It's the beginning of Fall

A new word for Ellsyn this past week was "football". Pretty perfect as we gear up for the season. D has been practicing the JETS cheer with Shadd as well as the Central Fight Song. Don't worry I think a few - "Go Cyclones!" have been thrown out too.

Some other things that have been happening this week - We started preschool with Shadd (Ells too, I guess). I am using this Raising Rock Starts curriculum that I found here. 1plus1plus1equals1. It is awesome. She has a ton of free printables and some stuff you can buy. I went ahead and purchased the raising rock stars preschool pack as I am always looking for an easy quick download and convenience. Plus in purchasing we were able to help them as they are full-time missionaries to the inner city and we love to support the work of the Lord.

Anyways we were only going to do it 3 days a week but Shadd is loving it and asking for school today on our day off so we will probably try and squeeze in some activities this afternoon. He has his memory verse down pat already and we studied Daniel in the Lion's Den this week as our letter of the week is L. We even watched some lions roaring on youtube. Gotta love the internet.  I will try and get some pics of school uploaded in the next couple of days and keep you posted on our progress. Shadd struggled with scissors and it is hard to teach as it is so second nature for me, so we will see. Maybe God will teach us both something in this preschool adventure.

As far as Ellsyn - we are doing a little battling with night time and naptime sleeping. So we are retraining as I am listening to her scream while I type this. We are beginning to see that she is strong-willed. So we are trying to break it. Not her spirit just her will. In fact, two nights ago as we were letting her cry it out with our door shut and the fan on high - she fell asleep standing up in her crib. I wish I could have gotten a pic but at 4 am it was not worth the risk. Last night her face was pressed against the side of the crib - thankfully we were able to transition her to stomach. So not much sleep at this house when it is absolutely necessary. Just one more season in parenting that too will pass. I just have to continue to remind myself that.

As far as the fall line-up we are getting geared up for some road trips. Dubuque to see Uncle Nick's team play, then Junk Bonanza, the apple orchard, pumpkin patch, etc. This is my favorite time of year and we already seeing the leaves starting to change colors and fall. God's creation is just beautiful this time of year and we live in the best place to view the drastic changes in the seasons.

The Iowa State Fair

So in true our family fashion - we headed to the state fair sunday afternoon. The last day so scored half price tickets at least. Of course, we had run our kids all weekend so why not end with a trip to the fair and then squeeze in looking at some lots in a nearby town. Now if only our house would sell so we could officially get the ball rolling that direction. Another post entirely and apologize for rambling. 

We had fun at the fair - not nearly as much as years past because we usually go food crashing with our friends and their kids but we weren't able to do that again this year. Will we go next year? Who knows. 

We did our typical run of the fair - see the animals. Well at least what was left. The big steer was gone already so we were sorely disappointed. Ells enjoyed the baa though. 

Only pic I scored - awfully crowded around the big animals! 

Eat some food. We have worked in some food booths in the past, etc. So we know what's good and what's not so good. We stuck to the favorites in this short visit though.

One of our favorites! Mini Donuts - Reminds me of when my dad frys us some Christmas morning! 

Shadd loves the donuts - Ells not so much!

Gotta ride the Giant Slide. Too bad you have to walk to the top. D tried it this year but he usually makes me take the kids as the height of it can make him a little sick to his stomach. I should have at least took Shadd since he walked the whole way to the top. 

Dad and Shadd after the big slide - so proud of daddy as it is pretty high

Ells and Mom - Let just say I was tuckered our after carrying Ells to the top. Two high school age girls were commenting on how tired they were and they pointed to me and said I don't know how you did it. I just told them not to listen to me breathing!

We then ventured to the varied industries building. Saw Clifford and visited the ISU booth and got a cup of cookies. The building was crowded and just about did us in. Plus melted chocolate chips and two young toddlers don't always mix.

Ells wasn't quite sure about Clifford up close and personal. Had it been Curious George I think both of my kids would have fainted. They love him. 

Just a couple of people watchers

I had to eat a corn dog and d is tenderloin - although Benoits are way better. Will choose right next time uh d?

Ells enjoyed bites of the tenderloin too

Shadd - too serious

Branded ISU

Just a pic Shadd took when he stole my camera - thought I'd share

The giant slide - our favorite

Boating Fun

So this last weekend - we ventured up to a little lake in the northern part of the state. Our good friends from college relocated from the sunny state of Florida this spring and settled there. Our kiddos have never been out on the lake in boat before so it was a new adventure. One they seemed to love. It was a beautiful day and we did it all. We played at the park, ate ice cream, had the best lunch ever, boated, and played in the water. We even saw a few ducks.

