Best flat tire ever

Book club at Amici's Wednesday night.  Went out and the tire pressure was low - REALLY low apparently.  Mary was still there and took me home.  Chris drove with me in the AM to change it and the worst part - needing to buy $1000 worth of new tires.....

No road side changing

no kids in the car

 no crazy schedules to navigate

  totally appreciation of how this incident could be 100 times different.

Wisneski love

It was a week back to normal routine.  And what better way to end it with some buddies over for S'mores in the fireplace Friday night.  I met Molly through Megan and love her and her family.  Here are the muchkins roasting it up inside.

Than, on Saturday its time to pick up 3 more kids - the Wisneski kids which I LOVE having anytime!!

This is my - I have 6 kids face. 

Seriously the hardest thing about having 6 kids is feeding them - everything else was EASIER than just 3 NO LIE! 

They played at the park for hours making up games, having adventures - not needing me at all. 

We even had Curtis the bear in our mix. 

Sunday morning and what else would you do with 2 little men - yup, paint 

Sunday after sports we linked up in New Britian for Polish fest - Exactly where we should meet the Wisneskis  - it was almost like the German fests we all remember and treasure - almost... but it was Polish!

Love this 

Loved the weekend

 

We went to a Farm!

Who you??  Yes us.  

Its spring break and we were missing our buddies.  

So how do we link up with our friends in VA? We meet at a farm in PA.  

THANK YOU THANK YOU

 to Farrah for finding this beautiful spot in the heart of Amish Country where we can all un-tether and reconnect.

Farrah also did and AMAZING job of capturing our weekend.  I am certain I cannot recreate it as beautifully and thoughtfully as she did.  So here is her blog.  Its a treasure

http://www.brianandfarrahmccullough.blogspot.com/2015/04/farm-experience-4171819.html

Friday afternoon we all trickled in and explored the farm.  By 6pm is was time to venture over to their Amish neighbors for a home-cooked family style meal.  Fruit salad, potatoes - the bread - the meatloaf, chicken and dumplings - yum yum yum.  We were able to learn more about the Amish culture and way of life.  Some take-aways - no flying (only train, bus, carriage transportation)  cell phones are a HUGE challenge to them too!  Living a simple life with minimal distractions allows you to focus and devote life to family and god.  

Saturday morning - chores

With Cows - on a dairy farm.

wow that is one big bottle 

And that baby calf LOVES it! 

gotta get the grain too. 

Learning about the milking 

and doing the milking - (machines have taken over this once rather slow process...  shocking right?) 

future farm hands - Macy is one strong girl among all those handsome boys

had to snap this photo 

meals on the porch 

love their time together. - what are you pointing at Nick -  

Well of course its a cow 

its the whacka whacka dance 

They came back for dessert 

When Brian was up early - he captured these beautiful shots - 

Love the motor bikes and can only imagine our kids would too - if they were just a bit older. 

The calfs are wondering if Brian is part of the morning chores. 

THe beautiful Wilt family - They were just crossing the bridge and I asked them to stop. 

This baseball diamond was put in for their son's birthday  - our kids LOVED it.  Good old back yard fun

Sunday morning we walked over to the covered bridge for a few family shots.  We had high hopes of riding our bikes - but folks travel FAST on these farm roads.   

Yup - right in the middle of the road!!  Beautiful smiles! 

here we were able to include the covered bridge. 

While we were walking back to the farm - the cow that started laboring before we left..... 

had her baby.  

The children got to see the baby take her first steps just minutes after entering the world.  The true amazement of life. 

I am so thankful for this weekend.  The time with 2 of the most wonderful families that didn't even know eachother before this weekend.  Yes, we met the McCulloughs in Germany and the Wilts in Virginia.  So thankful that friends can become friends through us.  Life to be is about connections, friends and families that enrich your lives, the lives of your children and provide experiences merely through their presence.  I truly loved this weekend just being together.  Thank you all!

