Harvest Festival

Last weekend, we went back to Clear Lake for Harvest Fest. 

The weather was PERFECT and we got to spend quality time with family.

That made for a FABULOUS weekend all-around.

Here are the highlights.

Highlight #1

 Halloween costume -

Found 2 I liked but Isaac was drawn to this one.

Tigger Costume - $6

Lion Costume - $4

Watching Isaac have a blast ROARING down main street - Priceless

Seeing the reaction and smiles on people's faces - Double Priceless!

Highlight #2

 Free Kids activities.

This one was Isaac's favorite - a little train powered by arm movements

Highlight #3 (&4)

 #3 - Seeing my sister (aka Aunt Annie)

(Isn't she soooo pretty?  Love you sis!)

#4 - Finding Pumpkins and getting in the Fall mood.

#5

 The pullback tractor that my uncle Jeff bought for Isaac and the enjoyment it brought.

One of the few times it is okay to tell your child, "Come on, let's play in the street."

Which leads to ...

Highlight #6

 Corn - From Tyler (Melissa's Husband)

(note -see blog titled After the Knott was tied on my sidebar)

Highlight #7

 Running around Grandma's house playing

chase and hide n' seek.

Highlight #8

Having Annie to rescue Isaac!

Overall - Super Weekend away from the daily grind!

Thanks Mom and Dad for welcoming us and making us feel special when we are there. 

I am lucky and so are my kids!

I'm gonna mail myself to you

I remember this song from when I was young...

This picture made me think of that song today. 

Not too sure where he thinks he's heading!

Parade and County Fair

This morning - Isaac and I met up with Jill and Malachi and Z for the parade downtown. 

We saw LOTS of horses... and "ethnic" dancers...

There was a group of dancers after each float/entry it seemed like.

Isaac was in heaven.... LOVE those DRUMS!

Cat in the Hat

Whoever said you can't eat candy at 10:30 in the morning?
I am sure if it was said.... they didn't have a 2 year old!

(P.S. - Grandma - Notice that he can now actually wear the whole outfit together!)

After the parade, we walked about 5 blocks down to the Qwest Center.  Inside was a county fair of sorts. 

Lots and lots of animals - mostly cows, sheep and pigs but man were the kids excited.  The moms, however, not so excited about all the fecal matter that was accumulating on the stroller wheels!

Look beyond the balloon - Isaac got to pet a 6 day old piglet!

 He was especially fond of this goat!

Maybe he spoke 2 yr old language.

Then we headed outside to see about a tractor ride.  By now it was close to lunchtime so being the super prepared mom that I am (not) I pulled out the only thing in the diaper bag.... MORE JUNKFOOD - or at least fruit snacks.  Hey - Fruit is in the name right? 

I love this next series of pictures.  These three are destined to cause trouble and be good friends. 

They were all running around chasing each other and screaming. 

Finally it was our turn for the ride.
We climbed up the big stairs and got inside the tractor. 
(Sorry salesman - we are not here to buy it.  I guess that was really the intended purpose of the tractor rides, but hey when you advertise free tractor rides, ya gotta know you are gonna interest parents of little kids, especially little boys!  So although they didn't make a sale, they did make a few kids pretty happy!)

Kinda weirds me out how the guy driving was all about looking at the camera for the picture.

Isaac watching him carefully turn around.

Waving at the end of the ride - just before the abrupt stop which happened to rail Isaac's head into the handle!

The guy felt horrible - but Isaac is tough!

Football Game Number 2

This week, Chris played his 2nd game for Logan Fontinelle JV 1 football team.

They played against Papillion-LaVisa Titans.



Chris is in the middle.
This play was on the 8 yard line....




....and Chris scored a touchdown!



 This could have been a much more interesting game if Chris' best friend Sean had decided to play ball for Papillion.  This would have been the first game ever (since the age of 5) that the two of them played against each other.

It is still a bit sad b/c this year is the first year that the boys are not playing together, on the same team.

I know Chris misses Sean... but I think I miss Sean's mom more!

Jill and I were always able to hang out during practices and games.  Our baby boys are both football season babies....and that is how I met Jill.  Our boys (both big and little) played/coached the team together and thus a friendship was born.  Thankfully, we make a point to get together often (see next post!)

Ironically however, Sean (and his sister Desiree) were running track at the same time as the game.



Sean running his last lap




Desiree running her last lap



Meanwhile, Isaac LOVES football - truly loves football....

But he loves DIRT more! 

Even Better than Dirt.... Dumptrucks and Diggers and Dirt!  

He's even nice enough to share his dirt...

all over you if you want!

Goofy Boy

While cleaning the bedroom last weekend, I needed to find a job for the little guy.  Ya know... cuz at the age of 2 it's still totally cool to help mom clean (not so much at 11 and almost 14 - weird!)  So Isaac's job was to put the laundry into a basket and take it to the stairs to throw down for washing.  We successfully cleaned out his closet and room, rearranged it and did a good cleaning.  Then we moved on to our room (Chad's and mine).  Isaac first got all the hangers to the banister and then came back for the laundry.  He was busy working so I put away the clean laundry.  Didn't even notice that ALL the laundry did NOT make it down the stairs.....

Guess he decided that he needed to wear mismatching socks like all the big kids do!

He managed to put my work sock over his sock and pull it up far enough to not hang off. 

The really funny part about this story....

We cleaned and did laundry after nap (around 3:00).... Dinner (when the picture was taken) was served around 6:30/7:00.  Just thought it was funny that NO ONE noticed the new sock on his foot until 3 1/2 hours later.

Heading to Lincoln

This morning was dreary and quite dismal.  One of those days to stay curled up under the blankets and stay warm inside the house. 

Sadly - I looked at the BJSA website this morning and two very interested boys decided that going out to do the Punt Pass and Kick Competition would be a great idea!

Funny how THEY thought it would be fun!   

Being super excited and overly energetic mom I am (hey - Chad made me breakfast and I was in a good mood I guess) - We headed to the field.  

Both boys did really good in their efforts.   

Giving it a kick

 

 

See that ribbon?  That means we are HEADING TO LINCOLN for the state level PPK competition! 

So proud of the boys for both trying and I guess we will see how Chris does in Lincoln sometime in October.

This Speaks to Me!

(she knows that she spelled that R word wrong... she did it on purpose!)

I have had a bit of a rocky start to my school year, specifically with a few students. This... Speaks...to.... Me... Loud and Clear Lord!

I happened upon this tonight and cried. I get that I might not teach students in the same way that most teachers do. I know that my day looks a lot different than a "typical" classroom. The things that I teach are not always found in textbooks (which is sometimes the biggest challenge).

God knew that I was feeling disheartened, overwhelmed and ineffective. I have a heavy heart about the "teaching" I FEEL I am not able to do...I am hard on myself and I want to do more....

I have a few ideas and am working on putting them into place.

Just needed to vent and share that this... spoke... to me tonight but what I hope is that my children are raised to see the good and "able" in everyone, regardless of ability (or disability).

I love MY kids... the kids who need an advocate, who need someone to believe in them, who see the good in others, who enjoy the simpler things in life, whose smile lights up a room, who needs me to encourage them to do great things (though they might seem small to most).

I feel refreshed and encouraged tonight....
and for that

I AM THANKFUL!