BOILER UP!!!!

Football season is upon us and with that comes our dedication to Purdue Football. This is our 7th season as season ticket holders! Tailgating is such a huge part of our tradition. We have 4 parking spaces between us and the Ho family which makes for a great site! We have it all, tents, chairs, cornhole, satellite TV, grills, food,adult drinks and lots of good times with family and friends!

My parents were out of town for the first game, so we had Jared's parents come down to the game. My brother, Eric, was home from California so he joined along as well. Our friends Chris and Cathleen are in their second season of having tickets with us.

My friend Candice has been a blessing to us. She comes along to tailgate with us and then watches the kids for us during the game. It is great to have her to experience the fun with us and allows us to let the kids partake in the festivities!

Here are pics from the first home game of the season...

Fall Has Arrived...

Fall is such a great time of year. The weather changes, the leaves change and I believe our hearts change as well. Fall gives you that time, to settle into a routine and to cherish the family time you have, making it quality time.

My children’s lives seem to be flashing before my eyes. On the kids’ first day of school, I called up my Creative Memories Consultant and ordered new scrapbooking supplies so I can dedicate time to doing the kids scrapbooks. I am so far behind, I haven’t even started. However, I do have these blogs that have helped to document all the important happenings. As the warmer days draw to a close, I will have an activity to keep me occupied when we are trapped inside our house!

Fall makes me reflect back on my life as a child. I remember going to the apple orchard, making apple crisp with my mom, drinking cider, starting the school year, making new friends, cheerleading, and attending soccer and football games in which my brothers played. It was a great time of year to bond with my family as well as friends.

I have tried to start these same traditions with my kiddos. I have been trying really hard to make mental notes of all the things I do with the kids. I have really wanted to get a new camera to help me capture these moments. Well, Jared listened to my pleas for wanting a camera and got me a Canon Rebel XSi! The best feature is the telescopic lens. I can sit far away from the kids and capture moments when they don’t even know I am taking pictures.

We were up in NW Indiana and made a trip to County Line Orchard to go apple picking with the kids. Well, the number one reason I was going was for the Apple Cider Doughnuts! This was the same orchard my mom took us to as kids, boy has it grown! The kids had a blast on the tractor ride and finding the best Honey Crisp apples! We made an apple crisp and had lots of apples for snacking on. The kids devoured the apples!

I am looking forward to so many more things this fall with the kids!

Enjoy our pictures from the apple orchard....

The 2010-2011 School Year Has Begun

It is hard to believe another school year has rolled around. Bryce has started his final year at Carmel United Methodist Preschool (this is his 4th year). He is in the 4 1/2 year old class (aka PreK) and is going 4 days a week from 9-1. They started last week, so it was quite an adjustment but he did great!

Sadie is in her 2nd year at CUMC. She is a Duck this year, and just like last year...LOVES SCHOOL! She is going 1 day a week from 9-1. This gives mommy 4 hours a week of "free time"...haha!

With this being Bryce's final year of preschool, Jared and I thought it be best that I maximize my time home with the kids. We did a lot of soul searching and found it best for me to leave my 2 day a week position at the pediatric office, where I worked Wednesdays and Fridays from 8-5. I am now working 2, 12-hour night shifts a week at the hospital from 7a-7p. This has given me a lot more flexibility in my schedule and LOTS more time with the kids!

Enjoy the pictures form their first day of school!