Visitors

This time of year is a busy one for all the families we know. Lots of transitions and re-learning the routines of the school year. Elle is whole-heartedly loving first grade. She is learning a lot and meeting many new friends. She is one tired pumpkin when we pick her up each day. She is learning the routine of nightly homework and packing her lunch. Most days she let's me pick her outfit since she has more important playing to do. Her brother's miss her while she is away so they need some Elle-time when she gets home. She is generally willing to indulge them, but can be a little cranky. Carter has been loving Little Lambs. He had the privilege of bringing home "Wooliam" the class pet for a couple days. They had quite the adventures. Carter took the care and responsibility VERY seriously. I took a couple of pictures of their time together. He is learning a lot from his beloved, Miss Kathy and Miss Julie. The other night he barely ate dinner because he was so busy explaining all he had learned about our "human bodies". It was so precious!

As for the youngest man in the house....he is Trouble with a capital T these days. Ella and Carter will be busy working on something and in no time, Christian is in some sort of trouble. He is accustom to exercising his opinion, saying NO!, and has some serious NAUGHTY antics he has been up to. {Emptying cupboards, sticking things in the toilet, poking toothpicks through the window screens, wearing my good shoes out into the yard- & leaving them there, coloring with crayons on the floor, refusing to take napes, taking his diaper off.on.his.own, and many other things that I am too exhausted to recall} He is a handful these days. However, whenever a grandmother is around, he is on best behavior. Which brings me to the other visitors we've had.....

Our sister-in-law, Sarah, lost her mom on Sept. 11 to cancer. Scott's parents and Scott traveled to Indianapolis to attend the funeral. I was sad that I could not go to be there for Mike, Sarah, and the girls but my parents were out of town and we didn't have anyone else to stay with the kids. On the way back from Indy, Marv and Sandy stopped in for a couple of nights. It was so nice to have them around to spend time with. They were helpful in letting me get some things done at home and school. The kids really enjoyed their time with them, but I didn't snap many pictures, unfortunately!

Here is a perfect example of what a turkey this little guy is.....he refused to take his nap but was SOOO tired. He told me he was going to go read books, I said fine. When it got a little too quiet for my liking I peeked in to find this....what a pumpkin!

First Days of School

It sure has been a busy week here so far and it's only Wednesday! The Moorlag family is sending 3 out of 5 it's members to school each week. Ella described her first day of FIRST grade as "magical". Carter was all a buzz this afternoon when I picked him up. He had SOOOO much to tell me about all the fun he had. Here are a few pictures to document: Carter and Brooke outside of Little Lambs!

{Someday this picture will be up at their graduation parties...sniff, sniff}

The First Grader on her first day. Did I mention she changed outfits 3 times...where could she possibly get that gene from??? Still missing the glassess..argggg! Mom and Elle's 2nd day. But we needed a group shot before we headed out the door.

Carter with his beloved spider backpack!

We had two separate but EQUALLY fun celebrations for each of their 1st days. I am so thankful that the kids LOVE school, they love their teachers, and they have wonderful friends to share all these great memories with. Warning to all who follow this blog. I will be a blubbering M-E-S-S when Christian is strapping on the backpack. I feel like these years of their childhood are flying by. Each day is filled with priceless gifts. Yesterday while Elle was at school the boys and I spent a long time chasing dragonflies around the yard with butterfly nets. We read Dr. Seuss 4 times, just to see the joy on Christian obsessed face! Carter and I sat on the couch and debriefed about his day. I am so thankful I am here with them to capture these special moments.

On a separate note---I am surviving kindergarten! To my own shock---I am actually loving it. I have a sweet bunch of 23 that keep me hopping all morning long. I am trying to soak it all in. But for now, I should go sleep! All these pumpkins will need my and every ounce of my energy and patience bright and early!

Ella's Birthday Party

It's hard to fathom, but on Monday our first born will turn 7! How the time flies. It was so much fun to plan this party with her. For being 7 she sure has some particular ideas...wonder where she gets that? She is in love with her American Girl Doll, Ainsley. We visited the mother store while we were in MN. She had so much fun picking out the colors, a very specific game she wanted to play, helping with some of the decorations, and planning the menu. It just tickled me pink that she wanted a pink and orange party since that is what I planned for her 1st birthday celebration. We had 5 girls from school/daycare over tonight and it was so much fun! They all behaved like little ladies. Each were sad as their parents drove up. I guess two hours wasn't TOO long. We had lots of playdates to schedule before summer is over. She is blessed to have so many nice girls to play with. Here are some pictures of the festivities.

The table for the dolls

Ella and Ainsley
Hunter, Ella, Ashley, Brooke, Lola, and Ella

Playing "guess how tall Ella is" with ribbon

Brooke was so close.

The girls about to eat

The girls decorated cupcakes: big ones for themselves and minis for the "dolls"

They were into the details

The girls let their dolls have a "pretend" cupcake...yumm!

Gifts:

A fancy cell phone and dress up shoes from Brooke

A zhu zhu pet from Ashley

Carter is being SOOO patient...he was almost beside himself trying to be so good!

A favorite gift from Ryan and Carrie....a membership to American Girl...online games. Wow!
Major spoilage!

The fun "sundae dessert bar" Each of the girls wanted their own candle and of course they had to blow it out and make a wish! How precious!

With her Sundae dessert

*Note the glasses from last year.....her black pair were accidentally broken by her brother earlier this week. Hope to have the new pair by start of school.

All the fun fixings Ella handpicked...gummy bears, M&Ms, sprinkles, etc...

I was so impressed with how old she acted during her party. She was so polite and sweet. You'd never know she's been a real pain for me lately??? Ahh, just part of the joy of having a girl! She is so special and brings so much to each day! Love you honey!

Dabbling

It's been a little busy around here. Outside of the general business of enjoying being a family of five, coordinating activities to savor this most-beautiful summer, preparing to go back to school, and all the in between that fills the days, my dear friend Kelly and her husband have opened their beautiful property for a new venture.....weddings!
As many of you know, party planning and beautiful things are something I love. Kelly has been a huge help and collaborator in many of the big events in my life: our wedding, my baby showers, and all the kids birthdays. She has invited me to be part of the weddings they have hosted at their farm this summer. And when you think farm don't think stinky dairy farm think of an image straight out of Pottery Barn. We have had lots of fun dabbling in "wedding planning". Kelly and Justin have a great vision for this which I am truly amazed by. They run their own landscaping business, a CSA for their vegetables, she teaches part time, and they have 3 kids. I tend to be a busy body, but Kelly takes it to a new level. I am so honored that they would ask me to share in these wonderful experiences. They have 6 weddings booked for the summer and I just had to share some pictures from one from mid August. It was so fun and BEAUTIFUL. I look forward to the last few we'll share this month. Kelly keeps telling me this is how we can spend our summers---as a side job! ????

How beautiful is this??

Find a cozy seat outside on the patio

The tent for dining

Table assignments, drinks and hor 'dvours

The "guest book"

Wildwood Family Farms

Our First Twins Game

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While we were in the cities, we took full advantage of our family's love of baseball and took in the Sunday afternoon Twins game. It was so fun to experience the inagural year of the new Target Center. We loved the walk downtown, taking in all the big city sights. Once we got to the field, we were amazed at how beautiful and big everything was. It was such a wonderful memory for everyone in our family....even if you did spill an entire pink lemonade down your lap, right honey?? Ahhh, the memories!

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