A few pics from the apple orchard...

What's Been Going On

We've been busy but I can't really figure out why. :) Maybe it's just the three kids and trying to keep up the house business. We have tried to get our fall yardwork accomplished as well and tying up some loose ends at the house (we have an appraiser coming tomorrow) but nothing seems to be getting finished! Dan is fully recovered physically from his trip back to Ethiopia, but emotionally I can see he's still processing it. Next year, we're going again and I AM GOING TO. It is hard to not be able to experience that with him!

Esias is doing great, ornery as ever. Throwing match box cars under the table as I write this. The two boys (Luke my daycare kiddo and Esias) are getting along really well lately though we still have our fair share of screaming and bonking each other in the head. We've been able to be outside a lot which is awesome. We have a little pattern of going out to the driveway and riding the bikes and trikes in a circle. I bring the phone and a drink and we're set for an hour or so of good fresh air. Sometimes Nilla Wafers make an appearance and I enjoy not having to clean those out of the carpet :) Not looking forward to winter and being stuck in the house most of the day! Not having to get out of the house to drive Eden to school in the mornings has been fabulous! I still make myself get dressed and brush my hair but that's about it :)

Eden has back to school night tonight. I am excited to see their science project. They have watched catepillars turn into butterflies. One day she came home and said, "Mom! Dad! We have butterflies! Well, not all of them are. A few are still stuck in their chrysallis. But, we think those ones are dead." Ah, learning the ways of nature. She loves science! She is such a funny girl. Something tells me, she's not like the rest.

Elly. Oh Elly. My little ball of snuggliciousness. She is still stuck to me like glue most days. She plays with Kate (Luke's sister) two days a week and that helps. She just walks to her own beat most of the time. Still my healthiest eater...about three whole pieces of fruit a day, oatmeal, yogurt...she is the 6 meal a day kid. I think we made the right decision keeping her home even if she is a little bored. I am not ready to let her go yet. And hey, she's mine so I get to say, right? :)

Been a while!

Well it was a whirlwind while Dan was gone. My mom showered the kids with affection and pancake breakfasts. Dan arrived safely home last Wednesday and hit the ground running with work the next morning at 8am, then a missions celebration at church on Sunday. He was excited to share all that the team experienced over there. Again, if you want to check it out, see the SAFE ministry blog at safemin.blogspot.com (even if you checked it out before, some of the posts did not make it on all the way so the complete posts are being re-posted).

Along with all the excitement of Dan returning, we also were informed we had an appraisal for our house (which we knew was coming) that we had to do soon so we can complete our refinance to get one of these amazing low rates. So we had plans to clean the carpet and do some yard work on Saturday morning. Well, long about 6:30am I realized that my kidney had a plan of its own. I had that distinct kidney stone pain in my right side and I was down for the count. I "labored" at home for 3 hours and then when I couldn't keep fluids down, I headed to the ER. Fun times. I got some morphine and at noon the thing finally went into my bladder giving me some much needed relief. I was hurting for sure.

So the weekend wasn't a total bust. Dan did eventually get the carpets cleaned because Tiel was kind enough to come get the girls. Esias relished the two-on-one time and I think that was just what the doctor ordered for his case of insecurity lately. We ran some errands and turned in early. Sunday we went to church, I got the girls in Springville, and then we went out to Wilson's apple orchard for a little while. Brynn and Marcus showed up just as we were leaving so they came along. Elly was glad to have her BFF along. I will post pics of this soon.

I am still using the strainer, if you know what I mean, and waiting to meet this tiny little nuisance I've named Oliver. Those doggone kidneys!!

Waiting for Daddy to come home...

...with some new Ethiopian clothes! In the meantime, enjoy these! We bought these traditional outfits last year.

2x2

Here is a list of fun activities to do if you are a two year old. Not necessarily mother-approved, but they sure are kid-tested. Best if done by two two-year-olds.

1. Poke the buttons on the tv, dvd player, and cd player. Make sure you hit a mysterious combination that turns off the sound for the rest of the day.

