Fall Fun at the Orchard

She would have picked all day if we would have let her.

With so many apples at home, it's a lot like leftover Turkey after Thanksgiving. HA!

Beautiful

I love this picture of her looking over at Matt.  So sweet!

This past Saturday, we spent a beautiful Fall day at our local Apple Orchard.  It was amazing.  I have never seen so many apples.  Make that delicious tasting large apples.  We had the best time running through the orchard picking apples.
Once we had gathered a bag full, we headed back down the hill to select some pumpkins.  
I must say, this was CT at its best for me.  It's the kind of outdoor day that unless you live here, you often hear people refer to when describing Fall.  Throw in the starburst of red, yellow and orange that cover the area and it's pretty perfect.  I will say,  we are very much enjoying true seasons here in CT.  
Now...let's just see if this Southern girl paints such a perfect picture once the snow moves in.  HA!  

Happy Fall Y'all!

The More things CHANGE....

Crafting it Up

Styling Hair

Before taking Lucy home, I asked the girls to pose for a picture with their finished craft.  After the first picture, they started giggling, brought in the dolls and got very silly.  Too cute!

Thanks for coming Lucy!  Come back any time!

the more they stay the same.  It's true!  Before moving, during the move and as we settle in, we've tried to remind and assure Lily Grace that all that she loved to do back in Memphis, can still be enjoyed in CT, just with new people.  This past week, she learned how true that is.   
She met an adorable girl named Lucy at the studio where she takes ballet.  Lucy and her family are very sweet and actually live just  up the road from us. 
Lucy came over after school last week to play.  Lily Grace was so excited and counted down the days to her first play-date at her new house. Once Lucy and Lily Grace were together at the house,  they acted as if they had been playing together for years.  They were so cute and very funny.   The house was filled with giggles, squeals and chit chat.  What a blessing!  
That play-date is all Lily Grace has talked about for a week.  According to Lily Grace, it was the best!  

A New Favorite...

Headbands

Fall Camping

Lily Grace has always loved wearing glasses...sunglasses and even homemade reading glasses which she made by punching the lenses out of sunglasses in order to be like daddy.  Well, when I happened upon these at Target in the dollar bin, I knew who would love them.  While they have lenses, they are completely for dress up, no power to the lenses.  I gave them to her after school and of course they helped her "see better" when setting up for her camping trip.  HA!

Setting up camp before the sun goes down, but of course wearing the head lamp in the broad daylight. 

Doesn't everyone journal around the campfire? 

Cooking dinner

Bundled up and snuggled in 

Two weeks ago Lily Grace and Matt welcomed Fall with a camp out.  Matt left the office early and surprised Lily Grace by picking her up from school so they could hurry home  to start setting up camp.  It was cool and crisp and perfect for camping in the great outdoors, also known as our back yard.  
We had a great time grilling our dinner and s'mores over a campfire and hanging out. 
Once Matt put the fire out and the two of them had bundled up for the evening (ok and Lily Grace drug tons of books, stuffed animals and the like into the tent) they settled in for the night.  Molly and I on the other hand took ourselves indoors.   (ok... So maybe the settling in took a detour when I discovered that I accidentally threw my night guard in the trash. I then had to call out to Matt, who had to go retrieve the trash and dig through it only to discover that I in fact did not throw it away, but put it in a different place INSIDE the house. Hey!  Isn't camping suppose to be adventuresome?  That's what I thought, but for some reason he didn't really thank me. ) 
They had the best time.  Before going to sleep myself, I went to the window and could still hear them chatting and playing.  So sweet!  
They were in about 6:00 am the next morning and already planning the next camp out.  

The Great Outdoors

This park is absolutely amazing.  You could take pictures all day there are so many beautiful spots.

These trees soar

Yesterday we took advantage of the beautiful 70 degree weather and enjoyed some time exploring the state park just a couple of miles down the road from our house. 
The leaves are starting to change and there was a cool breeze in the air. 
There are a lot of things to do outdoors here in New England. This state park is a great place for hiking, bike riding, swimming, bird watching, fishing, picnicking and taking in the beauty of the outdoors that CT has to offer. 

First Grader

Molly was all too happy to get in on the posing

Lily Grace on the first day of first grade holding a photo from last year's first day of Kindergarten

A gift for her teacher

The front steps of school

With her principal on the way down to her class

With her first grade teacher

Her new seat and a real desk now

Too cute!  She wore her new pink stethoscope to lunch and checked all of our heartbeats.  

