APPLE FESTIVAL

We visited the apple orchard last weekend for the Apple Festival, the first of several festivals they have during the fall. The weather was beautiful and so we decided to go to the first one in case the weather isn't so cooperative at the next two events. We didn't pick apples as we thought we were going on a field trip with daycare a few days later for apple picking but, that was cancelled. They have lots of fun things for the kiddos to do as you can see in the pics below. They also have some farm animals that you can visit in a tiny barn; rabbits, cats, goats, ducks and chickens. Also ponies to ride.

"Train" ride, wasn't sure for a while if she liked it or not. They made lots of turns and circles so Zoie spent lots of time looking for Mom and Dad.

A large maze of hay bales to climb and slide on.

MY QUEST TO BE A DOMESTIC DIVA CONTINUES

These are the pics from my first cake decorating class. I didn't get any shots of the work in progress but I really did this. Not great but for my first ever attempt, it was decent. I've wanted to do this for a long time and meant to get it done before Zoie's first birthday but, that didn't happen. I reset my goal for her second birthday. It isn't too difficult, I need to work on my patience a little. I have a hard time going slow. Should just need to practice a bit.

Beautiful Day for the Zoo

This past week we were having exceptionally nice weather. It was mostly in the mid 80's. It meant we had to use our AC for the first time in weeks but it was nice to not need a jacket outside.

I decided I should take Zoie to the zoo again since it was so nice and you never know with the weather around here how much longer we will be able to go. The above pic is her first train ride at the zoo. She has been really into trains so she thouht it was great fun.

Her new favorite thing at the zoo is the cow to milk. It had been broken all summer but at our last visit it was working and she tried it out. She obviously remembered it because as soon as I took her out at the petting zoo, she ran directly to it and went to work. She played there for quite some time.

I think she would have made a good farm girl!!

YELLOW AND GREEN

We also did yellow and green last week, it is just taking me a bit to get around to it. For yellow we did more painting, stickers, gluing and coloring. Yellow also went pretty well, sometimes confused with orange from the day before at daycare.

For green we also added playdough to our routine. That was the first time mom has let her have playdough. She seemed to enjoy it. She struggled a bit with green, always calling it red. I know she will eventually get it.

RED

We are doing colors this week. Summer had planned to teach primary colors this week at daycare so I thought we would do colors here on the days Zoie is home so that she would learn them all. Monday was red so we did some painting, gluing and coloring. We also both dressed in red and talked about all the red things we could find. Here are some fruits of Zoie's labor.

DRESS UP AND CATCH UP

So this will be the condensed version of recent life at the Dunk's.
CRAZY
Yep, that pretty much sums it up!
Isn't she cute!!!

Nice shoes Zoie!
So, back to the crazy... let's see...
Kelly has been traveling TONS. (Occasionally, I find this nice, free night from cooking dinner and only Zoie and I to clean up after. Lately, it's been a LOT too much). I have been extremely tired and nauseated. (Goes with the territory.) Also, I've been working extra days all summer, normally ok, not so when you are not feeling up to par. And finally, we have been super busy with lots of other things. All this while trying to enjoy what is left of summer.

Practicing her model pose in her favorite new shoes. For such a high heel, she cruised around in them nicely for some time.
ANYHOO.... Kelly is again gone and will be once more soon but, things are improving around here.
I am feeling much better.
I am making progress with our house that was tornadoed for a few weeks.
I am having a garage sale this weekend to get rid of much junk (always helps).
I am now down to only 2 weeks left of extra days at work.
I am beginning to feel somewhat sane again.
My husband is a much happier man knowing a career change is just weeks away!
LIFE IS IMPROVING!!!

Isn't she cute!
Oh yeah, I already said that!
Those piggy tails are just so irresistable.
She loves them too, each time she rips them out she brings them right back and says, "Piggies?" and holds them out for me to do again.
My limit is now five times. I am determined to train her to wear them but, at some point I just lose my motivation.
Isn't she cute!

HOORAY!!!

Zoie is going to be a big sister!!! Our immediate parents and siblings all officially know now so I can safely blog it! She really is saying hooray in this pic, we'll see if that is what she thinks in March.

Here are a few other random cute pics. This one is just a sweet smile!

This one is her cracking up! Rarely get that one on camera!