New Ride!

We stumbled upon a deal on a Gator offered by our neighbors....and the kids couldn't be happier. Lucy is content and actually insistent on riding shotgun, she won't even get in the drivers seat -- which is just fine with Patrick. After replacing the battery, we can get about an hour of tooling around the yard. And that's what they do -- ride continuously, both of them, and then it's back on the charger til tomorrow. It gives Brian and I such a thrill to watch them enjoy something we both wanted as kids!

Labor Day Weekend

We had a nice long Labor Day weekend in Indianapolis. Friday morning we took the kids to Holliday Park, a nice big park on the north part of town with an awesome playground, hiking trails, and nature center. That evening, Grammie and Papa watched all 5 little ones and we met up with Cory and Carissa at The Cheesecake Factory for dinner and some shopping. Saturday morning we headed over to Anderson Orchards and picked apples, snacked on caramel apples and cider afterward. Daddy smoked dinner all afternoon and everyone came over to enjoy tenderloin and some more great family time that evening. Fun times!

Craft time continues...

Patrick has completed his 3rd day of preschool, and we couldn't have asked for a better start. His teachers say he is doing great and he shares quite a bit of his day with me when he gets home. Their day is very structured and includes table activities, stories, circle time, art activities and playing outside. Each day a child is assigned a snack/show and tell, so our turn is next Tuesday. We decided on trail mix and apple juice, Patrick thoroughly enjoyed the ingredient mixing and sampling tonight before bedtime! I have also noticed he is much more interested in his crafts, almost every day he asks to bring out his paints, crayons, pencils, glue, etc. Here is a picture of he and Lucy, engaged in their paintings :)

Fun with Friends

Lucas Rudulph, thrilled with the snappers
Adelyn Jo Gamblin, loving the brownies
Lucy, loving her hat and shirtless post-brownie
Axton Gamblin and Patrick discussing the fireworks being lit
Whoa!!!!!!!!!!


We thoroughly enjoyed the fall-like weather this weekend, inviting friends over to enjoy a dinner of smoked meat and a few cold ones. The kids had a great time, got a little messy in the process, and loved seeing the fireworks light up the sky.