Fall Is Here

Fall means pumpkins....
My mom, dad, brother and Liz (brother's girlfriend) made a last minute trip down yesterday afternoon. It was a perfect fall day! We spent the afternoon outside riding bikes around the block, going to the park, and getting pumpkins. Where else do you get pumpkins, but the pumpkin patch. We ventured up to DeMoss Pumpkin Farm again and that's just north of Ames. We have always had great luck there, and it appeared that they had an extra wonderful crop this year. Stay tuned for more pumpkin activities to come......we are going to be doing some painting!! As always, M&M wanted to do everything themselves, including pulling the heavey pumpkin cart. They are so sweet!



Fall also means football...
Daddy Love is out of town for an AIW training for work tonight so we got together with some friends. We went to the Ames High Homecoming parade and had a great time. Growing up in a small town, I never missed a homecoming parade or football game. I want my children to experience all of those things even though we live in a large town. The first group of students I had when I came to teach in Ames are seniors this year so I knew a lot of the kids in the parade. It was neat to see how they've grown, and it made me smile when they remembered who I am.

I am 30.......I am Loved!

It's not too often that I blog about myself, and not my children. So here I am....tooting my own horn for once....and I don't feel one bit guilty about it!
Of course, it hasn't taken me 30 years to know that I am loved, I've always known it. However, it was on my 30th birthday that I truly realized that I am who I am because of the people I surround myself with. They really are amazing people!!
On the morning of my birthday, I received these beautiful flowers from my parents.

That right there gives you an idea of what wonderful parents I have. I was their first-born, the one who made them parents. Those of us who have children know what that feels like. You experience every emotion from the get-go. Happiness, exhaustion, excitement, nervousness, confidence, and feeling like you know absolutely nothing about being a parent and raising a child. Nonetheless, they did a fabulous job of raising me. I have never felt anything besides love and pride from my parents. They were at EVERY sporting event, music concert, and dance recital. My sister, brother, and I were/are the center of their universe. Everything they did was for us and because of us. I know this is why my world now revolves around my children. I rarely take time for myself (more on this below) and it's because I'd rather put all of my energy into my children and family.
I received a text from my dad on my birthday telling me how proud he is of me and what I've accomplished as a wife, mother and teacher. Of course I cried. I cried because those are the most powerful words you can ever hear from a parent, in my opinion. The Sunday before my birthday, my dad and I briefly read an article in a newspaper about 20 things to do in your 30's. I was shocked at how many of them I had already accomplished. Buy a House (check! 2005), Start a Family (check! 2007), Further your Education (Check! 2010-graduated with my Master's Degree). There were several more that I'd accomplished, as well as several that I will try to work towards. But, I think this also shows what kids of parents and role models I have. They are people who do things! They don't sit around and wait for things to happen, they make things happen! They encourage their children to always do their best and believe that they will do great things!

Brandon had asked several times if I wanted a party for my birthday. Of course, I didn't. I mean, I really didn't. Because Brandon had grad class the night of my birthday, we went out to eat as a family on Monday night. We went to Applebees and it was great. Brandon and the girls got me a gift certificate for a massage and pedicure......what more could a mama ask for? Some personal pampering time?? Just what I need! These three VIPs make me feel special, worthwhile, and valuable every single day.

My sister asked if I was going to do anything special for my birthday. I didn't really want to as I don't especially like being the center of attention. She did talk me into a birthday dinner, though, which in hind-sight, was exactly what I needed, and deep down wanted! My friend Mary is always saying that women don't take enough time for themselves. That we always put others first and leave ourselves for last. I already told you that I'm one of those people, and normally, I wouldn't have it any other way. On this night, though, I enjoyed being the center of attention and being surrounded by many of the awesome women in my life.

Front Row: Julie, Heather, Kelsey, Anne, Lisa
Back Row: Mary, Kim, Kari, Jess, Tonja, Rebecca, Heidi

We went out to eat at Legends. We laughed, we cried, we talked, we joked. At the end of the night, I was so overwhelmed. I had given Kelsey 10 names of friends who live in the area to invite to dinner, and all 10 of them came! ALL 10!! I couldn't believe it. I mean, I know they are great people, but for ALL of them to take the time away from their husbands, kids, activities, etc for the night to come and celebrate me, is pretty darn awesome! Hence the fact, that I have finally realized my Amazingness because of these Amazing Women! (I linked to the blogs that these wonderful women do so you can experience their amazingness!)
I certainly wasn't expecting gifts....but they brought them anyway. Gift certificates for the spa (more "me" time!), books by my favorite authors, games, plaques with words of wisdom, scarves. And have I mentioned yet that I have this totally Amazing and Awesome sister!? She made me a Tribute Photo Book that makes me cry every time I just look at the cover. It's filled with pictures of friends and family, and words of inspiration, encouragement, and proof of how much I am LOVED! I could go on and on, but you really have to see it to believe it. Kelsey is my best friend and I'm even luckier that she's also my sister. God chose her for me because he apparently thought that I deserve the absolute best sister in the world. I cherish her friendship everyday. I know that there are sisters who aren't as close as we are and I try to never take my sister for granted because of this.

