Oops, pretend these are in the above post...:)

These pictures should be in the above post from Lake George and Quechee, VT but I don't want to mess around with it by adding them:)


Lake George had a fort you could tour, but we got there too late. The kids had fun running around and putting their heads into the cannons though!

A peak into what Dave's hair looks like every morning! Love you sweetie!:)

My terrific parents taking a rest walking up from the base of Quechee Gorge.

Dave trying to keep up with Dylan running up from the base of the Gorge. This was a common sight...:)

Catch up time

So, I need to catch up our blog before I can post pictures of our recent visit with my parents. So here it goes...


We finally made it to the Ithaca Farmer's Market for the first time a few weeks ago. Everyone around me has always talked about how great it is, and it is one of my friend Melanie's favorite things in Ithaca. So I had to check it out at least once!

Before going in, we went around back to check out the lake. As we were there, a couple came gliding up in their row boat. The kids were facinated watching them. Madeline informed me that she wanted one of those boat things.:)

Scott and Madeline watching a little girl feed the ducks. Why is it that I can never remember to bring bread for the kids to feed the ducks too...?

Inside the Farmer's Market. Unfortunately, we were not really hungry when we went, considering I have been told they have yummy food there. We did buy some apple cider donuts though!:)

Next up, our first Cornell Football Game. This is our third football season we have been here for, and had never attended a game. Well, the kids school gave each of the kids four free tickets to the homecoming game, so we decided to go. I mean, hey, the tickets were free so even if we only lasted one quarter with the kids, it didn't cost us anything. Here's Dylan before the game. He had no red shirts, so he supported Cornall via his red hat.:)

The kids loved these little blow up sticks you hit together to make noise.

Some of our friends at the game. Love my friends here in Ithaca (and I really, really don't want to say goodbye in a few months....) And yes, my hair is not looking it's best, but I got it cut again a few days after that. It's looking better now..:)

Moving on, a few weeks ago we went apple picking for our play group. It was kind of nice to just go with Dylan this year. Not as much running around on my part.:)

My friend Becky looked too cute picking apples with her bushel. Just had to take her picture!:)

Dylan munched on an apple while we picked, and before I knew it, he had eaten the entire thing, core, seeds and all!

He kept wanting to put the fallen bruised apples in our bag (which I heard is actually against the law here...).

And you can't go to Grisamore without seeing the animals. We had fun. The apples were cooked into a yummy apple pie and I think my parents (who came two days later) enjoyed many of them as well. They are all gone now, I guess we need to go back and pick some more! I LOVE fall here!!!!!

It's Birthday time at our house!

Scott and Madeline had their 6th birthday last week. I can't believe they are growing up so fast.


What's better then starting out a day sure to be filled with lots of birthday goodies, then making cinnamon rolls for breakfast?! Not great thinking on my part, but they sure enjoyed it.:)

Luckily, they are in the same Kindergarten class, so I only had to bring treats for one class. Here is a picture of their classroom and classmates.

Dylan even got to sit by Madeline and enjoy a chocolate donut as well. It was really fun to see them in their class. I have a whole new level of respect for their great teacher after seeing how energetic all her students were at the end of the day. And even after six hours of being with all the kids (on a really rainy day too), she was still sweet and nice to all of them. We love their teacher!:)

Who knew these flavored chapsticks would turn out to be one of Madeline's very favorite gifts this year. She is into makeup a few years too early. Already she loves to pretend to put makeup on with my makeup brushes.

No Birthday for Scott would be complete without something from Star Wars...

And he has loved this dragon Grandma Harker got him, and has named him "Draggy".

Madeline and a mouse Grandma Harker gave her.

Blowing candles out.

Madeline was a little excited about her new Princess jammies she got, and had to quickly put them on. It was a crazy busy day, but hopefully a fun one.:) It is kind of sad that I have already had them for a third of the time they will be living with us. I wish they wouldn't grow up so fast...

Our New Normal

So, the twins are just finishing up being in Kindergarten for two and half weeks. Thankfully, they still love going to Kindergarten. Although, sometimes I wish they loved going a little less, so they are not so eager to go in the mornings that they are waking me up before my alarm goes off to get them to school. Out of the 13 mornings of getting up earlier for school, I have only had to wake them up twice. And I am sure feeling the effects of getting up early to an alarm again on the weekdays. Before school started, I was going to bed typically between 12-1 at night, but not anymore. In fact, last Friday night, I had to talk myself out of climbing into bed at about 8! I mean, come on! It's a Friday night, and I can barely keep my eyes open.:) But enough about me...:)

Dylan has adjusted fairly well. I was worried that he would be bored with mommy all day, but it really hasn't been like that. He definitely misses Scott and Madeline, and whenever he sees a yellow school bus, asks if they are coming home. But he also gets to do fun things he never got to do before. Like going to Borders and mommy just sitting on the floor and reading him some books. This is actually kind of a first for me too, because with the twins I always had two to watch, and couldn't give my undivided attention to just one. He also gets special little treats, like an Icee at Target (although when the twins found out about that one, mommy got in big trouble...). One thing different about Dylan, from Scott and Madeline, is he sometimes asks to go back home. When this first happened, I was a little shocked. Scott and Madeline have always loved being out doing things, and never wanted to just be home. In fact, even now when they get home from being at school almost 7 hours, they want to know what other fun things are we going to do that day, or where else we are going to go ( no coming home, falling asleep, exhausted kids here...).

