Halloween Festivities!

This weekend was filled with Halloween activities! Our great friends from our Bible study gathered for our annual chili dinner and pumpking carving on Friday evening. It is amazingly fun to carve pumpkins with adult friends and see at least 10 jack-o-lanterns all lit up! There is always the speedy carver, the gorey carver, the happy pumpkin carver, and the creative carver!

Saturday, the June Bugs enjoyed their 3rd Halloween Party! The June Bug gang is growing! There is a one-and-a-half year old added into the group and a two-month old sibling who joined us in August. And there are two more itty-bitties on the way! This group of kiddos played so very well around each other. Then on Sunday, Simon picked out his pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. He is so excited to see pumpkins and scarecrows this Halloween. He is joining in on the excitement of Halloween!

As of last week it was a question if Simon would put on his costume! His sitter was asking Simon what he was going to be for Halloween. He would not talk about his Elmo costume with her. He put his head down and ignored her! Her first guess was going to be an apple, because she knows he loves them so very much. As of last Monday, he would not put on his costume. So, the next evening we forced the costume on him, for two minutes. He whined and wouldn't look in the mirror. He kept asking Eric to pick him up. Even the giggle box did not win him off. But once Elmo was off, he was a desired item. Elmo hung from the corner of Simon's crib and "watched him sleep". Simon did not want to put his costume on the next morning when I asked him. However, all of a sudden he brings me his unzipped Elmo and asks for help. So he watches Sesame Street and Elmo's World while wearing the Elmo costume. Then he wouldn't take it off. He wore it for about 2 hours. Then he comes to me with it unzipped and asks for help to take it off. So he will be Elmo! Who knew a little guy could have Halloween stress!

It's Pumpkin Time

This past weekend we experienced yet another unseasonably warm, October Saturday. We got up and out of the house and drove to Sonny Acres farm. Or the pumpkin farm according to Simon. We had so much fun playing on tractors, hay bales, slides attached to large farm wagons, tunnels made from hay bales and corn stalks, and a train ride. Simon was sooo excited and happy; we enjoyed just watching him experience it all! He generally will not go on a train ride, and in typical fashion did not want to that day. When we were leaving, he dropped to his knees and started to cry. When asked what was wrong, he told us "train". This was the first train ride he wanted and enjoyed without any tears. And he was lucky enough to have a view from the engine - he loved ringing the bell! He then picked out a small pumpkin to give to Uncle Gordon and Aunt Dolores, who we visited after since they live so close to the farm.

Pumpkin_Facts

The Old Graue Mill

Last weekend we enjoyed a fall walk at The Old Graue Mill and Fullersburg Forest Preserve. The Old Graue Mill was erected in 1852 in Oak Brook, IL to grind corn into corn meal along Salt Creek. The water wheel has been restored and continues to work today. Historically, the mill was a part of the underground railroad. The creek and mill are part of a beautiful forest preserve with paths for walking. We saw ducks, geese, a blue heron, and a white crane. We ended our visit by purchasing corn meal and made chili with corn bread over the weekend.

http://www.grauemill.org/

Counting to 60!

Grandpa turned 60 years old just a short while ago! Simon helped make a collection of 60 of his favorite things - pennies for fountain wishes, goldfish crackers, straws, froot loops, etc. You know, the important things in his life! Simon and I picked up 60 small shells from the shores of Lake Michigan. Boy, was it an effort to keep him interested! Sort of reminiscent of when I picked up shells on beaches with my Daddy! Such a short attention span to put 60 shells into a bag.

(taken 9/25/2007)

Visiting Friends in Michigan

We enjoyed a lovely weekend with our dear friends Matthew and Kelli (from Indiana) in St. Joseph, MI. Our fall get-away turned into Indian summer. We enjoyed a very breezy and cooler day on the beach and one warm day on the beach. We spent our time playing in the sand, getting wet, walking along the beach, watching boats, flying a kite, picking apples, and catching up! That part of Michigan is becoming one of our favorite spots! Possibly a yearly tradition is in the making!

(9/21-9/23/2007)

Just for Jo

Can you mix your sportswear?

(picture taken 9/16/2007)

Relaxing Like Daddy

The ottoman must be touching the couch so Simon's feet can rest on it, just like Daddy. Notice how his feet barely stick off of the couch. Plus the pillow must be just so! (picture taken 9/18/2007)