Beggar's Night

Yesterday we went to Winterset for trick or treating with the cousins. We had Cinderella, James, and an ISU football player this year.

Tough guys

Ainsley was Selah's mouse, they were very cute together!

Luke decided to pose for a picture this one time at Leah's. He didn't understand why we were trick or treating on the 30th and not the 31st, or why we went to stores first and not to houses (they trick or treat around the square first). It was a tough night for him at first but he warmed up to it and went around the neighborhood after supper.

And Mickey Mouse! Jude looked so cute, Luke wasn't posing at this time and Layken was out with friends. I wish I had gotten a picture of her too, she was a nerd and looked so funny! Her and her friends even made the front page of the Des Moines register online!

Fall Colors

We had some fevers and icky noses this weekend so hung out at home the whole time. On Saturday we went outside for awhile and I took some pictures of the kids by our trees out front, they are such a pretty color right now! At first Luke would have nothing to do with it.

Selah was again the best subject, always wanting me to take more!

Luke was fine if he got to throw leaves....

and then decided he would sit and smile! It was nice to hang out at home and get some stuff done but we did miss the pumpkin patch! Maybe this week sometime.

Iowa State Football

Last Saturday we went to our only Iowa State game of the season. Selah woke up that morning not feeling great, she was a little warm and just worn out. When I called my Mom she was so sweet to offer to stay with Selah so I could go to the game with the boys, thank you Mom! Then when we got to Grandma and Grandpa's Luke didn't want to go either so just Brad, Jack and Me went to the big game with Grandpa Ken. It was a great game to go to, we actually won!

Jack did a lot of cheering and serious watching. Other than wanting nachos and talking football we didn't hear a word from him.

Nice seats Grandma and Grandpa!

Uncle Jays had an FCA event in the practice building so Brad and Jack took the opportunity to throw a few passes.

Of course bean bag toss during tailgating.

Boys against girls....again! We had a fun time at the game and Mom and the little ones stayed nice and cozy at home to recover from our crazy week!

Camping Party for Luke

On Friday night we had Luke's party with our families, Luke wanted to have a fire and camp out but because of the weather they ended up camping inside!

His favorite part of parties is the scavenger hunt so of course we had to have one, we had teams this time to see who could get to the treasure first and he switched teams in the middle!

This is the yellow team, I know what they are saying "These clues make no sense!" I messed up one of the alphabet clues and both teams were stumped until I figured out my mistake.

Okay they were off again, I love Grandpa Rex carrying Selah like a sac of potatoes, it wasn't clear enough to zoom on but it's still cute!

The blue team

The yellow team

The only picture I got with all of the kids, we roasted hot dogs and marshmallows by the fire, it was a chilly night but cozy next to the fire.

After opening presents Luke immediately played with, or wore all of his gifts!

Cake time

We had face painting but only the girls and Levi (oh and Uncle Jays!) chose to get their faces painted.

Then all the kids slept in the tent downstairs, poor Rex and Cathy probably got the least amount of sleep out of the adults because their room was down next to them! Luke did get his camp out this year though.

Selah's 1st Haircut

This afternoon we had a very big event for Selah, her first haircut! Her hair is so fine that I thought maybe it would help to cut off the baby stuff, also she has been wanting to get her hair cut for awhile, she always wants to go with me to get mine done. The finished look, the lady asked Selah if she wanted to put a bow in it and of course Selah said yes, but I was thinking to myself like a puppy when they get their hair cut? Anyway Selah loved it.

She even got to sit on a beaver! Not quite Dudes and Divas (we should have done it while we were in Rochester!) but it was still cute.

Selah sitting so nice and still, I couldn't help remembering Luke's first haircut at this moment, I think the lady still references that story when cutting other kid's hair! Funny enough now he LOVES to get his hair buzzed, it feels soft he says and he feels the back of his head for days after the haircut.

Luke's Birthday at the Great Wolf Lodge

On Monday we took off to Kansas City to stay at the Great Wolf Lodge. Brad's birthday was on Monday although he was on call all day and Luke's birthday was yesterday so we took a mini trip to celebrate and have a last hurrah before we have to pack all of the stuff sweet baby brings to vacations! They brought their costumes for trick or treating at night (Jack decided not to wear his, is he getting to old?) And then had story time, all of these forest animals come to life and sing.

Guess who was there when we walked into the pool? Our friends the VanderZwaags! It was so fun to see them, we had no idea they were taking a last minute trip to the Great Wolf Lodge too but is was an awesome surprise! I got to hang out with Roberta again and Brad and Kris talked medical stuff, all while the kids swam and played.

Wiley Wolf comes out at the end of story time and the kids can all high five and hug him, Selah wanted nothing to do with him though! Not even the second night, the boys and Roberta's kids all said they would go with her to see him but no sir was she going. Luke told her he was nice and talked all about his clothes, she said she didn't like his boots!

Two full days of swimming!

Luke loves monkey bars everywhere he goes and in whatever form.

Poor Brad had to take turns with Luke and Selah on the big water slides where they needed a parent, I am way to pregnant right now! He was up those stairs a ton with the tubes.

Luke almost getting dumped on by the bucket.

Yesterday morning on his birthday he woke up very excited, he asked me "Why don't you have the flags and my presents out?" He wanted me to recreate our trip last year to the Wisconsin Dells for his birthday. I had the room decorated before Brad and the other two even woke up and THEN Luke felt like it was his birthday.

That night while they were going to sleep Brad told me they were all talking about how old they would be when the baby was this age or that age, and when Jack told Selah she would never be older than him or Luke she said "I want to be the boss sometime!"

Apple Orchard

Yesterday we went to my Uncle Bob and Aunt Laure's apple orchard to pick some apples and make some juice, it was chilly but we had so much fun!We got out our winter gear for a day in the orchard!

How pretty are the trees?

I think Jude ate 20 apples yesterday!

Jack putting in apples to be chopped by the apple press.

Luke wasn't sure about the whole experience and wouldn't come out of the van for the first 45 minutes but after Aunt Lele coaxed him out he loved it!

Coming out of the orchard with his harvest.

They did have some downtime to swing and play, the kids all also played apple ball, they used an apple for a soccer ball, football, and kickball. These kids are so resourceful!

Layken helping Grandpa Ken at the press, she worked hard yesterday!

This is the press, the kids (and I) were fascinated with the apple chopper and press and watching all the juice come out, we got six gallons to take home along with a crate of apples. Thanks so much Bob and Laure!

The girls picking apples.

How sweet is this?

I love this picture.

This was where Jack and Levi were all day, Jack spent most of his afternoon in a tree. My Uncle Jim even brought me the hood from Jack's coat that he had found up in a tree!

It was a really fun day to be outside and hang out with family!

We missed you yesterday Daddy and today too, it stinks to have to work on your birthday! Happy Birthday and we love you!