Apples Galore!!!!

Fall has arrived and it's apple picking time already! Off to the orchard we went to enjoy some picking and some other goodies. Our only choice was to buy a large bag to fill so we get a lot of apples...more than we would ever eat. We tried a few varieties before we settled on picking Melrose. They were delicious for eating and for our homemade applesauce!

These were dwarf Melrose trees. Perfect for us to pick from!

Look at this huge apple!

Pulling with all her might!

Getting ready to make some apple prints...

We had so many apples, I gave some away and then found a recipe online to make applesauce with a few more. I had never made it in a crock pot before but, I must say it was DELICIOUS!

The Princess and her Dog

Yes, I do have a Princess and a Dog! Usually, I have a normal happy dog that just hangs out but, yesterday I found a fancy dog dressed up and being told to get moving because she needed to go to the ball with the princess! Poor Ella....she has been my one and only baby for four years by herself. Over the past 2 years, she has been dressed up, sat upon and dragged around more than any stuffed toy. The good news is that she is always pleasant and tolerates her Princess boss! I guess pink doesn't look too bad on you ELLA! You both look quite beautiful!!!

First Day of Preschool

We woke up ready to go to our first day of preschool. After getting dressed and packing up our bag, we were out the door. I didn't get any good shots because she was moving too fast and wouldn't put the bag on her back...too cute!

Out the door we went!

As we arrived in the room, she showed a little resistance. At first she wanted me to hold her and I told her I would be leaving in a few minutes. She said don't leave and started to get teary but, was quickly redirected the the puzzles. I then said I was leaving and she then told me, "BYE." Funny how she got rid of me so quickly on her terms!

At pick up time, she was the first one to come out. She came right out the door, backpack on her and a big Dawson smile!

What a big girl! I asked her if she had a good day and she said yes. Then I asked if she would be coming back next week. Her answer was...of course mom, I have to see my friends!!!!

I'm so happy for a wonderful first school experience!

Under the Stars....

All week long we have been getting ready for the big camp out. We headed to the sporting goods store and Dawson picked out the tent. Of course, she picked a BIG one! My only request is that it was a POP-UP one so that it would be EASY for me to set up! Luckily, we had a few friends over who were seasoned campers that helped us! It ended up being very easy after all! Dawson just jumped up and down waiting to see the completed tent. She could not have had more fun watching everything take place!

Papa and a friend hard at work! The tent was set up about 6 feet from our lake house door. I had no intentions of staying outside the whole night.

As you can see, Dawson kept circling the tent and watching what everyone was doing. She could not WAIT to get inside!

Tommy headed inside to get a view....gave us the "looks good" sign!

It was finally time to get inside and check it out!

Next, we started hauling the stuff into the tent. We started with the lanterns and then came the air mattresses, sleeping bags, pillows, more blankets, stuffed toys, and more and more and more! So much fun!!! Soooo much stuff!

Still getting set-up!

We watched the Labor Day fireworks and she fell asleep in my arms right after. I picked her up, put her in her tent and there we slept until about......1:00. Guess who wanted to go in the house? ME!!! I was freezing since last night was the coldest night of the summer! I grabbed Dawson, Ella, my pillow and woke Tommy up! That was the end of our camp out! We are looking forward to doing it again...on a warmer night I hope!