FREE DUTCH WONDERLAND TICKETS

Hello Local friends, 

there's a toy drive 

THIS SATURDAY FROM 3-7pm 

at Dutch Wonderland.

Bring a NEW toy and get a FREE ticket to 

Dutch WinterWonderland.

If you have multiple children, they must EACH be with you and present their gift to get their FREE ticket.  

To make sure you're actually saving money, keep your new gift under $12.99, (the cost of a WinterWonderland ticket). 

Here are the hours for 

Dutch Winter Wonderland
November 17, 18, 23-25    

December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 26-30

Saturdays: 3:00pm to 9:00pm,

Sundays: 3:00pm to 8:00pm 
Select weekdays: 5:00pm to 9:00 pm

"It's the most wonderful time of the year!"

snuggly days

It's getting colder. 

And although the initial switch from flip-flops to boots is somewhat annoying, (especially when you're keeping all those little piggies warm), I'm use to it now and enjoying it.  

Snuggling is so delicious.

Sweet Capri is 4 months old. 

She smiles so big at her brothers and sister and Daddy.

The only thing unruly about her is her hair!

The only time it's lying flat is right after I've wet it down, 

once it dries....right back up it goes!

She is sleeping and eating well, and loves to be held.

She entertains herself quite well under her play area, I think she enjoys the peace of her crib, (when no one is in her face)!  

I LOVE watching her as she takes in the world around her.  

How blessed she is to be safe and loved and warm.  

Like many on the east coast, 

we were prepared for Hurricane Sandy.

THANKFULLY we didn't have to tap into any of those preparations.  I was actually looking forward to being without power for a bit, (am I weird?).  We sat around listening to rain and wind and waited....waited.....it sounded awful outside, 
but we never lost power!

The children's "nest" 

during the storm. I love having them near, 

it helps me sleep just knowing they are there.  

Our "forever friend" Lindy

is visiting here from India.

Over 15 years ago Jake introduced me to a friend of his.

We clicked immediately and have been by each other's side ever since.  We use to be roommates back in the day.  It has been a joy to spend time with her.  She is in the process of adopting two children from India and we dream of the day we are all together again!  Her life is not easy and yet she is strong and brave and faithful. 

Jake treated us to dinner

after a hard-working Saturday. The boys "helped" him unload and stack some firewood and I prepared for the storm and did the usual cleaning that never ends! 

Luke said, "isn't this town so cute?"

The restaurant was so charming and the food was wonderful.

My treats. xoxo

Paisley was a ladybug crawling all over her Sunflower, (Capri)!  Fitting indeed!  Tyler was a race car driver and Luke was "Officer Stoltzfus" trying to pull him over!  We were just Dad and Mom trying to keep track of everyone and eat all their "good" candy! 

"Life is what happens to you 

while you're busy making other plans!"

~John Lennon~ 

Please Touch Museum

A few weeks ago my sister and I and our kiddos went to the 

Please Touch Museum. I have heard so many good things about it over the years and it did not disappoint!  

SUCH A FUN PLACE!! 

It's a bit of a drive, but very easy to find. 

The entire place is so real to life!  

"Children have neither past nor future;

 they enjoy the present, 

which very few of us do."

  ~Jean de la Bruyere~

getting breathed on

It's a cozy morning here in our old farmhouse. 

A little chilly, the walls are getting cold, 
ready for the warmth of our wood stove.

I just got done getting breathed on. 

It's one of my favorite things about having a baby in our home.

I lay next to her heavy sleeping body, all snuggled in our down bed.

I quietly place my face as close to hers as I can, 
nuzzled under her nose without really touching her, 

and I lay as still as possible.

 I close my eyes and open my ears and 
then all at once I feel it. 
Her little puffs of breath falling on me.

I hear her quick steady breathing and her little baby noises.

And I stay there as long as I can.

Our worlds as close as they can be, 

our breath mingling, creating a sweet scent.

I promise you, sleeping babies have the sweetest smell. 

This only lasts so long, because even now when I try to do this with my sleeping 7 and 5 year old, well, they stink.

Stinky sleeping breath, it's just not the same.  

There's only so much time to breathe in their sleeping sweetness.

And so I lay there until tears start to well up, 

tears of gratitude and 
so much love that my heart can't even handle it. 
And I meet with God.

"Babies are such a nice way to start people."
  ~Don Herrold

introducing capri to her family

oh, the love.  the love we have for this new baby, our Capri, it's so deep already.  she belongs here.  i want to share her birth story with you all, but first have to share these beautiful pictures of her first day here.  Remember my sweet friend who took pictures of the nursery?  Well, she offered to come on Capri's first day and take pictures of when the children met her for the first time.  It was precious.  The anticipation of their arrival, the "reveal", (they didn't know if it was a boy or girl until they walked in) and their individual reactions to her....oh, they LOVED ON HER from the first moment.  jumping on our bed and diving into her face, smothering her with awe and wonder, warmth and kisses, love and acceptance.  

see for yourself.

xoxo.

"What is this life if, full of care, 

we have not time to stand and stare." 

~W. H. Davies~

memorial day

Each Memorial Day our town has a small parade.

And each year we dress up in red, white and blue, 

load up in the back of the pick-up truck with our neighbors and drive down the road to my brother's home.  It's a special tradition that we all look forward to....the buckets are to collect the candy that is thrown from the floats, (and for their mother to raid afterwards)! 

"The brave die never, though they sleep in dust:

Their courage nerves a thousand living men."

~Minot J. Savage~

i think this picture is beautiful.

somebody's little boy.

Sweet Summertime

Hello Friends, as most of you reading, I too have been on the go, go, go.....drinking in this sweet season called Summertime!  It's going too fast. A few nights ago I was visiting my niece's blog and she had this song playing, aptly named "The Summer." I'm in love.  It's playing right now.

 a magical night at my cousin Dave and Orpha's home for Dinner Club.  We're hosting it this Sunday and can hardly wait to get creative with our outdoor dining.....I think I'll set it up under the walnut trees out back.

Father's Day at my parents home.  We hired a bluegrass band to serenade our evening.  It was awesome. I grew up attending blue grass festivals with my parents, (hated every minute of it), but now I actually enjoy the music.  Oh my gosh, I'm getting old! 

One of our trips to the beach. We've been there twice already for several days at a time and plan to return the end of this month for one more week.The kids are at such great ages to enjoy the beach.
Paisley especially enjoys "the pool", (ocean)! "Look at the waves Paisley!" I said upon our first time walking onto the beach.....
she starting waving and waving. It was precious.
~OCNJ~

"CANDY BALL" that's what Luke calls cannon balls....and I'm not about to correct him! 

Enjoying one of our many days at Refreshing Mountain Camp.
There's nothing like being wrapped in a warm towel after a long day of swimming.

Our home away from home.  Our Summer home. LOL! The kids don't care if they're in a million dollar beach side mansion or a camper in the woods.  It's about being together!  That sounds cheesy, but it's the truth.  Even for myself.

Enjoy the final drips of Summer.....

"and there'd be sand in your pockets
and nothing on your mind."~Josh Pyke~