Blogging Binge...

I feel like a bulimic blogger. I starve myself of blogging for such a long time that I have to binge to hurry and catch up with all that we've been up to!

As I mentioned before, we took a last minute - fast as can be - trip to Iowa two weeks ago. There is a gravitational force that pulls Dennis to Iowa in the fall. It must have something to do with harvesting, football, and family! We spent some time on a family friend's farm... Dennis and the girls drove a couple tractors, rode in the corn combine, and then we all played in one of the corn wagons when it was full. That was the best! It was like a huge sandbox, but with billions of corn kernels instead of sand. I've been wanting to do that since we got married, so this year I finally got my chance.

Dennis and the girls in the John Deere 4455... headed off to take the wagons to be filled with harvested corn

Dennis and the girls in the combine, filling up one wagon - this is so cool to watch! I loved it!

I wanted to show what the field looks like after the combine picks the corn - all the stalks are shredded on the ground, and the ear of corn is left without the kernels. FYI: this is field corn that is used to make corn meal and a million other things - it is not the sweet corn you buy at the grocery store and eat off the cob.

If you look really close, you can see Dennis and the girls in there.

Andrew didn't realize he was missing out on some of the fun - this kid is so happy!


Three VERY happy people here...

Andrew thought the corn wagon was pretty cool, although he did try to eat it the whole time!

Our best attempt at getting all three looking at the same time

Love it...

Last weekend, there was a circus in town. I don't know what I was thinking, but I've never been to a circus before. I had in my head these amazing acts and huge animals (ie. lions and elephants). I forgot to factor in the fact that we don't live in a huge town so a huge circus wasn't realistic for our town. Oh well, the kids had a good time. It was all worth it in the end.

The kids and me all prepped for the big event

Sarah took a little pony ride outside the show. She named her pony "Bella," and talked about her for a couple of days afterwards

For Family Home Evening this week, we did what everyone seems to do this time of year. We carved our lonely little jack-o-lantern. Sarah was a pro and remembered what to do with all the "yucky guts," so she showed Emma the ropes. It was so much fun watching them clean out the pumpkin together. I wish I had video I could put on here to show just how great it was.

What's gonna work...? TEAMWORK!
Andrew: the innocent bystander taking notes for next year

Our finished product. I know, I know... we're really boring with the carving!

Boo!