A Baptism and A Birthday!

On Sunday, December 1, 2013, I woke up feeling so much better and I was so glad that the stomach bug was out of my system. I got a bunch of sleep on that Saturday night and I was like a new person.

 

Mary and Chad decided to commit their lives to Christ and they both got baptized that day. They both wanted to be baptized prior to their sweet baby being born.

 

I was in the back of the chapel sitting by my parents and Chad's parents but I was still able to get a few good pictures once I cropped them.

 

I should have gone up and moved that microphone.

Mom and Dad and I all attended the Baptism. (I left Alex at home with both kids.)

Two of Mary's great friends from ISU and their significant others also attended the Baptism. They drove from Morton and Normal to attend. She is so lucky to have such great and supportive friends. (They are both SUPER nice and just really lovely girls.)

 

 

I left after I took this last picture. As I got to my car, I realized I didn't have my keys. I lost them. I have NO idea where they went. Chad's AMAZING mom and dad took me back to my house to get my keys and then drove me back to Eureka to get my car. They are such great people. (I am writing this at the end of April and the keys have NOT been found. Ever. I don't know where they are.)

 

When I got home we started our Christmas preparations. We got the Advent calendar/candy countdown out that Gigi had bought each kid.

 

How exciting!! A piece of chocolate EVERY DAY!!!

After supper and baths, we decided to go ahead and give Daddy his birthday presents. (Since I was so sick the night before, we didn't do a single thing for his birthday.)

We made him finger paintings.

Each kid was SO PROUD of what they had made him.

He is so pretty.

 

We also got out their Christmas trees for their room (From the Kohl's clearance rack from last year...$2 per tree.)

Those were a hit!!!

 

 

We had a great Sunday at home with the kids. The Christmas Season is beginning!

Alex's Saturday Off

Alex's work has changed stuff up with his schedule  so we had a Saturday that we got to spend TWO straight days together. Alex's choice was to go down to the farm and help with harvesting. With this being his first Fall here, he wanted to learn the ropes.

We drove down Friday night. We got to Grandma's house around 10. Charlotte stayed asleep but Sawyer woke up for about 2 hours. We listened to the STL game on the way down and finished watching it when we got to Grandma's. Jake, Melissa, Dad, Katie, and Alicia were there visiting as well. We always love getting to Grandma's house and there being a crew there. 

The next morning, Dad and Alex got up early and waited for Uncle Jim to get there to get stuff started.

As soon as the sun was up, it was time...

Grandma and I drove down to the farm to take some pictures and let the kids see the cows.

Love that pasture...

...and that pond...

...and the beautiful trees

...

three calves :)

And another one up on the other hill in the pasture.

After we got up and got moving, we headed to the next town over to watch my cousin Michaela play volleyball. Melissa went with us and Aunt Kathy met us there. After the game and after walking thru the craft show, we headed to eat lunch at the pizza place. Lunch with 2 toddlers that haven't napped yet is always fun :) Grandma was ready to hit the road.

They slept on the way back to Grandma's house. We took pizza, soda and chips to Dad, Alex, and Uncle Jim who were all harvesting over at Dad's farm.

Then we got back to Grandma's house. Both kids woke up (after 30 min naps) and wouldn't go back to sleep. So we played intstead.

Grandma brought the new kitties inside.

To say she was smitten would be an understatement.

He makes noises as he pets cats. It's like a high pitched hum. He was doing it to the kitty.

I AM IN LOVE.

So is she. Look at the fear in that kittie's eyes.

Around 5 we headed over to Dad's farm to check in with the boys. 

Beautiful, right?

Alex was manning his post!

Sawyer was LOVING the tractor.

Charlotte was nervous at first but she ended up warming up to the idea of the tractor.

Love this shot.

Here comes Papa!! With a wagon full of corn!

We love harvest.

Charlotte and Sawyer love Papa's truck. It was SOOOO muddy. 

Drive drive drive

So much corn. Such little hands.

After that, we headed back to Grandma's for our bonfire. We had a weinie roast!! So delicious. The kids ran around until dark and then ate their hot dogs. Sawyer went to sleep around 7:30.

Charlotte and Kyla just sat and watched tv together. They would take a break and get a snack then head back to the TV. 

Two tired beauties.

Charlotte was so good (for the most part) even with so little sleep. Alex and Dad got back around 8 pm. They ate and sat around with the fam. I finally had to get Alex to put Charlotte down around 9 pm. She just wasn't going to sleep for me. It was a long day with lots of in and out with the kids and lots of business. By 9 pm, I was exhausted. I went out and sat by the fire with the cousins and even got into the hot tub for awhile with Alex and Caleb. It was a fabulous day and I am so thankful that Alex chose this way to spend his Saturday off!!!

Harvest is the most beautiful time of the year :)

A Sport Filled Saturday

On Saturday, September 14, we woke up at Grandma Ann's house. Mary and Anne both got up with me and the kids. It was nice to have so much help at 7 am :) Mary and Chad headed back home bc they had a full weekend back home. We stayed down and Alex decided to come down Saturday when he got off of work.

Katie had a regional softball game so we all decided to go to it.

Charlotte rode into town with Grandma Ann and Aunt MeeMee.

Sawyer rode to town with his Momma once he woke up from his nap.

Katie was a maniac on the field :)

Aunt Kathy is famous for always having apples with her. Charlotte knows that Aunt Kat will have snacks and what not for her :)

Sawyer just walked right over and crawled up on Grandma's lap. He actually does this often now.

Sweet Sawyer kisses...

It's so easy for these kiddos to be spoiled around everyone. They get to do whatever they want :)

Aunt Kathy and Liss after the game.

Sawyer watching the win...

Great game Katie!!!

Sibling love.

After a fabulous win, we headed to the Wagon Wheel for lunch with everyone that went to the game. For whatever reason, it took an hour to get our food. Then the food I ordered was too greasy and made me sick. The kids were pretty good considering they needed a nap in the worst way.

We said goodbye to Aunt MeeMee. She headed back to Jeff City, MO after lunch.

We went back to Grandma's house to play for awhile. Then we took the kids down to Aunt Kathy's house for a bath and to play. Alex met us at Aunt Kathy's. We drove down the lane to Grandma's house and picked her up. Then we headed up to the high school football game. It was Alumni Night so all of our family that had played was getting announced. Mom and Dad even came over from the Villa so Dad could get announced. Even though Grandma had just had surgery, we were able to get her parked close enough that she didn't have to walk far...and we got in for free.

Here is Dad walking onto the field.

Uncle Jim is in the green Tshirt, jean shorts, and grey hat.

Jake is at the end walking out.

Dad was pretty happy to be in his old stomping grounds...

Alex and Charlotte had a pretty front row seat for the game.

Melissa brought Wayne up to the game.

She let him out of the stroller and he was EVERYWHERE. 

But he was super excited to see his Great Grandma Ann.

I love this picture.

He was so happy to see her.

Charlotte was scared of the person dressed as a Hawk. (She  just really hates humans dressed as animals...or anything other than a humna.) Sawyer was tired and needed to go to sleep.

We left after the third quarter. Alex picked up pizza for us and we headed to Grandma's. Alex, Jake and Melissa went out that night. I stayed at Grandma's with her and the babies.

It was a busy but fun Saturday! :) Oh, just love living and breathing in a small town...