NY-Blueberries!

We took a morning to find a place to pick blueberries, and while we didn't end up at the place we were looking for, the one we found was absolutely delightful!  In NY, there are so many U-pick places, and this one was super cute.  I don't think I've ever seen a blueberry patch as well taken care of as this one.  Each bush was surrounded by it's own, square patch of hay, and the grass was trimmed, no weeds, it was gorgeous!  The blueberries were amazing.  If you've never had a FRESH blueberry right from the bush, you're missing out!

Owen did such a great job picking.  In fact, I kept hearing this happy humming from all around me, and I just assumed it was Marin, but lo and behold, it was my little Owen, happy as a clam, filling up his bucket. 

 The day was absolutely gorgeous, bright blue skies, big puffy clouds, and a nice breeze on the hill.  Marin was a great picker, she contributed quite a bit to the final count!

 Look at those berries!

 Wearing my super comfy pregnancy shirt, I was so content to pick berries.  Picking berries brought me back to my childhood; we would go and pick berries a couple times every year.  So nostalgic.

 Across the road from the blueberry patch was this gorgeous field and barn.  Nothing to hear but the sound of the breeze.  Absolutely perfect.

We stopped for some pizza.  Nothing like a NY style crust.  No matter where I've gone for pizza, it's never the same as is it in NY.

 Aaaaand a little soft serve dipped in chocolate.

I think blueberry picking was honestly my favorite day.  So relaxing and perfect.  I think for my bedtime snack while I was there, I had a bowl of blueberries with milk and sugar about three times.  SO good, there really isn't anything like it.

NY-Skaneatales

When you get a bunch of little kids together, you may just end up with a mouse funeral on your hands.  My mom has a cat that is quite the hunter, and the kids found one of his....ummm...catches.  They were strictly instructed not to touch the mouse, but were permitted to cover it with rocks and flowers, which was promptly executed. I'm totally cool with that.  It's a dead mouse, I'm sure they will survive.  They also washed their hands after anyway.

 We took the kids to the Science Center in Ithaca one day, SUCH a great things for them.  A million things to do, and indoors, so this mama was happy.  Of course I forgot to take my phone inside, so...no pictures for you!  We stopped at a farmstand on the way and it was wonderful.  I love NY farmstands.  So beautiful!

 And then we ate lunch at a park on the lake.  The breeze coming off the water was absolutely divine!  I could have stayed there ALL day!

The next day we headed up to Skaneatales (Skinny-atlas).  It's just not a trip home without going to Skaneatales.  Usually we like to do this trip as just adults, but we couldn't get a sitter, so we took the kids....and it was uh....busy.  Not the usual trip for us, but at least we got to go!

 The kids had to check out the little jewelry shop...even my poor son.

 Marin found something she liked!

 How do two moms look after having a hectic lunch with kids?

And then we drove over to MacKenzie Childs.  A home furnishing/decor company that owns some property near Auburn and has their showroom and offices there.  It's so gorgeous there and the grounds are just lovely.  The kids ate their treats on the grass by the pond. 

 Picture perfect.

 Um, gorgeous!

 The geese hoping for a few crumbs off little Clara's cookie.

Lydia....she is A+ photobomber.

 And this random picture...this old lappy was the one I used in Nursing school...and the one I sent and received all those e-mails to and from my Kristoffer....all those years ago.  So nostalgic.

Stay tuned for more!

New York, The Beginning!

The kids and I flew out to Upstate New York on August 2nd for a ten day stint, and honestly, the whole trip is kind of a blur.  We were SO busy and I was SO tired, sheesh!  WE flew out on a red-eye, and let me tell you, I would rather fly with a newborn and two kids, than to be pregnant and fly with two kids.  Flying while 7 months pregnant is the pits!  I was so uncomfortable and had tired, sleeping children sprawled all over my lap.  And my feet...oh my poor feet really took a beating.  I was able to stave off constant swelling before the trip by making sure I kept them up for an hour during the day, and Kris would rub them at night for me.  But since the trip, there is no recovering.  They are swollen all day, every day...even in the morning.  They will be swollen until delivery!

We landed in Syracuse in the morning and we all had naps.  My sister and her husband and two kids drove up from GA with my brother's little girl, and they arrived around dinnertime.  My little brother, Jacob came downstairs to join in, and the kids were highly intrigued.  Jacob pretends to have this disdain for children, but for some reason, the LOVE him.  We're not sure why, exactly but they just think he's hilarious.  He actually does have a good time, even though he deny's that in full.

