GCC Homecoming 2011 & Wagon Trails

This weekend has been so much fun!  Yesterday was our college homecoming at Grove City College.  We have attended several years since graduation, and I believe, every year since leaving Chicago.  The day starts with a parade (which the girls LOVE), followed by walking around campus and visiting with friends. Kaelin raked in the candy, while Hailey's stash was smaller.  However, each piece of candy for Hailey was a large victory - she would hold it up in the air like a trophy.  Usually we let the kids play in a kiddie bounce around area, but this year it was way too muddy.   We stopped by my sorority tent and got the girls' a hot dog, and the college bookstore downtown for free Pom-Poms.   We had both lunch and dinner with some great friends, and took a break in between to drive around and let the girls get a nap while we picked up some more hand down baby boy clothes from a sorority sister of mine.

The girls and JJ (they LOVE JJ!)

Waiting for the Parade - I don't know why Hailey makes this face.

Piper Bell 

Gamma Sig Fam: Me, Ashley (Little to the 5), Liz (Little to the 6), and Sarah (Little to the 7)

Today we took a trip to Wagon Trails (www.wagontrails.com).  We try to go at least once a year, typically in the fall.  Usually, it is really cold out but today was Gorgeous!  The girls love this place, it's better than the zoo....and I had a coupon (always helpful) :).  The girls both loved the camels, elk, cows, bison and seeing the zebra etc.  The ostrich however are a little *sarcasm* aggressive and they left those feedings to Daddy and Uncle.  In total we spent over 2 hours there. This was Ray's first visit to Wagon Trails...now he wants to go on a real Safari!  We finished with some pizza and then headed home for naps.

Hailey and Uncle (she is his side kick most of the time).  

Daddy and K

I love Hailey's face - pure joy!

The turtles were cool - getting a little sun.

LOVE IT - I think a cow licked her

This picture is goofy - but H's face makes me laugh.

Wagon Trails just got these 4 new zebra (on top of the 3 they already have).  They were too shy to come all the way up to our wagon.  They have only been there a week.

Some of the older zebra eating food from under our benches.  NEVER trust a zebra...we have been told every time.  They can bite and not let go.  Also, they are the only member of the horse family to have a full upper set of teeth.

Ray's making friends with the Elk.

Again - the face of JOY.

I love this picture - this Bull has a white tip to his tail, one blue eye and a seriously funny looking white head that looks like a toupee. 

Feeding the Ostrich - DANGEROUS.  

Because it's fall Wagon Trails also does an apple toss (basically a giant slingshot), or a tube the kids can roll an apple down into a field to the animals.  They also had a cut out of a bunch of the Spongebob characters and some decorated hay bales.  

We also got pictures with Mr. Crabs, Patrick and Mrs. Puff :).

There is a little 'petting zoo' through a fence where you can feed goats, donkeys and llamas some feed from a cake ice cream cone.  I liked this picture because the donkey is making fun of Ray :).

I love weekends like this: wonderful weather and watching my family enjoying time together doing things they love.  Now - if only this little boy would join us :).  SOON!

Old North Church 75th Anniversary

This afternoon we went to our church's 75th Anniversary party.  They had several areas set up for Bocce, Corn Hole, and Kick Ball.  They also had a Kona Tropical Ice stand and some Molnar's stands (lemonade, cinnamon rolls, sausages etc.).

And for the kids: a dunk tank (with the pastoral staff rotating through the tank), several bounce a rounds (a slide, bungee, and house), coloring station, face painting, free desserts, a very large twister game and pony rides!

K chose a ladybug.

Hailey chose blue (Shocking) balloons.

The pony rides were by far the best in our girls' eyes.  They both went on 2 rides.

  Hailey LOVED the little horse (Blacky)!  

Fall Fun....so far :)

I LOVE Fall! I LOVE the the cooler weather, the the festivals, fairs, and pumpkins etc!  

This is an end of summer/beginning of fall post.

The ONLY picture from the Canfield Fair.  It was SO HOT (we were there for almost 7 hours).  The girls went on this dragon roller coaster at least 3 times.  They are in the 6th car back. 

Hailey loves to ride with her arms in the air :). 

Hailey's new BIG Girl seat.  She is so proud.

Aunt Amy hosted a tea party for the girls last Sunday. It was so fun - fancy sandwiches, tea and desserts.  The girls wore dresses and LOVED the time with Aunt Amy, Grandma Barb and Nana T (Uncle Brad's Mom).  

