Pumpkin Festival 2011

Most of you from this area know the hysteria that goes along with the Pumpkin Festival in Morton. This year was a first for us. Selah was big enough to go on the rides (that is, with us of course!).

Displaying her tickets

Can you see and feel the excitement!

First was the giant slide

And then the wiggle worm ride (or some variety like that, lol!)
I LOVE this picture - just makes me happy looking at it. Seeing true joy in your child's face - priceless! You know the kind you don't have to ask them for when taking a picture, but the kind you just happen to capture by off chance.


And my little buddy! He loved all the lights and attractions too, from his stroller view. Please excuse the creepy shadows. He is still pretty cute though isn't he?

We intruded on the Mueller/Kruse family night :) and they let us tag along so Selah had some friends to go on rides with. Tim is a favorite with the girls.

What a good lookin' bunch (minus a few who were probably chasing after kids, buying tickets, or whatever other fun was in the nearby area)

And a quick picture to remember the night, yep Selah's smile is truly genuine. Ha!

Then Saturday it was on to the parade. The longest in history I think. Selah and Colt gettting ready.

A fun filled day!



After the parade was over we went to a park for a picnic with my mom's side of the family. It was great spending time with everyone! Happy fall to you all :)

Fall is officially here!

Last week also brought the first weiner roast of the season for us. It ended up even being a little warm while the sun was out, but the second the sun went down, it was perfection!

Wagon rides.

And don't forget the smores!

Selah's newest thing to do, finger paint. Which I try to get out often enough when I am ready to tackle the clean up when she is done :)

Gymanstics

The first week of September brought on gymnastics! I heard that Christy was doing lessons and thought, hey this would be something Selah could do during the winter, burn off some energy, and be a little social with. And so far it has been great! Selah kept asking to go back and do more the second we left. It helped that Jessica (a girl she already knows) was there as a helper and two more girls were in her class that were familiar, Kinley & Aubrey.

Time to warm up girls.

Watching intently as they were given directions. These are the days we will remember girls :)

The whole time I was watching Selah I was conflicted. This is the first time Selah did not hesitate to leave me, no whining, no tears. She just went straight to the class and that was that. Don't get me wrong, I loved that she was confident. But, I did get a little sentimental. She is growing up so fast, trying new things. My heart yearns for her to try new things and become more of a big girl all the while trying to hold on to the "baby" in her.

There was running, summersaults, stretching...



critiquing :)

handstands, trampolines, and back bends!



Who could ask for more fun! We have been practicing Christy and Selah can't wait for class next week! This is serious work people.

My birthday present

So this year I turned the big 3-0! Dreadful I know. I kept harping on my dad that I wanted to take a pontoon trip with the whole family for my birthday. Mostly because I would love it if my dad bought one so we could all go out together on a boat. That and I can only drop so many hints to my brother-in-law to take us out on theirs. J/K Douglas :) Our skiing boat just doesn't fit us all anymore. I love our boat hon - it's just more for sport, serious skiing that is :)

Well, thanks to Barry and Joyce I got my wish! And what a day it was!



And we got to share the day with my cute nephew Colt - and his parents too!

We fished... dad with his catfish

Colt and Selah touching Adam's fish

And swam...

did a few cannon balls. Yes, that is my dad. Of course, my hubby is still the cannon ball king!

(sorry hon, don't know what is up with this face - it's the best I had of you :)

Love this pic - the memories we make!

Colt is such a little swimmer! Loves to jump in the water - what a brave boy!

And these two on-the-go boys did GREAT in the boat!

Thanks again mom and dad for setting this up and to B&J for getting the pontoon for us! I felt so blessed to be able to spend time with my family. So often I take it for granted that we all live close enough to be together often. I love that our kids get to spend time with their grandparents and that we can make memories that will last a lifetime! Love you all!

From fishing to the zoo

We got really lucky Selah and I. Why you ask? Because Grandpa and Grandma L took us fishing :) My love for fishing has grown since I was little. I am not for sure why. Maybe the way it seems like you are in a world all by yourself while on the boat, or that even when you don't catch anything you still are enjoying the company of the people you are with and the nice weather...

And nice weather we had. The sun was gorgeous whether it was peaking through the trees

or shining its brightest

And this little girl had the time of her life. Borrowing grandpa's fishing hat and 'driving' the boat.

Selah was ready to go. If you look really close (ok, looking close doesn't really help) but she is holding a niblet in between her fingers. That was her job to pass them out to all of us. She got to use her princess fishing pole and is getting better at casting.

So we only caught 3 fish that day. And they were little! But Selah was glad they rode in the boat with us so she could keep a close eye on them, talk to them, and 'take care' of them she said.

Thanks Grandpa and Grandma for taking us fishing!


The next day it was on to the zoo in Peoria to meet friends. It was a hot day, mostly because I thought it was supposed to be cloudy and there wasn't a cloud in the sky! We met my friends, Amy and Melissa (whom we originally met at the hospital with Laynie) and their kiddos. Here is the whole crew. Selah, Berkeley, Annie, Finn, Lily, and Matthew.

And the girls minus Lily who was fast asleep.

Check out this new little cutie! I tried to get my baby fix for the day :)

Selah loved playing with the big kids

and the little ones too :)

Although Selah looks like she could be as old as these two, she is a year younger. Our Laynie would be as old as them though...4! I love being around these kids. Makes me remember Laynie and how much I love her. I love trying to imagine what she would be like at this stage in her life if she was still here. What she would be talking about, what she would look like....

Thanks Melissa and Amy for sharing your lives with us! We love you and the kiddos so much. Can't wait till we get together again - maybe next time at a house right? :)