Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!


Happy 40th Birthday Uncle Mike!!


Halloween was great. First off the weather on Friday was awesome, what a perfect day. I spent all morning mowing and bagging our lawn. It wasn't the most fun but I got to be outside and it looked great when I was finished. The shop lawn is still waiting - I think I'll get it finished up on Sunday. Jake spent the morning in the field and Ben went to daycare.


Our Halloween night started in Albany at the hospital. Grandma was working late and we didn't want to miss seeing her. Jake went as BumbleBee the AutoBot and Ben was a bat. They both really had a good time at every place we stopped. Before we could leave we had to play for a while in the park by the hospital. It is really a nice park and both boys had a great time. From Albany we went to visit Grandpa Ken (and Jake snuck to Nathe's to get a few extra treats). From there to Grandma Linda's. That was really the end of Trick-or-Treating but we enjoyed a little Pizza Party at Poepping's after that. By the time 8pm rolled around Jake had had enough and we had to go home. He needed a little relaxing time and all was well again.


This afternoon we went to Grandpa Ken's again for a fish fry. Uncle Mike and buddy came up to go fishing and to help Dad take the dock and boat lift out in the morning. Since Mom was on call we joined the party so someone would be around for Gabe. Amy stayed home with Will. Good thing we were there because right after the boat took off, the phone was already ringing. Funny how that happens. Mom was gone the whole night - wasn't even back when we headed home. It was a lot of fun - the boys were great.



Jake waiting to get into the hospital. We went in the back door and they already had it locked for the night.




Jake, Grandma and Ben all enjoying Halloween.


At the Nurses' Station - they had all sorts of goodies for the boys.


Getting treats at Grandpa Ken's - Ben even had it figured out by then.

Meeting William

I finally got to meet William. Amy, Mike, Gabe and William came up for a weekend visit. He sure is sweet! Ben thought he was the best thing ever - he kept wanting to pet him, hit him, poke him, bring him his blanket, put his nuke in his mouth, and on and on. He would smile from ear to ear when he got close and scream and holler when we tried to keep him away. Jake held him too, I guess since he isn't his little brother, he thinks he's pretty cool.


Grandma, Amy, Gabe and William came to play on Saturday morning. Gabe wanted to see the semis and it worked out that he got to ride along for a bit. I'm not certain if he enjoyed the semi ride or if it was watching the DVD in the bunk with Jake. Either way - they both had a good time.


Ben rode along in the combine today. I think it was probably his first time. I can't imagine that we had him out there last year. He loves all of that stuff already. He sat pretty well but he'd much rather be driving. Jake loves it as well. He's been a long in the combine and the tractors a few times already this fall. He'd ride along all day if we let him. Curt keeps saying that I should go out in the field and help - my response is only if Jake can drive! I don't think I'd mind combing but digging isn't for me.


Well, the weather is turning and winter is definately on its way. I can't say that I am totally disappointed, I'm ready for a little more quiet time and a lot less running.


I booked our flights to Jamacia (a good thing to do as the weather turns cold) - we are going along with Brian and Jen for their wedding on April 2nd, 2009. It should be a blast - I'm pretty excited to get away. The last vacation that Curt and I were on was to California when Kim and Kyle got married. It will be a little long to be away from the boys but I'm sure everyone will survive.

Ben trying as hard as he can to get to Will.

Jake and William.



Our first pumking of the year - Jake just couldn't wait any longer.




Watching a movie in the sleeper.


Gabe and Jake in the semi.

Middle of October Already?

Wow - I can't believe it is half way through October already. We've been pretty busy - work has been busy for me and Curt's is full swing of Fall Craziness (even without hunting). We did enjoy a beautiful fall day at Nelson's pumpkin patch by Litchfield. We went with Pam, Amiah, Amelia, Linda, Heidi, Brent & Carly. The weather was perfect, last year it was about 85 degrees, this year it was wonderful.


Ben and Jake are doing great. We've had our first round of colds but everyone has faired through it pretty well. Ben loves being outside, begs to get out the door everyday. Jake is still learning how to tolerate his brother's presence. One minute he's trying to help Ben and the next he's pushing him out of the way, hitting him over the head or yelling at him. I can only hope that the older they get they might find a peaceful way of playing together.


Here's some pictures.



Brent, Carly & Jake



Amelia & Jake



Ben checking out the goats.



Jake coming down the big tube slide (I even gave it a try!).



Ben, Grandma Linda & Jake

Ben relaxing when Jake wasn't home.

Wrestling...

Welcome William Michael!

My sweet new beautiful nephew, William Michael, was born on October 3rd. Everyone is doing great (I guess, I haven't gotten to see them myself!!). Hopefully I'll be able to go and visit soon and I'll share some more photos. These are courtesy of Amy.

