A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!

I love my home, being at home, and being all homey. It's true. When the chance arises in the fall to have coffee on a Saturday morning while 'preparing' for winter I am all over it. This year I am all over homemade apple sauce. Thankfully, the entire family is too. Alan cut and boiled, Rowan and Evangeline milled, and I processed. 1/2 bushel of apples from our local orchard is now our very own delicious homemade apple sauce. Nothing added but a pinch of sweet cinnamon. No canning just yet; it's the easy freezer sauce for us now. Though, I might be swayed to canning in the very near future. In addition to our apple sauce there is also plenty of apple crisp on hand and at least an apple a day for all of us. We are nearing the end of our upstate New York apple harvest so what else to do today but head back out this afternoon to pick-our-own at Saratoga Apple. See you at the orchard!

Lots of around the town action for us once again!
A day trip to the lake house allowed for some much needed play time with Pops!A dear friends' Pablo birthday party with a mini bounce house, pizza, and Pablo cup cakes. Everyone is happy (but looks tired!) at a birthday!Rowan's first field trip to the local pumpkin patch and fall farm fun! It was a beautiful, clear, crisp morning for fresh air fun!After attending the Keller Williams Kids concert at The Egg in Albany there was beautiful weather to play around with on Empire Plaza. We love the capital district!

It's fall and we are back in the swing of things in Saratoga County which means an unlimited supply of free events for the family and children each weekend. Last weekend the town community day offered food, fun, and a display of the local services and community groups at a neighborhood park. Daddy took Rowan and Evangeline to this event. The fireman still are an amazing site for Rowan and he treasures every time with them.Two weeks ago Mommy took Rowan and Evangeline to the local tech park for electronics recycling and technology fun. Mommy was excited for the electronics recycling and the children were excited for the hands on fun. Before we even entered the amazing tech campus building the children were taken by the windmills for wind energy. One of the highlights inside the event was the demonstration by our high school robotics team. Rowan loved the robot and its skills. His face says it all.

I know we are just in nursery school but back to school is so exciting for our little guy. Rowan thrives on routine, engaged activity, and friendship with his peers. The Church Mouse Nursery School at First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa is an amazing place for our little ones to learn and know God's love.

Now that Rowan is in the 4's class he'll be going on field trips and yesterday he came home with 'homework'. Wow! We know that this year will not only a great time of learning for him but a lot of fun too!

The daddy-bus was delayed so Rowan took

matters into his own hands to get to school.

This is Evangeline showing her excitement for the first day of school too.
She was devastated when she learned that she was not attending with Rowan.
Soon after she settled in fine to learning with Mommy at home at the little table. :)

A Morning at the Track

Another amazing part of having Saratoga Springs in our backyard; The morning backstretch tour of Saratoga Race Track. After breakfast on The Porch in the clubhouse or just to line up for the tram the entire morning experience is enlivening!

First, we watched this horse get a new pair of shoes.

Then, a view of the warm up track and to the stalls (some pictured here).

Every worker walking the grounds is a professional at their task. And the other professionals, the horses, were busy working on warm ups, cool downs, morning meals, and resting with their pets (their companions at their stalls).

The children enjoyed the walk and watching the horses (especially watching a loose horse gallop past)! Mommy and Daddy and friends enjoyed learning about the horses and history and being a part of the morning community of the backstretch!

The Rudnicks stomping divots after the 3rd chukker

Guest blogged today on MaltaMama!

Head over and check out my account of our time at the Saratoga Polo Match on Sunday.Rowan keeping an eye on the match with his own horse play in hand.

Our baby girl is now our little lady,
Evangeline has turned 2!

We celebrated over two weeks continually saying, "Happy Birthday!" and "How old are you now"? Evangeline's reply? "I'm two!"

We had time with family and family friends and invited The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Evangeline is one hungry little girl so the idea for her birthday just stuck!
We celebrated during a beautifully hot day at the lake and the birthday girl enjoyed every minute of it!

The Pedal Bike

We are blessed by our family. Our family come and go, sit and stay, we laugh and cry, and work and play. Recently, we have been blessed to be with our family and feel their love and care for us in so many ways. Here are a few of those moments that were caught on camera:

Every day with PopPop is special!

Grandma passed this June. Her life was full and beautiful. She left us with love for others, a thirst for knowledge, and a wonderful man that we call our Dad.

Evangeline and Memme visiting together in Saratoga Springs.

Pops, Jill, Lolly, and Jenna (7 months)

(EVANGELINE, 23 months)

Just a friendly reminder to stay safe on the roads this summer. You never know who they'll let drive these days.

It is watermelon time. I think we've had more watermelon these past two weeks than we had all of last year. It's not necessarily in peak season but the delight is irresistible for all those that crave summer - and we crave summer! Watermelon snack, watermelon at picnics, watermelon for dessert, we even brought watermelon in to school this morning for watermelon day! The Rudnicks have taken a bite out of summer and it tastes great!!!

Today I was honored to be a guest in Rowan's classroom. Yes, we volunteer and join the children throughout the year but today we were the 3's guests. They made a special snack for us, set a place setting for us, and shared their homemade artwork gift for us. They also shared special music. It was a joy to be in a room filled with happiness and love.Rowan, you are my sweet dear son. I pray you always set a place for me so that I may share in your wonderful life!