Pumpkin Carving Time!

Daddo is so great at carving pumpkins, but the poor guy was hoping for an awesome family night... and Luke and I were both a touch distracted. Sorry Daddy!! They turned out great and I am so lucky to have a husband that makes me stop sometimes to enjoy the moment!!

Happy Fall!!

We had a very busy week and it didn't end this weekend!! We got to watch my niece Maddie run in her last Cross Country meet and she did awesome. Those poor girls all came to the finish line in tears and the winner threw up! Not the incentive I need to lace up my own running shoes!! I DO envy runners though and am very proud of my sweet niece. Her momma must be having a proud moment too, since her daughter is doing so well at a sport she loved!!

Here is Luke jumping in a huge pile of leaves that the girls raked up after the meet at his nana's house. This guy is just so adorable... his smile makes my heart grow and I'm not a grinch, so you can imagine how big it is feeling!!

Stella has finally decided she likes the Gerber baby food. She wouldn't eat for me for a few weeks... because, as my friend Kelly said, "Who would want bananas and peas when you can have chocolate Mountain Dew from momma." Anyway I am quite excited because it is the cutest thing watching her slurp up the food off the teeny spoon. She LOVES peaches and we are still working to find some other things she enjoys. Carrots... not.so.much! She also enjoys those little puffs and likes to nibble a corner off with her two tiny teeth on the bottom, this literally makes my knees go weak it is so stinkin' cute!!!

She is also officially a sitter and this happened yesterday. She went from little baby to sitting up in the shopping cart. I.DIE!!!! Lets just slow down little sister, I feel like I want to savor all the moments a bit more because they are flying by!

This is my wonderful Aunt Sis. She visited yesterday evening and we all had a blast. You wouldn't know this from looking at her but this spunky girl is 91 years old and keeps going and going! We have spent nearly every Saturday together for the last 11 years and I am totally blessed to have her in my life.

I would like to end this post with a dedication to all those people in our lives that leave a little sparkle behind whenever you are with them. You know the ones, they are usually happy, easy going, and make you feel great after you spend just a few minutes with them. I try to be this way, but some people just know how to make others walk a little taller naturally... so Auntie Kaye this shout out is for you!

Catch up!!

It's been awhile since a family post, so let's catch up... ya'll!! 

(I always want to be southern on here when I type. I am from the WAY north though, like some maps put us in Canada north... hoping it will bring us warmer weather though!)

So I had these beauties that I had to use!!

What? You don't think they look good?? Well I put smashed them up for my super duper banana bread! You can get the recipe here.

And this guy helped!! :)

Caught him with some flour on his nose!

We had out annual Labor Day corn toss at the family farm a few weeks back and got these beautiful pictures.

Luke is officially in preschool and is still learning some life skills... Luke keep your hands off the other kids! Yikes!!

We got to make his "All About Me" poster for Miss Tracy!

It's a good thing he is such a sweetheart! :)

Our 1st Family Vacation

Our family wanted to spend the last part of summer at the cottage, but since the weather wasn't cooperating we took the kids to Green Bay instead.

(Stella and I hopped into the picture, too!)

Luke loved going through the tubes around the ceiling at Chuck E. Cheese's house (as he called it) and riding on all the cool stuff!!

Next stop... Cabela's where we went through the fish tank tunnel about 10 times!! 

We stayed at the Tundra Lodge and this was the first time Luke will remember staying at a hotel and riding an elevator. He loved the water park on Friday night, but got nervous about the dumping whoosh of water that drops periodically the next day. 

The last stop was Toys R Us. Stella got some new outfits and her Halloween costume. Luke picked out a gumball machine and some books.

We went over to the New Zoo, but the rain didn't let up for us to go in. We had an awesome adventure and now you'll be seeing Justin and I chewing on bubble gum way too much!! Luke loves putting in the quarter on his new machine... behavior incentive maybe!!?? Otherwise our dentist will not be happy! Plus Luke won't chew any unless begged, once he does though it is the cutest thing to see his small mouth trying to chomp on the gumball!

I hope all of you have enjoyed your last bit of summer! :) 

I'll end with a picture of Luke and his silly momma!!

Summer Fun

It's been pretty busy for this homestretch of summer. Here are some things we have been up to. I have been working in my classroom already and am getting ready for my Begindergarteners (dang that name is LONG!). I will share some classroom picks as it gets closer. My blog address will remain the same, even though I am no longer teaching firsties. I am, however, trying to think of a new title for the homepage! :)

Luke was on the red soccer team, part time. He was just a little too young yet this year, so we only made it for 1/2 the practice and totally skipped out on the last week. Getting up for 9am for only 20 minutes while I watched him like a hawk just didn't seem worth it! He really liked doing the stretching exercises at the beginning, but still has to learn that you don't use your hands in soccer (on the ball or other kids). He is all boy and still has lots of 3 in him yet... waiting for the pendulum to swing back the other way. Nana suggested football might be a better fit for him! :)

Luke has had a blast playing with his cousins and Nana. What a lucky boy!!

