Pumpkin Picking 10/25

We FINALLY made it to the pumpkin patch! It's been hard with schedules and this rainy October weather. We decided to stay local and go to the family farm on Pughtown Road. Beautiful hayride (and we had the entire wagon to ourselves!) out to the pumpkin patch, through the woods, the fields, and the local countryside. It was a fun time. Next time we'll try their cornmaze too!

Halloween Parade (10/21)

Andrew marched in the Elverson Halloween parade last night with the OJR band. The middle school and high school marched together playing Love Potion #9. You can see Andrew there in the middle with the white blume. MS has the white blumes and HS the black. Andrew was in the last row as he is now part of the low brass section (not saxophones) since he plays the baritone saxophone.

It was a perfect night for a parade. We brought chairs, drinks, etc. but didn't end up using any of it as we had to sit on the curb with Kendyl to help her get the candy that everyone threw out. Boy did she ever love that! She was scared at first with all of the big trucks so close, the flashing firetruck lights, etc., but quickly got over it and was content to sit on our lap and get candy (or better yet, have Daddy and Steven get it for her). Towards the end she started to get it herself, dance to the music and even say thank you.


Kendyl towards the end of the night with her chocolatey face. She just wanted to eat and eat and eat the candy. We had a little melt down when we cut her off, but luckily a float came by with some good music she could dance to that took her mind off the candy.

Kendyl was so in love with her candy filled pink pumpkin she wouldn't let it go....literally. She carried it all the way to the car and had to hold it on the way home even though she was not allowed to touch the candy inside. Then she tried to sleep with it, but luckily Tim convinced her to let it sit on her changing table. She also made it clear "Daddy - no DewDew" that she did not want Andrew to take her candy. We told her that she could give the things she can not eat to Andrew (gum, taffy, etc.) She also had to bring it down to breakfast this morning, but luckily just to protect...not to eat!

Watching the OJR band go by!

Here are some pictures I took before we left for the parade. He only has 2 more performances left before the season is over for the middle school. He is REALLY enjoying marching band. Now it's onto concert band and jazz band for him (he's lucky he doesn't need to try out as he is the only MS bari sax player). He has band rehersal or lessons 2-3 times a day most days and loves it. Now, if only he liked math this much!

Apples, Peaches and Peppers

Tim surprised us on Saturday (9/19) by suggesting going to Linvilla Orchards to pick apples. Tim never plans family outings (without prompting) so this was a nice treat.

The first apple went right to Kendyl. She LOVED it. She spent almost the whole time in the apple orchard eating the apple and ate the whole thing!

The boys enjoyed using the pole to get the apples that were up high and we filled up our box in no time at all. Kendyl finished her apple and decided she wanted to pull the wagon....and she did. She is strong!

After the apple orchard, we took a hayride over to the peach orchard and veggie gardens. Andrew thought the hot peppers made good horns.

Kendyl wasn't really into the pepper picking (they also looked for tomatoes, but couldn't find any) so she took off to wait for the hayride I think. It was her way of telling us she was ready to go.

So we waited in the shade and shared a peach. Then we walked over to the pear orchard, but the pears (sorry, I forget the type) were so tiny the boys were not interested. We got 4 to try.

In the end we picked 22 pounds of apples and 25 pounds of peaches/peppers/pears.

Then we headed over to the main area where there was a craft and music festival going on. Kendyl loved the music! We looked at the animals, the vendors, then spent a good amount of time in the playground. All wooden structures....so much fun! A ship, truck, castle, train, monster truck, and more. Kendyl loved it! We'll have to go back to play again another day when it's not so crowded.

Then we headed over for a snack. While waiting at the table while Tim got drinks, Andrew caught a bee (instead of shooing it away) and it stung him on the pinky. Thankfully the office had bee sting medicine for him. It hurt for quite awhile, but he's tough.

Everyone fell asleep on the way home, except our driver of course! Thanks hon!

How Kendyl Eats An Oreo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un-ywKidEog&layer_token=f900d19d64fea625

First Day of School 2009-2010

Here's Andrew heading off for his first day of Middle School....7th grade! Wow! He's a bit nervous, as can be expected, but I'm not. He adapts so easily I know this will just be another thing that is a breeze for him. I'm sure it is overwhelming that he is not only going to middle school, but middl/high school. The middle school is being renovated so for this year (and last) the middle school is a wing of the high school. All classes are in this new wing, but they use the high school for band, lunch, gym, etc. With his past 4 weeks of band, he is quite familiar with the music wing, and has met so may 7th and 8th graders already. Plus everyone he knows from baseball, diving, both elementary school he went to, scouts....I don't know why he is worried.

An hour later, it was time for Steven to go (this is going to take some getting used to!). Look who wanted to get her picture taken for a change.

My 4th grader....so handsome! Not a lick nervous and so ready to go. I have a feeling he will have a great year!

And the little miss, strutting home from the bus stop. Then we hopped right in the car to take her to daycare. She was so proud to show her teachers her new ponytails :-)

First Pigtails!

Today I got adventurous and tried pigtails for Kendyl....and she let me!!!!
She looks like such a big girl.

Grumpy bear, Kendyl, and Steven.

Too cute!

Marching Band Preview (9/3)

The OJR bands (middle and high schools) performed a preview for the families, provided dinner/information and a good time. Beautiful night!

Andrew was not thrilled with the uniform at first (above), but when I saw him later after their performance, he looked quite comfortable and a natural band member. New uniforms take some getting used to and I'm sure he'll be wearing it with pride for our next picture (10/3 for their calvalcade!)
Here is the MS band marching on the field. Andrew is the first band member (with the huge baritone sax!).

As soon as the music started, Kendyl started conducting. I think she is skipping right to drum major!

Here is the entire MS band during their first song. They didn't march tonight as they are not quite ready. They have a few kinks to work out (crash between the trombone and Andrew's head during one move for one!) so they just played their music in this formation. Simply amazing to me that in 2 weeks of intensive band camp with a few other little practices, they all have the music memorized, plus a lot of the marching....and this is new to 1/2 of them!

There is Andrew in the front. I hadn't planned to bring the camera (since it's not the one with the great zoom), it just happened to be in the car and I'm glad I did. We have been telling him how much Bari is making him slouch (and at this age he doesn't believe anything we tell him!), but this photo really showed him. So, he will be working on his posture the next month before competition starts!