Apple Pickin'

Yesterday we went to an apple orchard with the Grosse Pointe Mom's Club. The festivities started with a hay ride out to the apple orchard.


Hallie went right to work picking her apples.


The kids also got to pick out one pumpkin. Here's Zeke in search of the "perfect pumpkin."


He found it! I never knew five apples and a pumpkin could make a boy so happy.
After all the hard work we had some delicious donuts and apple cider.
Then the kids got to play. They had some cute farm animals. Zeke's asking, "Is your Mama a Llama?" No, but she might be a goat!




Hallie of course LOVED the ponies.

I thought these giant tractors made out of hay bales were so fun.
We also did a small corn maze which Zeke was determined to stay lost in. Somehow we made it out.
It was a gorgeous day and we had so much fun. I loved being outside all day. It's so fun to have seasons and fall in Michigan is wonderful!

The newest addition...

Alisa Simone Healey
September 12
6 lbs 12 oz
18 1/2"

So sweet and snuggly! Already has daddy wrapped! Her sisters new favorite toy!

Hi everyone! She is here!!! Alisa (pronounced A-lisa not Allyssa) was born on friday and is doing fantastic. She is such a sweet little baby and we all have spent the last week adoring her. Labor and delivery was cinchy and I am feeling fabulous! I started contracting on sept 11th and since labor happens rapidly for me my doctor was tracking me pretty closely (it helps that we have an inside connection and she is also one of austin's attendings.) She checked me on the 11th and I had dialated from the day before so she had austin check me every two hours until I reached a 4 or my water broke. (They cant start any induction or admit to the hospital here unless you are 39 weeks or in active labor. So since I was 37 and 5 we had to work the system.) Once I reached a 4 we all went up to the hospital and they checked me and then had me walk around the hospital for an hour to dialate me enough that they could say that I was in active labor and then break my water and let it go from there. So I was determined to make that hour count so Austin and I ran stairs for the hour and I came back at a 6 so they were able to break my water and let me go. It still took 5 hours once they broke my water which for me was really weird. I was so bored!!! Once I completed she was out in one push. I felt great!!! The next day however my calves hurt like crazy from running stairs but other than that I felt better than I had for months! The girls love her to pieces and are so gentle with her. Even Hope has been so soft with her and is sure to inform me immediately if Ali starts crying. It has been a fun week. She is sleeping pretty well and will go for 3-4 hour stretches (so I am still getting far more sleep than I was when I was up all night with heartburn!) So anyway, Sorry for not updating sooner, our primary program is tomorrow and so I have been busy this week preparing for that and for family to come into town. I'll post more picts when I have updated ones. Good luck now to all of you who are about to have your babies. I know all of you are pretty close!

Everyone wants my recipes!!

Okay so no one is actually beating on my door for recipes but I keep getting these recipe email chains. For some unknown reason I am incapable of keeping these things going. But I do want recipes and I don't mind giving out mine. So here is my new favorite recipe. Actually I am getting tired of it and I need something new so everyone please post your favorite recipe of the moment, any type of recipe. Can't wait to see what you like cooking.

Super Good Egg Salad

7 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
1/3 cup light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
¾ cup chopped celery
¼ cup chopped sweet pickles (such as sweet gherkins)
Sprinkle of basil
If you like onions add 3 tablespoons of a sweet onion or ½ cup green onions or both
Preparation
Cut eggs into 1/2-inch pieces. (or omit two yolks to be healthier)
Whisk mayonnaise and mustard in medium bowl to blend. Add chopped eggs, celery, sweet pickles, and basil. Stir gently to blend. Season egg salad to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Serve on any type of bread or just eat as is.

I love to eat this with kettle-cooked potato chips. Makes about 6 servings.

Where my girls at?

I know, I know, its back to school time and everyone's lives are crazy getting kids back in the school year routine! I'm down and out sick with a nasty cold and decided to take a minute and post a shout out to you all :)

I'm really starting to feel the "Soccer mom" title everyone seems to give me now! With Dillon and Charlie in school, gymnastics and Karate and a renewed YMCA membership, my day begins way early- I spend way too much of it in the car and the day ends at least an hour earlier than it used to!!

I'm loving it, though. A routine helps me make better use of my time and energy. This cold hit me like a brick wall and the routine is on hold until I can breathe again! ;0)

I must say, that after the first month of 2nd year, things REALLY improved! James only has between 4 and 5 call days per rotation! Sometimes he'll go like 10 days without a call shift! He doesn't have to go to work at 5:30 hardly ever anymore!!! Thank goodness for that. Next month he has an away rotation, so that won't be fun, but I can handle it after what we went through last year!

What are you guys up to? I've read your blogs, but there's absolutely NO NEWS from Joni- anyone? Has she had her baby? Who's next- Jill or Katie? Ann maybe? I saw that Shelly is expecting so that makes five babes on the way with NO UPDATES in months!! I know Kami and Brett are in Florida and house hunting is going well.. They met some friends of ours there and are hooking up with them for dinner next Sunday!

Also, SHELLY, You're in big trouble, girl.... you have yet to post your birthday post and your birthday was nearly a whole month ago!!!! Big big trouble! ;)

Just thinking of you ladies and hope you're all still hanging in there ;)