TIU Homecoming

Our adventure to TIU Homecoming started with a fun rest stop that had a playground.
We discovered a problem when we got into Chicagoland which ended up being a bump in our day. Curtis' phone was not working and we had to get to an I Store in order to get it fixed. So Curtis dropped off the boys and me so we could watch the soccer game, while he went and took care of his phone. It wasn't an ideal way to watch the game, but it worked. It was great to remember my days on the field at TIU and to remember the wonderful memories with my teammates. After the game I wondered the sidelines more to see if I knew anyone. I found Melissa, Jeanne, and Kristin who I had played with during my years. I really only got to talk to Melissa but it was great. We had spent so many hours together in years past and I knew it because our personality bends came out right away. She knew my inner driveness to succeed and I knew hers. I loved it.
We did watch the football game but unfortunately none of Curtis' teammates showed up. I was sad for him.
The boys enjoyed the endless hours in the jump houses. Cade kept asking why our college would want us to come back and even after many moments of trying to explain, the idea of homecoming would not stick. But at the end of the day he wasn't asking anymore, he simply said he wanted to go back next year. Plain and simple, he had fun.
Thank you TIU for so many wonderful memories and years of growth in my life. You are a special place.

Pampered Chef Excellence Award

I receives this beautiful bracelet from The Pampered Chef for my sales durin 2011-2012. This was my first time to receive this Excellence Award. I am not much of a jewelry person, but this bracelet is beautiful and I am sure I will wear it on many occasions to shows and on dates. I can not imagine what the streets of gold in heaven will look like. What a wonderful gift.

He Does Sleep!

Naps are few and far between for Cade these days . . . But he does sleep even though he is never tired and never runs out of energy :)

Forming A Servant Heart

On Sunday I got to witness a wonderful act of service by my 6 year old after church. He helped Don walk out to Pop's truck. Though it wasn't a perfect walk for Don (hit in the face w a branch and stumbled off the sidewalk), I really hope he appreciated Cade's help. I was so proud of Cade for walking slowly for Don. He felt so proud to do such an important job.

A First For Curtis

Curtis got to officially marry his first couple this last Saturday. It was stressful for him, just like preaching is, but after it was over life was just perfect again.
He presented the Gospel well and shared the true meaning of marriage that God designed. It was beautiful to hear Truth proclaimed to so many that don't know it. Proud moment for me as his wife.

Campfire

It is getting darker soon so we can actually start a campfire before bedtime and enjoy it for sometime before tiredness becomes very apparent. I think I could have sat at this fire until midnight on Saturday night. It was so peaceful and pleasant. It blessed my heart.

Climbing High

"They are so good Mom, we have to go to Pop and Grandma's." - Cade

The concord grapes at Pop and Grandma's are quite addicting. Cade can not get enough! Pop got a ladder out for him to pick the ones way up high. What fun!

Weekly Library Visits

For the last few years I have taken the boys to the Tuesday story hour at the library. Cade always acted like he didn't want to go, so last Spring he went and just looked at Star Wars books. It worked. Joel listens to about 2 books and becomes uninterested. He loves the toys they have. I don't enjoy the toys because they are distracting but I have learned to deal with it and enjoy this safe place to play. Joel does enjoy the craft and snack Ms Connie gives so that is a highlight in our library time. Joel and I went to our first library reading of the 2012-13 school year by ourselves. It was different without Cade but so very nice to just focus on one.

Swimming Time!

Joel has been asking for a few weeks if he could go to swimming lessons. I took a look at our Park District's website and found a Mom & Tot swim class held every Monday from 10-10:45am for just $5. No commitment. Come as you like.
Joel and I gave it a try Monday morning and it was a success! We were the only ones to show up sow e basically had our own private swimming lesson. Joel laughed and giggled and smiled. We basically did swimming motions to different nursery rhyme songs. I think his favorite was The Wheels on the Bus and of course the free playtime at the end!

Homestead

Curtis celebrated his 15 year high school reunion at this year's Homestead Festival. We went to the reunion at Hunter's Ridge Golf Course. There is a new restaurant out there so we got to experience some yummy Neil and Shorty's BBQ! The food was delicious but we did need a larger portion of the meat to really satisfy us. Curtis split a second plate with a fellow classmate. Delicious! The company was fun for Curtis. I did know some people simply because we live in Priceton and they do too. Many have been my Pampered Chef customers.
The only other Homestead activity we participated in was the parade, primarily because it was the only free thing. The boys really enjoyed it and the weather was wonderful!!

Too Tired

So the last few nights I have wanted to blog and I am just tired. I have been working at going to bed earlier and that hasn't happened either. I find myself doing things like ordering pictures, downloading audio books, sorting and organizing papers, and the list could go on. I have the rest of my life to sleep when my kids are not here. Best to enjoy them now and get less sleep.

