Thomas the Train

Saturday Grandma Dawn and Papa Razzi took the boys to see Thomas the Train at the Illinois Railway Museum.  I had to work and Brad was taking Kennidy, Annie and Tina to a water park.  Everyone had a wonderful day.  Brad forgot to send the stroller, so Mom and Dave stopped and got a wagon for the boys and the man at the store was nice enough to put it together for them.  While seeing Thomas they got tattoos, a train whistle, rode trains, saw and rode on Thomas, and I am sure many other things.  I sent my mom with my camera so I could have pictures from the day.  When they got home last night Vince came running in the house yelling "Mommy I have a tattoo" and talking nonstop about the day and how he loved Thomas!  So glad they all had fun yesterday and so happy I had the house to myself for a few hours.

New Additions

Brad and I are expecting a third little blessing in February.  This week I had a doctor's appointment and I took Vince with me.  Joel hates when anybody touches me, including when Brad hugs me, so I didn't want to bring him with and Brad was able to watch him for me.  I had explained to Vince that he was going to get to hear the baby's heartbeat and that I had to get a poke in the arm for a blood test.  He seemed ok with all of it.  Vince sat in the exam room on a chair right next to me and was being very quiet, which is unusual for him.  When the nurse went to get my blood pressure Vince gently grabbed my other hand, set it in his lap and whispered "I will hold your hand so you don't cry."  Such a sweety.  Then once the nurse left he promptly told me I had to get on the exam table!  Vince thought hearing the heart beat of the baby was neat.  When I had to go get blood drawn he took my hand and said the same thing to me again.  The nurse told him he was in charge of my band aid.  He thought that was awesome.  An hour later it fell off by itself and he was not happy because he didn't tell me I could take it off yet!

We have an ultrasound picture of the baby from a few months back on the fridge.  It looks like a white spec on the ultrasound picture.  Today while we were eating lunch Vince said "That's your baby on the fridge."  I said "Yes it is, but it is a lot bigger now"  Vince replied "Yes and your belly is bigger now too, like a monster truck!"  Just wait until he sees how big my belly gets!  Vince has several opinions about the baby.  He is convinced it is a girl and he want to name her Dinosaur Meatball Stewart!  While that is a very unique name I don't think it will make it on the girl name list.  The boy name list has nothing on it right now, so we may be stuck with Dinosaur Meatball.  

The farm also got a new addition this week, but it isn't little!  Our new combine came this week!  It is a Claas Lexion 760 combine (CAT Yellow) on tracks.  It is a new and improved version of the one we had and will push our current 16 row corn head.  My brother-in-law Bob does most of the combining, so he will be the one enjoying most of the improvements.  The boys and I do go out and ride in the combine but the only thing the 3 of us are concerned about are the comfort of the buddy seat!  That is not totally true, we do want it to work well and efficiently and make harvest as smooth as possible.  Vince is excited for harvest and I am sure he will be spending a lot of time in a grain cart tractor and semi with Brad or the combine with Bob.  I tell him that harvest will start when the corn is all yellow.  He can hardly wait!

Family Reunion

This past weekend there was a family reunion picnic on Brad's side of the family.  Actually it was my mother in law's mom's side of the family.  It is hosted every year by Brad's Aunt Jan and Uncle John at a pond that Brad's Grandpa made.  Most of the family lives relatively close, but it is fun to see everyone and for all the kids to play together, and to try the delicious food everyone brings.

Enjoying a popsicle

Learning to fish...Brad and Vince

Mary and Karoline

For the kids there is a bouncy castle, a swing set and of course the pond.  Vince was thrilled to see all his cousins!  We no longer see Vince at parties unless he is having a problem or needs something, he is a social butterfly.  It kind of baffles me that he is old enough for being on his own, but he has always been independent.  After the annual large and small group pictures everyone dispersed to go fishing and swimming in the pond.  Vince was thrilled to get to fish even though he fell in the pond.  Joel loves the water and went and played by the sand pile and played in the water as well.  Joel ended his excursion in the sand with wet shorts, he was pretty gross.  Joel's other favorite things to do were to eat popsicles and play in the cooler full of ice!  Unfortunately I didn't get very many pictures because I was too busy chasing Joel and making sure he didn't run right into the pond.  Next year he may just wear a life jacket the whole time.

Vince, Keith and Brad

Concentrating

Round 2...Want some?

Brad lifting Keith by the ears

Great Grandparents

My Grandparents came over on Saturday afternoon.  We had talked on Friday and neither of us had much going on Saturday afternoon, so they drove out to see us (mostly the boys) and brought dinner as well.  Can't beat house guests that show up with dinner!  I had worked in the morning and the day was kind of busy, so it was nice to have an excuse to hang out in the backyard visiting.  We played in the yard with the kids, watched Brad work on the tree house, and took turns enjoying the hammock.  It as a wonderful afternoon!

