Overrun by apples

On Saturday, my mother, my sister, brother-in-law and their 2 boys, and myself and kids all went to Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville to pick apples and enjoy the day in the mountains. We were each given a bag as we walked in though I had the presence of mind not to take one knowing that my kids would gather enough and I would end up carrying them. That's exactly what happened, although, my brother-in-law carried Joanna's for awhile. You know where this is going, don't you? Kids + trees to climb + apples to pick....well, they didn't do a lot of tree climbing but they did enjoy picking the apples and taste-testing. We ended up with 21 pounds of apples! Of course, the rule is that you buy what you pick, so yes, I bought all 21 pounds. I think they should just take advantage of the free labor and let us pick the apples and leave most of them at the check-out for them to box up and sell. Anyway, no child wanted an apple on Sunday, but they are going to have to eat them this week! I guess I will try to make applesauce, too.

The kids actually behaved pretty well and they really enjoyed the afternoon. That morning, we went to a church-sponsored give-away event of children's toys and clothes. We had an invitation and each child got a bag with a toothbrush in it and then whatever they wanted they could get and put in the bag. I got a label for 1 large item and then 2 large bags to fill. The kids all had a great time and really were reasonable with what they selected. Marcie got some books and a few little toys. Charlie and Joanna picked stuffed animals and a few little toys, and Kyle picked a large race track and a few little toys....so, my one large item was the race track. They were all happy with their selections. I just went down the isles trying to get clothes to fit them == mostly for Charlie since he is a 10 now and was a 7 and then 8 last winter. Got a few things for Marcie and Joanna, and just a few things for Kyle since he can wear Charlie's hand-me-downs.

After that, we went to Charlie's soccer game and he played very well getting a few good kicks in. He pretty much stayed with the ball and did A LOT of running! I thought he would be exhausted after all that and our trip to C-ville, but about 2 hours after I got them in bed, I found him laying awake playing Marcie's DS. It was 11:45 PM! I couldn't believe he was still awake. Needless to say, he did not want to get up for church on Sunday!

So, anybody have any good apple recipes? :)

Surviving Kindergarten

I can't believe that it's been nearly a month since school started. My kids all report good days at school and the teachers at Back to School Night were positive about how well they are doing. Joanna's teacher said she was doing well, that sometimes she struggles with being a little bossy but overall things were fine. Well, I have received the first official behavior report. Joanna had 11 days on green, 5 days on yellow (warning), and 1 day on blue (consequences) for the first 17 days of school. All she could say was that she had not been behaving but couldn't tell me what she was doing to get her card changed. I suspect that her chatter may have gotten her in trouble. Kyle didn't get his report yet but insists that he is on green "every day." We'll see. :) Kyle did get to bring Coco Bear home for a few days. Coco is a stuffed bear that gets to live with various children throughout the year and the parents document Coco's adventures in a little journal. It is very cute and Kyle was thrilled to host Coco for a few days.

Charlie is overall doing pretty well. He really is a calmer child in many ways. I think the hiatal hernia that we didn't know he had until after his surgery probably was affecting him in all areas of his life because of the pain. He no longer complains of belly pain multiple times a day. I am still getting used to the "new" Charlie. He is still so sweet and helpful *most* of the time. :)

Marcie is getting more like a teen-ager every day. Just the other day, we were leaving the house and from the car I glanced at the front door -- here's this trendy-dressed, petite girl, long-hair flowing, leaving the house with her bookbag on her back, food in one one hand, brush in the other hand, blanky clutched to her chest and something between her teeth. I couldn't believe how much she was carrying, but in a flash my mind fast-forwarded about 10 years to how she might look as a teen leaving the house to drive herself to school. I almost had a heart attack!

Well, I'm sorry but that's all I can update you on at the moment. More to come soon!