Recent Words from the Kids

I've done an awful job of writing down stuff the kids have said lately, so I am trying to document these things again.
Josie loves to make up stories, and she makes up these grand names (sometimes so grand that she can't even remember the names halfway through the story) for her characters. The other night, she told this wonderful story about a princess named Labia...yes. I could barely control myself. And because it was a little simpler name than she usually chooses, she remembered it until the very end of the story. Of course.
Josie was with me the other day when I got my eyebrows waxed-she has never witnessed this before because I've only done it one other time in my life. Anyway, a few days later, we were playing hair salon, and she said, "Okay. Now you need your eyebrows whacked off so you'll look pretty for the ball". She meant waxed off:)

Seth has been talking like a little old man lately, with these big words and funny way of saying things (a lot of that he has learned from Gabe, who has always been that way). Yesterday, I asked him how Sunday School was. This was our conversation:
Me: How was it, buddy?
S: It was good. I even raised my hand and spoke. When I was called upon, all the girls were looking at me.
Me: Why do you think they were looking at you?
S: I think they were thinking that I was charming.

And Gabe has been so funny and thoughtful lately. He is the first to notice if I seem out of sorts, tired, etc. and give me a hug. The other day, he came up to me and said, "How's your day going, mom? You just seem like maybe it isn't your best day. Are you doing okay?" And then gave me a hug. He has always been very perceptive and aware of other people's feelings. And very thankful for the smallest things, too, from me doing extra cleaning (he always notices my projects or extra work) to us taking them somewhere, etc. Some funny phrases from him lately...
..."she said this, and I highly agree..."
"Don't be too impressed, mom, he learned if from Word Girl a while back" (in response to Seth telling Josie that cumbersome means difficult, hard to carry).
"I didn't make any new friends at running club today. I kind of like to keep to myself and do my own thing when I'm running."
I hadn't bought Cheddar Chex Mix in probably a year, which is his very favorite...mostly cuz when you are on a very tight budget, you want to spend your money on healthy stuff. Anyway, I surprised him & bought some, and he was thrilled. I kid you not, the next day, we were playing outside and he said, "Thanks for buying my favorite Chex Mix, mom. It really means a lot to me." Oh, my heart.

Nana & Papa & Campus Pictures

Still updating...a few pictures of our pretty campus this fall, and also of Nile's parents and the kids at the Botanical Garden. I unfortunately forgot my memory card that day, and was so sad to only get a few pictures, as everything was so beautiful. Bummer.

A few pictures of the Botanical Garden...

Nana and Papa and the kids

And an oldie but goodie that I just found...Josie (age 2) and her beloved Cooper James:)

Chicago Trip

A month ago, Nile and I got to be a part of our friends, Rich and Meredith's wedding, so we went to Chicago. Sadly, I don't have a picture of the gorgeous bride & groom:( How awful is that?! The kids were so amazing that weekend...we are so thankful to Makenna and Andrew and Alissa and Rob for letting our kids sit with them during the ceremony! We got there, and wondered what on earth we had thought the kids were going to do while Nile did the wedding and I was up front to sing three songs?! We had backpacks full of activities prepared for during the rehearsal, the dinner, etc., but no plans for the wedding ceremony:) Thankful for friends, for sure! The first bunch of pix are from the beautiful hotel we stayed at (a huge thank you to Meredith's parents!)-the same place the reception took place. Oh, and also SO thankful that no one stole my purse, which was sitting by a chair in the hotel lobby unattended for well over an hour! Gracious.

Loved the bunny ears we hadn't noticed at the time:)

Makenna and Gabe dancing it up

Alissa and Josie, both looking so pretty!

Beck...such a doll! And Andrew in the background:)

Gabe was doing some dance moves and whipping his tie around at the hotel

The only picture I have of the three of them dressed up...I know the lighting is horrible, but I loved Seth's pose (no, I did not tell him to do that).

This is how they passed the time while Nile was getting gas...having contests to see who could hold this position the longest. I couldn't believe it when Seth won...Gabe is very competitive, and Seth is SO not competitive and, well, he has more meat on his bones to hold up. I was happy for him, though, because athletic things seem to come very easily to Gabe & Seth has gotten used to Gabe winning a lot. Gabe was fine with it, though surprised:)

Grant's Farm

A few weeks ago, we went to Grant's Farm, finally! We had been hearing about it forever, and just never gotten there. It was really fun...long tram ride through most of the land, which was decorated for Halloween, petting zoo, elephants, camels, donkeys, lots of other stuff, too, and free beer for Nile (and not just a little cup, either! They give you a big aluminum bottle of it plus 2 free glasses). The Clydesdales were beautiful, though I only got one picture. And there was a charming little area to eat, as well. My favorite part was watching the kids pet/feed the little goats...more to come on that:) My other favorite part was that admission is free, except for parking.

Sorry, mom, the horse put his head down right when I took the picture:(

Cool Halloween decorations!

Daddy and Josie on the tram ride

Blurry picture, but I love my little guy's face while he was daydreaming.

We took a picture of Big Fred for our Texas cousins:)

The goats...getting acquainted.

This is out of order, but after about 15 minutes with the goats (there were literally about 40 of them in this huge pen), I realized Gabe was the only one who hadn't had any interaction with the goats:) He was so funny about it ("No, I'm not scared of them. I just don't really want to pet them")...finally, he found one he thought would be safe to pet. It was asleep. That's why he chose it. Hilarious. So, as he crouches down beside it, I get ready to take a picture. Unbeknownst to him, a different little goat is coming up behind him, and I start laughing so hard I can't take the picture, but Gabe has no idea why I'm laughing. This other little goat puts his head right up under Gabe's arm, just butts right in and scares Gabe half to death. It was the funniest thing I have seen in a long time. I am so mad that I couldn't stop laughing and get the picture taken. I was doubled over-we were all cracking up. Anyway, this is Gabe and his sleeping goat:)

Josie did really well feeding the goats at first, but then the aggressive ones started jumping up on her, and almost knocked her over. Their hooves came up to her shoulders, of course, and they were face to face. She then said, "I think I'd like to go out of here, now, mommy". So cute. One started nibbling on my leg and jumped up on me, too. I may have let out a startled little scream that made some passersby laugh at me. I didn't really love them, either.

Seth looks like he is enjoying this, but informed me later that he didn't really like the goats:) What can I say, we are dog people. And we like to LOOK at other animals.

This is the little village area...

I don't like beer (much to Nile's dismay), but he wanted me to hold it for the sake of the picture:)

And some pics of Josie and my childcare kiddos painting our pumpkins...

Eckert's Apple Orchard

We had a fun time at the apple orchard last weekend. This one had pig races, camel/pony rides (which we did not do b/c they cost extra), a small petting zoo, pumpkin launching, a fort to play in, rides, lots of food stands, and hay rides. Probably more stuff that I am not remembering, as well. It was 74 and beautiful!

Seth took this shot of the pig races;)

I was smiling, but not for long. Somehow Nile disappeared when it was time for this ride, and I had to go with them. I dislike spinning things, but the kids were laughing so hard and having such a blast that it was worth it.

Watching the Jack-O-Lobber launch pumpkins half a mile...pretty cool.

Beautiful view of STL in the background

Back for more petting at the end of our visit, but tragically, this little fellow bit Josie's finger and broke her heart. She cried, which this tough girl does not often do...her feelings were hurt so badly. I tried to explain that we keep our hands flat when feeding them for good reason;)