my fridge

At one point, not in the too distant past, about 4 short years ago I had one of those super pristine fridges.  Do you know the one I am talking about? Nothing on it, no distractions, no messy coupons, or pictures or tacky magnets... now I have this....

I was making dinner tonight and really looked at our evolved fridge for the first time and just burst out in the biggest smile.  It may not be perfect or super clean and pristine but I love it.  I am pretty sure there are expired coupons on it, a dinner plan from a month ago, art from the boys, pictures, reminders and a bunch of other things. Just a little reminder how much we love our little family every time I reach in it during the day. Clutter? What clutter? I see happy times.

Grandma Great

My Grandma Great passed away today at the age of 95.  It has put me in a somber and sad mood because now I have lost 5 dear family members in the past 5 years and because she was such an amazing sweet, kind and spirited lady.

When I went 3000+ miles away to college, we established a pen-pal type relationship, that helped me get through some very lonesome and tough times on my own.  She would write me religiously once a month always sending me news from Kansas, asking of my life in College and giving advice or just telling jokes.  After I graduated the letters came about once every two months but some of these (after I was engaged, or after I found out Jack was a boy) are the most touches as I read through them this past week. 

Among my favorites - a letter during my freshman year - "I wouldn't worry about the poor grade in English my dear. If I were you, I would take myself straight away to the library and find a nice quiet spot near one of the windows and put my back to it so that I could see all the cute eligible bachelors walking by and catch their eyes."

After I was engaged - "Your letter brought such happy tears to me today to imagine your happy union.  The world always needs a great love story."

And after finding out news that our little biscuit Jack was going to be a baby boy - "that is blessed news.  Imagine, getting to experience the mysteries of men from the very beginning.  You will have to keep me posted on your findings as you raise your little man among men."

Grandma Great, as we called her, really was great.

Hap - Hap - Happy Halloween!

We had a great weekend with friend's visiting for Flo's 30th Birthday and Halloween and then spent the last 2 days trying to recoup.  Seems to be the theme lately - me thinks we are getting old! Sorry for the late post but I was a little busy playing catch up in the great laundry war (I won the battle today) and voting - still watching TV and crossing my fingers that our nation is headed back in the right direction again (albeit a teeny tiny baby step).

 After the harvest fest at our church we went to my sister's for her 2nd annual chilli feed and trick-or-treat.  Trying to get all 9 cousins plus one friend to look and smile at the camera proved challenging...

 Coops and his buddy Aubrey (a.k.a minnie mouse) are two peas in a pod.

 It was Coops first time going door to door and he definitely took to the whole event yelling "yeah!" at the top of his lungs as he ran door to door.

 We went up to Greenbluff this weekend with friends and had a lot of fun drinking cidar, eating pumpkin spice doughnuts and watching the great pumpkin cannon.

 Family picture for Greenbluff (Notice coops is picking something? So appropriate!)

 The two little monsters in my life.  I love those little buggers so much! I have come to love the boyness about them! The always busy, always running, squirming, loud, giggling, messy boyness that never seems to stop from morning till night. 

 Our friend Riane and the boys (coops constant companion "Ba" the monkey is even along for the ride!)

 Playing games at the harvest fest.

 Sully the friendly monster from monster's inc.

 a brief 5 minute crash in the car due to no nap that day (dressing up on costumes and getting lots of candy was too much to take in AND nap!) but 5 minutes with the cousins and some treats at the chilli feed and he was ready to go again.

The boys with their Tow-mater buck teeth suckers.  After eating till their little hearts content, we took the extra candy to the dentist (who bought it back)  and brought home $5 and glow in the dark toothbrushes.  solved having to take the extra candy away, they got to put money in their banks and no cavities.  win win win. already looking forward to next year and seeing if we can make it around the block and then some in Aunt Bissy's neighborhood! Challenge accepted!

Fun Filled Weekend

Grandma and Grandpa flew the North Dakota Coop this weekend and came to visit for a jam packed 72 hours.  We had such a good time visiting but now I think we all feel like a truck hit us! We ate out 6 times, squeezed in one men's retreat, one pumpkin patch visit, numerous haircuts and lots and lots of hugs and tackles to both the very much missed grandparents.

