Pumpkin Patch

Sneak Peek

So I'm ooober excited about Kale's Halloween costume this year.  A friend loaned it to us and it is adorable on our little guy.  I could not stop laughing or smiling when he had it on. 

Pretty sure I had more fun with it than he did! 

Thought I'd give a few clues in pictures but you'll have to wait until October 31 for the final reveal!

What have been some favorite Halloween costumes on your own little pumpkins?

Wife-cation

So my "mommy-cation" (see previous post) ended abruptly when Justin flew out for Brazil the day after we got back from Michigan.  Suddenly, single parenthood set in for a few days.  I was trying to decide if I was on a wife-cation or a hubby-cation.  Regardless, I was alone with my son and dog in our big old farmhouse on nights that get dark too early!!!  I digress...

Kale and I worked to fill our time as best we could.  We made trips to the library, went for a walk in a beautiful neighborhood,

story hour, playgrounds, runs on trails, up and down on the lawnmower, etc.

I'm happy to say that Justin returned home safely today and our family is complete once again!

I'm content to have no vacations of any sort planned for a bit now.  Normal life at home is just fine for me!

Houghton, MI

This past week, Justin and I had the fortune of traveling to Houghton, MI in the UP (for all you non-yoopers, that's Upper Peninsula).  Justin attended college in Houghton and was returning for a recruiting trip for work.  My parents, God love them, offered to care for Kale while we traveled.  My mom said, "I would feel bad for Kale having to ride in a car that long."  I decided that was reason enough for me to have a "mommy-cation."

If you've never been to the UP in the fall, it's a must.  The colors are amazing.  And there are so many "covered roads" where the trees just seem to envelope your car with reds, oranges, and yellows.  It is breathtaking.  Every inch of road was basically a postcard.  One particular scene that sticks in my mind was that of a field with big haybales and hills behind covered in colors.  I so wanted to stop the car for a photo opp on that one and am kicking myself now that I did not!

Our first full day in town, Justin was on campus recruiting.  So, I had a free day!  So many things to do, so little time...I got in a run, worked on bible study homework, got a haircut and style, went shopping, drove around gawking at the leaves and taking way too many pictures, free reading...essentially soaking up all the "me time" possible.

That night, we met up with Justin's college basketball coach, his wife and daughter for dinner.  Fun to hear old stories and see the excitement in Justin's eyes remembering the "gold old days."  Friday was a free day for both of us.  We spent time in Copper Harbor doing a little hiking.  We weren't really appropriately dressed for the chilly weather so we kept it short.  Lake Superior had pretty violent waves coming into shore with the high winds.  Wanting to catch the "perfect picture", I went as far onto the shore as I saw dry land.

Just as I snapped the above picture, a wave came in and got me.  I was screaming and laughing and clobbered Justin as he was trying to help me out of the way of the wave.  Thankfully, I brought another pair of socks and shoes in the car!  Note the wet pants below...

Afterward we headed through a few shops.  We ended up parking ourselves by a fireplace in one of the stores enjoying some hot cocoa and Copper Harbor fudge!

Later we toured an old army fort and coal mine.  The coal mining industry is still so interesting to me.  Especially when it first began and how those men put their lives in such danger.  If I'd been married to a miner back in the day, I think I would have felt unsettled each time he left for work in the morning.  After we finished the tour, all I could think was "God bless miners!"

Not only did I wear one coat, but I took another to put over my legs for the tour of the mine.  BRRRRR, friends.

The cart above on the right held 30 miners and took them into the mine and back out again at the end of the shift.  We watched a video of the men getting on and off of this cart.  Again, it would have given me a sinking feeling every day to get on this cart and be lowered thousands of miles into the earth.

We ended our day with dinner at Charlie and Diane's, friends of Justin's from the church he attended in college.  They had an amazing dinner for us topped off with homemade apple pie.  What a day in the UP!

So long, Houghton!  Hold on to fall as long as you can before you are submerged in snow!





6 Years

Justin and I celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary on Saturday.  We enjoyed take-out Chinese and a rental movie while our boy slept peacefully upstairs.  So thankful for the simple pleasures in life!

Saturday Deals

I hit the mother load at a garage sale on Saturday.  I picked up a Little Tykes table and two chairs, a box full of Geo Trax, two kids plastic baseball bats, a box full of soft baseballs, a batting tee, a tennis racket (for bat swatting in the house...), a John Deere kids baseball cap, bag of socks, and a few books for a grand total of $16.70. 

