A DAY AT THE PUNKIN' PATCH!

I was thrilled to hear of a pumpkin patch once October rolled around, and painted my own picture of what would be involved. I was thinking hayride, hot cider or cocoa (and obviously I was thinking cooler weather-ha fat chance!) I imagined bundling up and picking out that perfect pumpkin to take home and carve! I guess I was mixing up the warm feeling of Xmas tree shopping with pumpkin shopping?! We went to Hunter's Farm to partake in this fun I plotted in my own head, but we ended up learning the difference between a dairy and a beef cow AND we rode in a covered wagon pulled behind a tractor that Ryan and I overheard the farmhands saying was losing it's brakes ?! NOW THAT'S A PUNKIN PATCH FOR YA!!! I am not bellyaching too terribly bad, but I have to share the humor in that day. We did end up going to the petting farm part, which was lots of fun. But once again, like my last post, it was extremely hot. Just didn't seem right. Once the tractor ride was over, we picked out a few punkins and scrammed! WAITING FOR THE COVERED WAGON TO PICK US UP WE GOT A FEW PHOTO OPS!!

THIS IS THE PETTING ZOO PART....NO SMILE RYAN?!

STILL NO GIGGLE OR ANYTHING....

ONE MORE TO MAKE MY POINT STRONGER....

FINALLY!!! A SMILE! I KNOW THIS HAS A BAD GLARE, BUT WE NEVER GET ALL 3 IN!!

This Halloween, I was thinking about doing a nice pot o'chili- once again, getting that warm feeling??? I was hoping I could get some recipes out of this. Nana-I never write down yours since I am usually calling you from an aisle of the grocery store..... so I will definitely need it please! And I'd love some pointers or tips or secret ingredients from anyone and everyone else!!! PS....IT JUST RAINED HERE FOR 15 MINS STRAIGHT-CAN I GET AN AMEN!!!!

FIRST DAY OF PRE-SCHOOL!!!

Macy officially started "pre-school" this September! I know she went last year and this summer, but that was "mother's day out" and now she is OFFICIAL!

YIPPEE!!!!

She was thrilled -see above photo- to get into her new classroom. She went from 4 classmates to 14 so it is a big step. I think last year she kinda ran the show since she was the only girl in the class. This year, Macy has a run for her money! I have already been told the girls have lil' catfights over who's the princess, or even who is the bigger princess! Where does she get this competitive nature from!?!? Any takers???

IT'S FESTIVAL TIME!!!

We went to a festival in Matthews, NC(10 mins from our house) about 2 months ago. Yes, I just now downloaded these photos. And I am making an honest attempt to get back on track with blogging and posting-so no harassing please! Anyhow, there were plenty of kiddie rides, games, cheap prizes, lots of fried foods, mean carnies, and great lemonade. It was hotter than _(insert something really, really hot here!) but we still managed to enjoy ourselves. We sweated a couple lbs off, got ripped off and drank really good lemonade~what's not to enjoy about that?!?

This was my favorite part....can you tell? Macy and I did the slide last year, and I want to compare the photos, but can't get my hands on the other one. I will put that on my "to do" list this week. And hopefully I'll have some fun comparison shots for your viewing pleasure!

Macy and Katarina

Macy and Ryan on the merry-go-round!

MORE CANADA FUN!!!

Cousins and spouses.....

The Big Finn Magic Show....thanks Tim!!!

Macy is turning down beer because.....

A. She has had enough

B. Canadian beer is too strong

C. Draft beer gives you a headache

D. she is only 3 yrs old!!!

Jaime Dayle and Auntie Elsa

Auntie Char and baby Peyton

Proud Godparents with baby Peyton!!

Great picture of the cousins!

PEACE AT PANACHE!!

LAKE PANACHE!!!!

After all of the wedding fun, we got to head to the cottage for a couple days of R&R. It was absolutley wonderful as always. The peacefulness of the great outdoors is consuming in such great ways. There are lots of traditions that take place out there as well. The sauna, the songs, the fishing, the outhouse, the moonlight, the loons, the canoe rides, the tubing, the bocci tournaments, the great bbq, and now......there is running water?!?!? No indoor plumbing(if you know what I mean) but I heard that was in the works for Summer 2008!

