Anybody want a Raspberry?

Raspberries are one of my favorite fruits, especially when in combination with chocolate. A few weeks ago we traveled up to Barton Orchards with a few friends to pick raspberries. We had a great day. Luckily, I was able to get a good 3 lbs before the kids started acting up and then the picking slowed down.

Gavin actually really enjoyed it and filled half a container all by himself. Then he finally ate his first berry. It was over after that. Most berries he picked after that he ate and then he started getting into the ones he already picked.

I am glad we are able enjoy days like that. Coincidentally, we ran into some more friends of ours at the Orchards. Small World!

I planned to make freezer jam with the raspberries. However, finding pectin in the city is impossible, so I froze most of the raspberries. I did manage to make some chocolate/raspberry brownies with them!

Milk's Favorite Cookie

For Family Night, we always have a treat. This week was the beloved OREO. Everyone was given their OREO, except Eli. He made it very clear that if he had to listen to the lesson, he got the treat. So, we gave him his first OREO. I twisted it apart and gave it to him and proceeded to dip my OREO in milk and eat them. I soon heard screeching from Eli who had thrown his partial OREO across the room. Eli has the ability to know when has been slighted. So, I gave in and gave him a whole OREO. I continued to eat my OREOS. I look over and find Eli dipping his cookie in the milk, just like everyone else.

Snubbing the Weatherman

I don't know how many times we have not done something because the weatherman has predicted rain. There have been many times that we have lugged raincoats, umbrellas, and rain guards only to never have it rain. But, the times when we don't it rains cats and dogs. We rely on the weatherman quite a bit since we can only see the building next to us and not what is going on outside.

Last weekend. the weatherman predicted rain. We decided to take a bike ride anyway. So, here we are snubbing the weatherman on top of the George Washington Bridge! What a beautiful Day!View of Little Red Lighthouse from the "big gray bridge"

Happy Birthday Eli

In the blink of an eye you went from this

TO THIS

It brings me to tears to think of how fast this past year went. You have kept me on my toes Eli, you have made me laugh, you have made me frustrated, but you have brought a joy into our little family that we could never live with out! Happy Birthday

Here are some pictures from your little birthday playdate..

Eli's friends,the raccoons, enjoying his cake...The ducks didn't get any cake

When we got back..

We were lucky enough to have Boyd's brother and his family come visit us. We loved every minute of it! They have 3 little boys, so we had an apartment full of boys under 5. It was great.

The men took all 5 boys to the park and I was able to take Coryn on her inaugural trip to Ikea the first day we were here. We enjoyed just eating and spending time together. Saturday was spent in Central Park at the Carousel and the boat pond.

I think the best was being able to eat at one of our favorite places, Blue Water Grill, WITHOUT our kids.

The food was delicous and it was nice to enjoy each others company without distractions.

The boys attempted to sleep in the same room. I know Gavin was very excited about the sleepover!

We are so glad they came to visit and we miss them already!

Our Trip Part 2-New Mexico Skies

I can't really say that NM is "home" anymore. I haven't lived there for over 10 years. I have now lived in NY longer than I have lived anywhere. But NM will always hold a special place in my heart. Knowing that my parents might move made me soak up my time in NM and it was a memorable trip. One thing that always strikes me when I return to NM is its unique beauty. Some may not see it, but it is there. A beauty that is undeniably there are the New Mexico skies. It was greener than it typically is this time of year and there were yellow wild flowers scattered everywhere.

The Nolte Reunion was held in Vanderwagon at a Kamp Kiwanas (yes, the Kamp is with a K). It included 2 dorms, a lodge, horseshoes, volleyball court, playground, amphitheater, fire pit) We had the whole place to ourselves. I wish I would describe every moment of our reunion, but the memories are already fading and I think it just might be too much, so here are the things that stand out and that I want to remember from the trip..

• All the cousins and second cousins playing together all day everyday. I think we all wanted to be a kid again. They just spent their days exploring, creating, playing, and yes there was some fighting. Oh and of course the pinata!




• Gavin developed his first "crush" on his cousin Lydia. Gavin mentioned Gavin when we he woke up, when he were going somewhere, when it was time to eat. When he saw her he would stop whatever he was doing to talk to her. She, of course, is 5 and ignored him!
• Boyd teaching everyone the "Soulja Boy Dance" Does anyone have a video of that?
• Gavin spent about 50% of his time on the tricycle. He spent a good portion of the time doing it with his eye swollen shut! He kept running into things! We don't have such luxuries in New York. He also just spent hours outside and out of my direct view for much of the time. Living in New York, he doesn't get much of that time. I always know where he is, because I have to.

• sitting around the campfire hearing all the updates of each of the families. I miss being close to family and it was a great way to feel connected with everyone.
• Playing horseshoes. It was a way to spend some one on one time with Sue and Adrienne and Greg and Joyce. I even got a double ringer.
  


• Playing Charades at midnight with all my siblings and cousins and spouses, parents, aunts and uncles!
• The Talent Show- Our disgusting toothpaste skit, all the kids, kermit and Aimee, Aimee and Katie singing Wicked, Dad singing "Soon it's Going to Rain"
• The Water Park
• GAVIN's poor eye. WE think Gavin is allergic to mosquito bites. He was bitten near the eye and his eye was swollen shut and half of his face was also swollen. It scared me quite a bit.


• The food.. Lots and lots of yummy food




• Gavin rode his first horse! Sue, Adrienne, and Sarah's excitement over there adventure!
  

Thanks Fam for making it such a wonderful visit! "Keep on keepin' on!" It was a wonderful reunion and I am looking forward to 2011!

NO ice cream until you finish your hamburger, fries, and soda!"

As parents we try and impose rules that are supposed to benefit our children in the long run.. But, sometimes we find ourselves setting rules that really have no benefit. "No ice cream until you finish your hamburger, fries and soda!" We found ourselves saying this to our children when we traveled last weekend and there weren't many options for dinners on the road.

We went to the wedding of Boyd's former colleague and good friend Chris' this past weekend. Chris and Bea have been good friends and know they will be a happy couple. There wedding was a lot of fun to attend. Chris wore a kilt and Bea wore a dress to match. It was in the Pocono Mountains at Trout Lake. It was a weekend long event. Most of the guests stayed in cabins along the river. WE decided to stay at a hotel to avoid keeping strangers up all night since the cabins were shared space. We played all day at the lake. Gavin loves the water and the sand. We even took Gavin and Eli out on a paddle boat.