The Harvest

In just a few weeks, my parents will be dropping off a trailer full of awesome pumpkins for us to sell in our driveway. Jeff expanded our garden this year so that he could plant a large amount of gourds and mini pumpkins to sell also. He was very pleased with the "crop" that grew - this is only half of it.

First Day of Preschool!

Just like most of Kaitlyn's little friends, the beginning of September meant the start of preschool. But unlike most of her friends, Kaitlyn gets to go to preschool right in the basement of our house! And even better - Mommy is the teacher! Today we kicked off our weekly "Pint Size Playgroup" as we call it. This is a time when Kaitlyn is joined by two of her three year old friends to focus on learning some group and circle time skills as well as to explore the Zoo Phonics alphabet animals. We had a great time this morning. The focus of our lesson was "All About Me" and we talked and explored lots of different ways on how God made us each special! I was so proud of how Kaitlyn participated, shared, communicated, traced - she just far exceeded my expectations! The other kids were also a pleasant addition to the class. Kaitlyn and I will continue with a few more homeschool activites this week that stick with our "All About Me" theme. And we are already looking forward to our lesson on Apples and the letter "A" next week! Great to have you Connor and Hannah! Getting out their Show 'N Tell and hanging up their backpacks.Of course Kaitlyn had to bring a baby to class. And no surprise that she picked her Dora backpack to use for school! Kaitlyn talking about her "Horsey" that she brought for Show 'N Tell. The kids doing a great job with a listening activity and having fun building silly faces upon instruction. Snack Time! Gotta love food-writing markers! Kaitlyn did such a great job following directions with this activity! Notice her doll Rosie - seated so sweetly in the back of class! This is the first time I have EVER gotten Kaitlyn to trace letters on paper ... she usually refuses unless I somehow disguise the activity by having her write in pudding or applesauce or something. She eagerly took to this task today. I am SOOOO proud of her!

Our Time ... Again

Kaitlyn and I started music class this week. We actually signed up for the younger of the two classes that Kaitlyn is eligible for - Our Time. This is the class where Mommies get to stay the entire time and the class that Kaitlyn LOVES. So even though we have already done this section of the curriculum, way back when K was just 18 months, we are both enjoying revisiting familiar songs and finger plays. Lets just hope all the swinging, bouncing and jumping that I have to do in this class doesn't have an negative impact on my growing baby belly!

Apples, apples, apples!

A few years ago my Dad decided to plant a whole orchard of apple trees and do some "hobby" fruit farming. Well the "hobby" has turned more into a second job and is making the late summer/fall season an extra busy time for the entire Alt family. Jeff has been gracious enough to help with two of the "pickings" so far. My dad was able to land a contract to sell his apples at Potter Orchards so he was thrilled. We feel so blessed to have a place where we can just go and pick apples as we please. Plus Kaitlyn has enjoyed cruising the orchard on Grandpa and Grandma's golf cart and watching the apples grow from blossom, to buds to the edible, delicious apples that they are today! They also planted a couple fields of pumpkins. We are trying to convince them to setup a U-Pick apple and pumpkin business. Who knows... maybe next year you'll be picking produce at Alt's Orchard too! 25 half bushel of Galas

"Theater Room"

The other day when I was playing dollhouse with Kaitlyn, she turned around and told me, "Look Mom .. I set up a theater room." At first I wasn't sure what she said and I asked her to repeat it. She said, "You know - a room with all those laydown seats like at Carsyn's house." Sure enough it was a theater room just as we had seen in a friend's house a few months earlier. What a memory she has!

Labor Day Weekend

What a beautiful Labor Day weekend we had weather-wise. We had a pretty low-key weekend. Kaitlyn wanted to "stay home and play" everyday when we asked her what she wanted to do. We did manage to make it to my folks to celebrate my mom's birthday on Friday with the rest of my family, to Grand Haven on Sunday afternoon where we spent some time at the park after doing some shopping and having a nice lunch and then to Jeff's Dad's for dinner on Sunday night. Saturday night we had some friends over for hobo pies over the campfire - delicious - and Monday night we had pizza with my folks and dessert hobo pies to end the evening. All in all a great weekend. Now I am ready for fall! Let the leaves change color, the mums blossom and the apple cider be served!

Cinnamon rolls - a Sunday more ritual at the Robinsons!

Playing Peek-A-Boo with Grandpa Dale in her new Diego tent - thanks again!

Nothing says "summer" like Hobo pies!

Another Year

Last week I celebrated my 31st birthday. I can't remember having a nicer week of weather for my "birthday week". It was beautiful. The week didn't start out so well though. I stubbed my toe on Saturday night while carrying Kaitlyn and ended up taking a bad fall. Luckily I was able to lay Kaitlyn down as I fell but that meant that I didn't use my hands at all to brace myself and I landed completely on my shoulder. Ouch! X-rays on Sunday morning revealed just a sprain so that was good. And praise the Lord for my chiropractor who brought me much relief on Monday. I was blessed by my mother in law and a wonderful neighbor who both brought me meals so I didn't have to worry about cooking all week! And after another visit to the chiro this week, my shoulder is nearly pain-free! Jeff surprised me on my birthday by bringing me two of my favorites - breakfast from BK and a large caramel apple cider - yum! During the day Kaitlyn threw me a pretend birthday party. She filled gift bag after gift bag with countless amounts of toys for me. She even put little doll blankets on the tops of the gift bags to make it look like tissue paper - so smart. And then she told me that I needed to send her a Thank You card for all of the pretend presents that she was giving me - hilarious! We had my brother/sister in law and their kids, plus Jeff's mom and Grandma over for pizza in the evening. The kids had fun playing t-ball and soccer together. We also had a bonfire with s'mores and sparklers. Another year done. Where does the time go?My best birthday gift ever ... although she is less than amused that she had to pose for a picture. Grandma-Great with her little "Sweeties"!