Nursery Friends

Usually in the nursery at church there are 4 kids: Maggie, Cecilia, Joel and John.  Joel is 3.5 years old, Maggie is almost 2.5 years old and Cecilia and John will be 2 years old in a few months.  For the most part they all get along pretty well.   John loves Joel and gets so excited to see him.  From time to time we have other little ones join us and they are usually all so well behaved.  It is fun to think that they will all grow up together in the church!

Joel and John this fall

Cecilia and John this fall

Church Movie Night

The Bible study group that I am a part of had the idea to host two movie nights this fall/winter.  We would have some snacks and a craft and have a free will offering.  We would then use that money toward Vacation Bible School.  The first movie was Robin Hood.  I wanted Joel to enjoy the movie with all the other kids and people there and not throw a fit because he didn’t like the movie.  No one owned the movie so I volunteered to buy it because I wanted Joel to watch it.  We mostly kept the movie in the car and watched it many times, so much that Joel started to really like it.  During the movie Joel was one of the few kids that sat and watched the whole movie.  The movie night went well, I don’t know how many of the kids actually watched the movie.  A lot of them did crafts too.

Kristy, Cecilia and Luke working on making sheep.

Our second movie was The Polar Express.  I never got around to forcing Joel to watch the movie because we didn’t have it on DVD only on Netflix.  I tried putting it on once and he told me to turn it off that he didn't want to watch it.  He managed to pay attention for 2/3 of the movie at church.  The last 1/3 he sort of watched and ran around checking everything out and ate cookies!  Vincent sat so still through the movie, he only got up a couple times and that was to get snacks and to tell me the movie was making him nervous. Once I told him that the ending was good he was fine!  I had never seen the movie before and I thought it was really good.

The movie nights have been a great family time for us and hopefully other families too.  We get to see friends and pretend like we are at a movie theater without the stress (and cost) of bringing three small children to the movie theater!

Farming: A spill and driving during rush hour.

One of the things I worried about when I was filling grain trucks this fall is that I would spill.  No one would ever let me forget about it if I made a mess and who really wants to clean up a mess in the field.  I have never had to help in the past when there had been spills, but I have had to hear about it and it didn’t sound fun.

I was filling Brad’s truck this fall, toward the end of harvest and as I moved from filling the front hopper to the back hopper I noticed that the hopper door was open and I quickly shut off the PTO.  There was a nice pile of corn under the truck.  Brad was in the tractor talking to me at the time.   I quickly pointed out that it wasn’t my fault and he should have made sure his hopper doors were shut.  He said I was supposed to double check.  Which may be true, but I didn’t.  He grabbed a shovel and started throwing corn up and over the side of the trailer.  He made it look easy and I decided I better start helping.  I told him I would agree to help if he agreed it wasn’t my fault we were shoveling corn.  He mostly agreed and said it was 95% his fault, which to me rounds up to 100%!

I grabbed a shovel too and started shoveling corn up and over the side of the trailer it kept raining back down on me.  Brad thought it was hilarious!  He said “don’t you know how to shovel corn?”  I told him clearly not!  It turns out there is a proper technique to shoveling corn and you stand parallel with the trailer and basically lift the shovel straight up and over your shoulder and the corn nicely falls into the trailer.  It works so much better than what I was trying!  It is pretty easy too once you get the hang of it.  Brad and I had fun shoveling corn together, as much as that is possible.  It was quite the workout!  I am glad I didn’t wait longer to shut off the PTO.

A big mess!

We were trying to hurry so nobody else noticed what happened, but they finished the field while we were shoveling and they all (Bob, Craig, Efren and Randy) saw our mess.  Bob and Craig walked up with smirks on their faces and I quickly told them it wasn’t my fault!  I thought they would give us a hard time, but they didn’t.  Craig just started helping us scoop up the last little bit while Bob got the combine ready to move to the next field.

Driving to the next field was quite the test on my road driving skills.  I had a general idea of where the field was and how to get there, but I wasn't 100% sure where the field entrance was.  It was 5pm when we were driving and we had to drive on some busy 2 lane roads to get there.  I was following the combine, but Bob drives faster than I do and with all the traffic I ended up far behind him.  At one point as I was sitting at a very busy 4 way stop, where no one thought they should actually let the large tractor turn left, I lost sight of Bob.  Right about then a nice older man let me finally turn left and off I went to find the field.  I have never been so happy to get to a field!  When you see a tractor on the road please remember they are trying to feed you and don't get so upset that they are slowing down your travels.  We don't love driving on the road with you, but we have a job to do!

