Halloween 2014

Another successful Beggars Night is over... and the kids are asleep.  Fresh air, walking and laughing sure do wear a kid out.  (But of course Kayson wasn't tired... yah right!)  :)

Here are the pictures from tonight.  Lots of fun for the kiddos.

Sofia the Princess.  :) I even curled her hair.  ADORABLE.

Our tough Army Man!

Fun!!

Avery, K, Kaed, Bennett, Cam & Cora

Cam & Cora are buds!  They took a break!

Cold Mommas.

AFTER trick or treating - tired, snotty and 'grumpy' kids.  :)

Ash, the devil, joined us as well!

Twinkies.  :)

Random

• Cora's new thing --- "Hey Janelle".  Yah, that's awesome.
• The weather was amazing this weekend...  Saturday - we played at the school park, and Saturday night we enjoyed the fire pit.  It was a perfect night. 
• I had a 31 party... and it was a huge success.  I was so pleased.
• I did an errand yesterday afternoon at the mall...  and I saw 4 young teenagers with 4 infant car seats and FAKE babies.  At first (from a distance) I thought - wow, young girls... and they ALL have babies?  Weird...  then I got closer... and they were all fake and they were feeding the babies all at the same time.  Yah, that would NEVER happen.  ha.  I just chuckled. 
• My errand was getting more hand soap at Bath & Body...  I picked up some of those plug in smellies - and I dropped one.  Yah, they are glass...  everywhere.  That was awesome.  Ugh.
• I busted a fingernail today... down low, and it's SO sore...  :(
• Ryan made chili for supper tonight... oh it was so good!  We had a TON left over, so some of it's frozen...  he says the next time I get the urge to have chili - we've got it.  
• JeanAnn and I did a few errands today...  I picked up some boots for Cora.  I went up a size cuz the last pair just was tough to get on her feet...  well this pair, I think would fit if she didn't have such chubby legs.  We could barely get them zipped.  They are going back to the store.  :(
• No recent pictures...  or at least uploaded yet.  Maybe I'll do that this week!

Have a great week!

Pumpkin Patch

Our 2014 trip to Center Grove Apple Orchard was a success.  Gosh, I really love that place.  :)  It's fun for adults too!

We all slept in this morning - we've had a super busy weekend.  Yesterday we watched the Iowa game with some friends... let the kids play.  Then last night we went over to some neighbors to just hang out and let the kids play.  ha.  Our kids were wiped out.  (Me too!)

Anyway, today, we got all ready and headed up to Cambridge.  My parents and then Trish and her family, plus Logan met us there.  The big kids and our kids had a ton of fun. 

Center Grove Orchard!

Fun in the Corn Pool!

Making friends with Caterpillars!

Cora was hesitant at first, but then loved it!

with Aunt Trish

The trampoline!

All the kids!

K's pumpkin!

Love.

As you can see, we had a great time...  it was breezy, but the sun was out and kept us fairly warm.  We headed home and both kiddos rested...  Cora continued her rest in her bed.  She was a tired little girl.  

2nd Wind

I've had a 'second wind' for about 45 minutes... since 10pm.  It's now 11pm, and I'm still up...  I've cleaned up the kitchen, I've put laundry away, I've finished Cora's 1-2 year photo book...  and I'm still up.  I'm awake.  Ryan and I talked around 10... had a good conversation about 'stuff'... and apparently it perked me up a little.  Don't get me wrong - I'm exhausted.  Dead tired.  Emotionally and physically, but I'm awake.  :)

Cora got her hair cut this afternoon...  we've been talking about this for a couple weeks.  "Abby - cut Cora May's hair."  Yep honey.  She did great - she sat WITH the cape on (much better than the first time!)  She had two suckers and totally sat still for Abby.  She didn't say a word, but she did great.  :)  Her bangs were getting too long, and ugly.  Abby trimmed up the back as well.  All cleaned up and adorable.  I'm still not sure how we'll have her hair when she gets older, but for now - short and simple works.

This evening we had dinner with Nicky and Avery.  Nicky mentioned it around 3 this afternoon and I thought, what the heck.  I know the kids would be tired and probably wouldn't eat well, but I guess I just knew I wanted out of the house.  And I was right - Cora didn't eat a bite...  Kayson was tired, BUT he did fairly well.  It was a nice hour or so. 

