Cider n' Doughnuts

Cider and Doughnuts- - the Michigan tradition that I think we will continue to do in our family, even after we leave Michigan! There are many wonderful Cider Presses just outside the metropolitan areas (about a half an hour away) which do fun fall festivals and sell the best cider and homemade doughnuts I have ever tasted. I am usually a one doughnut kind of person- but I could eat a whold dozen of these!

This year we went to Blake's Cider Mill in mid-October and had fun with the corn maze, pumpkins and fall fun playground with pumpkin jump house, swings made of tires, and more! Then of course our yummy treats of Cider and Doughnuts was the best. The weather was incredible that day and was actually almost too warm! The only downside was it made me homesick for going to Greenbluff with my parents, like we did every year we lived in Washington. I missed having them with us while we were going to the corn maze. At least we could get a good taste of fall fun, even though we are so far away- and I have to say Michigan was absolutely gorgeous in October!

We love the Coons!

It has been so much fun living close to one of my sisters. One of our first few weekends Laura and her family came up to visit. We had fun going to Metro Beach and just hanging out at our house.







Then a month or so later, for General Conference Weekend the beginning of October, we went down to Columbus to see them. The four hour drive feel so much shorter than the three hours it would take to get to Spokane when we lived in Yakima because the drive to Columbus is mostly beautiful picturesque farmland and forest (with the exception of a few cities). We even saw many Amish carriages, among the small towns with homes dating back to the 1830's.

We had a wonderful weekend watching conference and we spent half of Saturday at the Columbus Zoo! Here's to many more fun times over the next few years!











Laura made a wonderful cheescake to celebrate Jon's birthday:



Fall Fun at a local park near Laura's house!

the light bulb goes on . . .

For awhile now I have been wondering what it is that is making me feel like I can't keep up with normal every day things the way I used to. I always seem to be a bit behind on housework, playing catch up on laundry, behind on blogging, feeling stressed when my kids have difficult schoolwork that needs my help, and needing to only make meals that take 15 minutes or less to make. I felt like things should be running smoother because we are not in any kind of major crisis or life changing event like it seemed we were all the time over the last few years. Comparitively, things are going really well and everyone is basically doing great. Yes- I do spend a lot more time in the car this year with Lillian in pre-school, but that doesn't account for me being behind!

So the light bulb finally went on the other day. Before all of the drama of the last few years, I had one less child. I don't know why it took me so long to figure it out- but four really IS more busy than three- no matter what anyone else says!!! That fourth child is now a VERY active, VERY curious, VERY smart walking toddler that is constantly keeping me on my toes! Lillian is now in school too- so one more person to keep track of for school parties, schoolwork, and a schedule - - not to mention extra curricular activities.

So- I am giving myself a break and not being so hard on myself for not ALWAYS being on top of EVERYTHING. Not everything has to be perfect all the time! Being behind sometimes on some things is OK- and not doing all of the extra things like volunteering every week in my kids' classrooms is OK for the time being. Here's to being a happier more fullfilled mom.

Mmmm- he had fun getting into a yogurt one of the other kids left out one day:


Tyler loves climbing into and emptying the cupboards . . .


And my laundry . . .


But how can I not just adore the little guy? He is amazing!