Conferences, Corning and Pumpkin Carving!

We have now received our first "official" report card for Zane!  He did a great job and we were very proud of his grades!  Last week was a busy week becuase both of us had conferences.  We had Zane's conference on Tuesday.  As soon as we got there, his teacher said "I don't know what to say to you...Zane's great!"  Our conference was literally about five minutes long...it was weird!  I then had conferences Wednesday and Thursday nights - both nights until 8:00 - so needless to say I was TIRED!  Thankfully we had Friday off!  Zane had it off too, so Matt took the day off and we were going to go to the zoo...however the boys had a different idea and were ready to head to Papa's house as soon as Matt picked them up Thursday!  By the time I got home Thursday night, Zane had already started a vote...he had a piece of paper divided in half.  One side said "Stay" and the other said "Papa" two times.  He asked me if I was voting for staying at home Thursday night or going to Papa's Thursday night.  I told him "stay," so we were tied.  Zane got the bright idea to ask Roger what he thought.  I tried to whisper "stay" as Roger's vote...but Zane heard Roger say "Papa's," so it became 3 to 2...I have a feeling this is how it's going to be from now on!  Needless to say, the boys didn't win...we weren't laundered, packed, and I was exhausted...so we stayed!

Friday morning we got up and around and headed to Papa's house.  Almost as soon as we got there, the boys were in the combine!  They were excited to go "corning" with Papa both Friday and Saturday!  I just can't believe they spend so much time in that combine and don't get bored!  It was a pretty relaxing weekend for me!  I even got to take a nap Saturday (thanks Keeta)!  We got to see the great-grandparents, which was a bonus for the weekend.

When we got home on Sunday, we decided we needed to get our pumpkins carved since Halloween was the next day.  We didn't do anything fancy, Zane just drew some faces on there and then Matt cut them out.  The boys and I worked on cleaning the "guts" out of the pumpkins!

Getting started

Mason cleaning out his pumpkin

Zane cleaning out his pumpkin...amazing how much more brave he is to reach in and touch it!

"Say cheese, Mason..." and this is what I got!

This is a better "Cheese" face!

Mason decided he was done...and went in to play wii.

Apparently Zane was done too...cause Matt was the only one working on the pumpkins!

The end results!

My best photo...in a hurry...of them lit up!

We've been home so many weekends in a row that it was hard to be gone!  I felt so rushed to get things done Sunday night to get ourselves ready for our week...and didn't get them all done...but now we are dealing with homework, had to get costumes ready, etc, etc. 

Mason's Marvels

• The other day we were talking about going to Papa's house over the weekend and Mason said, "Do you mean Craig's?"
• One of Mason's newest phrases is "for real!"
• The boys were telling me to go faster in the van the other day and I said, "no, I can't do that or the police will give me a ticket."  Mason said, "You will go to jail.  Dad said you'll live in jail."  Hmmm...
• A couple of weeks ago when it got really cool I was LOVING it (I've got a little added thermal heat these days).  Finally, when it got down to 61 in our house, I gave in and turned on the heat.  I was talking to Matt on the phone and said "I turned on the stupid heat for you."  Mason heard me and a couple of days later he said, "Dad, Mom said stupid heat.  Stupid is a bad word but Mom said it."  Whoops!
• The other night I wasn't feeling great, and I said "I think I'm going to barf."  Mason said, "Oh, I'll turn on the fan for you."  Then he gave me his blankie to make me feel better!
• Mason's newest favorite thing is to stay up late...meaning sometimes we'll put him to bed and 2 hours later he'll still be thinking of things to get out of his room for...stalling...but his very favorite thing is to come into our room and say, "I do not feel better.  Can I sleep with you?"  So the other night when he said, "I feel like I'm going to barf..." we gave him the bucket.  He seemed satisfied with that...and was even "spitting" into the bowl...
• Mason loves to play games on my new phone.  He was trying out a new one the other day and said, "I don't want to play this.  It's too tricky."
  

Zane's Field Trip and Jo's Halloween Party!

Last Sunday night before I went to bed, I saw that Matt had laid everything out on the counter to put a roast in the crockpot Monday morning.  I thought it was cute...so had to take a picture!

Then I went in to shut Mason's lights off and saw this:

I knew he had gone into the bathroom for a band-aid for his "owies" (that had happened a couple of days earlier and were already scabbed over)...but didn't realize he had gotten THIS many band-aids (in fact I think they're all gone now)!

It is SO HARD to believe that I have begun my third trimester!  Baby "Roger" is really active these days...and getting stronger as I am sometimes shocked when he kicks hard!  He really likes to move around when I sit or lay down.  The boys are always wanting to touch my belly and have had fun watching it move all over lately!  I'm trying to enjoy every moment...to me the best part of the whole pregnancy is feeling the movement inside of you!  I feel so special...because I know only I get to truly experience this part!  I had a checkup this week...everything looked good.  I had a few spots under my right arm that I'd had for a week and asked the doctor what she thought about them.  She's pretty sure I have shingles, which I kind of thought they were, so she gave me some medicine and asked that I go see my family doctor...I will...as soon as things settle down...

28 weeks!

Zane loves to hug Roger!

This is Mason crying because I wouldn't let him stand by me until after I took my belly picture...

Mason practicing being a big brother...with baby Arthur at Jo's house!