I also want to mention that there are several other amazing people in my life who don't live in the same town as me and weren't there to celebrate (in no particular order)......cole, eric, jen, meg, nana (bessa), kelly, jill, kim, michelle, stacy, aunt joan, grotewold and christianson cousins, grandma dorothy, numerous aunts and uncles, sarah, heather, jackie, donna, jamie......I know there is going to be someone I forgot, but I surely didn't mean to. Just goes to prove that I'm surrounded by awesomeness!

Are you surrounded by as many amazing people as I am? Then you are loved, too!

Thank you Eric for watching the girls so I could have this wonderful experience! I look forward to hearing your stories. Read about Eric's babysitting adventure here.

Extra credit: How many times did I say awesome and amazing in this post?
Dessert!!

I Hope You Dance!!

Last Thursday, M&M started their "Teeny Ballet" dance class through the park and rec. They think they are really big stuff now so they didn't want mom and dad to watch them.....they wanted to be "dropped off" like big girls. We did get to peek in through the windows to watch them hop, skip, gallop, walk on their heels and tip-toes, and learn new ballet skills. They had a great time!
The parents aren't allowed to watch again until the last week.....we'll see if M&M let us! Enjoy the pictures we got!

These Shoes Were Made For Walkin'...

Today is the last day of Myah and Maysen's recovery at home from Tonsil and Adenoid Surgery. Tomorrow, they get to go back to school. I don't have any pictures from the surgery (I have a few stories, though), partially because I was a nervous wreck and wasn't thinking about taking pictures of the girls in their hospital gowns, but also because the girls said "no" when I asked if I could take their pictures. The surgery itself went great, and the recovery was pretty great as well. I mean, it was great compared to what we were expecting and what we were prepared for. Either my girls have a high pain tolerance, or three year-olds recover very well.....I think it may be a combination of both. If you ever need to bribe a child to take their not-so-good-tasting medicine, we have found the Mellowcreme Pumpkins to work very well :)
It was my day to stay home with the girls on Friday, which was much needed by this tired mama! I took the girls to Story City to buy some new shoes. They came home with these totally rockin' Skechers!


They were free to get any shoe they want, they did not need to match....I know! Mom's branching out, here!! Myah originally choose a different pair, but we got home and realized they had a heel on them (tennies with a heel...for kids? Really!??) and she fell down a few times in the first few minutes she wore them so we went back on Sunday to exchange them. She choose the same as Maysen this time. They do wear a 1/2 size different, though!

Saturday made for a quick trip to Des Moines for the girls and I to get some maternity jeans and ballet shoes. Obviously these items are not for the same person :) M&M start dance on Thursday so stay tuned for another post later in the week on this! Speaking of maternity jeans....I'm now 14 weeks:

still feeling great. The maternity jeans are way too big, but my own pants are just tight enough where they are uncomfortable. The gauchos and stretchy waisted skirts are what I wear the most right now, but the jeans will be necessary before I know it!

Today was the first day of Sunday School for Myah and Maysen (actually the second, but they didn't go last week due to the surgery). They loved it. It was great for them to play with a different set of kids, and for them to get to know the kids they will grow up with in their church family, go through confirmation with, etc. We have a couple of "Giving Missions" going on at church right now so we've been talking a lot about giving to other people and how lucky we are to be able to go out and buy new shoes when we need them, but other people aren't so lucky. We took a trip to Wal-Mart and filled a grocery sack with groceries for the food drive. I let M&M choose all their favorite foods to buy for other kids who don't have a pantry full of food at their house. They chose Mac and Cheese, Spaghettios, canned vegetables and fruit. I do think they understood what we were doing, too, because when we got home we separated that food from the groceries we bought for ourselves and they knew exactly what they were doing. They would say "This one is for those other kids," or "Some other kids don't have as much food as we do, so we got some for them." It was really sweet to see this as it's never too young to teach kids how to give to others. Today in Sunday School, the girls brought home a bank to put money in for the next couple of weeks. In October, they will take the money they collect and buy things at the church's mission store for mission kits.
Not a lot of photos this time, I know some of you look forward to the pictures, but as you can see, we've still been as busy as always despite the surgeries. I'll try to have more photos next time!

The news is out...

The theme this week at M&M's school was family......I guess it was the perfect time for our news to break at Show and Tell.......they wore these (adorable) shirts to help them spread the word.....no longer a secret I guess :)
We are all very thrilled to be adding to (and completing) our family!