September 4, 2012

Today Joel and I got right down to business and started our errands ASAP after Daddy and Cade got out the door. It was a very smooth morning. Though I still wish I could sit in the chair for a bit longer sipping my coffee. But I truly have nothing to complain about, I am do blessed.
After stops at Wal-Mart, a few homes to pick up checks, the bank, a house to pick up a tub of Legos for just $5, we made it home. Groceries got put away and we had a little visit from a friend and her daughter to play. Joel was so very excited to have baby Myla over to play.
Curtis and I got to play a bit of Sequence later in the afternoon when Cade was having some computer time and Joel was sleeping. We felt like we were being very selfish by letting Cade play on the computer for 45 minutes and not attending to his every call, but I am not sure if we really were being selfish or if we were really being healthy and taking time for us. It was wonderful.
I had a FANTASTIC Pampered Chef training meeting. A new consultant I signed in June came finally and Angie had her new recruit come too. What a blessing to have new people to catch the great vision of this great company. I am so thankful for Pampered Cef and all that it has given to our family.

Just an Ordinary Day

Today was a day to catch up and be home. I did 5+ loads of laundry from our camping night and clothing fron the end of last week, plus worked at closing a Pampered Chef show. I really wish every working week was just 4 days and the weekends were 3 days. I am always so exhausted after Sunday and it is no fun to have to get Cade up and out the door when we are all dragging. I think it will be a good morning tomorrow.
Cade and Joel played at home a lot today. Cade played with our wooden train tracks and trains today. It has been months since we have had them out. I have always had to build the track for him but he did it all himself today and I came in at the end and tidied up a few loose ends. He was great!
Joel seemed to want to fight with Cade all day. He is very demanding and is always asking for something an whining. I don't know what it is but it can be very draining. After Curtis and Cade left for a few hours this afternoon to work on the school gym floor, Joel was perfectly content and played and played with his figurines and castle. Of course it was nap time and he was finally content to play. Crazy kid.
We rented "We Bought a Zoo" the movie tonight. We hardly ever rent movies so it was a special treat. It was more for older kids and adults. Joel was extremely bored but Cade liked it for the most part.

Labor Day Weekend

My hubby gave me my request this weekend . . . Camping! We got to take our camper to a Rock Creek State Park in Kellogg, Iowa with Pop and Grandma Bev coming along too. Though I wish we could have stayed for 3 days enjoying a campfire, fishing, outdoor adventures, silence, and fresh air, my camping request only lasted 14 hours.
We continued our adventure onward to the Kansas City area to see the Sterling Warriors Football in their season debut. Kimberly drove up with the kids from Sterling and we had a FUN surprise for all the kids, each other. Though we really only saw each other for 5 hours, it was wonderful. We hate the distance between us but occasions like this make wonderful adventures. The camper has pulled well over the trip and all I would wish for is that we wouldn't have to be back at church in the morning. I love our church and our job but I love to escape reality often, and that camper is a great place to do it!

Play Time @ Corbin's Garden

Joel and I knocked on our neighbors door for some play time friday. Little Corbin is two and a half years old and spends three days a week with his grandma babysitting him at his home. I have interacted more with his grandma than his own parents. She is a very kind lady and my hope is to speak with her about Jesus Christ. I am trying to be bold to put ourselves out there by inviting them to our home to play. I have found myself shying away from unbelievers because I do not want them influencing my children. There is a fine line to this mystery but to shut them out of my life is wrong. I simply pray I will be used by God to further His Kingdom if he chooses. It is of course His choice who comes to Him and I am simply a nothing in the equation but how I want to be obedient to him.
The boys enjoyed eating tomatoes together out of their garden, playing on the swing set and with Corbin's toys, and playing with the dog, Vixen.

Tooth #3

The big news of Tuesday was Cade loosing his 3rd tooth! He had been working on it hard for 3 days with lots and lots of wiggles. He wanted it out so bad and would start to get brae to have Curtis poke it out, but then it would not happen because of too much pain.
On Tuesday he was out for recess after lunch and thought he has a rock in his mouth. He spit it out into his hand and there it was, his tooth!
He was so very very excites. Miss Read gave him a really cool tooth necklace holder for him to keep his tooth in and a nice certificate. How sweet. Now to make sure that gets in the baby book that I haven't touched for years!

Eating off the vine!

One of the lessons Bev and Tom have been working at teaching the boys is the gift of eating off of the vine, fresh from the garden. They always have a bountiful harvest of food and it is a wonderful blessing. Joel's favorite vines are the tomatoes and Cade's are the grapes. I love how they freely help themselves to God's blessing of food.

My boys!

The tractor wheel tire pictures never get old! So precious!

Play Time with Joel!

Here is what Joel and I have been up to while Cade is at school. Oh what a blessing to be with my baby!

The First Day of Kindergarten!

