a Cowboy and a chicken

Toby likes to play with my hair. This is us eating breakfast and he feels the need to twirl my hair. It ain't a pretty picture of me, but ever since we cut Toby's hair he wants mine, so if you see him with long hair and wonder why we have left it that way--it's no fashion statement, it's just that I don't have to let him play with my hair as much when his is long.

My parents surprised me with a visit for my birthday. We had a nice relaxing week. Thanks Mom and Dad, I had a really nice time and the boys did too.

Carving pumpkins.

We went to a fall festival and Caleb had his face painted.

Here is a shot of me and my little chicken.

A chicken and a cowboy.

Don't you want to eat him up?

Murray's Mill & Wooly worm festival

We went to our favorite place in the mountains....Wiseman's View.

WOOLY WORM FESTIVAL (below)

The 3 guys watching intently on the Wooly worm race.

Caleb loved the Wooly Worm festival. They take catapillars and race them up a wall (see below).

MURRAY'S MILL

We went to a fun little festival where the boys get to make things like in the olden days. We went to it last year and had a great time. We had a good time this year too, even though there weren't as many exhibitions. The boys got to make candles the old fashioned way, build a tool box and step stool. They made keychains with beads, chucked corn, saw how butter was made, how apple cider was made. We saw some children sing Gospel music (real cute). We also got to see the flour mill-which is where it's located. I get a little nestalgic when I go to these old fashioned things....maybe it's the Laura Ingalls Wilder in me....believe me I do know how much harder I would have had to work, but it's still kind of cool to see how things are made. A lot of the boy scout troops put on these exhibits, so their helping the little guys out.

confederate reenactments.



Caleb milked a real cow. Poor Cow...

Corn shucking.

Candlemaking.

This is the flour mill.

If these guys were dressed better I could consider these "real photos"

Toby at the petting farm.


Nana and Toby at Murray's Mill

brotherly love.

making a step stool.

The boys loved riding on the pony's. Caleb now wants to be a cowboy when he grows up...and for Halloween.

Toby and Ken making a pumpkin. Toby is so proud of what he has made he says,"I made that!"

We have children's art all over the place on our refrigerator, on our bullitin board in our mud room, in piles in the kitchen...not sure what to do with it all....I can't keep it all. But it's hard for me to get rid of it too.

Caleb's soccer team is undefeated....he is on a really good team....they won a tournement and now they are off to the county tournement...we love going to the games. It's really cute to see the little guys out there trying to kick the ball.

Toby is just lounging, watching the wiggles. I had to take a photo, because he RARELY ever does this...he is usually on the go all the time...The wiggles is the only thing he will sit and watch. Well he doesn't sit, but he does watch.

As a side note, we also went back to good 'ol Kansas in October for my 10 year reunion at Graceland College ( University). Of course I did not remember to bring my camera, but I will say I had a really nice time seeing old friends. We didn't bring the boys with us, Ken's parents were kind enough to watch them for us. I loved to see Lamoni....It hasn't changed very much---which honestly is nice to see....I always used to say I lived in LA.........moni. I know I'm a dork. And I have to say it feels good to be one every now and then.

It's a girl!

I know it's September, but I can't keep up....more August Stuff

First day of Preschool.

I am amazed at Caleb these days: He can whistle, snap his fingers, ride his bike w/o training wheels, read some words and spell some words...Ken and I spell a lot between us and Caleb figures most of the words out...I guess Ken and I will have to come up with a new "code". He is playing soccer-which is fun, but more challenging this year since he is on a team with some really good players, who are a little older than him. He is also doing chores around the house to earn money so he can buy a bigger bike. I just need to be a little more consistent making sure he does his house jobs. Caleb is no longer a baby, but a full fledged boy with the silliest moves and wiggles. 5 years has gone by too fast...It is harder to remember him as a newborn. I never thought I would forget...but the memories are not as clear.

Toby cracks me up. He loves to imitate his brother and do whatever he does. He is speaking in a lot of sentences now, and can handle a deadbolt lock--He is learning colors and starting to count, but mostly he is learning how to be a civilized toddler. (is that even possible?) He takes very long naps in the afternoon and can barely make it to 1pm. Let's just say our lunches are very cranky. He loves pre-school and seems to be interested in potty training. I haven't tried at all, but he has noticed other people going to the bathroom, he says,"boys poop on the potty. boys pee on the potty." Yesterday (sept 27) he said,"I want to kick the ball," as we were heading to Caleb's soccer practice. Toby's 2 years have gone by faster than ever. I do want life to slow down so I can savor these wonderful, but tiring days...

As for our 3rd one...we are excited, but scared because 2 children can be challenging...not really sure how 3 will be....I'm still tired-apparently I'm going to feel this way for a looooong time. I find out on the 14th of October if Caleb and Toby will have a brother or a sister. Caleb already informed me he would be MAD if I had another brother...no pressure for a girl from him... I am TRYING to enjoy this pregnancy, for I'm sure it might be the last one.

Caleb's real birthday.

We sold the house Ken built. Yipee! We also sold our first house this month.
Ken and Caleb go to Lowes to make projects on a couple saturdays a month.

We went to see the Wiggles Live. We had so much fun. I think Ken and I had more fun than the boys. I knew most of the songs. This picture is a little blury, but you know how great that song is "toot, toot, chugga, chugga, big red car..."Caleb gettin' wiggly.


all of us at the wiggles.

We had a great day of playing in the rain one day. It wasn't cold, just a steady rain. The boys had a blast. We also went to Myrtle beach over Ken's birthday and Labor Day weekend. We had a great time. Caleb loved Boogie boarding in the waves. The water was a perfect temperature and so was the weather...no hurricanes