October

It has been a very long time since I updated. Lots of fun stuff has happened.

First off, I got away for a weekend with my girlfriends the second weekend of September. It was great to have some time away and to see the girls. The weather was gloomy but the company was awesome, as was the resort. We stayed at Ludlow's Resort on Lake Vermillion. I'd certainly recommend it if someone is looking for a peaceful get-away.

While I was off enjoying myself, my sister was taking care of Jake and Ben. It was the first time they have ever stayed at her house. Everyone did great. Jake had a little homesick moment but a talk on the phone with his Dad cleared it up. Dad was busy working at home and setting up Jake's new bunkbeds. He was pretty excited about them when we got home!

Everyday Ben continues to change. He's interested in a doing everything that a 3 year old might want to do. Needless to say, he's often frustrated. Jake and Ben have been finding moments of real play between them. It's a lot of effort on Jake's part and he's been doing a wonderful job.

I'm including a picture of Ben wearing his new shoes. He's never had actual shoes on his feet before and I was starting to get worried that it would be a battle. Well, he surprised me once again. He absolutely loved them. He sat patiently while I put them on and then giggled the minute he started walking in them. He must have run up and down the hallway a dozen time, stopping occassionally to check out his feet and have a little giggle.

The weekend after the boys stayed with the Evenochecks we headed back to Cambridge for Gabe's 4th Birthday party. Everyone had a great time. Jake still can't figure out why they want to live sooooo far away from us. The drive is torture for him. He thinks that they could easily build a house right next to Grandpa Ken's garage.

This picture is of Gabe opening his gift from Jake. It is R2-D2 - I guess he has taken a liking to Star Wars.
While Gabe was opening presents Grandpa Ken and Ben were bonding in the living room...

The Celebration

The big birthday bash for our 1 year old was a success! I think everyone had a nice time - Ben actually loved all the excitement. All day long he was following grandma and me around the house complaining but as soon as the festivities started, he was awesome. He really is a complainer - you should hear him sometimes. It gets to be kind of funny. I can about imagine what he'll all have to say when the words start coming out.

Friday was also dentist day for Jake. He's been to the dentist a few times but this time he had to have 2 cavities filled. He really did great. I wasn't sure how it was going to go because he was getting skiddish the closer we got to the dentist. I had to coax him in the chair but after that all went well. Of course the gas that they gave him helped out a bit! Even after the appt he was a champ - sleeping lips and cheeks and all! We went grocery shopping and birthday gift shopping for Ben. It helped that he had a stressful appt right before - it was pretty easy to convince his mother to buy him something too!

My mom was over today making homemade chili - I have so many tomatoes that we had to do something with some of them. She helped me make a huge batch so we could freeze a bunch. It turned out great. If anyone is up for canning pears - let me know. I have 50 lbs of them. I don't know what I was thinking when I ordered them!

I'm going to post a bunch of new pictures - I'm still a believer that they are more fun than words.


Grandpa Ken and Ben playing at the birthday party.


Jake helping Ben - or something like that!


Grandma Linda gave Ben a new sippy - as you can see
he liked it right away. It was his favorite.


Having a bit of cake...

Happy Birthday

Benjamin Turns 1!

Oh yes, it was a grand day. I can't believe he's 1 already, where does the time go? We really didn't do anything special for the day, other than go for a drive so Ben could experience what it was like to see where we are going in the car rather than where we've been. He thinks that having his carseat face foward is the coolest thing ever. Whenever I sneak a peak at him he gets a great big smile on his face. He has always hated getting into his carseat and now he hardly protests (though I'm sure this is short term - the fun will wear off).

We had planned to have cake after supper but both boys were too tuckered out. Jake fell asleep running an errand with Curt at 7pm and Ben was asleep shorter after. We'll celebrate Friday night with some family and a 'smash' cake.

Jake was busy over Labor Day weekend. He and Curt went to the I-94 raceway for some father-son fun. They had a blast. It wasn't just the typical races, they had all sorts of other things (rollover contest, tag team races, skid cars, monster truck, etc.). If you want to know what any of those things are or how it went, just give Jake a call. He also got to spend some time at Lake Maria playing, he spent a whole day with G & G Bergmann at Amy's house, then got to spend the night at the Lake and the whole next day with grandma. I think that might have been why he was soooo tired on Wednesday!

Next weekend I get to spend some much needed time with some girlfriends. Amber, Jo, Kim and I are heading to Lake Vermillion for a few days. The boys are staying with Amy. I can't wait!

Not a whole lot of other news. The busy season is starting for Curt so if anyone is looking to do something one night, let me know -- we'll be all alone most of the time.