Case attended his first day on kindergarten on Tuesday, August 21. It was a full day of school with much excitement!
Curtis takes Cade to school and brings him home simply because it makes sense with Curtis being at church everyday. I have gone to get him a few times since the beginning of the year and it has been hard because I have to wake up Joel to go get him. You have to do what you have to do though!
I have been packing Cade's lunch for school. He does eat hot lunch on Pizza Hut days, which he enjoys. After the first four days though he was already sick of pb and j. We tried a ham sandwich the next few days which didn't make much of a difference. He has figured out that he can eat a few bites of lunch and then run out to play. He then finished his lunch after school.
He has received 2 red stars in the first 2 weeks of school. Once for marching loudly in line and not stopping when the teacher said stop. And the other for cutting in line. It defeats him greatly when he gets in trouble but he has bounced back okay. At home Curtis and I are still trying to figure out how to handle these red stars in a Biblical manner of training an teaching our child.
Joel and I have been adjusting at home. I can tell he is 3 because he is a whiner. We have been working on asking kindly and responding kindly with "yes Mommy" and "ok Mommy". Joel does not have the same intensity as Cade so our moments are not as physically active. I do try to get us outside each day because he needs it but his preference would definitely be tv, toys, and arts - painting, stickers, beads. I have also been trying to work on reading Bible stories to him. I would read many Bible stories to Cade and he would want it but Joel doesn't want anything to do with them. So I am making a very concerted effort to be reading God's Word to him and this week he actually asked for the story of Zacheus! We have also been memorizing Genesis 1:1 this week. Fun!
The transition to kindergarten has gone well. Though I don't like the extra tired grumpiness and more rigid schedule, we are making it.

Almost the First Day!

We visited Princeton Christian Academy for orientation on Monday, August 20. It was an exciting night for Cade to see his classroom, teacher, and to hear the rules and expectations for the school year. He had no apprehensions and walked into his classroom ready to go!

Bow Season is Coming!

Curtis got out his bow to shoot a few times and the boys wanted to be a part of the adventure too. Cade shot a few times and got some nice distance. Joel got his first shots in with snow thanks to Pop and Daddy's help.

Iowa State Fair 2012!

We got to spend 2 1/2 days and 3 nights at the fair his year. I have to say we needed just one more full day to see what we wanted to see. We got to do so much, but I think this was the first year I didn't go in the agriculture building or cultural center.
Grandma Glenna treated us to many many ride tickets this year and this was a big highlight for the boys. Two slide rides,two sky glider rides, 4 midway rides, Ye Old Mill ride. What fun! My favorite ride moment was when Joel got off his carpet at he slide and said, "That was AWESOME!" my ride highlight was taking my 90 year old Grandma and Joel on the sky glider. Though Joel didn't like it, it was a special moment for me to be with my grandma.
We went to the Fun Forest stage to watch a few shows. Joel loves the Matt's Family Jam. It was interactive and the kids could get shakers and sticks to make a beat of their own. We also saw a really cool 2 man acrobat show, The Red Trouser Show. They did some really really cool stunts.
Cade had been saving his money all year long to spend at the Fair. He wanted to get a wooden crossbow at the Indian Tents and within the first 3 hours we accomplished that task. Plus he got a new coonskin hat and a wooden knife. He was so excited. Ain't Opal treated Joel to a hat of his own too. So cute! Plus he got a green feather fan he picked out to spend his birthday money on. We also got to visit the flea market and pick up a few tos there too. Of course, those don't past long but the hour of joy they bring is part of the Fair tradition.
Curtis' highlight was trying a deep fried Milky Way candy bar. It was delicious and definitely had gluttony spelled all over it!!
One of my favorite highlights of the far was Cade's participation in the Pedal Pull. He competed against 15 other 6 year old boys pulling weight on a pedal tractor. He got 3rd place with a pull of 27 feet 9 inches. He got beat by a pull of 32 feet, 1 inch and also a full pull. He worked so hard and was so patient, waiting over an hour and a half to have his turn. It was a great moment of success for him and us as parents.
We also enjoyed many moments wih our cousins, watching the Crock's show sheep and steers and also seeing the fair with our Bents cousins. I love this part of the Fair, creating relationships for a lifetime.
A camping highlight was the 4am siren on Wednesday night of a severe thunderstorm warning with 60 mph winds approaching. We decided to take the advice of the alert system and take the kids to the shower house shelter. Katie and I plus the 8 children piled into the front of our van and headed for shelter. Jeremy and Curtis stayed and put away our pop up. Praise God I had put away everything else the night before. We settled ourselves in the laundry room of the shower house for shelter. After 5 minutes Jeremy and Curtis arrived and told us the storm alert was lifted. Nothing happened. A few drops but hardly anything. So there we were at 4am with no place to go back to sleep, except Grandma Glenna's hotel room. Yippee! We got a ride from Jeremy to the hotel and after many phone calls to mom she greeted us and we laid our heads down in darkness in her room with California cousin Mary there too. What a great adventure.
I love the tradition of the Iowa State Fair. It is a lot of work to camp and prepare food and keep everyone rested and happy, but I absolutely love it. It is a feeling of home for me. The smells, the sounds, the sights, the company . . Love it. Thank you Mom and Dad for creating this love in my heart.