Happy Birthday, Gigi

Gigi celebrated her birthday on September 30...the big 5-3!!

We met her at a Mexican restaurant so that we could sit outside and enjoy the fabulous weather!

The kids loved feeding her the chips.

And Sawyer just loved eating the chips.

We headed to Target and instead of her getting herself presents and instead of us giving her presents, she bought the kids stuff.... a Sofia the First BIG coloring book and stickers and a tractor.

We went home and napped then and played a bit then we met Gigi, Papa, and Poop at Kouri's for supper.

The kids know as soon as we walk in that they can play in the "game room".

They always rope Uncle Poop into playing games with them.

Charlotte was mad that Sawyer was going to get to play too.

She LOVES the car game.

We had a fabulous meal and I headed home as soon as we were done eating bc Sawyer (Mr. I go to sleep at 7.) needed to go to bed. 

We were so happy that we got to spend Gigi's birthday with her! We had a great afternoon and a great supper:) Happy Birthday Mom!! We hope you enjoyed your weekend and your day!

Mal's Last Fling Before The Ring

On Saturday morning, I got up with the kids (nice and early). The kids and I headed down to Grandma's house because I had Mallory's Bachelorette Party to go to. We left late morning and the kids took naps in the car. We were at Didi's house by 1 pm and hung out with them for awhile. We went to see Grandma Millie who was in the local hospital with viral pneumonia. The kids loved seeing her...and the creepy birds in the cage. 

Then we headed out to Grandma Ann's house to say "hi" and so I could get ready really quick for the party. We met Mom and Dad at Uncle Rich's house and they took the kids for the night so I could hang out with my cousins and aunts!

The party started at Uncle Rich's house and we headed to a local Mexican restaurant.

Mal LOVED her presents from Mary and I. What's not to love about cat and dog pajamas? One for her and one for AJ.

Then we headed to a local watering hole that was a bit scary to say the least.

Mallory was all decked out.

Aunt Kathy recommended this place because it has a great apple pie shot. When we all got out of our cars, there was a bit of a ruccus (sp?) going on on the other side of the parking lot (behind Liss and Aunt Kat.) The man and woman were yelling at each other. They were barely clothed. They didn't have their teeth in. And there was a creepy van parked out front.

They have this whole thing figured out.

In the wood panelled bathroom they actually list the daily special

On Sat Sept 28 the special was

Chicken N Taters.

Melia was such a good sport at 34 weeks pregnant.

The lady in red was all about her.

The crew at Kane Legion...Aunt Kat was outside.

Everyone meet Randy.

He was just enjoying some brews after a long week.

Randy, you rock...in your plain white tee.

She found her frog.....

We headed to another local bar where we took over the place...the bar, the jukebox, the bartender...

We played games. The bartender was having a blast with us.

Mal performed a solo...

Place was packed.

We then headed to the Oasis. I forgot my camera in Didi's car for that part. It was fun though and we played some fabulous music and sang and danced.

I got back to Grandma's at midnight. I slept like a baby....

The next morning I got up and headed over to Mom and Dad's Villa.

This was my view as I drove Dad's HUGE truck over there.

The kids and I met Alex at our friend Nick and Brianne's place in Springfield. Alex and Nick went golfing. Brianne and I went shopping with the kids. We cooked out and she had some friends over to eat with us that evening. It was so much fun and so good to see them. We then drove back home that night. Luckily the kids slept most of the way home and I just talked away on the phone...as usual....

It was a great weekend!! Busy but so much fun!

Metamora Homecoming

September 27th ended up being such a fabulous BIG day for us!!

We started the day out by running errands in Peoria. Mary went with the kids and I. She had been sick since Monday (a stomach bug) but was feeling a bit better. She needed to get out of the house so she went with the kids and I. Our last stop was Walgreens on our little trip and I had said to her, "You know, you might want to take a pregnancy test. No one has gotten sick except you."

Well, SURPRISE!!!

She is pregnant!!! 

Much to her surprise (and everyone else's), she is pregnant again!!! She took both tests in our downstairs bathroom. It's like her lucky little spot...

So, she called her husband...and her doctor....and left to go get blood tests done due to her earlier miscarriage. What a huge (AMAZING) surprise!!!

The kids took quick naps then we headed up town to the Homecoming Parade. Mom and Dad were meeting us. I didn't really think too much about the chaos associated with the parking for the parade but my goodness!! Road blocks everywhere!! Thank God Mom met me, grabbed the kids, and then I drove a found a parking spot. Luckily I made it before the parade started. Mary even got back in time. (And was able to keep the secret from Mom and Dad.)