Halloween Fun!

In previous years Joel didn’t care about Halloween at all.  He didn’t like it actually.  He would sit in the stroller with the shade down a hat on his face and ignore the fact that anything was going on.  This year he was looking at a catalog and asked what something was.  I told him it was a batman costume that you can wear for Halloween.  He started asking to “go to Halloween.”  We talked about Halloween a little and he was pretty excited about it.  It was then that I knew he would probably go along with my idea of everyone being superheroes for Halloween.

My 3 superheroes!

Their very cool capes!

The superhero family!  Vincent, Brad, Joel, Kelli and Cecilia.

Grandma Diane made us all capes (Vincent already had one) and I made sweatshirts that looked like superhero shirts and masks for all the kids.  I made a sweatshirt for myself too, but not Brad.  He told me he wasn’t going to be able to go because he would be in the field.  It ended up raining that afternoon so he was able to go with us.  He was a little disappointed he didn’t have a cool sweatshirt to wear.  I knew I shouldn’t have listened to him and just made one.

I love Joel's expression!

Joel with his teacher at the Halloween Parade.

We had all be wearing our capes around well before Halloween Day because the kids loved to wear them and pretend we were all superheroes.  Many nights (and days) we would run around the house in them and race, wrestle and pretend to save people and things.  In the morning Cecilia and I went to Joel’s school to see their Halloween Parade.  We were then invited to stay for the class party.  Cecilia was so excited to stay and play with Joel and Joel was pretty excited to have us.  There are only 4 kids in his class and Cecilia was happy to be number 5 for the morning.  I really enjoyed seeing how he worked in his classroom.

Joel and Cecilia waiting for a snack.

Cecilia loved getting to go to Joel's school.

Already to go trick or treating.

After School Diane, Brad, the kids and I went to a nearby nursing home that offers trick or treating.  It is a very popular spot!  The residents are all lined up in two very large areas and hand out candy to all the kids.  It is indoors (except for the long line you stand in to get inside), safe, the kids love it and the residents like seeing the all the children dressed up.   Brad was helping Joel at the nursing home and he said that about half way thru Joel realized what was going on and no long had to be prompted to say trick or treat.  He really seemed to have fun.  Cecilia figured out the routine rather quick but kept just throwing her candy toward the bag and missing and moving on to the next person.  I spent my time picking her candy up off the floor. 

Super Cecilia.

Super Joel!

Afterwards we went to Aunt Linda’s house to trick or treat.  The rain was letting up by then so we went trick or treating around her block.  Vincent and Joel were running from house to house.  Joel wanted to go in everyone’s house at first because that is the normal thing to do after you ring a doorbell.  We had a lot of fun.  Before we got back to the car Joel spotted a very large puddle and managed to jump in it before we could stop him.  He was in heaven!  He loves puddles!  After Aunt Linda’s house we drove to my godparent’s house to trick or treat.  Aunt Kathy offered them fruit just to tease them and my kids were more than happy to have fruit instead of candy.  

The bag was as big as her!

Vincent and the dog.

Halloween is not my favorite holiday, but I really enjoyed it this year!  It was fun that all three kids enjoyed it and I didn’t have to feel like I was torturing Joel by taking him with us.

Joel, a dog, and Vincent.

Halloween Party and Friends!

We went to a Halloween party at the Detig’s house.  The kids were so excited to get to wear their costumes and see Sophie.  When we got there Cecilia couldn’t believe that there was a whole bin of dolls!  Joel found the 1 tractor in the house to play with and Vincent made friends and ate food.  They had a hay ride, bouncy house and a piñata.  Vincent’s swing opened it up and then all I could see was candy and kids diving on the ground.  I am pretty sure Vincent was at the bottom of the pile for a little bit.  He didn’t seem to mind. 

Getting ready for the party!

Super Monster Truck Tornado Vincent.

Super Cecilia!

Super Joel!

The big swing!

Candy flying!

While we were in the Detig's house I went to get Vincent and Cecilia some food.  Once I got them situated I went to go check on Joel.  He had found a giant lollipop, opened it and started eating it.  I have no idea where it came from.  I let him have it from 5-10 minutes and then took it away.  Silly kid, I think it was actually a decoration.

