Pumpkin Carving

This past Sunday Josh and Jason did the annual pumpkin carving.  Jason loved it, of course!  This year Josh carved the Apple symbol with a MINI.  This was in reference to our MacMini that we got this year, which we love!

Hi!

I just have to bring up a thought about the courage it takes to talk to someone new.  Do you ever think about how brave you or someone else is when they walk up to someone and introduce themselves?  Josh, Jason, Mia, and I went to Smokey Row coffee last night with some new friends.  It was great!  The only reason we had the opportunity to spend such a great evening out on the town was because one person was brave enough to say, "Hey my name is......"  I love meeting new people, it is really fun for me, but I wasn't the one doing the introducing.  It has been such a blessing that this person reached out to me.  It reminds me that we do not know how many people we touch and inspire just by saying "Hello!"

Tractor Man

At the Packwood celebration they had a tractor pull for the little guys.  Jason could not stay away from this tractor.  He loved it!  Even though the children were getting a little crabby and the tractor pull started 45 minutes late, it was a fun day.  Jason just could stand seeing anyone else riding the tractor. :)

Packwood, Iowa Parade

Here are some pictures from Josh's marching band's first football game and the first parade.  The Marching Panthers finished the season with a II rating at the state competition.  Go Panthers!

Holy Horsey? and Twenty Bucks

The first story is from a little while ago.  Jason was learning how to say "holy cow".  I don't have any idea where he heard this....(his dad. hahaha.) But I was trying to tell him, 'you know it's probably not a good idea to say holy cow.'  Of course this didn't really stop him.  So I finally said, "Jason we do not say 'holy cow'."   

"Holy horsey?" was his reply.

This happened a couple days ago.  Jason was playing with Mia at the table and they were making a mess on the floor.  I said to Jason, "Uh-oh, I guess you'll have to clean up the mess".  

"No, you're going to clean it up" he said.  

"How much are you going to pay me?" I asked.

"20 bucks and that's a lot of money" he said.

Work is a blessing

I am on the job hunt right now. I have never really had a problem getting a job. My situation right now makes me appreciate jobs in general. Most people complain about their jobs, including me and Josh, but really they are something to be most thankful for. Even if its something that you don't really want to do. We are blessed in so many ways. I know that we haven't even had Halloween yet, but I thought I would jump right to the thankful part of the season. Here are all the things I am thankful for:
My family - my babies - Jason and Mia and my husband -Josh
My husband's job
all my other family and friends - Josh and I are not that great at saying so, but we love you guys!!!
the sunshine - I know it sounds corny but really sunshine does so many great things!
Waking up
Brushing my teeth - I hate that furry feeling, ugh!!!
The smell of the air after the rain
The crisp morning air in the fall
Okay, just air in general :)
Broccoli and cheese soup - I made that tonight and it was a really good batch, it was soooo good! (If you want the recipe give me a holler)
I would be up all night writing everything single thing that I am thankful for, but you get my drift. Don't take things for granted!!!

Autumn Acres

Last Friday Jason, Mia, I had the opportunity to go to Autumn Acres with the MOM2MOM group.  The children loved it.  Autumn Acres is located at a greenhouse just outside of Oskaloosa.  They have a huge slide you slide down with burlap bags, a corn box, cannons to shoot, big tires to play in and a sling shot.  They also have a barrel train, a plank to walk, rope climb, haybale maze to walk on, and a corn maze.  We also got to go on a hayride through the corn fields and learn a little more about corn.  It was a beautiful day!!!

Our New House

I am trying to catch up here with everything that's happened this summer, so if I back track a little; Sorry!  There is just so much to share.  Here is a picture of our new house.  We are in a quiet neighborhood, which is nice for the children.  It's 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, downstairs family room.  It's just the right size for us right now and a great starter home. Josh and I said we didn't want a house that we had a to do a lot too, but is there any house that doesn't need a little personal touch? :)

Painting

Finally we live in a place that I can paint on the walls. :) The first room I did was Mia's room. Originally it had purple painted wallpaper up. As I was trying to glue one corner down it started peeling off, so off it all came. It really wasn't that hard of a project except for a couple of spots. But here's what it turned out like.  We really like it and it makes me excited to do the other rooms.

In a Box

We lived in Fairmont long enough that I forgot what it's like to move. For example: everything you own goes in a box. And when you move into your new space your things are still in boxes until YOU take them out. Once you have the majority of your things put somewhat where you want them, the unimportant things or the things you don't need 'This Instant' stay in a box. If they are anything like my boxes, they get shoved sort of neatly somewhere away. Or put in a storage room. Or in a place that I walk past all the time; this of course is on purpose so that I see it and finish taking stuff out of the box. I do see it and think, "Oooh, I need to do that." And that's about as far as it goes.
Josh loves to come and ask me where things are. He says I have a radar for finding things. Since we moved, the answer to "where....?" is "In a box". Now when he comes and asks, before I can answer he says, "Let me guess, 'in a box.'" Or he'll role his eyes and give me a look that says, "Don't say anything". I really haven't minded since my destiny in life is not to be The Finder of All Things Lost by Josh (which probably is almost everything); but now I can't find the cord I need to get pictures off my digital camera. I would ask Josh where it is, but I packed everything, so that doesn't help. And I could ask myself, but I would probably say, "In a Box."

Trying to Connect

Hi, everyone. I have been really bad at keeping up with everyone's life. But I mean to do better. At least this way there is an easier way for me to let everyone else know what's going on in our life.
Recent News: Josh and I moved to Oskaloosa, IA. Josh took a band director position at Pekin High School. Home of the Panthers. He is getting his first taste of marching band. I have been staying at home with our two children, Jason and Mia. But I always keep my eyes and ears open for any interesting jobs that would be fun and creative and add to my resume, of course. Jason is 3 and Mia is 1. They definitely keep me on my toes. Maybe in future posts I can tell some funny stories, our children are always making us laugh. :)