Muscle Girl!

Callie recently discovered she can open the garage door with her big muscles! Seriously she is strong. It is not an easy feat to pull this door up! Way to go my big strong girl! 

Birthday Present!

Glitter! Glitter Glitter! Callie and I have spent many hours sprinkling glitter on her peel and stick leopard picture. Happy Birthday!! Peel and sprinkle. Peel and sprinkle. I always loved the paint by number as a kid, so this is just a step up and a whole lot more messy! Though it look a long time, we had fun together and it didn't turn out too bad. Now to find a place for it that will not allow glitter to go everywhere ....

Fall Leaves!

We had a nice freeze which caused the leaves on our front tree to fall off all at once. The sun was shining so we decided to go out and rack! Plus we also had to do a bit of fort building and lead like jumping! Unfortunately we didn't have a smile for the picture, but we did have fun! 

Waterpark With Pop & Grandma!

A few of the special pics of the kids' time with Pop & Grandma at the Waterpark Hotel, with family, and with friends! 

Trip to Kansas City

We ventured to Kansas City to catch the Sterling Warriors play at St. Mary's College. This was the closest game to us the Warriors had this season.the kids enjoyed their cousins immensely.  Curtis and I drove back after the game on Saturday night, but Pop and Grandma kept the kids and stayed another night with the cousins at a special hotel with a waterpark!  The McConnell family also joined us from Arkansas for the fun of Warrior Football and Family! And the Sterling Warriors won! 

Trick or Treating 2017!

Here are our 2017 Trick or Treaters! 

Joel was Walugi from Mario Brothers! 

Callie was a leopard! 

Cade was a farmer! 

Our favorite part about trick or treating is visiting the special people in our lives! We always enjoy our stop at Melvina's house to see how she is doing. Plus we enjoy a few stops at the other neighbor's homes in our old neighborhood. We have gained a few new stops in our current neighborhood which the kids are enjoying too. 

Birthday Girl!

The new four year old in our home received a special birthday box surprise to help celebrate her special day. Thanks Grandma Glenna and Grandpa Bill! 

Pumpkin Carving!

Callie and Joel were so excited for carving pumpkins this year. All throughout the season they have asked when we were going to carve. We don't usually buy pumpkins because the squirrels in our neighborhood annihilate them as soon as we set them outside. This year we received 5 small pumpkins as gifts through field trips and the dentist. The pumpkins were gobbled up by the squirrels just a few days after being on our step. So the thought of having our precious Jack O' Lanterns eaten up by the squirrels was not something I really wanted to take on. But we decided to make it happen. The Sunday before October 31, we were home for the evening and were able to accomplish the carving dream. Joel and Daddy made a cat, Callie and Mommy made a Jack O' Daddy Lantern, and Cade carved his own into a hockey player (thank you Daddy for cleaning it out!). And we successfully kept them cold and on display on our front porch. Squirrel issue averted! Happy Fall! 

Happy 66th Birthday Pop!

We celebrated Pop's 66th birthday just a few days after Callie turned four! We had Pop's favorite, fried chicken and apple pie! Pop is a joy to celebrate! His laughter fills our lives with joy and love! Happy Birthday Pop!

Cuddling Coloring

Mommy got sick the day after Callie's birthday. I think she just got wore out. So Callie spent the day being patient with Mommy. We colored together while cuddling on the couch and resting. Precious girl. 

First Hair Cut!

Callie got her first hair cut the day after her 4th birthday. She had been asking for many weeks when she could get her own hair cut, so we surprised her with a special treat of a hair cut for her birthday! She got to sit up on the big chair at Ms Amy's Salon! Daddy had to take her because Mommy wasn't feeling well and had to stay home to rest. Daddy got a picture of this memorable moment! Happy Birthday Callie Mae! 

Awana Bible Character Dress Up Night!

Callie got to dress up as Queen Esther on her birthday for Bible Character Dress Up Night at Awana! She wore a special fancy dress Grandma Glenna gave her and her purple tiara. What a fun night and great way to end her birthday day! 

Cowgirl Birthday Party!

We celebrated Callie's birthday with a cowgirl themed birthday! She chose her favorite chicken soup recipe for dinner,  had a strawberry cowgirl hat cake for dessert! Joel planned some fun cowgirl themed games outside. We had a stick horse obstacle coarse and relay race of three teams, and a cowgirl gun shooting target contest (Nerf style!). And we also had gifts!  Callie received two sparkly eyed Ty animals from Cade and Joel. Grandma and Pop gave Callie a lot of crafts and a special bear which wore a special from Nana.  Mommy and Daddy gave Callie some new size 4 clothes, a couple little pet shop figures, and a giant new doll house! 

What a fun 4th birthday!! We love you so much Callie Mae!!

Birthday Girl! She is 4!

We had a fun day celebrating Callie's 4th birthday! We started the morning opening her birthday cards. We have two faithful people in our lives who always get their cards here on time for our kids - "Aunt Cheryl" (Odell family friend!) and Aunt Opal & Uncle Steve. Each card had a little money surprise in it which made for some excitement. Callie already has plans to use her birthday money on getting her face painted at the Iowa State Fair next summer! 

We then went to Bible Study. We took some fun ladybug apple treats to share with Callie's friends. And then we got to go to lunch with Miss Vickie and Miss Luanne at Pizza Hut. They both brought her special presents! She got a  fun stamping activitiy kit and an activity book with new markers!! She went right to work on her new toys when we got home. 

Callie then took a good nap so she could have her cowgirl birthday party when she woke up! 

PBC Family Hayrack Ride

On Saturday evening (after our exciting trout hunt!) we joined others from our church family for a hayrack ride and evening bonfire to celebrate the fall! We enjoyed the crisp weather, friends, food, and fun around the fire. We are blessed with a wonderful church family.