a school bus photo shoot

I know I shared a bunch of photos from this shoot to Instagram but I just had to share them here as well! My sister-in-law did her research and found herself a bus to use and set up a day of mini sessions a few weekends ago... One such session we were lucky enough to snag! I think these just turned out so stinking cute and I will love them forever and ever! The Kissing Hand book! The Class of 2029 and 2030?! Oh such keepers! I wish I could share each and every one... So these are just some of my favorites! 

happy first day of fall!

Officially at least! The time when we plan all the festive fall things! And this year is no exception, even with all the crazy sports schedules. So here's our fall bucket list....

What about you, do you have a fall to do list? What am I missing?

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a fall home tour part ii

Moving on from yesterday into where we spend most of our time, the kitchen and living room area.... decorating this tray is always a favorite of mine. And these two rooms are the rooms with all the color. All the oranges and mustards! I've definitely tamed it down over the years but I think these things are here to stay.

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a fall home tour part i

I do have to say that my house has been decorated for a few weeks now but I decided to hold out a tiny bit on the blog. I wave my crazy flag when and if I feel like it. This was the number one item on "my kids are back to school so what will you do with your life" to do list. Right above go to the dentist and schedule routine bloodwork. Adulting is fun.

Dom finds this process most exciting. Which is most surprising for me. He got really in to it and I had to keep telling him to pump the brakes a bit. He really enjoys all the new books that come out too so once they were unearthed out of the box he happily sat paging through them. 

Anyway so here we are. Part Uno. Walking into my foyer...

the zoo with cousins

If I waited around for a time to make it to the zoo when the bigger kids would go well then, I'd never go. Which is a shame because it is included with our Hersheypark season passes so we should take advantage of it. And it only takes like, forty-five minutes to walk through and that's even with the littlest of legs. 

So last week we headed up to see what we could see at Zoo America.

dominic's first day of pre-k!

This week was Dom's first week of school. Technically Monday, although he didn't leave my presence. He totally knows the drill, the building, the bathrooms and even the fish. He knows about half the class from last year so that helps immensely. Not to mention that his teacher this year was David's teacher years ago and well, he's been waiting for her ever since. 

a morning of all the fall things

And if that blog title makes you start singing Blink 182 well then, you're welcome.

Last Thursday on a day that was quite chilly for early September (notice the differences in how my sister and I dress our children) we all headed to Masonic Villages for some apple picking! Will drive far distances for such an experience! As much as I miss my elder two of course, it is quite refreshing to only have to worry about one other soul at a place such as this. Watching my sister and sister-in-law checking for their two each made me almost feel like I was on a vacation. Just me and my buddy Dom. Although I do feel sad that they missed out on this fall activity, but I'm sure we will go back, because that is just what we do!

our labor day weekend

A week out and I'm finally getting around to our Labor Day Weekend... typically I have these holiday weekends booked to the very minute but this one I just had... nothing. I was waiting on some info about baseball but other than that I have no excuse. I was just, taking it easy, I guess. But even with that said we still had quite the busy and wonderful weekend to wrap up our summer!

Friday night we had Chinese at my parent's house with all the cousins and sprinklers and popsicles galore!

a neighborhood partay

When we were first looking to move back to my hometown we had visited this very development we currently live in. On Labor Day Weekend. The very same day that they were having this quite large and in charge party by the park. We drove through the development and looked at the crowds of people and the colorful bounce houses and thought oh... how fun! 

Fast forward five years and we have never been to said Labor Day party. We know they have it each and every year... and we know a few people who go... but we never went. Well this year, we went. Finally. 

They had a whole pig (!), a dunk tank, lots of food, a petting zoo and a wagon ride over to the farm across the street complete with a barrel train. My brother-in-law and his family joined us for a bit as well! Mingling with friends new and old and the kids just tearing around being kids with neighbors! I let my eldest do a few things I normally wouldn't but I guess she is nine so I best let her have a little bit of space right? Like tiny baby infant space yes?

the vineyard at hershey

This past weekend friends of ours and the kids headed over to the Vineyard at Hershey for some live music and some libations. It was a gorgeous Saturday and we just jumped on it! We (Janelle) brought  a lot of snacks and we just settled in for some good tunes and some wine or beer, depending on your fancy.

The kids were mostly entertained by a new barnyard kitty, a random helicopter almost landing, and lots of little small stones. See also open lawn space for running and making up games with friends. We were even able to keep the screens away from them till the very end. 

so what’s new with you?

I haven't done one of these posts since April! Where oh where have I been? Oh you know, just doing all the things.... as I tend to do, especially during the summer.

nonna’s pumpkin patch

Last week while visiting with my parents Dom and I had the opportunity to check out Nonna's Pumpkin Patch... Otherwise known as an area where last year's pumpkins have decided to grow legs and create new little baby pumpkins. My niece and nephew and Dom climbed into Pop's little vehicle and headed over to see what they could harvest.... So many cute pumpkins were had! I think we will definitely have to check back and again and again this season!

the final day of summer

I need to distract myself the day before the kids go back to school... I made sure to get all the things done in the morning so I wouldn't have to think of them again that day... Clothes were chosen, backpacks packed, lunches done, etc. But as to the rest of the day? That is a day that I need to be kept quite busy. I did this last year and it worked out rather nicely. I invited whoever from my family could make it and we had ourselves a pool day! Even though it was actually quite chilly and most fall-like. Rude! The sun was still nice and warm though! We spent the entire day outside, even dinner! Matt grilled all the things and we had all the snacks and all the seltzers... as one does. 

an air show

I know this happened before the kids went back to school but I wanted to share these photos just the same.... a local airport here has these Aviation Days every other year or so and normally I drag my brood in to the actual airport (here and here) but Letty had been at a sleepover the night before and so she was naturally just a hair past exhausted and Matt wasn't really in to it so we decided not to go in.... longest sentence ever just to say we parked our van and watched the air show portion of the day from the corner right by our bank. It was such a gorgeous day and we had quite a good spot to watch the planes. And without any of the crowds!