Smittles Do the Corn Maze

I mentioned a few posts back that I recently joined our local MOPS group. I already had several friends that went, and I thought it be a good group for support for being a SAHM(stay-at-home-mom). It's hard to take all the kids anywhere by myself. Really, it's hard for Scotty and I to take all of them anywhere together. Five kids 7 and under are hard, period. Anyway, I know it'll be hard to get everyone there in the mornings, but I also know that it'll be a great time for me to have a little time with other moms and for the kids to get to play with other kids their ages.
Today our MOPS group took our crew to the local corn maze. I didn't fully decide to go until about 8AM this morning and needed to leave at 10. This wouldn't have been a problem except all the clothes in the darn house were dirty(Monday is my laundry day), so I had to do a load of jeans for the kids to even have anything to wear. By the time everything was clean and dry and on and six heads of hair were fixed we were a tad late, but ended up getting there almost on time and ahead of the majority of the other moms. I was able to pack a quick picnic lunch for everyone, get everyone to go potty, and grab all the water bottles on our way out, so once we were there I was determined that the kids were going to have a fun time even if I had to MAKE them!
I need not worry about fun. They had a blast in the dusty, hay-filled air. They played in a pit full of corn kernels, on a playground with sand(Sand is not something that I usually allow them to play in because with five kids it multiplies until it seems we have a beach right in the back of the suburban, so this was an extra bonus!), rode a barrel train, went on the corn maze, and took a LOOONG hay ride. The weather was nice, the friends were great, and the conversation with other moms was priceless. Isn't it amazing how God uses other people who are or have been where you are to minister to you. I just loved having the support of other mom's and having them there to help love on my kids is such a blessing. And now, without further ado, the pictures. There aren't many and they aren't good because when I'm on my own I almost always have a handful of babies!

The barrel train pulled by a tractor. Bubby LOVED this little ride! He was just smiling!

Mia with Momma in the Moby. Notice the hat and no make-up? That's what happens when you try to do it all in 2 hours. My getting ready time was eaten away by laundry, lunch making, and feeding the baby. Oh well, the hat shades the dark circles under my eyes, right!?

The Corn Maze. It was supposed to be really easy, but the group of mom's we went with went in circles a few times before we could find the way out! The kids had a good time though. I can't imagine going to a corn maze in the dark! I'd be so so scared! I remember going once in college right before Scotty and I were married and it was really scary, but I don't think I could do it again now in my old age. I'd be worried I wouldn't make it out without peeing on myself! HA!

Getting ready for the LOOONG hay ride. Mia with her teething face cracks me up.

She's such a little doll!

Trying for another group shot. FAIL! Look at Mia EATING Olivia's arm. HA! That big girl puts up with just about anything with a smile. What a sweet big sister.

Once we got home I tried for another group shot since they were all dressed for fall.

This is the best I got.

and finally an almost decent one! 

Happy Fall, Ya'll!

New-Tell-UH!

So, I'm hooked. No, Seriously! I. Am. Addicted to Nutela. It's taken a while for me to catch on to the craze because I don't buy anything that's not on my shopping list. Several months back I got a coupon to "try nutella." I thought, "Ehh, OK. I'll give it a try. It might be a fun topping for toast instead of honey." I picked up a jar with the rest of my groceries and it sat in my pantry for several days untouched. And then, it happened.
I was looking for a late night snack and all I could find was fruit. While I try to maintain a lifestyle of healthy eating, there are some nights when I just really need a good snack after all the kids are in bed.  ANYWAY, back to my FANTASTIC story. SO, all I can find is fruit. I was out of my homemade Chocolate syrup, but I remembered the Nutella, so I thought I'd give it a try on my fruit. I sliced some banana and strawberries and plopped a spoonful of Nutella into the bottom of a little sauce bowl, and sat down. Taking a piece of the banana I casually took a bite and then, in a sudden flash of light, I WAS IN HEAVEN. A little bit like peanut butter, but a little like chocolate and a LOT good.
After that I started trying to think of different ways to eat it. I've had it on toast, on a spoon, with a banana, on a spoon, with apple slices, on a spoon-just about anyway you can have it. I LOVE IT! If you haven't tried it, you should! AND, if that wasn't enough, Kroger recently started making it in their store brand, so you can get it for a fraction of the cost. Go. Buy it. Eat it. And live happier.

Make-You-Smile-Saturday

This child makes me smile. I hope you'll smile too.=)

On our recent vacation to Disney World we didn't hold back on food like we probably should have. The kids had just about anything they could think of to eat and snack on. Hey, it's the place where dreams come true, right??

With the deluxe dining plan you get SO much food! As part of the plan each person gets two snacks a day. Well, if you've ever been to Disney you know that you CAN NOT leave the resort with out having a Mickey-shaped ice cream bar. Of course Isaiah had to have one. He was COVERED in ice cream afterwards, but he had such fun eating it and I just loved watching him smile and laugh and learn to say ice cream!