Outstanding Orchard

It was an outstanding morning at the Orchard. We gathered by the goats watching them climb, scrounge for food and make noise before we ventured out on the orchard walk. The terrain was a bit rough but the apples looked delicious and the sunflower maze was a highlight. The kids raced ducks, rocked on horses and played on the swing set while mamas chatted in the sun.



















Kim was a fantastic tour guide showing us their coolers and apple sorting process. Each little one got an apple to try and us mamas received a caramel apple (I will be enjoying my entire apple in peace during nap time). All the apples are handpicked and sorted for numerous farmer's markets, school districts and for the store. The Lapacek family works so incredibly hard and has an amazing orchard. We just may go back tomorrow morning for cider donuts.





































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One week until the big fishing party and my craft room is filled with bobbers, lures, a burlap banner, lots of glassware, some fishing decor and fish bowls. ***Friendly reminder... those of you who will be in attendance, live fish will be present and available to take home.*** My party planning style has become a bit more last minute these days as I've been so busy with my kiddos, Poplin business and preparing for my new gig as a substitute teacher. Hopefully it will all come together next week and the weather will cooperate!























For hot cocoa- so cute!

Hello Fall

Shorter days, brisk cool air and a frantic search for long pants, the season is changing. From dirt covered bare feet to snuggly slippers, iced coffee to steaming apple cider and a thin sheet to thick comforter. This weekend we said hello to the fall weather and were thankful.





































We lounged on the couch watching tractors working on YouTube taking turns holding the laptop. Took an unpleasant car ride the Baraboo to meet sweet triplet boys who are identical yet unique in their own way. Spent way to many hours listening to my frustrated yet determined husband try and transform from computer programmer to toilet plumber fixing our stubborn porcelain throne. Just some ordinary happenings around our humble abode.




















Sunday arrived with sunny skies and excited boys. The Rock River Thresheree was our destination and expectations ran high. As we pulled up jaws dropped, the road and surrounding fields were lined with cars, tractor shuttles zipping by and mud as far as the eye could see. I am not a huge outdoors lover, don't get giddy from tractors and am not attracted to mud puddles but because my boys (husband included) were smiling ear to ear I loved it. With each turn and sight of something even cooler I couldn't help but think of all the families who should have come because they too would have loved it.






























Pacey is 2nd barrel from the front.




































The weekend ended with a birthday party right during nap time, daddy deciding that if anyone plans one during that time again we will not be in attendance and dinner with our favorite Uncle Andy and Auntie Jenna. Hello Fall... we are excited for all you have in store.

The Last Hurrah

TODAY: PARTLY SUNNY, WARM AND HUMID WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND T-STORMS IN THE AFTERNOON.
HIGH: 89
WIND: W 5-15

This is the exact weather forecast from one of our local news stations. It started out being warm, humid and 92 with no showers but by last night there was a chance later in the day. Perfect, sounds like a great forecast for our last summer hurrah. The Deforest Splash Pad closes this weekend so I thought it would be fitting we end our PB & J summer there.

6am rolls around and I find myself half off the bed with a two year olds feet in my face. Trexen learned how to open his gate and can now walk into our room so he must have crawled in early this morning. I had a pep talk with myself late last night trying to find the motivation for a morning run. Easily persuaded to stay in bed I peeked my eyes open looking for the slightest chance of bad weather. Instead the sun was just coming up, bright and warm with a thin layer of haze. Running shoes went on and out the door I went to work towards my 10k goal and spend time in prayer with God.

Just an hour later my phone is beeping like crazy friends are texting and emailing saying it is storming. Well that's funny it was beautiful at my house and the forecast didn't call for morning showers. The scrambling started and a new plan was made. My littles were helping me dust while I frantically vacuumed, scrubbed and made a metal note to keep my house more clean at all times. By mid-morning our home was filled with coffee, donuts, my favorite group of mamas and 12 kids (only 2 girls) running around, laughing and begging to wrestle.

The weather had been an obstacle this summer forcing me to be flexible and think quickly. Hoping this fall will be a bit more stable but if not we can have fun anywhere! Here are some upcoming PB & J Days:

~Friday September 9th- Lapacek's Orchard
~Friday September 16th- Sun Prairie Dream Park
~Friday September 23rd- Henry Vilas Zoo
~No PB & J September 30th

PS....A new blog is in the works, stay tuned!

