Sydney rides Sugar

Sydney's dream of riding a horse came true this afternoon. We have some friends that have a horse and the weather and work schedules finally worked out so she got to take a ride. As I'm sure you guess, we were all smiles.

Psalm 19:1&2

A Little History Lesson

This weekend we decided to head to the Saratoga Battlefield for a little history lesson on the Revolutionary War. We started at this monument which is right by a cemetery. To our surprise, you can actually climb to the top and get a good view of the area. I am not one for heights, but I don't want my kids to have fear because I do so I put on a good face and started trekking up the 154 steps to the top. I'm starting to wonder if it was actually 154 steps or misheard the man there. It sure felt like a lot more.



Saul was quite nervous so he decided he didn't want to go any higher than the 5th platform. This is a pic from the 5th platform looking up. The next stop was the top.


Matt and Sydney made it to the top and were raving about it so Saul decided he wanted to try. So up we went. Here is a pic at the top! -


Matt and Saul coming down -


Both of the kids love to fly. They spent a long time "flying" off the bottom of the monument while I recovered from all of those steps. I think my adrenaline was running so hard while I was going up and down I didn't even feel it in my legs until I got to the bottom. When I hit the bottom my legs just went weak. It was quite comical.




Overlooking the battlefield (proof I was actually there too) -


The kids at the last building from the 18th century posing with their "rifles" - This was actually the Neilson Farm and the military actually marched through their backyard to go to battle.


Saul trying out the spectacles -


Inside the visitor center they had a lot of great info and things to check out. The kids had a great time dressing up -

Sydney's New Dresser

Matt finished his latest work of art- a new dresser for Syd.

I asked Saul to get a few pics for the blog...

First Day of School!

Here they are on the first day of school.

My Babies -

Happy Birthday, Matt!

It's that time of year again! Happy Birthday Matt! Birthdays are a lot more fun with kids (or if your friend sends you a party in a box). They really just love to celebrate and can make anything into a party. Matt celebrated his birthday with a trip to Cabela's. He purchased 2 new firearms. This promised him a return trip to Cabelas in 15 days to pick up his new "babies."


My Handsome Birthday Boy -



We were at the grocery store getting the supplies for Matt's birthday scotcharoos and I grabbed some candles. Sydney told me I better get a 3 and a 2 or else we will have way too many candles on the scotcharoos. :)

Saul's First Tooth

Saul woke me up this morning with, " Mom, my tooth fell out and it didn't even bleed!" He's very excited it fell out and impressed with the size hole that is left!

Hurricane Irene...

...came to Ballston Spa as a Tropical Storm. We had lots of gusty wind and rain, but came out of it amazingly well. We didn't even lose power. If you saw local pictures you would be completely shocked by that. There are still people in flood warnings etc... Saturday we started preparing for her arrival so the kids knew a storm was coming. We told the kids if it started to get really windy we were going to hang out in the basement. We have a lot of trees around our house some old and dying. The kids thought hanging out in the basement was an exciting way to weather a storm. A week ago Sydney was planning on spending her birthday wearing her new dress to church and then going to the 25th year celebration at church, and then hoping to go to the sprinkler park. When she woke up Sunday and found out that not only was the celebration cancelled, but regular church service was cancelled she looked at me and smiled and said, "Can I still wear my pretty dress?" Then she got all excited about spending the day in the basement. She is such a trooper.

I told the kids to get some things they wanted to do while we were in the basement and they made this great pile by the door -




Here the kids are hanging out in the shelving in the basement. Notice the grapes and water bottles. The kids set up a little shop selling grapes-

Making Muffins

We have been in all day today because of Hurricane Irene. We have been fortunate to keep our power so Sydney decided she wanted to try out her new apron, muffin tin and muffin mix that Grandma and Grandpa sent. They turned out perfect, of course, but Sydney was sad she didn't get to crack any eggs. She did get to put the tin in the hot oven though so she is feeling pretty big!

Measuring the water -


Even Banana Nut muffins need decorations -


Ta Da!

Happy 7th Birthday, Sydney!

It's official, my peanut is 7! I can't believe it. Time sure does fly.

We were able to celebrate with Auntie Amanda (and her family) last weekend at the new American Girl Store right by Auntie's house. Sydney had her heart set on a horse birthday this year, complete with a riding a real horse. Then Auntie Amanda told her about the new American Girl store by her house and Sydney just couldn't resist another shopping trip with Auntie at American Girl. About a week before the big trip Sydney told me, "I'm sure me and Auntie will find something we want when we go shopping."
We had lunch at the bistro at American Girl and Sydney had a great time. The day before we made cupcakes and had a pizza party by the pool. Sydney was all smiles the whole weekend. I don't think she was one bit sad she didn't get to ride a horse, there's always next year.

Making Cupcakes -


Decorating with Aunties' Cupcake Box -


Luke enjoying the cousins handiwork -


Cupcakes after the pool party -


Shopping with Auntie -


Eating at the Bistro -


Meet Emily Blossom Van Horn -


Yesterday we were at Hannaford getting the last minute supplies for Hurricane Irene. Sydney always admires the cakes there when we pass them. I was afraid the power would go out and I didn't want to risk not having a little cake today we decided to go for a Hannaford cake for today. It was pink and perfect -



My Birthday Princess in the new apron Grandma and Grandpa sent -

Sydney's Sleep Over

Sydney had her first sleep over on Tuesday. She had all the girls from school (don't worry there are only 4 including Sydney) We called it a Library Book Party. Each girl brought their favorite book that they all read to each other, they decorated book bags and ate book worms for a snack. The girls were all very excited and didn't fall asleep until 11:30. They got up at 5:30am the next morning and had a little breakfast and decorated masks so they could act out a story. A very fun night for Sydney and a very tiring night for me.

The girls and their bookworms (rice krispie treats)


Decorating their book bags -


Sydney and Hannah with matching nightgowns. I think I may have suffered a little bit of permanent hearing loss from the high pitch screaming that happened when they realized they had the same ones -

End of School Year Fun

Saul got a trophy on the last day of Soccer -


Sydney and Mrs. Baker on the last day of 1st Grade -


There is a chipmunk that lives in the edging of the corner of the garage there. This chipmunk thinks our garden is it's personal buffet so Saul set up this "trap" so the chipmunk would stop stealing our strawberries -


Matt and the kids on the ferris wheel at Magic Forest. Sydney's class went here for the end of year party -


Saul got to come along on the field trip too -


Sydney and her first grade class - I love Mrs. Baker's expression and yes Sydney had 9 boys in her class!

Saul's new trick

I spent the day in 1st Grade on Monday so Matt and Saul hung out all day. I came home to Saul's "new trick" It's hard to call him my baby when he's out riding a bike without training wheels. I remember last summer when Sydney learned and she was yelling at Matt while he was running next to her, "Don't let go, not yet....." Saul is out there, yelling, "Let go! Did you let go?" as he is trying to look behind to make sure Matt has let go.

He picked it up pretty quick, but he still has a couple of crash stories to tell and bruised up knees. Now we need to get to the store and get his own bike so Sydney can have hers back. :)

Saul's first Field Trip!

Saul got to go with his preschool class to see "Cowboy Dave" of the Albany symphony. "Cowboy Dave" took the kids on a musical journey around the world, with music from England, Spain, and Hungry. It was quite entertaining. He definitely made classical music fun!

I was subbing in Kindergarten that day and I took them to the concert too. Here me and Saul are wearing our field trip clothes -