Annual Davison Orchard Trip 2012

Today we enjoyed the Davison Orchard (Pumpkin Patch)

We go every year.

See 2011

and 2010

even 2009

It was a great afternoon with the family.

Here are the details...

Riding the Tractor train out to the pumpkin patch.

{ANY event is more fun with cousins!!}

Grandpa Don is pretty fun too!

Caity was really into it this year.  She kept finding pumpkins and saying

"this one is perfect for me"

so cute.

Sister pic:)

Cousin pic.

It was IMPOSSIBLE to get them all to look at the same time.

This was the best of the bunch.

Still cute:)

Look at these lil cousin babies!

They are so adorable!!

My sweet six.

Terri made us these adorable coffee cozies for our hot drinks.

{it's part of the tradition...to have a hot drink:)}

Breezy loved this old tractor.

Baby did the HUGE slide all by herself!

{okay, the mommy *might* have been a little too preoccupied with taking a picture to catch the baby...so glad she landed it well all by herself!}

Cambria and Jamin loved digging in the "corn box".

{dried corn instead of sand}

Bree even filled her little pockets up to take some corn to the chickens without being prompted.

Bree sharing some corn with the chickens and with her cousin so he could feed them too.

Caity hid under this sign and then covered her face and reported 

"you can't see me!"

{cute girl}

It was an awesome family day.

I love these fall days and all the traditions that come with them!!

Do you have fall traditions?

New Nephew!

Mike's sister Terri had a baby on Saturday!

She laboured for 37 hours.

She hard core pushed for 3.

Wow.

All her hard work was well worth it.

Holding my nephew for the first time.

I was amazed how much love I felt for a little person that I was just meeting.

Mikayla and her new cousin.

Mailee checking out his tiny features.

Maddie going in for a kiss.

The three big girls came with me to the hospital but the rest of the crew met the baby at their house.  

Here is our first photo with all 10 cousins.

Every one of these kids is so special and uniquely created. 

They love each other so much.  I am so thankful that my kids have such a fun cousin club!

From these two special people...

5 children

3 children-in-law (so far)

10 grandchildren (so far)

What a blessed and rich heritage!

Cait meets the baby!

She likes him!

She keeps saying "Aunty te-wees new baby my baby cousin"

Look at how big our little lady looks next to her new cousin!!

I was helping Caleb hold Jamin and wasn't able to get a photo.  My arm was falling asleep and Caleb still wasn't done.  He is really sweet with babies.  

What a perfectly adorable little boy!

It's been 6 years since my last nephew was born.

It was about time for a new person in our family that didn't come from me:)

I love the role of aunty!!

Congratulations Terri and Matt on this precious gift from God!

Easter Recap

Easter was awesome this year.     

We colored eggs with the cousins.

Caity loved it!

The kids were talking a lot this week about what Jesus did for us and how hard it must have been to die on a cross. 

Caleb was especially interested in discussing the nails going through His hands and feet.  

 I always find it frustrating to create a healthy balance between what the day is supposed to be about and all the "fun stuff" that the world focuses on.  As the kids get older, they are getting the full picture and that is exciting!

My Mom got Cait and Cambria matching froo-froo pink Easter dresses.  

They were so precious.

Not very practical for moving around or holding baby, but really really cute.

{check out baby's tights...her teensy legs are swimming in those tights..so so cute}

Cait really liked matching with "new baby".

She toted her purse around all morning.

My boys are such good sports.  

Mike did draw the line this year at "no pink" for him or Caleb.

Fair enough.

I'll take matching navy polos:)

In the morning before church I was quite proud of myself for having everyone ready in time.

I pushed the envelope by making them stand still for a photo.

Here they all are... 3 looking, 2 not so much.

After church the whole family came over.

Mike's Grandma made a spread and we enjoyed eating.

She has a gift for feeding people.

Does that sound silly?

She really does!!

After lunch the kids were chomping at the bit to get to the egg hunt.

The dads/ uncles hid the eggs.

We write names on the eggs so that everyone ends up with the same amount and all the same candy.

Its a bit of a process to prepare but Tam and I have fun doing it and it makes the hunt go really smoothly. 

  The big kids' eggs are hidden in crazy places...

And the little kids' eggs are a bit more obvious.

{I just have to say I love this picture of a real moment frozen in time...

Terri,Tammy, Meg and Bri taking a photo of themselves, Grams smiling at them, Matt watching Caiters hunt for eggs, Mike helping Cait with her bucket and holding her headband...so much great action!!}

Another great one.  Such a supportive family; check out Uncle Jay's face!

Cait and two of her Grandmas.

This right here is the money shot.

Check it out, 9 children all looking and all smiling! (Cambria is screaming but she's a newborn so I'm still counting her)

Oh- not to mention the fantastic matching going on!

(I kinda like that sort of thing:)

K this one is pretty cute too!

I love these kids and love how much they enjoy being together.

Pretty sure I've mentioned that once or twice.

Family picture!

The big girls and their buckets full of treats.

I made them each a headband or clip.

I guess Mailee didn't like wearing hers?

Buddies in matching duds.

It was a fun day!

I hope yours was too!

Grandma Goodness

We had an awesome visit with my mom "Grandma Bev".

She snuggled baby, read books, played Playmobil, conducted some school lessons, folded some laundry, helped throw Cait's birthday party and hung out at Chapters.

We were so sad to wake up this morning and not be able to dog pile her in her bed!

Being silly with Grandma.

 A new book for everyone.  

Thanks Grandma!

Big Sister/Little Sister matching outfits:)

Laughing with Grandma

I have so many fun photos to share, we celebrated Cait's birthday with a rubber ducky party and I got the photos from the newborn photo shoot with Candice!!

BUT FIRST...today is all about decorating eggs with the cousins!  Yahoo, so fun!!

Sister Act

Mike has three sisters.
I grew up with none.
When I married Mike I gained more than just a great man.
I got a pile of fantastic sisters.

Tammy and I have been pregnant at the same time but I was in California and she was in Canada.
I love that our kids are close in age and proximity and their relationships with each other are really precious.  I love being a mom with Tam, I trust her completely with my kids and she is my biggest ally and confidant on the parenting front.

I am so excited to now be pregnant with Terri.
Our babies will likely be only 1-2 months apart!
Terri was a teenager when she came for the summer to nanny for us when Maddie was born.
I love how our relationship has grown over the years as we have gained more things in common.
It's cool how an age gap can disappear as you get older!
I am so excited to enjoy the journey of motherhood alongside her!

Today we got some pics before I lose my last {that's right, I said it...LAST} baby bump.

Thanks Mailee Joy for the photos!!