Also tonight I held an Usborne Book 'show' online/on Facebook.  Martina has become a consultant... so I wanted to help her out.  I didn't know what to expect with an online gig, but it was pretty darn cool.  Martina sent out a few links to some great books... and it just made you start looking.  I got some more ideas, and it appears I'll be getting some free books.  Bonus.  If anyone reading this is interested - log onto Facebook and look at my events... you can see the feed from there.  

Kayson's tired.  I mean, this kid is busy...  and I like to believe he's happy at school and the before/after program.  So I know he is non-stop during the day.  Lately, he's been struggling with stuff here...  listening and showing respect for me.  (mostly cuz it's just me at home).  Tonight before we left, he had a meltdown (I'm not even sure what the heck it was about now), but I had to just stop him and myself...  get down to his level and talk.  When I do that, wow - he stops and listens (and it tends to hurt his feelings a little).  Gosh, I should seriously do that every time huh?!  ha.  I know it's hard being a kid - I get it.  It's hard being a Mommy too!  :)

Well... I'm still awake.  :)  I thought if I stopped to blog, maybe I would get tired enough to lay down.  Not yet.  Wow - tomorrow morning is going to come way too early.

Here's to Friday!!

Girls Day & Shopping & Lazy Day

Saturday = Girls Day
Ryan, Mike and Kayson went to the Iowa game Saturday...  up and at 'em early, and out the door by 6:30.  YAWN!  I went back to bed... :)  Cora slept til about 7:50, which was super nice...  we took our time in the morning, just hanging out and cuddling.  Yes, she does cuddle every once in awhile.    I got cleaned up... and both my sisters and their girls made the trip down to spend some time with us.  It was TOO short of a visit, but it was tons of fun.  We went out for lunch...  then went to the mall and walked around, shopped a little.  Then back to the house, so Cora could nap... then we just sat and visited. 

Pictures from our visit:

Kayson's fun at the tailgate:

With Collin

Sunday = Shopping & Lazy Day
Today our one goal was to get the kids' winter coats bought.  Accomplished.  We had lunch out... then went to watch cousin Duke play football.  We didn't stay very long, as Cora was all over... and it was really chilly!  This afternoon a load of laundry was done, then ALL of us napped.  Wow.  We were tired.  I'm ok with that... I need a lazy day from time to time... today was it. 

See?  Lazy.  :)

Week is over!

I can't believe it's Friday already...  why in the world do the days go so fast!?  We are just flying through life anymore.  

We've had a pretty good week.  Ryan did some commuting this week for work, so he was at least home a little.  

Kayson had a busy week at school.  Tuesday was his first Field Trip.  Two of the five Kindergarten classes went to the Brenton Arboretum.  (Nature stuff!)  I volunteered to help out on the trip.  I really wanted to just experience this with Kayson... and see the other kids and meet a few parents.  It's so different now - we don't really see the kids or parents at school (like we used to at daycare).  Anyway, I was in charge of keeping 6 kids safe and with me at all times.  ha.  It made me giggle, but made me nervous too.  :)  Luckily the kids were great... and we had a really good time.  However, I don't want to be a teacher and I don't want to be a parent of 6 kids when I grow up!!!  Holy cow, I was completely exhausted after just 3.5 hours.  :)  

Mrs. White's class!

Looking for insects!

Love this picture.

Picnic time!

And today Kayson's school did a special activity called "Miles for Maple Grove" which was a walk/run for the kids.  It was a fund raiser for the school (I think!)... and the kids got T-shirts and had a fun day.  Kayson came home with a medal and a couple good stories for us.  So cute.  Our neighbor went to watch the kids, and snapped this picture of K.  I thought it was so sweet. 

I love that smile.

Cora is still the same... nothing too exciting with her besides her just being fiesty!  She's now started to say her name - I sometimes catch her talking in 3rd person: "Cora May do it."  Oh dear!  

Tonight we had some old friends over - Jamie & Travis and their two boys.  The boys played really well together, so that was fun.  Cora was all over... she wanted to be with the boys (which they did OK with her), then she just wanted to be with us.  I think I heard "Mom" at least 1,000 times in an hour.  :)  Anyway, we had a really good evening with the Millers.