5 weeks
9 weeks

As you can see, my body hasn't changed much yet......stay posted :)

Wrapping it up....

The summer that is....

The last few days of summer vacation were excessively wet. Flood conditions to be exact. Gladly, we didn't have any flooding in our house or really even in our area of town. Since we were stuck inside because of the rain, the girls and I made cupcakes. For those of you who know me really well (and know that I'm a control freak :) ), you'll be really glad to know that I let the girls do everything....really everything!
Myah lined the pan with paper liners, then cracked the egg. They each got a turn to run the mixer and to scoop the batter into the pan.



The next evening, we frosted the cupcakes, which was interesting, but fun nonetheless!! Please note that as a general rule, we do NOT lick knives at our house, but maybe just this once :)

Caution to anyone eating the cupcakes, there might be a little extra saliva from licking fingers or the occasional sneeze.....don't we love cooking with littles?!

Though all the roads into and out of Ames were closed, we found a secret path that led us to the Iowa State Fair. The girls participated in the Twins, Triplets, and More Contest. We entered the 3-year-old look alike division (they also had the least alike division). They didn't place, but they did receive a participant ribbon. It was ridiculously hot, but they were still troopers.

We had corn dogs for breakfast:)

There was a really neat activity at the fair for the girls called Little Hands on the Farm. It was really neat for them. They each got a free hat from Pioneer and then wore an apron and carried a basket. A path led us from station to station. First, the girls got to choose a coin with a picture of a vegetable on it and they got to plan in the garden, then they harvested their crop by picking plastic vegetables from a barrel. These were later "taken" to the Farmer's Market to be "sold."

They picked eggs from the hens and used soy beans to make soy diesel for their tractor.

They rode a few rides, and then we headed home...

but not without eating again. This time we tried prok tenderloins, cheese balls, and of course a strawberry smoothie. Myah especially enjoyed the smoothie.

We are now back in the swing of things at school. I have had two days with students and Brandon will have students starting this next Tuesday. The girls have moved up to Room 3 at Formative Years and have joined some of their "old" friends and some new ones are joining them as well. Myah has even learned to spell her name already...she says "M-y-h-h" close enough for a three year old, I think!

She Earned Them!

By "them" I mean the flip-flops!! Maysen stayed dry all day today and earned her flip-flops around noon when we were getting ready to head to the pool! She's been changing herself lately (laugh it up....it's ridiculous!) and Brandon and I kept saying to her "If you can change your own pull-up, then you really don't need them any more." This morning she changed herself, like every morning the last week, but this time she put underwear on herself instead of another pull up! I was so very nervous, but I told myself,'Don't freak out....you can handle one accident and then get her back in a pull-up.' But there weren't any accidents and she's been doing great. She's not to the point yet, and won't be for a few weeks, where she's ready to tell us that she needs to go, but we just set the timer (she responds very well to the timer) and when it goes off, she goes to the potty. No fights, no tears, no shouting....just "tinkles in the potty!" I'll keep you posted, of course, but we've been pretty darn excited around here today!

And here is the little Sprite (I borrowed that term from Kelle Hampton...'cause there's really no better term for this one....she really is a Sprite!) herself. These pictures were taken on the first of a few rainy days in a row. The conversation went something like this:
M: Mommy, can we go to the pool?
K: Not today, honey, it's been thundering and raining all day and the pool isn't open.
(pause)
M: Mommy, can we go to the park?
K: We can't go there either, honey, because the slides are all wet...it's been raining all day.
(pause)
M: Mommy, can we go for a walk?
K: Sure, we can go for a walk before it starts raining again. Get some shoes on.

Of course, the only logical shoes were rain boots....and totally adorable with this dress she dug out of the box in my room that contains the clothes that they've outgrown. (It's smaller and tighter than it appears in the pictures). As you can see, it did start raining on us during our walk, but we really didn't care!


Since the last post, our friend Macy turned 3. It was a Princess Ariel party and all of the kids had a blast. The biggest hit was the 'Balloon Lady' who made balloon favors for each of the kids. Myah got a Flower Hat and each of the girls got some Butterfly Wings. The balloons have deflated now, but they were a hit!


It's not summer with out sweet corn. Even though I end up cutting it off the cob and eating it from the bowl, you still have to have some before summer is over. Our neighbors brought us some, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Sweet Corn is Brandon's territory. This year, he taught the girls how to husk the ears. They were so cute. It was like a tresaure hunt to them....to find the corn inside. They would pull off the layers....slowly, mind you, and victoriously cheer 'I did it' between each laborious layer. They each got one ear done while Brandon did the rest, but they had a great time. Of course, they left the mess for dad to clean up too!