While we were sitting outside I saw a spider fall down into my shirt.  Yuk!  I don't mind spiders on me, but down my shirt was not fun.  I finally managed to find it and squish it, but then I lost it again.  I kept shaking my shirt but no luck.  After what seemed like forever (probably 30 seconds) I found the dead spider and shook him onto the ground!  My grandma was busy telling me something the whole time and I was trying to listen and not freak out, but she was probably wondering what I was doing looking down my shirt and not paying attention.

We were too busy relaxing to take pictures outside, so these are all from after dinner.

Grandma Pat bribing Vince with M&Ms

Joel and Papa working on the tow truck

Joel and Papa talking about the truck.  Vince was too busy eating candy to interfere

Joel happy he got an M&M

Goofy Vince playing on the floor

Joel trying hats on Grandma Pat.  He thought it was hilarious.

An idea

During dinner on Friday Vince told me he had an idea.  He wanted to set up a tent in the yard, make a fire and eat marshmallows.  Brad wasn't home yet, so we called him to let him know about the plan and that he was in charge of the fire.  The boys and I set up our tent and got everything else ready. 

Joel checking out the tent

The tent we used was one that I got for a gift when I was in high school.  My friend, Tiffany, and I would go camping with other friends and horses and much as possible.  The tent hasn't been used in years, but still had a campfire smell to it.  It made me wish Tiffany and her husband lived closer so we could go riding and camping together or at least sit around a campfire and watch Vince camp.

Brad and Vince cooking marshmallows

Vince originally wanted to camp by himself in the tent.  I told him that wasn't going to happen.  Then he wanted me to set up our larger tent and Brad, Joel and I sleep in the big tent and he would sleep in the little tent.  It was supposed to rain the next morning and taking 2 tents down in the rain didn't sound like fun, plus it was a struggle to set up the smaller tent with only Joel and Vince's help.  Vince finally settled for Brad or I sleeping with him in the tent.  After putting Joel to bed I went in the tent with Vince assuming I was sleeping in there with him.  I wasn't too excited, especially since I had to work in the morning.  Luckily about an hour later Brad was ready for bed and woke me up and he slept in the tent with Vince.

Looking up trucks on the computer.

Unfortunately between Joel and the dogs I was up 3 times from 2 am til 5 am, so I may have been better off in the tent!  Vince was up early and came in the house, but he left Brad in the tent.  He told me that "Daddy was still sleeping."  It turns out even with a mat to sleep on the ground still wasn't very comfortable.  Maybe getting up 3 times was worth it to have a nice soft bed...

Appreciation Dinner

Every August our farm hosts an appreciation dinner for our landlords, suppliers, employees and other people we do business with in the course of the year.  If you want to talk farming it is the place to be!  You can find someone to discuss anything from owning land to crop insurance to marketing and equipment.  It is a nice relaxed atmosphere to mingle with everyone and get to know the people we do business with better.  Plus there is a ton of good food and bouncy houses to entertain the kids.  My sister in law Sarah does most of the planning and does a wonderful job.  My mother-in-law usually does the center pieces, but she was out of town this year so my niece did them.  They turned out very well and were all made with flowers from my inlaws' garden.  Vince spent the entire night, minus the time I forced him to eat, on the bouncy houses.  Between that and helping clean up he was exhausted and slept in the next day!  I was thankful to not have to wake up with the sun.  Joel had fun all night too, especially cleaning up.  He was pushing the chair dolly all around the shop, even when it was loaded!  Needless to say, Joel also slept in the next morning.

Hopefully everyone enjoyed themselves and will join us again next year!

Vince and the obstacle course

He could climb up faster than some of the big kids

Trying to help his friend

Lots of smiles when they came down the slide

Side Note.  Before the appreciation dinner the boys and I went to buy a new charger for my camera.  I had told them where we were going and what we were looking for.  Vince said "Mommy, they might not have it there."  I told him he was right and asked him if I should throw a fit if they didn't have it.  Of course he responded "yes"  Well the store had the charger.  When we were walking out I said "Aren't you glad they had the charger"  Vince responded "No, I wanted you to throw a fit!"

Having fun!

It is a big drop for little kids

The cupcakes

One of the centerpieces...I wish I had a better picture

Yummy gift to take home!

Joel in the tractor

Clean up time!

Vince's turn to help

Keith looking worried about Joel getting hurt

Keith supervising, such a good cousin!

Vince helping carry chairs

Joel pushing the chairs.  He did move them!