STRONG MUSEUM OF PLAY

The other week Jeff and I took the kids on a little impromptu day trip. We took them to Rochester to the Strong Museum of Play. This is one of our favorite places to take them. I mean can you imagine a whole museum of toys and play things to explore?

HURD ORCHARD

I had a birthday in November. My present from my mom was her flying up here to join in our annual tradition of going to the Hurd Orchard for a Thanksgiving Tasting. This is one of my favorite things EVER!!! We drive about 2 hours away to a working fruit farm and eat in this beautiful old barn decorated with flowers grown on the farm. There were 23 recipes to try and I couldn't pick one that I liked better than another. While the food was good, my favorite part was my mom being there with me!

Jeff took a few fun shots of Mom and I before we left!



Girls just wanna have fun!


These are some of the dried flowers that hang from the ceiling of the market.


Jams and Jellies fill the cupboards of the market.








All of the Moms and Daughters that went.


C-Man cute as ever!

Almost caught up folks!

SO BAD

How bad is it that I haven't even blogged Halloween photos yet and it is already past Thanksgiving? Life just keeps going, and I just keep taking pictures, I just haven't gotten them on my blog. Sorry to the family for not keeping you updated. Well...

Halloween was great I guess. I was working and Jeff took the boys out Trick-Or-Treating with their cousins.

Here is the Motley Crew now...


Look out for the Ferocious Lion!


This is how people pass out candy in our town, you never have to open the door!


The next school day, Carter wanted to put a backpack on just like his big brother. I couldn't resist a photo!

Many more blogs to come...I PROMISE!!!

I HAVEN'T BLOGGED IN FOREVER!

I know that it's been a while since I've blogged but we've had a lot going on. Between school, work, and now the dreaded flu! Here are some pictures from the last 2 weeks in order of appearance.

First the squirrels came and ate one of my pumpkins that Tucker got on his field trip.

Then, they attacked the other one. Don't they resemble Halloween Hearts?

Then came the cold...so cold that we had to break out the winter jackets.

Look at these two adorable kids!

Then came the flu...it hit today! Scroll down for the face of the flu!

How sad is this?

But he managed to muster the strength to put on his H1N1 approved mask.

Wish us luck!

AN APPLE A DAY...

It is that time of year again. The chestnuts are falling in the front yard and the leaves are turning brown. It can only mean fall and apple picking time. We headed back out to Brown's Berry Patch for the 3rd year in a row for their Fall Harvest.

They have a barn with a petting zoo inside to learn about

the animals.

Tucker, Joelle, and Sarah pose for a picture.

Carter found a secret door in the back of the farmhouse.

Peek-A-Boo!

We really liked the goats!

They stand on top of the roof and wait for you to send

food up to them.

Jeff in the Barnyard Twister

Me in the Barnyard Twister

Carter really enjoyed the apple orchard

You can get it T-Man!

Jeff only went for Raspberries which he

made into a yummy pie last night!

We had a great time with our friends the Sperazza's. We will surely be

back next year.

PICTURES FROM THIS WEEK

We really haven't had that much going on this week, so I am just posting some random pictures from the last few days. Notice the long sleeves and pants...it has been cold here.

Tucker was teaching Carter how to play The Rainbow Song

Uma came over with Poppy and Carter wasn't interested in pictures

This is how I found Carter watching Elmo the other day

This was the first time he has ever laid down to watch TV

Carter and Riley waiting for Tucker's bus to come

And finally...this is all that is left of my beautiful garden.

THE QUEEN HAS ARRIVED!

With the passing of a legend, Her Royal Highness Bronxy passed on her crown to her sister Crowned Queen Riley. Riley is basking in glory and luxury. Lounging around the Morris Castle with Bones of Rawhide and Toys with Royal Squeakers. The walks are never ending and every afternoon she enjoys a tea while waiting for the oldest of the Morris children to return on his big cheese colored carriage from a long day of schooling in the ways of servitude to Her Royal Highness. While bathing is not a favorite past time of the Queen, she obliges her pet Courtney with a run through the hose only with promises of an afternoon of ear scratching and pedicures. Here is her first portrait as Royalty...

1st DAY OF SCHOOL

Today is the day that Tucker finally headed off to kindergarten. He has been talking about this day for 2 years! "When I get taller, I am going to kindergarten (pronounced Hin-der-karten)." So after packing up his lunchbox and loading up his backpack, we set out for the front yard for first day of school pictures.

Here he is waiting patiently for the bus. What you can't see is his legs nervously shaking back and forth with anticipation.

He wanted a shot of his backpack for my blog. Isn't he thoughtful?

Carter was having fun posing and waiting too.

The bus driver was kind enough to tell Tucker to turn around for a photo-op.

So sweet...look at his little hand just waving away!

*All bus companies and bus numbers have been changed to protect the children within.

Have fun at "Big Boy School" Tucker!!!

FAREWELL OLD FRIEND

Bronx Morris was Jeff's first pet. He got her when she was just a wee puppy while he lived at his parents house. Bronx became part of the Morris family instantly with her big head and floppy ears. She moved with Jeff into his first house and was witness to lots of shenanigans but stood by his side no matter how late he kept her up during parties.

Then along came this woman (me)! I would come to visit Jeff from Virginia and Bronx didn't like me at all. Believe me the feeling was mutual. It was a complete alpha female thing. Bronx had her own pillow in his bed and her own spot on the couch that she would stare you down for hours if you sat in her spot. She never did get along with me but somehow made allies out of Matt's cats. They once conspired to get a 5 lb venison steak that was thawing out in the sink. Together 2 cats and a dog dragged and devoured every last bit of that steak.

When I moved up to Buffalo I think Bronxy finally realized that there was no getting rid of me. She never would have thought that not only did I now live there, but I bought a puppy!!! As if the hatred couldn't grow anymore. Riley was our new addition and Bronx did get around to liking her even though we still struggled.

We moved into our new house and just when things were settling in...along came a baby. Bronx loved Tucker from the start. She never was jealous of him and was very protective when we had visitors. Years went by and many family tragedies later, Bronx remained faithful and loving. Carter was soon to follow and added a few extra grey hairs on Bronx's muzzle.

The last couple of years Bronx kept growing older and slower. Arthritis paining her every move. You would never know it though. She still let the boys crawl all over her and on occasion she would even gain momentum to trot after a squirrel or rabbit.

The last few weeks Bronx had slowed to almost a stop. The pain pills made her sick and it was common practice for us to have to lift her hind legs in order for her to get up from the floor. If ever a time that Marley and Me was starting mean more to me than just another dog movie. It was in the last few weeks that Bronx and I put aside our alpha female skirmish and bonded as friends and family. It did pain me to see her like that and even harder for me to watch Jeff realized what was coming.

Last Monday night Bronxy could no longer walk or even lay down without pain. Jeff held her all night and made the painful decision to end her pain that morning. I never realized how much I would miss her until I had to say good bye to my old adversary, my friend. The vet laid down a soft blanket and we put a picture that Tucker had drawn for her by her head and said goodbye. I left Jeff alone with her to say goodbye. I know next to losing Parker and Grace this was the hardest thing he has ever had to do.

Bronx will forever be missed in this house. And I swear I still hear her whining downstairs while we lay in bed at night.

Farewell old friend...we love you!