Goomba's Birthday

So thankful to be able to make this day feel extra special for a man that has made me feel special all my life.  Thank you Goomba for the family you have nurtured

Thank you for wanting to be in our every day life.  

Thank you for all your journey and who you are.

Happy Birthday Goomba!

All smiles from this crew!

Easter weekend!

I just noticed we still have snow photos on the beginning of this blog - yikes!  I am trying to catch up as its May 8 and about to be 86 degrees today - Yippee!!  So let me dial back the time and take a trip back into my memory bank to try to capture Easter.

My favorite decoration - 3 boys, on the counter, German plastic eggs and forsythia bush twigs. (yes, its May and that decoration is still up and the forsythia is blooming.  love) 

The Leadbetters (Barbara and Wyland) arrived on Tuesday - it was wonderful to see them - Amazing how time flies as we haven't seen them since October!  We enjoyed the evening catching up and Wednesday morning they were so helpful and instantly dove into my crazy painting project. 

Liz, Seb and Winslow arrived on Wednesday just before dinner.  The kids instantly unloaded all their gear and bikes and blasted all over the front yard so excited to have time together.  This right here is worth every second.  

The next day the Leadbetters and Liz's crew navigated Mystic seaport in the beautiful sunshine while I finished the project.  They came home to it all put back together and ready for the holidays.

Friday was a trip to a Dinosaur park - Had no idea that Rocky Hill CT was the home of this awesomeness.

We are one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America. Beneath our geodesic dome, you will find an exceptional display of early Jurassic fossil tracks that were made 200 million years ago.

Nice print

Diane and her family was able to meet us for the afternoon as well - - Here is our picnic lunch!

The dina museam was great and had several shows throughout the afternoon.  Bill Nye the Science guy (an off one on Vocanoes) and this lizard Blue came out to say hi.  It was perfect to run in, see a show and head back out to roam the trails.

Apparently they were exhausted.  Only eye balls I see are Liz and mine =)

As part of The sleeping arrangements, Drew got to bunk in with us - but apparently he didn't like being too far away from the action.

Saturday morning was the neighborhood Easter egg hunt - now a little about this hunt - We haven't lived in the neighborhood for a year yet (haven't even attended one of these) and after volunteering for it, I was beginning to think we were being punked.  

Our neighbor Dave brought over a MASSIVE container of plastic eggs and all the neighbors brought candy to stuff the eggs with - our task, stuff and hide the eggs!  Friday night we had LOTS of helpers and a bit of the candy was consumed prematurely....  It was a windy chilly morning - but NO SNOW.  

So off we go!

5 and under in front - 6 and above behind.

Like all the obstacles?

A great reason for the neighbors to get together =)  Carly - great shorts!

Coffee anyone?

The candy collection and egg rematching (prepping for next year!)

With all that Cholocate - lets have some fish sticks for lunch.  Do you see the sweet faces of my sister's kids - yup!  They made it up too!  Love this full house.

Later that afternoon the boys 'chilled' outside while the ladies stole away for a little antique browsing.  Tam even made it in from Portland ME to share the weekend together.  His father was recently hospitalized with pneumonia so Tam spent the first few days caring for him and his mother.

Preparing the table for 18!

Love catching a few photos as we settled into our seats.

Barbara is surrounded by some handsome men

Tam managed to get a great seat too!

Here we ALL are!

half way through dinner - this guy acted like he didn't feel well and couldn't finish his dinner....

Yes, have pity for him - 

for he is a TERRIBLE actor.

Sunday was a whirl of everyone going in different directions - The Leadbetters were headed to VA and NY 

We were headed to church with my sister, her girls and my mom.  beautiful service.  Than we all joined up for one more feast and some snow.... snow.... yup, I said it.  After my sister packed up and headed home, it snowed.  And I curled up with these boys for a sweet photo.  

Weekends with a full house full of family - 

everyone helping

everyone bringing something

 We are so very fortunate to be able to be together for this holiday of rebirth, rejoicing.

Thank you all!