Pumpkin Farm

I love pumpkin farms! I am not such a big fan of the extra costs of going, but they make a fun-filled afternoon as a family. Next year will be so different. I look back at Ally's first pumpkin farm and WOW did she look slightly different. (That is a price tag in her mouth!) Hammey will be about this size next year.

This year we went to Grinnell to a farm which was cool. We had read about it online and they had petting zoo, corn cannons, pumpkin cannons, tractor rides, corn maze, wheelbarrow races - just to name a few.

Mercy Dedication

Jason has enjoyed his job thoroughly. We were talking last night about how his career path has changed drastically from college. I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't have changed a thing. His new job has come with many new and interesting challenges. He rarely comes home without a smile and reminds me how much he loves his job! PRAISE THE LORD!

His first task was overseeing the flood reconstruction of the hospital. They managed to it done in 100 days and over 60 million worth of construction. It was quite a task for him and for our family! They dedicated the building on September 28th. We left KC early and my parents brought the kids back from KC with them after the big Backyardigan performance. The Archbishop came to do the service and we toured the building for the last time before it was taken over by patients!

This picture shows how high the water got on the hospital. This isn't much according to the rest of the city, but the hospital was in the last block that got flooded. It was enough though to evacuate the building and have to strip everything down to the studs which had to be individually cleaned specially.


This fountain never stopped running during the flood. They wanted to shut it off, but the control switch was in a closet that was sandbagged and if they tried to get in, they would ruin a lot of electrical stuff.

Artist in the Making

If you have ever been to our house, you would know that our kids LOVE crafts. It might be an understatement. Our office floor is typically covered by little scraps of paper. They go through a ream of paper a month by themselves. Yesterday Ally was using all my post-its to label all of the things in our house and then wrote a book about it.

They really like the glitter glue, fun scissors, and paints the most. But Mommy is a hard-nose and typically only lets them get the markers and scissors out. Gluestick is no problem, but I hate it when I go look for tape and find out Ally has used it all on her latest project.

One night Jason was helping me pick up when he noticed a Sponge Bob picture laying around. (Our kids don't watch it, but do have one book.) He asked how Ally had made it. She told him that she drew it. We aren't sure if she traced it from the window or did it free hand, but whatever it is pretty good for a 5 year old!

Final masterpiece which will go in her art scrapbook - only the good stuff gets kept!

Firepit

We love to roast marshmellows. I love fall! We got out our firepit and to make supper and have some s'mores! Ally is becoming quite the expert marshmellow roaster. She likes to set them on fire and blow them out. Then eat them of coarse! Drew could care less about them! It was a beatiful Saturday night - perfect family time. I am sure that next year we will have little hands crawling towards the fire. I am sure that it will be a lot more hectic!

Fun at Grandma Janelle's

One beautiful October Saturday, Jason took the kids to Grandma Janelle's while I helped throw a shower for a good friend, Emily and her sweet baby girl.

They had a blast picking pumpkins,

going on a scavenger hunt for their name pumpkins,

raking leaves,

picking apples,

eating apples, and

climbing trees.

Too bad they didn't take a nap on the way home!

And you wonder....

What in the world is Brenda doing? She just posted 8 random August and September posts? Well this is our family journal. You get to be lucky and see our family's happenings through my eyes. I am going back and starting where I left off to get all of the important events in our lives.

Enjoy them - there are 9 more to come - then the things that have yet to happen!

Backyardigans!

We made a CRAZY trip to Kansas City with my parents to meet - Chris & Amy (and girls) and Amy's parents to see the Backyardigans. I can got a glimpse this weekend of the joy God must feel when He gives us good things. The joy on my kids' faces watching this show brought tears to my eyes!

We stayed in a hotel a LONG ways away due to the fact that a dog show, Chiefs home game and NASCAR race were all happening the same weekend. It was fun. There aren't a ton of pictures since we couldn't take any during the show.

Grandma and Grandpa kept the kids while Jason and I headed back to Iowa for the hospital dedication. They enjoyed swimming, going to the park and lunch with them and their cousins!

Grandma Rhonda's House

Once and awhile Ally and Drew have sleep-overs at Grandma's house. AKA - Date night for Mommy and Daddy. I can meet my mom on my way home from school and then pick them up the next morning. One benefit of only living a half an hour away!

Ally and Drew are very creative and lot to make projects. Grandma has all the fun tools. The mess there is just as big as it is at home!

They love to hike with Grandma and watch Grandpa in the field. They follow the deer paths and watch for other animal tracks.

It was "close" to Grandpa Charlie's birthday so Jason and I brought his "favorite" McDonalds lunch to eat in the field between raking and bailing.

Priceless face of Joy

We went back to the reservoir a couple weeks later. Jason was washing the kids off. I love Drew's face in this picture!

This was ALL covered by 10-15 feet of water in June. I am amazed!

Reading to My Brother

One of Ally and Drew's favorite activities is reading. I can't complain about it either. I can find them many afternoons or during rest time with a book. The biggest punishment it to threaten to take away books at bedtime.

I wish they always got along like this!

Labor Day at the Res

The resivoir is a common place for many people from our area to spend their weekends boating and hanging out. We hadn't been there except to look at how high the water had gotten. We decided to head out for a nice Labor Day picnic with my parents.