 That first night we played a board game...one that I am so not familiar with.  I was really struggling.  My poor brain had so little sleep, and pregnancy makes me kind of...well, dumb anyway.  It was all I could do to get through the game!

 Sunday we went to the Greene Branch.  It's always so nice to see people I have loved for so long.  We took the opportunity after church to take some pictures.  The kids were really so good all things considered.

 My mother with five of her seven grandchildren.  She was in heaven!  From left:  Lydia Welch, Clara Welch, Emily Owens, Marin Lyman, Owen Lyman.

All together!  My sister Tabitha on the left, my mother, Alison and Myself on the right.

 JUMP!

 Just the three of us.  I have to tell you, every time someone comments on my belly, it's something along the lines of  "Oh, not much longer for you, it looks like!".  They seem a little surprised when I tell them I'm due in October!  I didn't think I was that big...

 A picture of me and my babies.  I love this picture, so so cute!

 I have more pictures to share, but I'll need to post them another day.

Fingers, Toes and Belly Grows...

There are times when I struggle with what to do with my kids, I think every parent has those moments.  Those moments are a little more frequent these days, so I told Marin she could paint my toenails and I would paint her finger and toenails. Sold.  I told her just one color on my toes, and she picked out this cool tangerine/red color...with clear glitter to sprinkle on top.  For Marin's toes, we alternated two different pinks, and for her fingernails, my teal glittery polish.  She felt super fancy!

My girl at swim lessons.  This was her last day in Level I, and today was her first day in Level II.  She has come so far and I am so proud of her.  Swimming is something I'm not the best at, so knowing my girl is getting a head start on that makes me so relieved.  Owen started his preschool swim class today, so he'll have two weeks and we'll see how he does!

Poor Marin came upstairs at 2am Saturday and said her legs felt funny and she didn't feel well.  I wasn't sure what was going on, so I gave her something to drink and some Tylenol and sent her back to bed.  She was back upstairs in 5 minutes and said she was ready to throw up...which she did.  Fortunately she made it to the toilet.  But, she spent the night in our bed with a bucket, and daddy whisked her to the toilet every 20-30 minutes to barf....7 times.  Poor kid.  I felt so bad for her.  It was a long night, and even though Kris was the one hauling himself out of bed with her, I was still awake for every time.  She threw up twice the next morning after getting up and seemed to be OK after that.  BUT, it was a loong Saturday, and kind of put the kai-bash on any plans for anything.  I think it was just a 12 hour bug, fortunately.

 This is our cat, Peaches.  She is such a funny cat, loves her belly being scratched...I mean seriously, how many cats like that?!  She got pretty comfy on Kris's lap the other afternoon.

Daddy built a fort with the kids yesterday afternoon while I made dinner.  It was quite the fort!  And honestly, one of my favorite things has got to be working in the kitchen while my amazing husband plays with our kids in the next room.  Absolutely one of my fave things ever.  Kristoffer is such a great dad, and I am one lucky gal.

 The kids LOVE daddy.  They absolutely maul him.  He told me he's getting too old for this, and I told him it's not allowed, because we're not done having kids!

 So exhausting!

 The cat wasn't sure what to do with all the screaming and squeeling.

And then it was movie time, and everyone piled on daddy....again.  I told Kris that he should feel flattered.

Owen saw this picture on a binder and asked if that man was being spanked.  I almost died laughing, as did Kristoffer.  Even now, so funny.  Kids are so literal!

 I asked my hubby to take a few belly shots for me, which he did, but I should have done it in the morning.  By afternoon-time, I look and feel exhausted!  And here I am with my cute little photo-bomber.

27 weeks!  Crazy.  Seriously.  I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy is flying by.  I can't really complain too much, because I know it will be over before I know it.  However difficult moments are, I do enjoy being pregnant.  It's an incredible feeling knowing I've been monumentally blessed to be a co-creator with my husband and the Lord in the creation of a fresh, new little life.  And that with all the complicated parts of creating a new human being, it's amazing how often it comes out right.  Really and truly!

 Kind of my more favorite picture.  I don't look completely wiped out here.  Baby girl is getting so BIG!  Nesting hasn't hit yet....which it will soon.  I try so hard to be productive about house projects, and I'm really losing steam with every passing day.  It's a lot of work to grow a baby, phew!  Grateful to have an amazing hubby who loves his wife.