer.
Taylor having a blast running around the yard.

Zach and Taylor took turns getting each other wet, by rolling the ball around. I would highly recommend one of these.. and very good buy.. I believe like $10 at Target.

Watch out Zach!

Taking a stroll with Daddy.

First trip to the dentist

Today was Taylor's first trip to the dentist. As expected, she did unbelievably well. Taylor is our little social butterfly, so she chatted up the receptionist, dental hygienist & Dentist himself. Mommy had to get her teeth cleaned as well, so she actually left the room and started her cleaning without me! She was such a brave girl, and went I came over was sitting as still as can be with the dentist checking out her teeth. She left with a new tooth brush, and a few toys! She was a little disappointed when she realized the special treat she would receive was not candy- but a toy. I had to explain, dentists don't really want us eating candy! I can't believe how much she is growing up. Here are a few pictures from our visit.
Waiting for our turn.

Dr. Leonard (yes, that's his name) checking out Tay-Tay's teeth.

Sitting so still, and waiting for the hygienist to brush fluoride on her teeth.

All Done! What a good girl.

Labor Day weekend

We were able to spend some time with the Hassenrik's this weekend, at Lesley's parents house in Muskegon. We had beautiful weather, and a wonderful way to end the summer! We spent time soaking up the sun, talking of course, BBQing and we were able to enjoy a beautiful sunset and campfire. We love spending time with Matt, Les & their kids... and being at the lake made it even better. Thanks so much for having us up guys- we had a great time.
Attempting a family picture.

The Mommas.. soaking up some sun.

Zachie walking the beach... or trying too!

Miss Taylor needed her sunglasses, because it was TOO sunny!

Grant buried in the sand...

Sweet as always, Miss Molly.

Zach....actually didn't seem to mind the sand this time around. Yea! We are making progress.

Watching a sunset.

Lesley & Grant... You can definitely see who looks like who in this picture. :)





Good-bye Summer!