This is how we bathe all the babies, in the coppertub, which has been around forever. Macy wasn't too big on jumping in the water since it was so cold. Even after after a good sweat in the sauna wouldn't convince her. But she sure enjoyed being in the "tub". A little small now, but it got the job done!

Macy's outhouse.....

And the moment you have all been waiting for...........

Yes, this is my "favorite" part of the cottage.

Actually, I know you all have heard my horror stories and dreadfulness of the outhouse. And of course, Ryan had to catch it on film?! Thanks honey! Not a great shot, but I found it necessary to post so you can get a better understanding. Well, Elsa, if you don't want it on film, why don't you just close the door you say????

HECK NO!!!! I STILL HAVE TO HAVE THE DOOR OPEN AT ALL TIMES IN THERE...

call me a rookie, but that is how I roll!!!

Thanks Mumo and Pappa for a wonderful time!!!!

I know what a great shot to add after the potty shots, but I needed to lighten the mood back up!

Ti Ti and the kids!!!

Sauna lotay, sauna lotay...... (how does it go again Pappa?)

FISHING FOR THE LUNKER!!!!!
MACY'S FIRST FISH!!!!

This is not the lunker, Leanna, we were hoping for, but it'll do!!!!

SUCH GREAT MEMORIES MADE HERE!!!

OH, CANADAAA!!!!!

We left Charlotte mid August to go to Canada for a visit and especially for Kristy and Craig's wedding, Aug 18th. The trip was absolutely so much fun and of course, way too short. Pappa had an itinerary from the moment he picked us up at the airport. We had a four hour drive to Sudbury , where dinner and family would be waiting on us. We were able to have a pee break and grab a Timmy Horton's 45 minutes into the trip. Thanks to Pappa and the itinerary! Back on the road to the "BIG NICKEL"-see above!!! Once in Sudbury, there was so much going on! It was dinner, after party, after bbq, after golf, after pedicure, after dinner, after wedding, after pictures, after dinner, after party, after brunch, after camp.....well, I hope you get the picture by now! We were very thankful to have shower and sleep time incorporated to the ITINERARY!!!!

....Macy had such a great time with her cousins. They got to play nonstop daily, usually with no naps, unless a child miraculously fell out! I think she actually dreamt of them in her sleep at night, cause as soon as she would wake, the first words out her mouth would be..."where's my cousins" or " I want to go see my cousins!" Thankfully the itinerary would usually have us heading to meet up with them!

The wedding was a huge success, and by far the funnest wedding I have been to. Everyone there commented on what a wonderful time everyone had. I wonder if it was the wine that Pappa made for the reception? Or maybe, it was the strip tease put on by all of the groom's men, or MAYBE it was the beautiful bride dancing in rubber boots??? I will elaborate there....and I will probably need to be corrected by someone, but it is an ol' Finnish tradition for the bride to dance in rubber boots on her wedding night (yes, still in her dress). I think it's for the man's sake that if she can dance in those boots with her gown on, she is good enough to go milk the cows in the boots?!?!?! let me show you a picture.....

Okay...not the best quality, but if you look closely she's got some black rubber boots on! It was great!!!

Macy finally got to meet Granny at the wedding! (She met her 2 yrs ago, but I don't really think she remembers!) Her great-grandmother. Now, Macy has other grandmother's, we just don't use that term. We have an Amma (Icelandic), a Mumo (Finnish-I know I spelled it wrong!) and a Gigi (Southern). I think Macy was saddened thinking that she has no grandmother. So you could just imagine her excitement meeting her "granmudder". Let me show you.....

Granny uses a wheelchair sometimes to get around. So now when we see the lil' wheelchair sign for handicap accessibility she says "look!!!! It's granny!!!" Pretty cute stuff!

First one on the dance floor at the reception....

MR AND MRS CRAIG SMITH!!!!!!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY CRAIG...GOOD LUCK ;)!!!