Auntie Chrissy made a trip up. We were soooooo excited to see her again, and can't wait for Labor Day to see her and Uncle Nathan!

I made my first pie with G.G.'s help. We had a blast picking all the blueberries up at the cottage and it tasted wonderful! Sorry about the picture quality in this post, for some reason Picasa is not my friend today!

I hope your summer is wrapping up nicely! Off to the fair! :)

I'll have mine with a side of happiness...

I love being a mom. I really had no idea that I would. I remember telling my husband to let me know when he was ready and he did both times!! I always felt happy being with my school kids, and while they are GREAT, nothing compares.

Stella has started smiling at us. It's like everything you say is awesome! She smiles with her whole body, her arms and legs go, too! We are just waiting for that first laugh. She's mastered "umm.ga" and "ahh.goo" and we've mastered the bounce, sway, walk, and bottom tapping routine! :)

(cute outfit provided by Grady's mom LeeAnne... so adorable!)

Luke is developing a fun personality. He comes up with the best things... like on Easter. He had a button down shirt like Justin's and ran to look in the mirror. He said, "My button shirt! Like Daddy?" I said, "Yes!" Then he kinda puffed out his chest to really check it out and said, "I am a hero!" I couldn't stand it... SO SWEET. Or when he slowly brings his arms down and tells the dogs to "Re-lax."  Or uses the words ridiculous, hilarious, and privacy correctly... he just makes me giggle!! Here's another dressing like daddy moment with his baseball cap on!

So, to all mothers, I hope the Lord served you a BIG side of happy. And to all the grandmas, aunts, and friends who help shape our lives!

I plan to hug and dispense semi-automatic kisses most of the day and thank my husband.  :)



Here's one of Luke's favorite songs right now... appropriately! I love you, Luke!

A little girl time

My baby sister got married on Friday. I can't believe it!! I want to say that she is too young (or maybe it's making me feel old), but she's the same age Justin and I were. We got our hair done for the occasion, of course, and I got to do their makeup. The wonderful Melissa Richer did our hair and I really felt pretty fantastic. 

Even though I am home with the kids I try to look nice, but some days you just want to stay in your pajamas, ya know! Especially when you are in a sleep deprived fog state of bliss. :)

These are the salon shots. It was so relaxing and fun to be together for her special day!

We are all dressed up and waiting for the boys to join us for the ceremony. My sweet Luke called me a princess and asked me to do a twirl. Melt. My. Heart!!

Daddy fancied up this picture on Instagram... look at my sweet little ones!

I will hopefully have some more pictures of us all dressed up soon! The wedding was very nice and the bride and groom both teared up during the ceremony... it was touching! I wish them all the best! :)

P.S. My sister's friend thought I looked like Amy Adams... uh, thank you!

Comfy all over...

We started the weekend with Evan sharing his story about dinosaurs, as his awesome points reward. Don't they look cozied up?

I think this set the mood for the rest of my weekend. Here are a few other shots from the Chernick house.

That puff is Miss Claire wrapped around the chair leg. It doesn't get lazier than that, let me tell you!  You can find her eyes to the left of the ball of fur :)

Jake and the Neverland Pirates had a special episode Sunday night. Luke is positively enthralled!

Busted! At least he smiled for the camera!

We are starting this week the same we ended the last, with another book read aloud reward from Billy. Sometimes being a first grade, toddler momma is just AWESOME!!

My husband is so sweet...

I know, you think yours is too, but wait until you see what he played for me.
It. Brought. Tears!!!

Labor Day Corn Toss

Sorry friends I've been a little preoccupied with my darling first graders. A week ago Sunday we had the annual Piche family corn roast/toss at our Uncle Randy's house. He hosts us every year and everyone usually brings some food to share. My mouth waters just thinking about Auntie Donna's chili!! Uncle Dennis usually makes sure the corn cobs are perfectly roasted over the bonfire and we all sit under the apple tree and catch up! It's the BEST!!

Here's a shot of Luke playing near the woods. The sun must be in his eyes... he wasn't cranky!

After you eat your hot piece of corn smothered in butter and salt, the tradition is to throw it up on the roof of the chicken coop. The goal is to get it up on the chimney. Luke and his daddy are eyeing up the throw!

Luke loved every minute of it! We walked on the trail by the corn field, picked apples to taste, and stuffed ourselves! It was the perfect family day!!