Happy Birthday Greg!

Greg spent the end of last week in Albuquerque, New Mexico recruiting at a Native American Conference.  We were so glad to get him home just in time for his birthday on Sunday!  Didn't get as many pictures as we should have of the day's events.  But, had a great breakfast and gift opening and later had some good friends for dinner and games.  (See a later post.)  These are some cute pictures from Monday night when Elizabeth "helped" Greg grill our dinner.  Couldn't ask for a better husband and father!  Love you Greg!

Another Fun Ride

This time a "clown car".  The Fiat 500.

If You Think I'm the Creative One...Think Again!

School Project turkey created by Nathan and Greg...
named LIGHTNING VOLT...
 (purposely giving "bolt" a little twist) by Nathan

Leaves + feathers + pipe cleaner + gold embossing from my old stamp set =
One Pretty Sweet Looking Turkey

Out of the Mouth of Joshua

After having to work very hard to settle the children down for the dinner...Joshua was asked to say the prayer.  After saying a few other things he said,

"Please bless that Jesus can come again soon...
and that we can be happy until we see Him."

It's pretty amazing the moments when we really get a glimpse into this little guy's spirit!

A Hard Worker!

 

Earlier this week Nathan went outside after school and started raking leaves with a vengeance!  We live in a condo where the leaves are usually taken care of by someone else.  But, quite a bit had accumulated.  After a while Nathan came in to propose that we pay him for each bag he raked.  Greg and I weren't so sure about that, so we told him we'd think about it and sent him back outside.  I little while later I went out to see how he was doing.  I asked him casually if he was going to jump into the big pile he was raking.  He said, "No, Mom!  I'm just waiting for Dad to say yes."  

Trip to Frankenmuth

Greg has Election Day off of work each year.  Usually our tradition is to go to "Big Boy" for breakfast after we vote.  But, this decided to take a little morning trip over to Frankenmuth.  Greg can remember going there as a little boy...being bored at the "World's Largest Christmas Store" and eating friend chicken at an authentic Bavarian Inn.  We made sure to re-create both of those memories for him.  =)  The Christmas store is amazing!  And, the rest of the town is small and fun and quaint. 

Things we'll remember:

• Greg got to bring home a Chrysler 300 for the week.  A really fun idea to take it on the trip in theory...but when all three children can reach out and touch each other...the drive is a bit more lively than one could have hoped!
• The waitresses at the Inn!  Greg estimates the average age of waitresses employed there to be about 50.  The average being significantly effected by our waitress, Bonita, (at least 80) and "Mrs. Claus" at a nearby table. 
• Scoring a second helping of "free dessert" after Joshua accidentally dumped his first round on the floor.
• Watching the big clock strike 12 noon...and then put on an unending performance of the "Pied Piper"!  We'd waited so long just to see it...that we didn't last through the performance!  =)
• Shopping Main Street--my favorite kinds of touristy shops--and because it's so our style...spending exactly 60 cents total.  (On old-fashioned candy sticks so Nathan could try a treat I can remember getting on an outing like this as a child.  Sucking lemon juice using the candy stick as a straw.)

Days like these have plenty of "realities"...but I think I, more than any of us feel so much freedom from a little getaway!  It was a fun place to go coming up on the holidays, but before the real "rush" hits.

Last Days of Fall

A walk on the trail near our home.

Joshua trying to catch the leaves as they fall.

Half-tucked in shirt and Elizabeth's "lovely" necklace she wears 24/7.  Isn't it the quirks that make children most lovable?!

Our Most Honest Gauge

Sometimes I feel like the most honest gauge we have of how our day is really going...is Elizabeth's hair!  I'd worked so hard to get it looking cute for church, but as we fed her dinner after church was over and I took a good look at her...I realized her hair looked exactly how I felt!  Best intentions gone awry!

Cider Mill Magic

This year we set a goal to visit four cider mills (each within 15 or so minutes of our home) and "taste test" their cider and donuts.  We would then give them stars based on our "ratings" and give a little blog report at the end of the season.  We haven't made it to all four, but we've had a great time trying!  We went to this cider mill with few expectations...but with a pasture out back that we could just let ourselves in through a little gate...it felt like we'd stepped back in time! 

Hercule Poirot

A Play-Doh tribute to one of our favorite TV characters...by Nathan.