I'm not a fan of spending a lot of money on toys for kids because they seem to grow out of their interest in them so quickly.  So, garage sales are huge for me.  It's fun to bring home treasures for Kale, see his enjoyment in them, and save money in the process.  These pics of Kale took place over the weekend.  He was having fun with those soft baseballs and throwing them under the table and attempting to retrieve them.  Comic relief for Justin and I!

What's been a great deal you've found recently?

Laundry

At least someone enjoys laundry day!

Hard Hat Required

My dad has joked that Kale should wear a hard hat.  The more times Kale falls, the more I start believing that myself.  Today he took another spill in the bathroom hitting his mouth on the toilet.  There was blood and crying and mom got woozy. 

Thankfully, Kale's fat lip is slightly smaller, the blood has stopped flowing and he was able to bite on some teething rings for us.  Guess the hard hat wouldn't have helped this incident.  Guess we might need to add mouth guard to the shopping list...

Cuddles with Kale

Kale has become more of a cuddler the older he's gotten and we have enjoyed it!  It warms my heart to see him cuddled in with Dad on the couch.  He's also become a big fan of "Baby Praise" DVDs.  We received a few as baby gifts (thanks, Laurel!) and he's just recently taken  interest in them.  Often in the mornings, that is what he is most content doing...watching his "Baby Praise."  We are enjoying his little self so much!

In other news, fall seems to be upon us with its cooler temps, blowing leaves and occasional rain showers.  I couldn't be happier.  I love fall and I'm excited for some new activities for Kale and I to get involved with during our daytime hours.  One being our Moms group kicking back off on Friday!  Excited to see the moms and how much the kiddos have grown over the summer.  Hoping the transition for Kale into the one year old room goes smoothly!  BIG STEP for Kale (and MOM!).  So enjoy a cup of cocoa, cuddle up with someone you love, and enjoy the beauty outside!

Haircuts for the Boys

Our boys recently both got haircuts. 

Kale's before shot.

Neither haircut went particularly well.  Kale was a superstar at his first haircut.  He was about the exact opposite this time...whatever the opposite for superstar might be...

Kale's after shot.

There was crying, screaming, fighting, snot, and hair everywhere.  I truly believe the haircutter deserved a metal or day off or something.  Because it was going "oh so well," when she asked me how much we wanted off, I replied, "You should probably make it pretty short because I don't want to bring him back for awhile."  Dad likes the end result thinking Kale looks even more like him now.  Mama is missing the curls.

On to haircut number 2 for Mr. Cedar.

Cedar's before shot.

Cedar had really nasty knots in his fur, particularly behind his ears.  We'd not taken him to a groomer up to this point and decided it was probably time at the ripe ole' age of 2.5 years. 

Cedar's after shot.

When I picked Cedar up from the groomers, she said he was pretty much scared of everything: the water, the shampoo, her...He nearly took my arm off after he was leashed and we were heading for the car.  He wanted outta there!

Matthew 10:30, 31 "And even the very hairs on your head are numbered.  So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."



Vacation of Sorts

Justin was on vacation for 10 days. Due to new windows in the home this past spring, the budget didn't allow for a "travel vacation." Instead, we did a short weekend trip and several "outings" plus house projects, of course.
The main house project was blowing insulation into the porch area to make it a four seasons porch-oh happy day. We employed the help of two wonderful neighbors including our 86 year old neighbor, Merle. We conveniently placed Merle on "turn on, turn off control" of the machine operated by a switch. Note, Cedar kept him company in his comfy chair while he sipped an A&W. Don't call us slave drivers for calling on the help of an 86 year old.Our weekend trip was to the QC to visit 3 different sets of friends. Of course I only had my camera at one of the stops. We enjoyed grilling out with 4 of D's college friends and their families Friday night, seeing a close hometown friend and her family Saturday with a visit to the zoo and hotel swimming, and another college friend and his family Sunday.When back home, we froze corn, canned tomatoes, went to the library, a "new to us" ice cream shop, over to the Amish bakery for breakfast, a Bucks baseball game for a work event, and lots of play time with Kale.Just the other night, Justin took his boys for a ride. Notice Kale clutching Justin's collar for dear life. You would have thought Mom was driving...