This morning as Matt and I sat downstairs having our morning coffee, we heard a loud "Woooo-hoooo, I'm a First Grader!"  We knew that Lily Grace's alarm had gone off.  
She woke filled with excitement.  (Ok...some of that was due to the fulfilling of her back to school breakfast request, Prosciutto Cups.)
She couldn't wait to get her uniform on and get going.  Before leaving home, she was all too happy to pose for pictures and even informed me that she had some new "first grade poses."  
Once at school, we couldn't get her in the door fast enough.  I managed to hold it together (considering that the tears started hard the night before I'm not sure if that statement is accurate) until we got out of the room and then.........
Once in the car, through the tears were several words like Memphis, home, worried and the ultimate- My Baby!!  It was hard people.  I thought Kindergarten was a tough goodbye, but moving to a new state to a new school was hands down harder.  Matt listened like a trooper and eventually the tears did subside.  He and I ran a few errands to keep occupied and finally I realized that I had been praying for her and now I needed to let God take care of the rest.  
Lily Grace only had a half day today so we picked her up at lunch.  She said she had a good first day and wasted no time making new friends.  We were so happy to see her exit the building holding hands with a new friend she made in class and the excitement on her face as she called me up to introduce me to her.  They were so cute yelling and waving goodbye to each other after we had entered the car. 
Once all buckled in, she tore into a first day surprise Gran had sent her (a new doctor's coat and real pink stethoscope so she could play her favorite character, Doc McStuffin) and we were off to enjoy lunch down by the marina.  The weather has been unbelievably BEAUTIFUL today.  
Thank you God for always hearing our prayers.  Thank you for always taking care of our girl when we can't be there.  Thank you God for the blessing of Matt's job so that Lily Grace can attend Catholic school and freely talk and learn about you each day.  Thank you God for the blessing of the MOST wonderful first grader in the world!  

Surprise!

Waiting on the train with Ivy in hand

One very excited girl

American Girl Magazine Cover Photo Shoot

Bitty Baby Area: Adorable

Adorable Decor with lots of Pink

Appetizer Course

Chocolate Mousse Flower Pot for Dessert

So much fun!

Each year, we give Lily Grace a "Special Back to School Day."  She gives ideas of what she would like to do to celebrate the beginning of a new school year and then we choose one.  Last year, she visited Sweet and Sassy for some hair and nail pampering and had High Tea at at a local tea room with dear friend Claire.  
This year, having moved so close to NYC and making a brief stop in American Girl, we had a pretty good idea what would top her idea list. 
This year, she requested a day at American Girl along with enjoying lunch in their cafe.  Matt and I woke her early and surprised her with the day she requested.  
Matt took the day off and we all boarded the train last Friday and headed to the city.  Lily Grace was absolutely beside herself. She brought along Ivy, who happens to be Julie's best friend and informed her on the train ride that she was going to see  Julie, so not to worry. Matt and I loved watching her excitement and hearing her share it with her doll.  
Once there, Daddy surprised her with Julie, the doll she has been hoping for.  Lily Grace was actually shaking as the clerk rang her up.  Once Julie was in hand and had been thoroughly hugged, off we went to the photo studio.  Lily Grace and her girls (as she calls them) had a photo shoot for their very own American Girl magazine.  SOOOO Cute!  As many of you know, Lily Grace has no problem getting her picture made and is all to happy to pose so this was quite the fun experience, especially with dolls included.  
After her photo shoot, we browsed the store for matching shirts and Lily Grace started a mental wish list.  (ok...not so mental as she asked me to take a picture of certain items she is wishing for in the future)  
Once 12:00 hit, we were off for our lunch reservation.  I must say, it was pretty unbelievable.  They thought of everything!!!!  The dolls were made to feel as special as the guest, right down to having their own chairs and a waiter bring them a cup and saucer place setting.  The food was equally as cute.  The decor was a little girl's fantasy and truly made for a fun and memorable lunch.  
After a few more looks around, we boarded the train for home and Lily Grace enjoyed time with her girls, brushing their hair, reading to them and eventually cuddling them up and falling asleep in my lap.  
It was quite the treat this year that we all enjoyed Back to School day as a family.  No doubt, this move has been a change for all of us and not the easiest on Lily Grace.  Those dolls have been her best friends and as soon as they arrived to the new house and were unpacked, she seemed to feel a little more at ease.  It was quite the blessing to be able to give her such a special day.  Matt and I truly enjoyed it as much as she did.  What a wonderful memory of our little girl, immersed in being just that...a little girl.  The world tries so hard to make her grow up so fast and as parents, we just want her to live in the moment of who she is.  This trip was just that.  We watched our little girl lost in the innocence of imaginative play and the excitement of friends who she gives a voice to.  Thank you God for the blessing of these special memories.  We pray that Lily Grace continues to grow at her pace and not that of the world or its influences.  Thank you for always being with her.
In two short weeks we will take our sweet girl for another special day, the first day of First Grade.