G'night!

Weekend

It's been another busy weekend... of being gone.  Unfortunately, at this point, I can't go into all the details of our weekend, but I'll tell some of it.  

Friday evening we met Mike and JeanAnn in Dexter - at a little bar/restaurant called the Rusty Duck.  YUMMY food!  They were going to take the kids for the evening.  It was a nice supper... then we all were on our way.  

Saturday morning the kids played at Papa and Grandma's for the day until Blair's family came... more playing I'm sure!  Meanwhile, Ryan and I were on the road for some 'business'.  (More to come I'm sure on that... but hush for now.  Sorry.)

We were gone all day - 8am til about 4pm.  We got back to DSM... picked up the dogs, then headed down to Creston.  Ryan's Aunt and Uncle were in a for a surprise that evening... the family was throwing a 25th Wedding Anniversary get together for them.  We met up around 6:30...  lots of friends and family joined us... then Bill and Joni arrived... and they were shocked!!!  It was SUCH a great response from them!  Suprises are great (when they aren't for me!!!)  ha.  Anyway, we hung out for several hours...  Cora soon was whiny and rubbing her eyes pretty hard.  I took her back to the house around 9ish...  Ryan and Kayson stuck around... not getting back til 10:30.  K was a tired boy!!  But he was having fun. 

Again... the kids slept weird...  I guess weird is the best word.  Cora moans and falls off the blow up bed we use for her.  Kayson had dreams that woke him to tears and being scared.  I mean, really!!??  We haven't had a 'smooth/quiet' nights sleep at someone else's house... ever.  ha.  Anyway, this morning we just hung out... had a great lunch, then headed back home.  It was nice to have our afternoon - laundry, groceries and a nice supper was had...  And kids were in bed right on normal time.  

We are all tired.  I'm ready for a good nights sleep and a fresh start to the week.  

I only have a picture of Cora - Kayson just isn't interested in pics lately.  :(

Hands on her hips and everything...  oh boy.

Congrats to Bill and Joni!

This & That

• I'm excited that our 'shows' are back on...  Parenthood (which I cry at EVERY.TIME.I.WATCH!), The Voice, Grey's Anatomy, Big Bang Theory, and The Blacklist.  I'm sure there's more that we will get into, but these are our main ones.  
• It's been another 'heck of a week'.  Work is out of control busy.  Home stuff has been busy.  Tuesday night I drove up to Webster City to watch Hope play VB.  She's a senior, and it's important to me (and her) that I see her play... so I made the trip.  I left the kids with a sitter until Ryan could get home.  It was a long night (gone for 4.5 hours and in the car for 3 of those), but totally worth seeing her play.  Then Wednesday night I had VB.  Ashley stayed with the kids... then hung out with us once I got home.  
• I need to clean.  Period.  Since being gone last weekend... and we'll be gone again this weekend, somehow I need to squeeze some cleaning.  Hmmm... not sure how that's going to get done (especially as I sit here on the computer watching TV). 
• Kayson's doing well at school.  His teacher sent home a Skills Assessment this week.  It basically showed us what he knows...  which we already knew, but it was nice to see.  It's funny that he can count for us til well over 100... and on his sheet he counted to only 49.  It just makes me think that he gets nervous or distracted.  Proof that kids are so different around their parents and in their own home.  
• K also seems to be really liking the before and after school.  I'm finally seeing him be more comfortable there... he's telling me stories about his 'friends', he's told me he likes a girl who is in 1st grade, and he's giving high-fives to a few of the teachers.  THIS is exactly what I've been waiting to see.  I want him happy there...  just like he was at daycare. 
• Cora is a pistol.  Man, this girl is a hand full.  I have so many darn stories about her...  I don't even know where to start.  I would be typing forever.  She's stubborn, she's ornery, she's funny, she's loveable, and she can be mean too.  ha. 
• I hear the weather is supposed to be super chilly this weekend...  that might be a little refreshing, but I'm not ready for winter.  If it just sticks around for a short while, that would be good with me.
• I want to go shopping... bad.  That's all.  :)