Surprise Visitors!

Jared's dad will be out of town this weekend for Nora/Jared's birthday parties.  So, Karen had a great idea to come up this past Saturday evening to surprise Jared with an impromptu surprise party.  Grandma Karen, Grandpa and Dustin came up Saturday evening and it was a total surprise to Jared.  I made dinner and Karen brought cake for Nora and Jared.  It was a great evening and a nice way to end our day.  

The birthday boy!  Almost 30...ahhh!

Nora had a birthday balloon too!

Birthday Cakes!

Nora didn't have a problem eating some of hers!

Neither did Ethan :)

Present time!

Grandpa and Ethan 

Tickling session with Uncle Dustin

Punkin' Pickin'

Today we made our 3rd annual trip to 'The Great Pumpkin Patch'.  (Check out our 1st and 2nd trips here and here!)  It was a little chilly, but so, so fun!

Pile O'Gourds 

They found the perfect one!

Ethan and Nora...Adorable!

Hanging out on the hay bales

Jumping off the hay bales :)

It's never too cold for pumpkin ice cream

Wagon Ride

Happy girl

He's getting so big

Nora was about the size of a pumpkin last year.  

King of the hill!

Mama and Nora (One of my new favorites)

Our Family at the Pumpkin Patch this year :)

Photo Friday...Week 7

This is one of my favorite things Ethan has made.  I don't know why, it's just so very colorful and exactly how he likes to paint.

Child's Artwork on the Fridge

He told me this was a painting of the beach.  And the purple thing he is pointing at is a bird :).  So creative!

A Few New Tricks

I've had the video camera handy a lately and caught some of the things Nora is doing right now.  This includes; jabbering, clapping, waving, blowing kisses and dancing!

Go Cards!

Here are 2 of my favorite Cardinal Fans!!

We're excited over here!

Matching boys :)

Photo Friday...Week 6

Whenever Nora finds shoes she tries her hardest to get her foot into them.  She likes shoes, and what girl doesn't?!?

Showing me her find!

My Child Wearing a Pair of My Shoes

Little Egypt

We spent this past weekend in Salem, which also happened to be the Little Egypt Festival. My brother, Jim, and his family were in town and we all had a great time.  Ethan and his cousin, Josiah, were all about each other! I didn't see Ethan for most of the weekend! He was playing with Josiah and Paige in the basement and having a wonderful time.

Wrestling like cousins are supposed to do! 

The 3 of them playing Smurf Dance Party

Friday afternoon, we took the kids to the see Hotel Transylvania.  Everyone enjoyed it and the popcorn!  Saturday morning we went to downtown Salem for the annual big wheel races (a race in which I won as a 4 or 5 year old!).  Paige and Josiah raced, and Ethan decided he didn't want to.  And then Saturday afternoon was the big parade.  2 days in a row with candy and no nap!  He was a happy boy...until he crashed :)!

Josiah cruising on the Big Wheel

Paige is a serious racer 

Alex, Abby and Nora watching the races...it was cold!

Parade time!  Ethan and Tyler, it was still cold!

Sunday was a typical Sunday in Salem.  Church and lunch.  It was a great weekend and so nice spending time with my brother before he deploys next month.  

Ham and Waffles!

Nora and Jim got along great!  

Max, Ethan and Nora :)

Jim and I.  Be careful over there and I love you!!

Photo Friday...Week 5

I generally take tooth brushing duty.  It looks like I pin him down in this picture...I guess maybe I do!  Haha! Guess, I have to get it done right, whatever that takes :)!

Helping your child get ready for bed

Apple Picking Fun!

Today was Ethan's very first field trip with school.  I (along with most of the other parents) went along.  We went to the Okaw Valley Apple Orchard.  It was so much fun, and all the kids had a blast.  We first had a tour into the orchard.  There were no apples this year due to a hard freeze in April that killed their entire crop.  The woman giving us the tour said this was the first time in 10 years that she had to pretend she was picking an apple, while showing the kids the ladder and picking bag.  And usually the kids get to pick the apples from the trees, but this year they got to pick them out of a box.

Listening very intently :)

Each person got 4 apples and Ethan has already gobbled up one!

After all the kids got their apples, we headed back to the picnic area for some snack.  We all got apple cider slush and an apple doughnut.  YUM!

We had to bring some home for Daddy :)

Then the kids headed to the playground.

Running like a crazy kid on top of all the hay bales

Nora had fun too, but no doughnut for her...maybe next time.

The whole class! (Minus a couple, I think)

My Cute Pre-Schooler!

Surprise!!

Last week was my sister, Abby's, birthday.  It was her 'Golden' birthday, meaning she turned 23 on the 23rd.  She made a big deal about it (or tried to).  So, those of us who love her, decided to make a big deal about it too and throw her a surprise party.  She tried to ruin it, since the date we planned it for, she was unavailable.  We didn't let that stop us and planned it for today.  Alex and I had been texting back and forth for weeks, but thankfully, Abby doesn't snoop and it truly was a surprise!  (Or if it wasn't, she is a great actor).
We all met in Edwardsville at Dewey's Pizza and got everything set up.  We really got into the 'Golden' aspect of the day.  Gifts included golden grahams, goldfish, golden delicious apples, golden chocolate coins (complete with a gold bar bank to store them in), golden oreos and various other golden things.  It was a great time, and I think Abby had a good day!

A Surprised Abby

Happy Birthday Lunch Party

Haley giving her gift of Golden Oreos

More presents!

The Party Group
Abby, Alex, Josh, Katie, Haley, Libby, Becky, Nora, Jared, Ethan, Wayne, Linda, David and Terri

 After lunch, we took the party back to Abby and Alex's apartment for cupcakes, ice cream and hanging out!

Happy Birthday to Abby! Happy Birthday to You!!

Haley and Ethan- 2 cute cupcake eaters!

Ethan and Abby with their mustaches :)

Pop and Nora having a good time!

Sisters!