Here one minute, gone the next....

willow tree before

willow tree after

walnut tree before

walnut tree after

willow tree through the wood chipper

There is an overgrown willow tree and a dead walnut tree that we have been talking about taking down for months.  Finally, the day has come and the tree removers came to help us clean up our skyline.  Although the willow tree was pretty and provided a great screen, it was choking out our pine trees and was encroaching on the neighbors trees.  After many years of trimming it was time to get rid of this high maintenance landscaping.  While we were at it, we had the dead walnut removed.

baby, it's cold outside....

Just because it is 75 degrees outside today, doesn't mean Riley can't be excited about her new winter clothes.  Riley was modeling her winter hat, mittens and snow pants for us.  She refused to take them off.  After playing for a few minutes, she came over to me and told me she was "hot" - yeah girl, because you are wearing a snow suit when it is 75 degrees!

Apple Picking

We took advantage of the sunny weather on Sunday afternoon and went to Lynd's Fruit Farm to pick apples and visit Lynd's market.  It didn't take long for Riley to get the hang of apple picking, she had a great time choosing each apple for our stash.  Daddy helped her reach the higher branches and Kellen and I acted as photographer.  We also visited the market and got some homemade granola and salsas!  Lynd's also has a huge corn maze, but it looked a little overwhelming for us this year.

Day 17....

Our first family photo that includes our new addition, complements of Grandma Malone.  It feels like it has been months since we were at the hospital having little Kellen, but it is only day 17.  He is doing great and growing everyday. In the coming weeks I think his personality will start showing a little more as he awakes from what I understand is the "newborn haze".

New Addition to the Family

On September 8 we welcomed the new addition to our family....a healthy baby boy - Kellen.  He arrived 10 days early, weighing in at 7lbs and 3.5 ozs.  He is so adorable and has so much dark hair compared to Riley, our fair-haired beauty.  Riley is proud to be a big sister and is doing great "helping" with the baby stuff.  I think Riley has aged a year since bringing home this tiny person!  Kellen is adjusting to life on the outside.  He is different from baby Riley - he has a little "squeak" and is a very noisy sleeper.  His arms are very strong and he likes to work himself loose from the tightest swaddle.  A determination of who he looks like is still up for debate - not as cut and dry as when Riley was born.  We are finally getting some use out of the newborn sized clothes that were Riley's -- as she was 9lbs when she was born, so never had the opportunity to wear them.  Andrew's favorite is the pink sleeper with strawberries!

Go Bucks!

Riley is ready to get this 2011 football season underway.  Although she is disappointed in what has been happening in the off-season, she bleeds scarlet and grey and will be cheering the Buckeyes on to the end.  Tomorrow is the first game and Riley wore her Buckeye shirt to school today to get ready for tomorrow. GOOOOO BUCKS!

A day off from school

Each August the daycare closes on a work day for a teacher in service day.  This year, mommy took the day off too and we went to the zoo with Riley's friend Sophie and her mom.  We rode in the wagon and did some grooming at the petting zoo.  As I anticipated, Riley did not want to spend much time in the wagon - so she ended up pulling it instead.  Quite the little worker bee.