It's loud, it shakes, and Mom uses it ALOT....

...I guess I better check it out!

Noelle is on the move! She is getting very fast using her knee and arm. When I set her down, I have no idea where she'll end up. I'm not used to this!!! I have to keep an eye on her when I put her on the floor. Today she thought she'd check out the washer and dryer. "Hmmmm...why does this thing comsume so much of Mom's time??"

Hanging out in Keota.

We traveled to Southeast Iowa to my hometown of Keota this weekend. My best friend from High School got married. Josh and I got an evening out while my parents watched the kids for us. My sister and her kids were visiting also, so there was a lot of activity at Papa's house!

This is my friend Lori that got married. We have been friends since we were 2 years old!

The hot tub outside is an all time favorite hang out spot for the kids at Papa's house.

Football, badmitten, and wagon rides took place...

...and a Dixie Chopper mower chase (this is my sister running and screaming)!

Noelle had a great time on her Great Grandma Lyle's lap. My Grandma spent the day on Sunday with us.

The boys pulled a cornstalk out of Papa's field. It measured 11 ft. tall!

My sister's car needed a tune-up.

We had a fun-packed weekend!!!

She's doing the army crawl !!

I think Noelle is our earliest "moving" baby! This week she started to do the army crawl to get herself to and from toys. Guess what she went after.....Caden's big fire truck first, then second was Macy's Barbie car! What a fun world she has to explore!

Summer is Over!

Our Little Guy got on the bus for 1st grade this morning at 7:15. OK-so he's not really so little, but I still want to call him Little Guy while I can! He was up at 6:00 and ready to go! He said, "I can't wait to see Marv!" (his bus driver). I had a few tears on the walk back to the house....I was ready for him to go, but also it is bittersweet to know that the days are passing by so quickly. Every mom knows this all too well!!! Of course, the girls and I will have warm, chocolate chip cookies ready for him when he gets home!

6 Months Old Today!

Noelle is 6 months old!! She was extra smiley today. Every time she saw Caden, Macy, or Julia she would let out a little belly giggle, her body would get stiff with excitement, and she'd kick her feet. She is such a fun, squeezable size right now! She loves to play with toys and watch life go by from the exersaucer. She brings us so much joy with her fun-loving personality.

Weekend in Bloomfield

We spent the weekend in Bloomfield with Josh's family. I didn't take very many pictures of the weekend. My hands were busy with the kids most of the time. I think this picture tells it all for Josh. He and our dog got a nap on his parents' porch on Saturday afternoon. The kids had a great time with their cousins. They slept outside in the tent for two nights with Josh's sisters kids. The kids love to be at grandpa and grandma's farm. Pony rides and running free in all the space is so much fun, not to mention grandma's yummy food!! Josh's grandparents hosted the annual "Hog Roast" on Saturday night. We got to see a lot of the Humphrey family relatives.
We are tired today at home, with lots of laundry and garden work to catch up on!

Busy Little People

Continuing Tradition

Three generations of curly haired, corn cutters! My grandma taught my mom, my mom is teaching me, and I hope to teach Macy....the process of growing corn and getting it into the freezer for the winter months. This is one of my fondest memories of farm life from when I was growing up. My parents visited us last night and helped Josh and I pick, shuck, boil, and put away 1/4 of our sweetcorn patch.

Digging for Gold

OK- maybe not Gold as you might think, but aren't potatoes Gold to a family of six with the price of food these days?! Caden is holding our two biggest chunks! This has been our main activity yesterday and today. I hope that I inspire some of you to garden. God made the soil to feed His people!

Calling All Heroes

This week has been VBS for Caden and Macy in Grundy Center. The theme is "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything"- VeggieTales latest! I think it is a really cute theme, and they are having a blast! I have been helping with the 5th-6th graders, so Josh has been on baby duty at home in the evenings.

BIG!

I obviously passed by this zucchini in the garden the last few days. Surely it did not appear overnight. I think it will last us all week!

Fun with Friends!

The Riffey family joined us for a patio fire last night. There was a lot of activity...fire stories, sparklers, bike riding, hide and seek in the sweetcorn, smores and kool-aid (obviously by looking at Julia's picture)...and lots of laughing, of course! We are thankful for friends!

Building a Birdhouse.

Today was quality Dad time! Josh helped Caden and Macy build a birdhouse.

Here is the finished product! It is very colorful!