And we have spotted our first human dressed as an animal.

This poor girl. Chuck E Cheese traumatized her and she has never been the same. She can't even enjoy parades.

Although, I have no idea why there was a dragon in the parade...none of the grade schools or high school have a dragon/alligator/green animal mascot... Hmmmmm.... maybe he was just in it to freak my kid out.

Sawyer could care less about humans dressed as animals. He was loving all of the candy.

We were all in our red for the school spirit!!

After the parade, we headed back to our place. Jodi and her girls came over. Mary came over as well. We took her first pregnancy picture...which she doesn't like but I had to put it up. (Sorry Bare)

Jodi and I took the kids and headed up to the football game. We went with the intention to make an appearance and head home once meltdown mode started.

The girls LOVED it.

The band is ALWAYS a crowd favorite with kids.

Emily's face... she is just beautiful...

Abby and Mare were there as well.

Here is our crew. This was as meltdown mode was starting with my kids. After this picture we headed back to the shoebox.

We had friends over after the Homecoming game. I made soup, and Italian Beef, and snacks....it was so delicious. Sawyer and Emily went to bed pretty quickly after we got back. Charlotte and Ella rallied and stayed up for a LONG time. They watched movies and played so well together.

A few friends and our neighbors came over to hang out and eat and drink. Derrick and Alex (who wore matching shirts) got the fire going. Most of the people were gone by midnight. Us four plus our high school friend, Amanda, found our own way to entertain ourselves. This included jumping over fires and singing...really loudly..... And Derrick is obsessed with Miley Cyrus so we had to listen to quite a few Miley songs.

Finally at 2 am, we called it a night. Jodi slept on the floor of Sawyer's room with Emily, Derrick slept in the living room with Ella, Charlotte slept in her bed, and Sawyer slept with Alex and I. It was a short sleep but such a fun night!

Fall Pictures

I really love my kids. I really love Fall. Harvest is my favorite time of the year.

We went over to Aunt Bare's house and took pictures in the cornfield next to her house.

He was all ready to be Fall Farmer Cute boy

I love this one.

Love this one even more.

She is a crazy girl!

"Oh!'

That face...

He kept stealing her headband.

She is perfect.

They are a hot mess.

Love them to the moon.

A Tuesday Trip To Tanner's Orchard

On Tuesday, September 17, we headed over to Tanner's Orchard to spend the morning doing some Fall activities. Here in the Midwest, you never quite know when the last really good, warm day is going to be. The day was supposed to be in the 70's...a perfect day to be outside with the kids!

Charlotte was freaked out of the first part of the orchard....the pumpkins dressed as humans.

Tanner's Appley Express!

All aboard!!

"Anybody need a ride?"

"I have to be caboose, Sawyer"

They were sharing...for a few minutes.

They were nice to each other and playing.

And they were happy... so glad we got a significant number of photos of those 10 seconds :)

Love that Midwestern view...

We headed over to the playground. It is nice having an adult per kid. One could follow one, one could follow the other.

Driving the tractor!

Sawyer loves to swing. Charlotte thinks she loves to swing. That was about as high as she went. Sawyer could have gone as high as we could get him to go.

They have plenty of animals to pet. Sawyer LOVED the animals.

While Sawyer and Momma fed the goats and looked at animals, Daddy and Charlotte went searching for gold in the stream.

He loved the feeding of the goats...

He was super excited to feed them.

Our cautious little girl.... she was too scared to feed the goats at first...

...but then she finally came in and fed them. She giggled and laughed and life was fabulous.

Love these two.

He was saying, "Drive, drive, drive."

Giddy up!!! He was loving riding the horsey...

Quite the pair.

We headed back to the choo choo train :)

Oh hey guys!

"Hey Saw Saw. How about we pick this one?"

"Sissy, I found one!"

My favorite pumpkins.

We headed home around noon and the kids took naps. We had a great rest of the day hanging around at home.

Charlotte went over to Aunt Bare's house for a slumber party that night. She was so excited to spend the night with her!

Sawyer was so sad to see his partner in crime leave :-(

Alex and I put Sawyer to bed and sat outside by the fire pit :) We had a great day and Charlotte had a great time at Aunt Bare's house! She even slept in her princess tent there.