Better Luck Next Time?

I think we can sum up the Palumbo's most recent visit to South Dakota in one word: BUCKET

Yep, Amy, Abbey and Casey arrived on Tuesday afternoon and as we were driving home, Karen got the dreaded call from daycare that Kennedy was sick.  And so began a weeklong infestation of the stomach flu.  Somehow, Corey and Reagan have immune systems of steel and remained healthy throughout but the other seven of us weren't so lucky.  Somehow, in the midst of it all we managed to have some fun.  Wednesday was a beautiful day weather wise and the little ones all enjoyed some fresh air while playing out on the deck....

And then on Friday, while Karen stayed home after succumbing to the germs, Amy and Corey took the big kids and Casey down to Pierre to see the Christmas trees at the Capitol and to feed the geese at the lake.  The pictures are quite entertaining but we had a brilliant idea to wrap the kids' shoes in plastic shopping bags because with the super high concentration of geese at the lake comes a super large amount of geese "remnants."

Saturday, the Palumbos suffered their turn with the stomach bug (again, our most sincere apologies!).  Sunday, we began the path back to health and saying our prayers that everyone would be ready to board the airplane on Monday (unfortunately, we were slightly wrong, but they did get home safely!).  Needless to say we don't have a lot of pictures of this trip but it is certainly one we will never forget.  Our love to our cousins and we promise to visit soon and make up for the lost time together!

Snow Day

Well, we got our first taste of winter last weekend.  And, by the looks of it, it is going to be a fun one.  We got the twins all bundled up in their snow gear and let them check the white stuff out.  Turns out they LOVE it!  They love it so much, they were constantly dragging all of their boots, gloves, snowsuits, etc to us repeatedly throughout the day with very adamant requests for "OUTSIDE!  SNOW!"  Could be a long winter of listening to them cry at the door :)

 Reagan had a couple of friends over for a sleepover the night before so they were able to get out and enjoy the fun as well!

Reagan is Seven!

How exactly do seven years flash by in the blink of an eye?  How does a teeny tiny baby suddenly turn into an amazing young girl who doesn't want her picture taken while you are singing to her?  Happy Birthday to Reagan....you are such an incredible little girl.  You are smart and sensitive; sassy but sincere; always aware of everyone else's feelings and well being, such a protective and loving big sister, and everything we could ever wish for in our little girl.  We love everything about you and cannot wait to see what comes next in your life.  Happy Birthday Reagan!

Snow Queen

This weekend was the annual Snow Queen contest here in Gettysburg.  Each year, they have the first grade girls walk as the "future" snow queens.  Reagan and her classmates all looked so pretty dressed up and nervously walking down the stage!

 I just love this picture of Reagan and her friend Greta nervously watching their friends take their turns!

I had actually bought a different dress for Reagan to wear but she decided she wanted to wear her flower girl dress from Erika and Chad's wedding.  Good choice, because her friend Tyler had the exact same dress I had bought!

Reagan and Jenna (a.k.a cousin Jenna, 

a.k.a. Babysitter Extraordiaire!)

 

with Grandma and Grandpa

And this picture just makes my heart swell...I love how much my kids adore their daddy.

As for our coming attractions, the countdown is on to Reagan's SEVENTH birthday (wow!  seven?) on Thursday, her big sleepover birthday party on Friday and then Abbey and Casey and Amy's arrival on Tuesday.  Hopefully we can keep up the blog with all the exciting events coming our way!

Fall Fun

Sunday was such a gorgeous day that we spent the afternoon outside playing and cleaning up the yard, which led into the inevitable  delight of raking the leaves and jumping in!

(Madison above; Kennedy below)

Ready, set, JUMP!

Even Madison joined in on the jumping fun....

Harrison made "leaf angels" instead of snow angels...

Thankful this touchdown catch of the football didn't lead to him tackling his sister who was buried in the pile of leaves!

Reagan learned there was a price to pay for burying herself in those leaves, though!

Madison and Kennedy could stay outside for hours and watch the cat pop out of our Halloween decorations in the yard....Here's Madison playing peek a boo with the cat and giving it loves!

Now if only Fall would just last a little longer......I think I heard the dreaded, four letter word (SNOW) in the forecast this week....sure hope they're wrong!