We spent this morning at White House Fruit Farms for their annual Fall Festival.  They have craft booths, kettle corn and food.  We go there several times of year for apples (HONEYCRISP), pumpkins, cider, and other misc. items - beef jerky, amazing donuts, and salsa.  When we are there, we get fresh veggies too and the store has barrels of free apples for the kids to munch on while we shop.   Here are a few pictures - not many of Hailey, she didn't want to pose this morning.

The girls had to take this picture for Buddy (Dominic), cause he LOVES Thomas.

Feeding the fish at the White House pond.  Justin, Ray and I were waiting for one of them to fall in. :)

Kaelin's first mani/pedi

Jecca took K to get a pedicure and her nails painted on Friday for part of her birthday gift.  She really enjoyed it!  She thinks we should go all the time now :).  She chose a light polish and a golden crackle top coat ('Golden' is her favorite color right now).  The pictures aren't the greatest, because they were taken with Jecca's phone, but here they are:

In this last one she is wearing Uncle Chris's hat and sunglasses :).

Kaelin's First Day of Kindergarten

Today was Kaelin's first day of Kindergarten.  She goes to a full day district, so the bus picks her up around 8:20 and drops her off around 3:45.  It is a LONG day!

Last night before bed we were saying prayers and good night, she came to me last and said, "I'm gonna miss you tomorrow Mommy."  I might have gotten a little teary :).

This morning we woke around regular time, but she kept saying she was tired.  I think it was the change from a relaxed morning to a gotta get ready and out the door morning.  She was excited to go though, especially to ride the bus with her friend Abby from next door (who is in 2nd grade this year).  There is also a little girl 2 houses down, that started Kindergarten this year, named Emma (she also has a little sister Hailey's age, and a 6 week old baby brother).

We let her pick her back pack (Fancy Nancy) and lunch box (Hello Kitty - with the pink bow).  

She was very excited to take her lunch to school!

She has to wear this name tag for the next 2 weeks.  It also has her bus number and address on it.

Hailey, Abby and Kaelin making silly faces while waiting for the bus.

SO Excited!

Right before she left she said goodbye to everyone.  I gave her a kiss in her palm, and she kissed mine, so we would have them all day. (If you haven't read the children's book The Kissing Hand, you should - my mom sent me to college with it :) ).

This picture is of Abby and Kaelin on the bus and it seriously makes me cry! I did good (I think).  I didn't tear up until they pulled away, and then only for a minute.  

Hailey said she missed her big sister about 3 times today. I think the Kindergarten day is much longer for her than the preschool day.  We did try to break the day up with a trip to the library for some dvd/book borrowing and a Move & Groove class.  She was pretty impatient when she woke up from nap, she thought K would already be home (but she had another 45 minutes to wait).  

Today was a screening day for K, so she doesn't have school tomorrow.  Tomorrow afternoon we will get a call telling us who her teacher is, then Monday starts her first full week with her teacher for the year.  

I tried to get a picture of K getting off the bus but it didn't work out, maybe Monday.  As she got off the bus and I got a hug, she said it was a good but long day! She said repeatedly that she was tired and needed a rest this evening, but she was a trooper.  She told us about lunch, rest time, play time and recess, and about a girl she met named Abigail...oh and 'some other girl' :)  She liked her lunch, but didn't get enough time to eat it (maybe this will teach her to eat at meal time instead of playing/talking - but I doubt it). :)   All in all, she enjoyed her first day, and I think she will be excited to go back Monday.  We'll see how next week goes with the sleepiness :).  

I am sad to see her so grown up, but excited as well.  K is so social and smart, I know she will do good in school, and that she will LOVE it!  Hailey is also getting so big.  She is very excited to become a big sister herself soon and keeps telling me how she is going to help with her baby brother.

Tomorrow is another adventure for K.  Jecca and Uncle Chris gave Kaelin a certificate to get her first real manicure for her birthday.   Is it bad that I am jealous of my 5 year old?  

*Kaelin has always loved Jecca's long nails.  So - tomorrow, Jecca and Kaelin are off to the salon!  (and of course I will paint H's nails at home...because she asked, and because I think she is a bit young for a trip to the salon at 3). 

Corn at the Farm

Today (after K got home from school) we went into Grove City to pick corn at Papa Tom and Grandma Barb's and to help get it ready to freeze.  Amy had gone in earlier in the day, so by the time we got there, she and Barb had gotten 24 qt. bags ready to freeze.  By the time we left, we had 54 qt. bags and 2 gallon bags all ready to freeze (Thats A LOT of corn!).  Our deep freeze now proudly holds 27 qts plus 1 gallon of corn.  Plus we brought home a dozen fresh to eat.

Ray picked his first ear of corn :)  and took some pictures of the girls picking corn.