'...'cause missing you is just a part of living
And missing you feels like a way of life
I'm living out the life that I've been given...'

Is missing a sign of discontent and ungratefulness, or is it okay???
This is what I am wondering today...
Missing so much....

You may want to grab a beverage - this is going to be a loooonnnngggggg one!

So today we combined our annual family apple picking, pumpkin patching, trail hiking, family excursion with my brother Joe's birthday party.  He was kind enough to have his birthday on a Saturday, and so in honor of his birthday and the beginning of fall, we packed everyone up on this chilly and overcast day and headed out.

This is one of my favorite family days of the year - generally everyone tries to come, and a good time is had by all - today the only people missing were my brothers Ben and Sam; they both had to work...  We missed them.

At any rate - this is one of my big photo ops for the year [really the ONLY one other than the Kinne family annual Christmas tree hunt] - the weather is generally pretty good and the colors outside right now just make for good pictures....so I take advantage of it.  

 With no further preface or ado...here is the story of our day in picture form.


My brother Abe with our niece Addison who had snagged a capri sun that is unfortunately covering most of her face - I love this shot however because I love seeing my brothers be all nurturing - Abe is 20 and can handle a baby better than most people I know.  I think that is cool.

  

This is my brother Jordan hanging out with our nephew Ian - Ian thinks that Jordan is the coolest thing since sliced bread and pretty much followed him around the whole day.  Super sweet.


 


My nice Bethany - she is four and a little PISTOL.  I love it - her precociousness reminds me a bit of myself when I was her age.  We call her our little drama queen [that quality she DID NOT inherit from me ] - she is a fun little girl...




This is her sister Tabitha.  Tabitha is 6 now and quite the opposite of her sister.  Much more reserved and quiet [although she can definitely speak her mind as well], she is a delightful little girl who at six seems far wiser than the years she has accumulated.




This is Tabitha and my nephew Michael.  Michael is almost six, and already a BIG boy.  He is also a pretty great kid.  He is so patient and tolerant of the little ones - even when they are whiny or you can see on his face that he is frustrated, he has an amazing ability to respond correctly even if he doesn't FEEL like it.  I could probably take lessons on this from him.   Hard to believe that they both started kindergarten this year - [weren't they just babies yesterday?] and I love that they still enjoy each other as much as they do...




Hannah, Me and Jannah in a random shot - I LOVE my sisters.  SO.MUCH.  





I got this random shot of the four oldest kids plotting something - it didn't take long to figure out what they were up to...




Apparently they were after aunt Jannah who was pretending to be a monster - obviously their master plan worked, because this would be the part where they were 'slaying' her with their stick 'swords'.





Unfortunately, aunt Jannah the monster has amazing restorative powers and came back to life - and they all scatter and scream as they run away.  Incidentally, my sister Jannah may just be the best aunt on the planet.
They pretty much all adore her....and I get why.





Ian got a little chilly for a while - so crawled up in aunt Jannahs lap for a while to warm up.





My sweet niece Hadassah...how about those cheeks?  Aren't they fantastic?





My sister Jannah and I.





Group shot of the kids - from left to right - Tabitha, David, Bethany, Michael, my brother Jesse, and Alex.





I LOVE this shot too - its a shame these cousins don't like each other or their uncle Jesse....




I got to hold both of these nummas at the same time - my niece Hadassah is barely five months old, and my niece Addison is going to be a year old next Friday - Hadassah is BIG for her age and Addison is teeny tiny.  They are absolutely fascinated with each other - I can totally see them being BFF's as they grow up...and it makes me smile.





Dad, Joe, Caleb and Abe...I know that I am biased, but I have some HANDSOME men in my family.





The birthday boy - Happy birthday sweet brother of mine!





My brother Abe and I.  I LOVE this picture - love him much, much more.





This is pretty funny to me - we were outdoors at the pavilion, and it was super windy - it took most of the boys working together and huddling together to block the wind before we could get all 23 candles lit.  We actually sang the birthday song TWICE because it took so long...





All of that work so he could blow them out....






Addison is one of the sweetest babies that I have ever met in my whole life [and I have met a LOT].  She also holds the title of the first of my nieces and nephews that I was present for the arrival of...phenomenal to see her arrival in this world.  It was love at first sight.  She has had my heart since.





My sister Hannah with Hadassah.  I cannot get over how lovely my sister is.





When we stopped for pumpkins, Ian and I explored a bit - this picture makes me laugh because it looks like he is pleading for a pumpkin...





He was thrilled when we found the ones that were just his size.  Sheer joy.





Last but not least - my sister Hannah and I....


  

All done...

sorry folks....i know it has been a while - i just haven't felt much like there is anything to say - other than school stuff...and i get tired of hearing myself talk about it.  dont' want to subject the masses to it as well.

at any rate.  here is the update.  school is stressing me out this week.  let's not talk about it.  feel free to pray for clarity of thought however.  i don't want to do poorly, but realize that my prefectionist tendencies may need to be put to rest for a while for sanitys sake...

i get to play mommy this weekend while jeff and wendy are gone.  i never cease to be amazed at how EASY it is to care for these kids - they are soooo stinking easy.  you would think with four kids, that would not be the case....but J & W?  let me just say...it is a testimony to their parenthood, in my humble opinion - that their children are as fantastic as they are.

the only bummer is that the max man is not feeling well...all congested and coughing.  UGH.  hate that for him...hate for him to not feel well.  it stinks.  he has been incredibly sweet about the not feeling well however...was SUPER good when i dragged him up to campus today, and then along for the wal-mart run...

we are home now - he is fed and watching 'toy story' - ready for a nap...

ummm - what else?

got a shot today - the school sent me a threatening letter saying that i had better get my follow up MMR shot or i was going to be put on hold...which means that i couldnt' register for classes or pretty much do anything.  that was a good time.  thankfully it only costs $6 when i go to student health services...what a steal.  hah.

spaghetti, salad and garlic bread for dinner tonight - any one wanna come over?

so there you go.  more later friends.  have a good weekend.

I have a test in an hour in my Women, Gender and Society class...

I am completely unprepared....so what am I doing an hour before class? 

Yep - playing on xanga.

We shall see how this goes...

[school is kicking my butt this week]

TEST DAY!!!

Okay - I am off to class and my test...here is one last picture before I go - I was trying to get a good shot of my new hair color [did anyone actually notice that it is several shades darker?  hmmmm??]...[please pardon the washed out effect of my face - I am super pale, but this makes me look like a ghost...good shot of the hair however]