Apple Pickin'

An Apple a day keeps the doctor away...

The Big Apple...

Apple of my eye...

Apple for my teacher...

One bad apple spoils the bunch...

As American as apple pie...

Adam's apple...

Or as Jack says, "I am just *really* into apples!"

We went Apple picking this weekend.  Granny Smiths, Golden Delicious, Ambrosia, Jonas Gold filled our bags (and tummies too!)  One thing I didn't plan for--pesky, little "not made of jello, stand behind a fellow, BLACK AND YELLOW!" bees.  They were everywhere.  You know it's bad when "sting stations" line the apple orchards.  We braved through and everyone got their pickings! 


Mercier Apple Orchard

 

Ready, set, GO!



Jack picked the first apple, ambrosia

The "fruit" of his labor.

Bronwyn got one too!
  

Instant gratification!

That was Saturday.  Sunday we had apple bread with apple butter for breakfast, cheese and apples for snacks and turkey with apples and sausage stuffing and apple cider gravy for dinner.  May the doctor stay far, far, away!

Happy Birthday Baby Bronwyn

She's two! She's two!
My little girl is two...
She loves to twirl,
has crazy curls,
my precious baby is two!

I'll stick to my day job ;)

Bronwyn had a luncheon at American Girl to celebrate her birthday!  Itty Bitty Baby is her birthday present, and as you can see--baby (in her special Birthday outfit) joined us for lunch! 

I can't believe it has been two years!  Bronwyn, you are such an amazing daughter... full of personality and expression,  determined, sweet and funny!  I love all that you are!  And all that you will be! 
xxoo,
Mom

P.S. Happy Birthday to Bronwyn's virgo twin and newborn cousin Adrienne! 

Birthday girl with Itty Bitty Baby!

Mom and Bronwyn

Em, Jack and Nanna!

School Days, School Days...

Dear ole golden rule days...

This week marks one month of Kindergarten class for Jack.  How's he doing?  Great!  He's made a "best friend", Michael and some really good friends who came over for a play date last week.  By the way six boys and one backyard bouncy house = anxiety attack for mom.  Just saying ;)

His teacher reports Jack is considerate, sweet and one of the hardest workers who always completes his work first and with diligence.  Let's see some of that work...

On his first day of school, Jack set a goal for the new year.  His goal--"I will not use a lot of seats on the bus."  Apparently he was worried he might fall asleep.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy is what Jack had to say about this! 

 

Jack's teacher asked him to show more detail in his drawing--like the sun, sky and grass.  This is his first drawing with an actual background.  Guess it's not 70 degrees and sunny for this bad guy :)

 

Much of the first few weeks has been settling into the routine, assessments and review of preschool basics.  Here is the "opposites" exercise.  I love that his good and bad guy look vaguely familiar (LEGO city mini figures!) 

 

 

The end of year standard for Kindergarten is to write your numbers 1-20; count to 100 by tens and ones; and count 20 items...  Jack has assessed at a "4" (meaning above grade level) on all areas.  He has work to do on writing his number in the right direction (those are the blue marks you see on the paper.)

 

 

Jack "interviewed" his best bud, Michael.  Jack's handwriting seems on par with most even though it has been identified as a "challenge" in the past (from every one of his preschool teacherrs!) 

 

What about Bronwyn?  She loves her time at home with Nanna while Jack is in school.  She attends dance and music; story time at the library; and has her own craft lesson each day.  Jack is jealous of the crafts she does each day...me too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birthday Fit for a Princess

"Try the grey stuff, it's delicious!" This weekend Bronwyn was transformed into Princess Belle in order to celebrate her birthday (about two weeks early) with her Royal Court by her side. I'll save the mushy "OMG! She's TWO!" stuff for her actually birth date. In the meantime, "Raise your glass, you've won your own free pass, to be our guest, be our guest, be our guest!"

Princess Belle enters with her "Royal Coach"



Cousins were there!
 

As were the grandparents!

Here's Minni

Godparents too (Uncle Robby and Aunt Meg)!

 

Brother Jack was there, showing us how old Bronwyn is...turning.



And, of course, the CAKE!

It was a culinary cabaret. 

Happy early Birthday Bronwyn and a thank you to the Royal Court for making the trip!