Hello sweet boy

Jim the rototilling fool

Rumor has it that I have a crush on our gardener.

We picked apples at our neighbor's house last week. Everybody had a great time and we ended up with a TON of apples. They are better quality than last year which means cutting them up for applesauce went so much faster. 10 quarts of applesauce so far and probably 5 more to come. That sounds like a lot, but last year, we had 23 quarts. That's less than a quart every 2 weeks, which means we ran out last year. We may to go back next door and get braver on the ladder to get to the higher apples.

The not-too-flattering faces of Jenny (by Adam while waiting at the bus stop)

Verrrry serious iPod-ing

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Fake smile

Don't bother me, kid. I'm drinking my fake pop.

Fun in the Sun

Friday School

Adam's first day of Friday School (a Mom's Day Out program at church) went about as well as expected. It is obvious in the pictures that he clearly didn't want to go, and there were tears on the way in and the way out. But I think there were some calmer times while I was gone and we'll keep talking it up and hoping for the best.

POV: Adam and Laura

The kids commandeered the camera again. These are my favorites. I love looking through their eyes, especially when they are interacting with each other. 

The MN State Fair

A few weeks back, the kids and I went to the Minnesota State Fair. Its a BIG deal around here! 

The Miracle of Birth Center was first on the list. Baby everythings, including 1-hour-old lambs and 5-min-old chicks. Super cute, wobbly, and slimy.

All you can drink chocolate milk for $1.

"I visited the OINK booth!"

And the gondolas.

We also went on the big slide, something Laura and I have done together the past 2 years, but both kids were crying by the bottom. We went really fast with all three of us on one mat! Next year, Laura's on her own!

For past years, check out these links: 2009 and 2010 Its fun to see how much they have grown!

Kindergarten!

She did it! She went to kindergarten!

I went with her for a short first day and then Wednesday, she was all on her own. Her teacher seems great (in the above picture, she is in the sweater standing over the boy in the green). She sits at a table with all boys, which will probably help with her tendency chatter all day. 

The first day home on the bus was pretty traumatic. She didn't know which bus stop to get off and was crying too hard to hear the driver call her name. Adam was keeping busy playing with the camera while she settled down, so we have this sad, sweet picture.

But the second day was all smiles! She now knows she's at the 2nd bus stop, has a few older girls that keep an eye on her and she imagines that the gruff looking bus driver is Grandpa Phil. No problem. 

I am so excited for her!

Happy September?

Dude, it is September 1st. Wow. Laura starts school next week and we go to meet her teacher tonight!