As for Scott and Madeline, they have really enjoyed their class at school. They have some caterpillars in their class that are changing into butterflies, so it is fun to hear their reports on what stage they are currently in, like the chrysalis stage going on right now, if I remember correctly. And so far, Madeline has only left her jacket at school once (which we got the next day), but Scott, on the other hand, has left his jacket at school (got the next day as well), and backpack on the bus (which we were able to track down the same bus an hour later and go retrieve it), and most recently, his water bottle on the bus as well (we will find out today if he could track that one down). And yesterday, he hopped off the bus without anything! But, lucky for him, he has a nice twin sister that came behind him carrying his backpack and jacket he had left behind on the bus. *sigh* What to do... Hopefully between the two of them, they can start remembering their things better.:)

And from my point of view, I am really excited to see Madeline and Scott each day when they get home, and love seeing their little heads peeking over the bus windows for me when the bus pulls up each afternoon. And I love hearing about what they have done in school that day and what new things they are learning. Overall, we are liking the new routine, but I find it hard to believe this is our new normal. They will be in school like this for years to come. I am just glad I still have little Dylan at home with me. Not ready to have all the kids in school yet.:) And no, we are not done having kids yet, but all in good time, all in good time.:)

Happy Birthday Dave!!!

Today is Dave's third and final birthday spent in Grad School.:) He has worked hard these past few years to better our family's future, and I appreciate it.:) I couldn't ask for a better husband and father for our kids. When I asked the kids what we should get dad for his birthday, Madeline said some shaving cream, or maybe a new car (can you tell the topic of needing a new car has been discussed in our family more then once recently...). Scott, of course (i mean the boy is a little obsessed), said a new Star Wars Lightsaber, or maybe a Star Wars book. We then argued for a few minutes weather those were good gifts for daddy or for Scott (and Scott pointed out that Daddy likes Star Wars too...). Happy Birthday Dave!

First day of Kindergarten!

A big Day for Scott and Madeline in the Harker household today!




They used to be this big...


And now look at them. Old enough to go to kindergarten! And they are even some of the oldest kids in kindergarten.

Their teacher.:) They get to be in the same class together, which I am kind of liking so far. When I first registered them last May, they asked if I had a preference if they were put in the same class or not. I said I didn't care, so I figured they would split them up. I was surprised when I found out they were together, but I think it will be kind of nice. I only have one new teacher to get to know, one class to help out in, one class to go on field trips with, and they will have the same homework and stuff (when or if they get homework). Plus they have a friend all the time in class. It is a little more comforting for me.:) And we are very happy with their teacher so far. She seems great and we have heard good things about her.:)

They are able to ride the bus to and from school also. But for the first few days, I am planning on just walking them, more for mommies benefit then theirs.:) But I did have them ride the bus home, since it is right during Dylan's nap time. I was a little nervous that they would be on the correct bus (although I knew the teacher makes sure of that already), and that they wouldn't get off in the wrong place (but again I think the bus driver makes sure the kindergartner's have a parent waiting for them before letting them off). I was very happy to see their little smiling faces peeking out the bus windows when the bus pulled up. What big kids! I missed them so much today and was so glad to give them a big hug and a kiss. Luckily, they still are okay with me doing that in public.:)

After getting off the bus, I asked how their day was. Scott said he shared some of his sweet pickles (he requested a tuna sandwich for lunch and wanted some sweet pickles in a baggie with it) with his friend. And that he couldn't wait until the next day to play Buzz and Woody with a different friend. Typical Scott response. The first thing Madeline said was there was a girl that kept bugging her today, but she didn't bug her back. Hilarious.:) After further prodding (they mainly kept talking about lunch...) I found out they went outside on the playground and learned some rules. When I asked what rules Scott said he could only remember one. No throwing sticks. Madeline piped in that the other rules were no throwing wood chips, acorns, or rocks. So, I guess it is a good thing they are in the same class. When one forgets the rules, the other may remember.:)

I am so glad their first day was such a success.:) I just hope they didn't monopolize all the teacher's time with their questions and observations.:) And they even had their first class of their swim lessons again today. Quite a full day for them, but they handled it great. Hopefully tomorrow is as good. And now I know what it is like to have just one child for the majority of the day for the very first time. What am I going to do with myself?:)

Watkins Glen

The other day we decided to drive to Watkins Glen, which is a town not too far away. So we put on our hiking clothes and headed out.



It was just gorgeous there. We hiked through a gorge right next to many little waterfalls, and a little creek running through it. This is why you come out to visit central New York.

The kids love taking pictures (most of the time), and Madeline, of course, loves to pose for all of them. I don't know what she is doing here....:)

Our gluteus maximus' got a workout climbing the hundreds of stairs up and down the gorge.:) (That's a good thing, trust me.:)

Notice the little waterfall to the left of them?

Yep, Madeline wanted her hair wet from it, so daddy "kindly offered" to help her with that.

I think Dylan thinks this is how we pose for pictures from now on. He kept doing this and wanting me to take his picture.

We loved the spiderweb we saw, but I think the kids would have reacted differently if the spider had still been there on it...!

Mr. Independent didn't want anyone holding his hand going down the stairs, as you can see from the way he is holding his arms. This little guy is growing up too fast. No longer my baby boy..:(:( I also don't think he passed up a single mud puddle, be it little or big, to jump in. At one point, we had a tight squeeze walking by some other people, when he decides to jump into a particularly big one, getting all of us wet with mud. Luckily everyone just laughed, but needless to say I carried him over the mud puddles the next time we were by other people.:)

We loved hiking through here and hope to go again maybe when the leaves are all different colors this fall! Can't wait, I can feel it in the air already!:)