Weekend walks

Our weekends are often packed with good activities and good time with friends, so those rare quiet mornings when we can ramble together to the park and then around the neighborhood are special.

This morning Mr. 8 and I made monkey bread together.  After a little too much sugar for everyone, we headed outdoors.  There had been some ups and downs with tired kids who had been up way too late last night and we needed the fresh air.  It turns out it was just what we needed.  David and Mr. 10 played frisbee, Mr. 4 and Mr. 2 rode their bikes, we swang on the swings (I introduced Mr. 4 to spider swinging which was a huge hit).  And then we walked out to check whether the new boardwalk was finished.  Mr. 2 insisted on pulling the wagon rather than riding but we made it out to the path and it was open!  (well, the gate was sort of open and so I'm sure they were fine with a few people trying it out)  It's a great new path to add to our rambles and we made it home just in time before Mr. 2 fell asleep in the wagon.

Add to the list our first birthday party without kids in years and it's a great day!

Bedtime with Mommy

Evenings here are often hard these days.  It's a tired crew with only one parent to usher everyone through the bedtime process.  Between dinner and baths and pajamas and teeth brushing and books and songs, it's hard to find to slow down and just only time together.  And when Mr. 2 was sick last week, it was rough.

But we're trying to get to the other side.  Mr. 2 loves to brush his teeth and will run with glee to the bathroom and try to drag his toothbrush down himself.  Mr. 2 and Mr. 4 are now going to bed together and Mr. 2 is happily sitting through the longer books Mr. 4 picks out.  Mr. 2 loves to pray and folds his hands and says thank you for everyone in our family by name and then "amen".  And once the younger crew is down, the older boys and I have been playing games together or reading Peter Pan out loud.  We're there but, as with any big transition, there was a bit of mourning that we had to get through to start seeing the new as good.

Apple picking

It's not fall until we've been apple picking (usually 2 or 3 times).  Our first apple picking outing was with a group from David's work on a gorgeous fall day.  Mr. 10 had a chance to spend the afternoon with a friend (and how can you pass up the chance to spend time with a 10 year old who loves programming as much as you do, especially when there's also pizza and time on the Wii) so it was just the 3 younger brothers with us.  After filling up on hot apple cider and cider donuts, we headed out into the orchard.  Mr. 8 loved climbing the trees...  until we were told that wasn't allowed.  There were still plenty lower down so we filled our bag up before nap time caught up with Mr. 2.

Celebrating Mr. 2

Mr. 2 turned 2 in late August but due to all the craziness around here we waited to celebrate until mid-September.  It was a beautiful fall day and we spent the first half of the party at Mr. 2's favorite place.  His favorite friend, who he calls "Ba-Ba" was there and the two had a great time racing around together.  Then it was inside for pizza and apple caramel cupcakes (the other boys wanted chocolate but I thought apple caramel went better for a fall day).

The best part of the day was just having the opportunity to celebrate our Mr. 2.  It was fun to watch him realize that the day was really all about him.

Hiking with friends

And they're off...

On the move

Family Camp

One of the highlights of our summer every year is Family Camp with our church.  It's such an incredibly special time with friends.  Last year we gave the older boys walkie-talkies and a bit more freedom to enjoy the time with friends but this year we let them roam and off they went.  Mr. 10 went down the zip line.  Mr. 8 and Mr. 4 climbed the rock wall.  Mr. 1 headed out in a kayak.  We loved the time together - especially hanging out at the campfire with friends irresponsibly late after tucking our kids in bed.

The first night we were there Mr. 10 and Mr. 8 ran off with walkie-talkies and flashlights and Mr. 4 went right along with them.  A little later we discovered that they had wandered off with friends and Mr. 4 was nowhere to be found.  In most places we would be worried but we soon found him hanging out with another family back in Kennebago (our campus of 8 years).  Mr. 8 spent as much time as possible at the slip-and-slide helping one of his favorite people (and sliding down over and over again of course).  Even Mr. 1 went down the slip and slide.  He would reach the bottom and tell Mommy or Daddy "all done" but then would happily head back up to the top.  He seemed to have mixed feelings about the whole adventure.  Mr. 10 brought along Settlers of Catan and recruited some special friends to play with him after the activities of the day were done.

We stayed up too late, had lots of fun with friends, and already can't wait for next year!