Friday was Zane's field trip with his class to the pumpkin patch.  They went to the same patch we went to last week...so it wasn't a novel trip for him...but I think he enjoyed it anyway!  Matt was able to go with the class and he enjoyed getting to put faces to some of the names we hear about each night!  Matt said Zane was so excited that he was there...he kept hugging him and telling him, "Dad, I just love you so much!"  After it was over, and they were heading back to school, Matt said Zane was trying really hard not to cry...and later he told us he was sad Matt was leaving and going to work.  It's the little things that mean so much to them!  I'm so glad Matt could go with him!

Lined up to see the animals

Inside the red barn, learning some farm facts

Zane's kindergarten class!

Picnic lunch

Saturday night was Jo's Halloween party.  It was ALL Zane could talk about the entire day!  From the minute he woke up, he began asking us when it would be Jo's party...how much longer...when we could go...he just wouldn't stop!  This year, Zane and Mason were police officers, and Matt and I were the prisoners...appropriate, right?

At the party!

Nora, Mason, Madelyn, and Lawson having some supper

Matt and I

Lawson, Braeden, Zane, Lawson, and Ryan

Mason hitting the pinata

Zane hitting the pinata

It broke!  Zane filled his bucket...Mason's strategy was to eat each piece he picked up...so he didn't get quite as much!

The party was such fun, and we are so lucky to be a party of Jo's "extended family!"  The boys both had a ball, and it was nice for all of us parents to have time to sit and chat...we never get to do that!  Today I asked the boys who had fun...they both raised their hands and said "ME!"  Then when I asked Mason who he played with, he said "Spiderman, Mickey Mouse..."  He was naming the costumes people had on instead of who they really were!

An update on Uncle Daryl...he's doing really well!  He's been up walking, goes down to the cafeteria to sit with his visitors as they eat, and will probably go home Tuesday!  Many of our prayers are being answered!  We continue to pray for his ability to eat and talk to return.  Anyone who knows my Uncle Daryl knows that talking was always one of his strengths...and we miss that part of him!  Thanks to everyone who has joined us in praying for his healing!

Pumpkin Patch

Since I have a new phone (a smart phone...which is smarter than me)...it took me a whole week to figure out how to email this picture to myself to put it on the blog.  So although this picture is a week old, I think it's worth sharing!  This is my Uncle Daryl and Aunt Robin.  On the day this photo was taken, Daryl wanted Robin to lay with him in the bed...so she did!  :o)  What a fighter he has been the last couple of weeks.  After reporting last week that he was doing really well and may come home soon, he had a setback.  He stopped breathing well on his own and had to go back to the ICU.  It's been another long and trying week, and on Friday he had surgery to have a trach put in.  Daryl still has his great spirit...even though he can't talk he writes notes to everyone.  Our family continues to pray that he continues to heal, and can begin breathing on his own, eating, and talking.  He has a long fight ahead of him...any and all prayers are much appreciated!

So sweet!

This past week Nora celebrated her 3rd birthday!  She and Mason were born 6 weeks apart...so that means we'll be celebrating with Mason soon!

Nora & Mason on her birthday

Braeden, Nora, Madelyn, Vaughn, and Mason...ready to help Nora celebrate!

I continue to feel well...just tired...and big...but well!  Baby "Roger" is a very active little guy!  This week the boys have both felt him move...Zane even had his cheek resting on my belly the other night and Roger kicked him!  So we now say that Roger kicked him in the face!

27 weeks!

The weather has been so nice!  I have to admit it's a little warm for me yet...fall is my favorite and I don't want to feel jipped out of it...so am hoping this week shapes into more "fall type" weather!  No matter the temperatures, the trees aren't fooled...the leaves are falling and at Jo's the kids love playing in them!

Braeden and Mason playing at Jo's...they loved jumping in that leaf pile behind them!  But seriously...leaves on the ground and shorts on?  Strange weather patterns!

This weekend we decided to head to the pumpkin patch for our annual pumpkin picking!  The boys were really excited about it and so were we!  We have lots of great memories of our trips to Carolyn's!

The boys waiting in line!

Zaners

Masers

My favorite boys!

Feeding the goats!  Mason just threw the feed at them...not interested in putting his hand out for them!

Zane "roping a cow."  It's harder than it looks!

Zane going through the corn maze

Mason made it through the maze!

 

I asked for them to stand together for a picture...and this is what Mason gave me...

MUCH BETTER!

Mason...deep in thought...

Snack time!!!

All aboard!  Ready to ride the train

Our annual tradition...growing like a weed!

Our other grower!

Mason liked making noise here!

Heading over to the combine and wagon!

Which one should we get?

I'm getting this one!

I want this one Mama!

3 pumpkins for our 3 pumpkins (yes we had to pick an itty-bitty one for Roger)

The boys were so super good at the pumpkin patch (we commented on the fact that we noticed other kids having meltdown fits...and our children weren't...made us feel good for once)!  We decided to surprise them by taking them to Fritz's for lunch!  (They showed a few more of their true colors here...)



What a picture...

All aboard!  Wonder what color train will deliver our food?  (FYI...it was red).

Zane "faking" sleep...because his brother was really sleeping

After a long day's pumpkin picking...look at this pose...leg up, arm resting on leg!

And just a little update on our yard...remember this?



Here it was about 3 weeks later...

And here it is now!  The neighbors are jealous!  They come over and run their hand over it...calling it a "golf course!"

We also celebrated Matt's birthday this week!  We didn't really get a chance to "go out" but were together...so that's what's important!  What a great week with many great memories!

Mason's Marvels

• If Mason wants to know something, or how something works, he will say "what does it say?"  or "Talk to it."  He's really meaning "Tell me about it," just doesn't know how to say it I guess!
• If something doesn't go just Mason's way...lately he'll say "Dog gonnit!"