Thanks Jen & Disel for a great day! We had a blast! Can't wait to do it again!

Shadd's BIG 3rd Birthday Bash

Sorry it has taken me so long to post some pics from Shaddy's Big 3rd Birthday Bash. We had all our family (both sides and all the great-grans) over for walking tacos (a new birthday bash tradition from last year), fruit, cake, ice cream, water fun, etc. It was a Cars Themed party where I had the best intentions of getting together some pretty awesome decorations (at least i pinned then on pinterest ) but a few too many irons in the fire I guess. Well, we filled up 175 water ballons, gave away water blasters, and had just about everyone soaking wet by the time they left. All in all it was a blast.

Just a few decorations - always want to do so much more but time tends to get away from me

a fishing pole - the old school kind - thanks grandma rene

a true pup tent - just pops right open. if only they made larger ones - maybe they do

blowing out the 3 candles

frama darcy's famous cake and daddy's homemade ice cream - could it get any better?

the birthday boy!

we had a hard time understanding that all these gifts were his -  as he asked for things to be put in his pile. i guess too much christmas practice

Ells pretty much spent the day in her suit - scavenging for food and drinks from just about anyone who would give her something - she thinks she is just as big as everyone else.

Shadd's new ride - if only we could reach the pedals. Need to grow a bit more!

Sporting is #3 shirt - gotta love the Silhouette Machine (more to come)

the boys in all their glory - soaked to the bone by the end of the day!

Thanks to all for Shadd's awesome gifts. Just sending out thank-yous today. Gotta love Mixbook. You can even custom design cards. It is awesome!

Just a little bit of love

Just thought I'd share a sweet pic of my little girl! She send her love to all of you!

Ah Technology

Ok. So when D started this new business we stepped it up a bit when it comes to technology. Lets just say when I went to activate my new phone the rep said,  "wow, this is quite the upgrade." As I didn't even have text messaging before. Well, we have it all now and my kids think its pretty cool. In fact, Shadd loves the blue and purple games (memory) as well as this construction (train) game that all our (builder) friends suggested. Ells and Shadd flock to D as soon as they hear the creaking noises of the train going over the ill-constructed track and even mimic the screaming as the passengers are falling. I know, I know - what are we teaching them but it is the best distraction tool in the world. I just can't even imagine what their world will look like someday. I remember when we didn't even have a vcr at home let alone cable tv, internet, a computer. Don't get me wrong, technology is great but we just have to make sure its not taking over our lives. At least not at our house.

Kitchen Remodel

So I think I could blog for hours to keep you all up to date at the crazy things that are happening in this house. Well to start with a few weeks ago, I told you about my small remodel projects of painting the fireplace and kitchen cabinets. Well give us a couple free weekends and who knows what we'll do.

New flooring, paint touch-ups and a for sale by owner sign in our front yard. I guess it is just what the hubs needed to motivate him to get going.

Here a couple of pics of the house. Hope you like the before and afters.
Also if you know of anyone looking for a great house on the southside of Ankeny. We might have the perfect one!
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the before
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a before of the oak cabinets

all the helpers for the floor installation - byebye vinyl

of course it would rain so that my garage had sawdust all over everything! Yeah!

Papa adding a second coat of paint in the kitchen

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the after
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Isn't it amazing what a fresh coat of white paint (sherwin williams - pearly white to be exact), some great pulls from menards and new floor from lumber liquidators will do to revive a place?

Just in time for us to move - bummer! Maybe this next time around we will get it how we like it prior to putting a for sale sign in the yard.

Chalk Paint

So the blogging world has been talking about chalk paint for a little while now (at least two of my all time favorites, Perfectly Imperfect & Miss Mustard Seed) and I couldn't wait to get on board. So I got a day to be home alone. What? Yes. My mom has my kids and I get to paint and clean and u know maybe sew or something!

Well I have this little project I am working on and its not quite done but here is a sneak peek.

Love, love, love the chalk paint. Thank you Patty at Classic Wall Finishes. Plus my good friend Tara for deciding she would split the cost and so we could paint and distress together. At least it help my hubs swallow the $35 a quart cost. It is worth every penny though. No sanding, no priming - just paint and distress. Awesome.

Versailes - A yellow green

the $3 garage sale chair that folds up next to the computer armoire!

I wrote this a little while back and I will have to take a picture of the finished product and post it. For some reason I have trouble finishing my posts some days. I don't know why???