Brain Freeze

Today we celebrated the last day of summer vacation. It wasn't a planned or well thought out celebration but instead a combining of errands and simple fun. Yesterday I woke up early jumped in the shower, dressed in a matching outfit and curled my hair. Although these are simple tasks they were things low on my summer priority list. As I drove to a teaching job interview I felt a little nervous, scattered and discombobulated. I reflected on our summer and easy it was for me to leave the work world into the stay at home mom one.

Of course being a mama is work and at times much harder than any other work but it is different. My kids love me whether I have flat dirty hair or volumized strands, sweats or a skirt, they just want to play. It's been a fabulous summer filled with fun, laughs and relaxation. I am so thankful to have had this opportunity but also excited to try something new.

We dropped some more paperwork off to a few schools this morning, played at a wonderful park, shopped at a country store and ate ice cream for lunch. As we pulled into the gravel parking lot where a tiny yet brightly painted building with the name "Brain Freeze" plastered on the front stood Trexen said, "mom this is fun". He was right, it was fun, spending the day with my boys, enjoying the weather and delicious ice cream.

Happy Weekend

One of the side effects to being a stay-at-home mom I've learned is never knowing what day it is. Although in my mind each day very much has a feel. I mean Monday definitely has a feel, Wednesday has that hump day, half-way through thing going on where as Thursday night has the let's stay up late because it's almost the weekend mood. Despite all that I tend to loose track of days especially when it is go-go-go, one event to the next.

This weekend proved just that, I lost track of the day only focused on my list of priorities, next event and plan to make it all coordinate. Thursday and Friday were devoted to one of my best friends from high school. She married her now best friend, handsome hunk, love of her life outside in the gardens at Olbrich. I admit at times I'm discouraged and feel disconnected with my high school group, I am the only one with kids and married (until Friday) and it's difficult to relate. I can't drop everything to meet for a late night visit or mid-day coffee, am not still in school and not traveling the world but we are all still friends. My heart was happy Friday night being reunited with our group, clicking like old times and supporting each other on a memory making day.

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Saturday was filled with an abundance of fresh air, laundry and chicken coop construction. My hubby doesn't get much time to build this chicken mansion but good progress is being made. Pacey loves playing in the coop and in my mind I changed it into a life-size girly dollhouse, hopefully someday.

















































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The great outdoors and I generally don't mesh, I prefer an indoor controlled climate but today the weather for perfect making the first ever Craft-apple-Ar wonderful. I met new people, sold some Poplin goodies and purchased my first gallon of apple cider this season. A end to the a busy yet happy weekend.

Weekend Fun

No PB & J this week makes me sad but there still plenty of ways for you to have fun. Check out some of these events and enjoy time with your kiddos.


~Sassy Cow Ice Cream Social

~Craft-Apple-Ar! (I will be there all day selling my Poplin products so stop by and say hi)

~Good Neighbor Festival

~Orton Park Festival

Falling Apart

I'm 26 years old, in pretty good shape and no major health issues yet I feel as though I'm falling apart. My body has gone haywire, obviously angry about something. Three months ago I went off the "pill" and I think my body has decided that is a big dislike.

Most of you know I have a deep desire for a baby girl, this goes way beyond my obsession with the color pink and girly dresses. I have an amazing relationship with my mom and want the same thing with a daughter, I want to be a ballet mama, the fun mom who always says yes to sleepovers and paints nails. I want to show a little girl how to have confidence, be strong and not afraid to stand up for herself. I want to shop for prom dresses, answer uncomfortable questions and prepare her for life as a woman. I want to be the mother of the bride and the close grandma willing to drop everything for her daughter's kids.

With all that said back to my point, I went off the pill in hopes of a baby girl soon. (Yes I know it is a 50/50 chance) Since then my legs are covered in a red rash, the skin on my face has big itchy painful bumps, I went to the dentist and have a "weak" tooth way in the back and have a monthly cycle that is extremely unpredictable not helping the baby situation. Bodies are a lot of work to take care of and I am thankful beyond words to be healthy but some days it seems like I'm falling apart.

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In other news our trip to Eagle River was restful and relaxing. Jeff and Trexen caught a bunch of large fish while Pacey and I played in the sand. We sat around the campfire, went for afternoon swims and stayed up late playing dominoes. My sister-in-law let me use her nice camera and we even had a photo shoot with the boys which reminded me why we don't have professional pictures taken.



































We are back home now and it feels good, getting ready for my friend's wedding this weekend and the Craft-Apple-Ar! Very excited for all our upcoming activities and praying my body can even out.