We took the kids to Fossil Gorge first. Back in the Floods of '93, the water washed away a bunch of rocks uncovering TONS of fossils. There aren't any dinosaurs sticking up but lots of fishy stuff and shells. This year more were uncovered. It was fun to explore. We were also visited by a few random deer that wanted a drink.

We had a picnic on the beach. I hate sand and the beach but know my kids love it. We didn't bring their suits since it was slightly chilly, but I guess it is never too cold to get wet. They had a blast digging in the water. A couple weeks later we brought them back - also on a cold day, but they still got drenched! Kids will be kids. I am sure that back in my younger years I would have done the same thing.

Labor Day Trip to St. Louis

We hadn't been back for awhile to some of our favorite spots to see some of our favorite people. Our kids had been looking forward to this trip for a month. They love to eat Aunt Melody's chocolate chip pancakes and play with Daisy. Randy is good to see also. Mike and Ashley showed up too. Ally didn't cry when she saw Ashley! Ashley babysat Ally a lot while we lived there. She knew that if Ashley came - then mom and dad were leaving and that didn't make her happy.

We got to watch the Georgia game with the Scoggins and Shaws. It was fun to tell them our big news. The kids love playing together. Ally still believes in her heart that she will marry Trip. I am not sure if he could make it in the Iowa cold and I am not letting my baby move to Georgia!


We were blessed to get to see almost everyone else at a Labor Day bash at the Andersons. There was some adult conversation but much watching kids run every where. It is hard to belive that when we started this care group 8 years ago that there were only 3 kids - Jay and Jeremy Roe and Audrey Millikan. Now there are too many to even count! We finally gave in and made them sit down to watch a movie. Ally wouldn't look for the picture.


We miss STL a lot but know that God brought us to Iowa City to do big things. He taught us a lot there and we have gained so many friendships that are not replaceable.

Iowa State Fair 2008

Every year we enjoy our family trip to the state fair. Not many people live in Iowa and don't go. It is a lot of fun. We have our favorite attractions that we visit yearly.

Things that we have to do at the fair...
1. Funnel cake
2. 4-H Building - I like the crafts.
3. Butter Cow (and this year Shawn Johnson)
4. Doll houses
5. Ice cream
6. Varied Industry Bldg - business trying to get you to buy stupid stuff. Also has the Universities stands which means free posters!
7. The Slide
8. Animal Barns - includes big pig, cow and bull
9. Petting Barn
10. Little Hands farm

I am sure there is more but those are the ones that stick out in my head!

A Reminder for Me as Teacher

Teachers often call home about kids. Typically it isn't positive. I got an email from Ally's art teachers today that reminded me why I should call about the positives too! It made my day (and Jason's too)!

From Mrs. Macumber
Ally is SO awesome! Her class had a hard time cleaning up and she really pitched in to get the job done. After she was finished she gave me a big hug. (Which I REALLY needed because one of her class mates had just called me stupid because he didn't want to clean up and I had to take his work away from him!)

Thanks for having a great kid!

Yeah!

The weather outside is frightful.... Okay it really isn't but winter is coming! "Snow" is falling but not sticking. I have a new winter coat to go over the belly, snow boots, mittens, hats, and coats are bought BEFORE the rush - all is good!

Bring on the Snow!

Voting

We (meaning me and the kids) voted on Tuesday together - a little crazy but not too bad. Hopefully they weren't too bad but did crawl under the booth - I hope they didn't bother anyone.

When we walked in, Drew asked if he could vote. Ally responded quickly by telling him - no you have to be 7 or 8 to vote. Hum I think they need some social studies.

Ally asked me who we voted for as if she had an opinion and really wanted our candidate to win. When we got home she told Jason - Daddy - I hope "the king" wins. Jason had a stumped face - which is typical. Then she followed up with "because that is who we voted for. "The king - McCain - ahhh they sound similar.

Breadstick

Last night we had spaghetti and all the good stuff that goes with it. Jason was cleaning up supper and I was picking up when I hear Jason go - Drrrreeeewww! My garlic & salt loving boy was LICKING the garlic off the breadstick. He put it back on the counter and said - what it's good!

Who Said We Teachers Can't Have Fun?

Would you be proud to work with these people? Last week in celebration of Halloween - we had some basic dress up days instead of letting the kids wear gory costumes. The teachers had more fun with this day. We dressed as students and the kids dressed as teachers. I have pictures of us with our student look alike but that is for another post - picture some of our boys dressed as pregnant teachers!

We love to imitate how they act in class! I am "Chyann" a girl who ALWAYS has on all black and a slipknot t-shirt. I obviously didn't have the t-shirt, but printed out a picture of them and taped it on Hammey.

Still Funny

This morning Ally said: Daddy is still funny EVEN though he is 32....

Ha! Jason's response - I will be funny til the day I die. (Okay looks don't count)

Happy Birthday Drew!

It is late and I want to go cuddle with my honey, but I will post a couple pictures of our FOUR YEAR OLD!!! Yikes. He is old and Jason keeps reminding me that I am old. What a nice husband?!?!?

Drew is so sweet and melts my heart. I am a sucker for this little guy - even when he yells down twice during small group to tell me that he didn't feel good.

I will post more about the big day later!