It's Only Been Two Weeks!!

 We've had a nice 2 weeks since I last posted.  It's been relatively nice weather - until today!

Three weekends ago, we went to PA.  We were able to go to Kris's 20 year high school reunion.  I hadn't attended any previously and enjoyed myself.   We were also able to go to baby Addison's baptism.  It was wonderful weekend all around.

 Two weekends ago, the kids had Friday and Monday off from school.  Ryan spent the weekend at my parents house going to the apple orchard and hanging out.  We spent the weekend watching football and going to a fall festival at the gym.

 Monday, we spent the day at the zoo with our friends, the McDonalds.  The kids always have fun together and we had to rip them away from the zoo!  They would have stayed all night!  They even got to feed the giraffes.

 These pictures are from a few weeks ago when we went to Kings Island with Toyota.  It was the first time we didn't take my mom along.  I was nervous about not having a 1:1 ratio with the kids.  But we managed to do just fine.  We split up a few times to take Ryan and Emma or Ryan alone on larger rides.  Nick is anxiously awaiting the day he can go on some of the bigger ones.  But I don't think any of them were disappointed with their day.  Well - except Emma's stomach.  She had been running a low grade fever off and on but was good all day.  She managed to wait until we got to Taco Bell after leaving, to throw up every where.

That led to the next weekend, where we all got sick at some point.  Ryan came home early from school on Friday (thanks to my friend Andrea who went to pick him up).  He threw up immediately upon getting home, followed by Nick - although I think it was a sympathy puke!  They Ryan puked on Nick's head - thankfully only water!  I came down with it the next day - oh did I mention Kris was travelling on a Saturday this day??  He did get it anyway after he got home.  And Emma ended up sick again on Monday.  Lovely.  We were thankful that we had nothing but a birthday party going on.  And could hang out all weekend!

Life is Crazy, I'll try to be less

So here's what's been going on.  Summer.  Yes, that's it.  We have been busy enjoying our summer.  I would post pictures, but well, I don't have enough time to catch you up that much.  Just understand, we've had a summer.  It went way too fast.  We enjoyed our ice cream trips (paid for by the kids piggy bank coin rolls), trips to the zoo, a vacation to Muskegon, trips to MI and PA, playing out side, watching tv, dancing, and their favorite - going to the pool.  We babysat friends of ours on Fridays, which made for some very loud but entertaining days.  And then....  We started school again!

Ryan started 3rd grade and Emma started Kindergarten in August.  Nick followed a few weeks later by starting 3 year old preschool.  They are all enjoying their time so far.  Ryan is, as usual, struggling with the workload and getting the motivation to do his homework.  And Emma, as usual, is excelling.  We already had her going to a 1st grade class for reading, but after her MAP scores, they decided to keep her there for math too.  Not sure what's going to happen with that, but she is enjoying it.  And I'm glad for one kid that is motivated to do her homework.  Nick is really enjoying himself also!

Other news, Ryan got a new bike for his birthday and passed his bike down to Emma.  Our neighbors got their son a new bike and passed his old one down to Nick.  So now, we have 3 bike riders.

We went to Kings Island a few weeks ago.  I will post pictures, but they had fun.

Other pics below - on the couch - what my kids would prefer to do, every minute of the day.
The last picture is from Shade Gap Picnic.  I believe it includes all the little ones that are able to walk (so minus Trinity and Addison).  And we were happy to find out that Kris's sister Kelli is expecting another baby in March.

That's the update.  I'll try to update again soon, with some more detailed info!