ride the drive

twice a year madison opens up its streets to bikers, and closes them to the other kind (motorized vehicles, that is). the kids love it;) they are finishing up the 3 mile loop, heading straight up e. washington towards the capitol...it's a hill, but's its nothing compared to gough street.

quesadilla? taco?

ryder was asked to be one of the servers for the open house at midvale, so cute! he got all suited up, had a tray of food, and then pretty much went to like 3 different groups, managed to serve his entire tray in about 30 seconds, and then he was done!! the fastest serving shift ever:)

pit stop

we had to stop at the pumpkin patch on our way out of town (birchwood that is), so grandmama brought us there and we got a few things....like 20 tiny pumpkins, gourds, and 2 super yummy carmel apples w/m&m's (yum yum yum).

my kids always love checking out the farm animals....quinny feeding the goats

and they had to hold the kittens....they were pretty darned cute...aaahhhhchew:)

relaxing in birchwood

the kids and i packed up the car saturday morning, and hit the road.....the long road to grandmama's and grandpapa's!! even though i really hate the last hour (a 3 hour car ride seems like my limit), it was sooo worth it:) there was no planned event, no parties, no holiday....just a quiet weekend with the grandparents!!

well, we thought we had leaves in our yard....but that was nothing compared to what was waiting for us here!!! leaves, leaves, everywhere!!! i bet that has been keeping grandpapa busy:)

we took the kiddos out four-wheeling (cause the weather was gorgeous), on some back country trails....to a nice lake.....where we had a lovely picnic;) i mean, it was perfect!!!

i thought this was hilarious.......pink, pink, baby, pink.....and on a 4-wheeler! so QUINN!!!

now this guy, ha ha! he was so pumped to drive this, i think his teeth had an 1" thick layer of dirt on them, because he was smiling the entire time he drove!! love it:)

foie gras or pb&j

it seemed like the trip to france was never going to get here, and the anticipation of leaving my family behind was agonizing! i built up all these fears and concerns, making myself question if traveling to france is even worth it (i know, can you even imagine!!). well, now that i am safely home and back into the swing of things (i feel like we are now just getting into our new routine),i am so glad i went! this was a "trip of a lifetime" and i still giggle at some of the memories i have. the kids had a wonderful time with jesse (what an experience for him, huh!!), and everyone survived, sans mom....whew!! but, i do think we were all ready to get back to reality:)

ryder's first day of school

our little man is all set for his first bike ride to first grade! and he insisted on wearing his tie dyed shirt we made a few weeks ago....to take a great summer memory along with him;)

our little first grader! a new year, a new teacher, new classmates, and a new classroom.....a lot on his mind in this picture. the anticipation of what is to come and the challenges of letting go of the sweet sounds and smells of summer vacation...ah, i am just so proud of him:)

quinn's first day of school

ryder got up extra early to make quinn pancakes before her first day of school. is that sweet, or what?

alligator pancakes, were the request (a tradition now started here, thanks to grandpapa). so when ryder made this one, quinn immediately looked at it and said, "aw, ryder! you made me a princess" ryder and i looked at each other shrugged our shoulders and smiled:)

what a big girl!!! quinn was so geared up for preschool. she was confident, silly and oh so sweet:) i can't get enough of her outfit....hello little miss cuteness!!