 So what to do on a recovery day? Make home made creamy chicken and rice soup with biscuits.  I have to confess I made myself ill by eating so much, but it was soooo good!

 I love to see  how much the boys love Grandma and Big Grandpa and how excited they get when they are here...just too sad that it isn't all the time. I have learned not to tell the boys too much when they are coming though because it seems so much longer when they have to wait...the sudden visit has been working so much better!! I overheard Jack asking Maddie "do you have a dampa too? I do! I love my dampa"

Thank you for making the trip to see us and witness the boy's being dedicated in church on Sunday.  It was a really special moment to be able to share with the both of you.  We love you guys so much.

Field Trip

I had the pleasure of helping take Jack's pre-school class on their first field trip this last Thursday to Walter's Fruit Ranch at Green bluff.

 We went on a tractor ride, fed goats, picked apples, learned how the cider was made and most importantly picked pumpkins.

 It was really fun to go up there with the whole class all hyped up on natural cider sugar.  They were like a mini mob with lots of energy!

 This is Jack's buddy Cole whom he runs to hug every day.  They have a shared love of Thomas the Tank Trains, puzzles and snack time. 

 Notice how tall he is compared to the others? The two that come close just turned 5.

 Ahhhhhhhh....there it is, the 2010-2011 Calvary Christian Pre-school class.  Who knows if they have rocket scientists or future teachers in there but their little hearts are for God right now and and that's pretty cool to witness.

Jack made sure to pick out (a smaller) pumpkin for cooper to give him.  They are sitting on our front porch now and they kiss them when we go someplace and when its time for bed. 

Field Trip was a success.

Sweatin' to the oldies...

Jack has always had his own ideas about what he likes to wear or not to wear. 

LIKES: silky shorts, puffy vests, white socks, sweat pants, tank tops, visors

DISLIKES: jeans, anything with sleeves, sweaters

Now we can add to the like column: head bands.

 For the past week he has been rocking the head band (worn in the Ala Richard Simmons way) that he stole from me that I wear to keep my fly aways back when in a pony tail.

 And when he has the tank and silky shorts going on with it...as well as the curly crazy hair - we can't help but think oh boy.  What is he going to dress like in 5 years?

 What can I say? he knows what he likes I guess...

 His brother? not so picky, just as long as there is food somewhere nearby.

I love this boy so much its crazy. :)

I once caught a fish THIS BIG......

For Jack, this statement will be true. Not so much for his parents. To date, our fishing experiences (combined) boast of a total of probably 5 oz of fish. Good thing the red tornato has more patience than both of us with fishing!

We went down to valleyfest yesterday and they had some anglers out there helping kids learn how to cast and fish over by the falls. The man (pictured behind Flo and Jack) helped him cast and fish yesterday over and over until Jack had the biggest fish in the pond take a bite of his worm...


Jack (with the help of daddy) attempted to reel it in but the fish gave them a little trouble since he was a bigun! Flo definitely had to lend some muscle (remember the circus balancing strength?) and Jack was like "ow ow ow". Yep, Flo was crushing his little hands by helping steady the line and pull in the fish.

There were quite a few spectators and the fish put on a good show...

But in the end Jack prevailed. We were so proud.

They put his fish (who he named Woody) in an ice chest and Jack kept opening up the lid to look at him jump around again and again. Then, he posed for his picture to be taken for the outdoor sports club's website with his fish - soooo proud!

It was a good day for Jack. A good day for Daddy. Not so good a day for Woody.

We also visited the petting zoo part of Valleyfest and this goat though it would be funny to keep eating my back pack. He wouldn't stop. He liked me or he thought the combined smells of fruit snacks, fish crackers and baby wipes were too much to ignore.

The kids loved petting all the animals and cooper wanted to hug then all...llamas, goats, sheep, bunnies, chickens....not all of them wanted to be hugged by him but that didn't stop a run by hugging by Coops.

The bunnies were especially popular with both boys. Jack couldn't believe how soft they were and lets just say it was a good thing this bunny had a fence between him and coops.

Valleyfest was really fun. It was a beautiful day and really nice to get out and see some new things. RIP Woody.