2. Find cups of beverages left too close to the edge of the countertop or table and pour them on the floor. Dance around in the puddles.

3. Wear laundry baskets as hats and smash into each other.

4. Step on every pile of folded laundry you find as you run through the house.

5. Eat off of each other's trays at lunch time.

6. Wear grown up shoes around even if they are size 11 pink flip flops.

7. Run into the "off limits" room of an older sibling, shut the door abruptly and wait to see if Mom comes and scolds you. Repeat x 100.

8. Burst into the bathroom and turn the water on full blast, allowing it to splash you on your face.

9. Run full speed ahead and smack your hands on the window pane. Great for naptime.

10. Rock the recliner simultaneously so that it tips backwards all the way. Sail off the the backrest and face plant in to the carpet. Squeal with delight, run around and do it again.

Dan's Trip

Dan left today for Ethiopia! Don't worry about me, though, we have reinforcements while he's gone :)

I am excited for them. Dan was so ready to get going this morning. He is leading the team (first time leading a missions trip) so he was ready to get the party started. I am jealous I am not going but I know I will have my chance another time. If you want to follow their journey, check out the S.A.F.E. Ministry blog HERE.

Elly Turns FIVE!

Happy Birthday Elly Belly! We love you!

Spin Brush was a big hit!


Thanks Eden!

B'day celebration at Big Lake over Labor Day weekend.

We celebrated a birthday with the turning of the calendar! Miss Elly turned the big FIVE! She was super excited and now thinks she can join the neighbor kids at kindergarten. Oops.

She was pleased that her sister listened to her wishes and got her a "movable arm Barbie" and Esias got her some fresh Play-dough. Mom and Dad regifted a Leap Frog book reader thingy from the McCarraghers (thanks guys!) and also splurged on the As Seen On TV phenomenon, Pillow Pets. I ordered Elly the purple unicorn and it did not disappoint. Elly had a little party on her actual b'day during breakfast, again when Brynnie came over, and then again over the weekend with the grands. So I think she's partied out!

Labor Day

The Toad Catchers.

Eden, Elly, Marcus and Esias

The Cabin!

Beautiful!!!

Papa teaching Elly all about the patience of fishing.


We drove down to Big Lake, MO for Labor Day weekend. Originally, we had planned to go help clean up after the lake flooded a few months ago, but my grandparents' cabin (which is set 5-6 feet off the ground) was spared, just barely! Many of their neighbors have "built up" as well. Phew! It was hard to see so much destruction though. Lots of the people of the village lost their home and cabins. (I almost said "village people" but that just didn't sound right!). Go here to see my Grandparents' cabin almost underwater. Notice the shed in the back of the house, that will give you perspective- and the deck is a second level deck-

We enjoyed a coolish, windy weekend but that didn't matter to the kids. Toad-chasing, fishing, eating, and watching DVDs were on our list. We tried to swim but it was a little on the chilly side! Eden didn't care though, she jumped in a few times! It is so nice to be down there with little to no technology to distract us from just being together. My grandma and mom fed us, cleaned up after us, and otherwise spoiled us. It was very nice. The only thing missing was the Howard family :)

More Edenisms.

Me: Come here for a second peanut.

Eden: I'm not a peanut.

Me: Sure you are. You're my salty little peanut.

Eden: Well, we don't allow peanuts in our school. Can I stay home today?


---

Me: I like the Barbies with painted on bikinis because then you don't have the naked Barbies all laying around the house.

Eden: Well some people don't have that because they are clean up kids. So their Barbies are in the box.

Me: Are you guys "clean up kids"?

Eden: No.

Me: Can you try to be clean up kids?

Eden: Well, there's a technical difficulty...

Living in Constipation Nation.

Today Eden begrudgingly came in from playing and went straight to the bathroom. Dan was in there and she said, "It's so disappointing that I have to spend all my time on the constipation chair instead of playing."

She also told our friends the McCarraghers that she is the "Constipation Queen." Apparently, it's time for some All Bran muffins.