The game and the apple orchard.

We had a full Labor Day weekend, but for most of it I didn't have my camera, or I just didn't take pictures. On Saturday, a few of us went to the Illinois vs. Missouri game. It was a pathetic game, but we had a good time with family and friends.

Here Brandon sits while Dad and Jarod wash his windshield and fill up his tank. Way to go Brandon...make the others work.

Other than that, this is the only other picture I got from the whole day. And I took it at the end of the day when we were so tired and worn out...but since I had it I thought I would post it. Mindy and me after 6 hours in the car and about 4 hours at the game.

We were busy Sunday and Monday, but I didn't take my camera along.

Wednesday Bek and I took our kids to get some apples. I came home with one gallon of cider and a very tired boy.

Here is cute little Aria.


Will and Josh in the apple grove.

Will and Aria running through the tunnels in the hay maze.

Darci on top of the hay maze...love the dress and tights.

I looked over to find Will climbing this wall. He is such a climber...he made it to the top in a few minutes.

Darci on the tractor.

The playground there was so fun...my favorite is the plane.

Darci found this little hole in the ship.

It was a great day, but Will definitely came home tired.

Yesterday we laid low...letting Will recoup from no naps the day before. I found him at one point in Jarod's shaving cream...I think he was trying to lather up like Jarod.

Well, that's all for now...

Happy Birthday Josh!

Today is Josh's 6th Birthday. We celebrated last night at family night.

We went to my dad's pool and ate cabobs, swam and opened presents.

All in all I believe it was a happy day for Josh.

Darci (with her ever faithful little dog in hand),

pushed Josh in the pool and thought it was pretty funny.

Such a pretty face.

The boys cracking up.

I took a few pictures trying to get these three to all look at the camera and smile at the same time...after the 15th picture, decided this was good enough.

Such a beautiful night for family night by the pool.

Josh and his Lightning McQueen Cars from Will.

Happy Birthday Josh Buddy!

Summer days

This summer was a slow start for swimming. We didn't do much swimming in June and July, but the last couple weeks have been full of swimming days. Will wears a swimming vest and floaties...that way I don't have to be in the water constantly.

He loves it and has been having so much fun.

We went out to Blm lake the other day and he swam all around the dock...so cute.

The one thing that was so funny while we were there, was this little munchkin and her big life vest. She could hardly move...so funny.

Here she is stuck trying to get into the sand box.

Trying to see the sand over her vest.


Then today we went over to Candice's for Erin's Birthday. Mindy and Mom were there too. We had a blast swimming and enjoying having the family close...we missed you Kristen!

Here is Ashley enjoying her lunch.

Will chowing down with the big kids on the stairs instead of in a highchair. I think he felt like such a big boy.

The Birthday girl. Can't believe she is already 10!

These two cracked me up. They are such buds.

Here are all the grandkids.

Thanks Candice and kids for having us over and Happy Birthday Erin!!

Three's a crowd...

...at least when it comes to August Birthday week. I inevitably forget some one's Birthday! I am like that anyway; I am not one for remembering Birthdays and sending cards on time.

Well, this year I forgot Mark's Birthday. (sorry Mark) It landed on a Sunday and I don't look at my calendar on Sundays, or the week before, apparently.

So Happy Birthday Mark!

Happy Birthday Erin! (she doesn't usually dress like this, but she was playing dress up and I've noticed that I don't have any other pictures of her.)
And Happy Birthday to my dear husband Jarod! (whoseBirthday is today)

I would write a sweet note to him, but he doesn't read this Blog

and won't ever know that I wrote this to him.

Time has flown

I just found this picture of me and Jarod. It's from when we were engaged. I don't know where we were, but I saw it and thought...'wow, we look young!'. I remember when I was little and my parents would say the same thing when they would see pictures of themselves. It's fun to look back, but it makes you realize how fast time goes. I can't believe we've been

together for 6 years (we got engaged around this time 6 years ago).

If I'm already talking about how time has flown,

can't you just picture me at 80 going on and on about it?

The Sunny State

Saturday, I went to Florida with 6 other girls. Most of them get together quite often, and I was included on this trip...such an honor.

We spent 5 days at my dad's condo. We had a great time relaxing by the pool, shopping, eating out and talking. Tami paid for my ticket, which made it all the more enjoyable.

Kendra, Tami and I flew together. I couldn't have asked for better traveling companions.

My pictures are completely backwards. This is actually Alesa at the airport leaving.

Here we had gotten ice cream at a local ice cream shop...which sells the best carmel apples also.

Tami in the ice cream shop.

Holli picking out her flavors.

Walking on the beach after dinner one night.

We all had our cameras out. I love this picture of Alesa. And I love Katie's face over on the right.

We had John visit us while we were down there. This is supposed to be a picture of the three of us together, but it looks like Tami and me and John decided to jump in.

Here is one of my best friends.

I think Katie looks so cute here.

Holli and Lindsay.

Alesa and Katie looking at pictures.

All of the girls.

Such fun times...such a great group of girls.

Thanks for including me on the trip!

Will's Room...

...is finally finished! I started a few months back...and finished it this evening. Jarod's mom gave me Jarod's old furniture from when he was a kid. I painted the beds with paint I already had. I painted the walls a navy. I got bedding for Christmas from my Dad. And by decorating with things from when Jarod and I were little, I didn't spend hardly any money doing this room. It was so fun to put together. Here are few pictures of the finished product.

The boards above the bed still need to have his birthdate and name stenciled on, and not sure if I am going to do curtains, or if I like the windows without.

The wall art clips were supposed to hold pictures of Will's cousins, but during naptime, Will was found pulling them down. We will probably have to wait to put them back up.

This sheepskin rug was a TJ Maxx find...needless to say, Jarod is not a fan.

I kept the dresser the original color. Notice the pile of stuffed animals in the basket in the corner. I think almost all of them are Jarod's and mine from when we were kids.

This airplane was Jarod's when he was little...so sweet.

These little racers are my favorite part of Will's room. They crack me up and they are the best colors too. Devon had them and I thought they were so cute, so I copied her and got them too.

I got this guy because we had a sock monkey as

kids and thought it would be fun if Will had one too.

Now on to the rest of the house.