Apple Farm

On our annual visit the cousins trip to Bloomington (IL not MN!), we went apple picking at an orchard nearby.

While we've been to our fair share of orchards, this was Finley's first time actually getting to pick the apples.

Despite the half smile, she had fun!

I love these kids and how much fun they had all week.

They had a little village of play houses which Fiona thought was the coolest.  Open the shutters, close the shutters, repeat.

Finley took a turn on the giant slide - she's a bit unsure about it's size :)

We made a mean pan of apple crisp with these apples and can't wait to visit more orchards this month.

Thanks-mas or Christma-giving

Finley doesn't get to see her cousins all that often, but we were spoiled to spend Thanksgiving at Greg and Erin's house in Bloomington and then a few weeks later celebrate the Morgan family Christmas at our house. 

 

The weather on Thanksgiving was so mild - we went to the park before dinner and didn't even need coats!

 

 

Cousin Table

 

Here are the best photos I got of Grandma and Grandpa with the grandkids.  I can't help but laugh and think of awkward family photos.  It's no small task to get everyone looking and smiling!

 

Before we left, they put up their Christmas tree and Fiona was in awe.  We spent plenty of nights in front of the crackling fire and had a great trip as usual. 

 



Fast forward a few weeks, and it's Christmas at our house!  We had the brilliant idea of taking everyone snow tubing, but when it was 60 degrees the Monday before, things looked unlikely. 

 

Thankfully, Eco Baken opened for the first time this season at 11am on the Saturday we'd planned.  The snow had just been made and wasn't ideal, but we had a great time and burned off lots of energy.  It was actually a relatively warm winter day with full sun!

 



 

I'm a little nervous Finley is going to be all about crotch-rockets and mustangs because she loved it - the faster, the better. 

 

Grandpa out for a few turns!

 

Grandma (and sometimes Erin and Anne) kept Fiona company inside the chalet. 

 

Hot chocolate with her cousin. 

 

While waiting for the hill to open, we hit up the 1980's arcade.  The screen changed enough that Finley never had to use a quater :)

 



 

Yep, I married him.

 



 

Afterwards, we came home and indulged on apps and Christmas dinner. 

 

Lastly, it was gift opening time.  Fiona got lots of book and toy love.

 



 

Joe got a pair of Bulls zubaz - welcome to the family!

 

 

Finley enjoyed all of her gifts!

 

 

The next morning, Fiona was baptized and we awoke to our first big snow of the season.  It made getting home pretty rough for Erin and Greg and impossible for the rest of the crew who's flights were cancelled.  Ironically, we barely had enough snow for tubing the day before. 

 

 

Bloomington or Bust

Our long awaited summer vacation to central Illinois came and went in a flash.  What do we have to look forward to now?  Another vacation, I guess!  This was the longest we have stayed and Erin/Greg's - 10 days and since they didn't kick us out, I'd say it was a success!

We drove with a car top carrier - and made great time in the car.  Only took us 7.5 hours with a stop for a meal.  Not much longer than our usual trips to Chicago.  Fiona was a champ for 75% of the trip either sleeping or taking a bottle, but she did have an hour of pure unhappiness/screaming on the last stretch into B-town.  Finley was entertained by the DVD player and watched about 40 episodes of Diego, Tangled, Nemo, and Little Einsteins.  She also had snacks, colored, and played with play-doh. 

We met Pat about 20 mins into the drive where my mom was nice enough to drop me and the girls off so Pat didn't have to double back after his short day of work.  We found a park right off the interstate to get Finley's wiggles out and I was actually able to nurse Fiona in the car! 

This is deceiving - she really only slept for 45 mins each way.  Boo.

Stylin'!

We went to the splash pad/pool a couple of times because it was freaking HOT all week.

Fiona came with a few of the times but spent most of it snoozing poolside. 

We did take her in once and she was pretty much overheating so I think she liked the water - she didn't so much like getting out however.

Fin got in her fill of the park and has started to graduate to the big girl swings!  Erin also did her hair most days - she loved it and actually let somebody touch it (which never happens at home!)

Fiona slept great all week and we snuck in a few naps as well!

Finley adored her cousins and was the happiest when they were all playing together. 

 Fort time!

I think Finley wants Owen to be her big brother.  She doted on him the entire week.

Grandma treated us to Culver's after soccer practice.

Critter cupcakes with Grandpa

Finley slept in either Owen's room or the twins' room.  After the excitement wore off, she started to actually sleep (by like night 3).  She even crawled into Ethan's bed one night and pushed him out. 

 YouTube on the ipad...this is where she first saw the cursed Gummy Bear song

Rainbow cupcakes with buttercream frosting made another appearance!

Fin and Pat went to one of Owen's baseball games. 

She made a friend and entertained herself on a blanket

Great Grandma and Grandpa Brady were on their way up from Florida and had the chance to meet Fiona!

We made a visit to Greg's parents house so the kids could get out the 4 wheelers.

Fiona spent some time in the hammock.

Nini lovin on Fifi

Riding in the mini-gator.  Fin took a spin in the battery powered jeep but didn't know how to turn so ran it 20' and then into a tree trunk.  No injuries, thankyouverymuch!

On the "big one" with papa.  This slightly blurry picture might be one of my favorites of the two of them.  How come nobody takes pictures like this of me and the girls??

It really was a super relaxing week.  Grandma and Grandpa helped out immensely and there were even a few times I felt like I didn't even have kids.  Amazing!  Someone was always willing to hold, feed, or change Fiona and entertain Finley (which was no easy task as she had more tantrums this week than anytime I can recall.  More on that later)

Only like 11.5 months until we get to do it again ; )