Super Joel and the giant sucker!

 

A hay ride!

Joel made himself right at home at the Detig's house.

After the party we went to the Crawford’s to play and have dinner.  The kids had fun playing with each other.  Cecilia and Joel really liked Lexi’s dollhouse of course they three of them also spent a lot of time playing trains.  Bedtime rolled around and my kids didn’t want to leave!  I don’t blame them.  I could have stayed all night and talked to Heather and Erik!

Logan, Vincent, Cecilia, Joel and Lexi all playing together.

Logan and Vincent coloring.

Konow's Farm

The kids all had a day off in October so we went to Konow’s Farm.  They have corn mazes, a petting zoo, mechanical bull, corn pit, pile of straw to climb on, jumping pillow, pedal tractors, a cow train, pumpkins, etc.  It is a really fun place and kind of busy on a day the kids are off school.  Diane and Keith came with us and we met up with Kristy, Brett and Luke and the Kirk’s.  Due to the timing of everything we only had 2 hours there, because I had to be at Bible Study and they all needed to get some sleep before school the next day.  I told my carload of kids when we got there that we only had 2 hours and if they wanted to see everything I could keep telling them when it was time to switch activities or they could decide on their own.  They wanted my help.  I also told them that we were not going on the pony rides or the hayrides or the bigger corn maze.  They were all fine with that.  In reality it was only Keith and Vincent that cared about anything I was saying.

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Joel looking at the deer.

Cecilia and the goats.

Sweet piglets!  I love pigs!

Grandma Diane and Cecilia

Brett and Luke trying to climb in with the goats.

A jumping pillow.

Joel riding a tractor.

Cecilia and Maggie!

Diane and Joel.

We had fun at the petting zoo and jumping pillow and then headed to the cow train.  They were almost out of cows to ride in, but had one left.  It wasn’t big enough for me to ride with Joel, but the guy in the cow next to Joel was very nice and kept an eye on him for us.  Joel did great!  Cecilia rode on Jackie’s lap and Vincent and Austin were quick to grab the cow’s at the front of the train.  When the train came back Kristy, Brett and Luke went on it and Vincent sat with Brett! 

Jackie, Tyler, Vincent, Keith, Joel, Austin, Cecilia, and Maggie.

Amy, Maggie, Cecilia and Jackie

Vincent being a goof and Austin.

Tyler and Keith.

Joel and his new friend.

The cow train!

Brett, Luke, Kristy and Vincent.

Our fearless leaders in the corn maze!

Jackie and Cecilia going down the really fast slide.

Keith's turn!

The maze was ok, I am not sure we went all the way thru it because we came out the entrance, but the kids had fun.  Tyler grabbed Joel’s hand and kept an eye on him without anyone asking and Joel was happy to be with the big kids.  After that we headed to the straw pile that had a really fast slide that was a lot of fun!  Even Cecilia and I went down it!  From there we met up with Kristy, Brett and Luke in the corn pit.  I jumped in with the kids and somehow they decided it would be fun to bury me.  I ended up with corn in my pockets, my pants, and my underwear.  If you were wondering having corn kernels in your underwear is not very comfortable.  All the kids (except Maggie) seemed to love the corn pit.

Tyler helping Joel.

Cecilia following Joel into a long dark tunnel.

Cecilia wasn't happy until she made it all the way to the top.

The corn pit!

Joel.

Cecilia getting buried.

She loved it!

Keith getting buried.  Brett was helping too!

Luke and Vincent.

It is hard to remember what we did after the corn pit but we did a couple more activities and then left.  We stopped and grabbed food along the way and Keith had to work to earn his supper.  He was in the back with the kids so he had to keep handing them food.  It’s hard work being the oldest!  It is probably very different for Keith going from being the youngest in his family to the oldest when he spends time with us.  We were running late so they dropped me off at Bible Study on the way home.  While I was there I spent a good portion of the night picking up corn kernels that kept falling out of my pockets!  It was a fun afternoon!

Adorable Luke!

Maggie did NOT like the corn.

Vincent buried.

Brett had fun burying Vincent.

Cecilia and Mommy.

Austin jumping.

Brett and Vincent getting ready to jump.

Keith, Jackie, Joel and Austin....the sun was really bright.

Vincent, Austin, Keith, Cecilia and Tyler

Diane, Amy and Maggie.

Joel and his big buddy Tyler.