October - 2013

This month is going to be a crazy month I think with it being fall and all. I love the fall time. I love how the trees turn colors and the feel of the fall weather since it's starting to get cooler out and bon fires are about to start. This month Easton and Ace visited the pumpkin patch twice. Once with Mindy, Ellie and Jill and another time with Aunt Steph and Ben and the boys. The one where we went with Aunt Steph and the boys was definitely way better than the one we went to with Mindy and Ellie. The boys had the best time. Just wish we would of gone earlier since there was so much to do their and they closed at 6 when we just had gotten there at 4. Definitely could have stayed longer. The boys were able to ride horses, play in the corn bin, play on a huge haystack, ride pedal pusher cars, road some go carts and were able to pick their own pumpkin. Even Ace and Dax had a good time and were actually really good. After the pumpkin patch we decided to go and get something to eat and ended up at Taco Johns. Ace was exhausted and fell asleep while eating

10/ 19-20 This month also Jesse and I were able to take our trip to Ikea with Johan and Julie. Jill watched the boys most of Saturday and then Grandma Brenda came down and watched the boys till we got back. Ikea was awesome and totally could have stayed there a lot longer but the boys and even Julie were snapping at the bit trying to get out of there because they wanted to go and watch the Iowa game. I guess I was really shocked when Julie didn't even want to shop. I did end up getting most of the things that I had wanted but could have spent way more time in there shopping. After Ikea we went to an Iowa bar where it was standing room only. Only lasted there till halftime since Julie and I were tired of standing. Back at the hotel we watched the game and took a little nap before dinner. Dinner was spent at a very expensive steak house in downtown MN...Rooths Cris. It was really good but when I seen the prices my jaw about dropped. Our meal alone was over 180 dollars with tip included. I don't think I've ever spent that much on a dinner for two in my life. Don't get me wrong..the food was pretty good but we probably won't be spending that much on just dinner in a long time. Drinks were even expensive. Overall we ended up having a good time away in MN and the boys did really well for Jill and Grandma Brenda.

10/24 Altoona United Methodist church every year holds a Halloween festival. We got the boys all dressed up..Easton was Iron man and Ace was a little dinasor. They looked so cute. After doing the churchs festival we went over to Clay Elementary where we did their little Halloween thing as well. They ended up getting a pretty good amount of candy. Ace wasn't too fond of the whole dinasour hat though.

10/25-27 Papa Chuck and Grandma Janelle were in town for Ace's dedication and all three of the older boys birthday parties. Decided to do them on the same weekend so our parents wouldn't have to travel so many weekends in October. Grady and Jace's party was held Saturday afternoon. Saturday morning we dressed all the kids up and took them to Indianola's Halloween event. Michelle even allowed all the girls to come and visit the boys. They had a lot of fun going from business to business collecting candy. After the festival we drove back home where mom and I got some things ready for Easton's party. Walmart forgot to give me Grady's gift so we had to go all the way back to West Des Moines and pick up another gift for Grady. It was nice that they gave it to me for free since I didn't even get the one I paid for. Grady and Jace's party was all themed around Paw Patrol. All three of the boys really love paw patrol and my sister did a great job. It was held in their youth room at church which was a great location since it always gets crowded when you do parties in your home. After the party we went home..mom came with us since I had so many things yet to do for Easton's party and Ace's dedication. We did get everything done though and in a timely fashion. Easton's party will be so cute.

10/27 Ace Dedication - AUMC only does dedications in the morning service or the 11 o'clock service. I opted to do the 11 o'clock service due to it being later and since everyone had to travel it gave them a couple of hours to do that. Everyone showed up as in family. Ace was very curious when we were up there about Pastor Johns go-tee. It was super funny how even during prayer Ace was trying to put his fingers in Pastor John's mouth and causing everyone to bust out laughing. The church even gave us a video of it because it was so funny. Pastor John told us he'd never forget that baby dedication and told us that Ace was a special little boy. Lunch after Ace's dedication turned out really good. Jesse smoked a pork shoulder which was fantastic. Family had a good time getting together and the weather was perfect for playing outside with light coats on. After lunch I started decorating for Easton's birthday party....his party was themed "CARS" since he loves Lighting Mcqueen and Mator. I even made little cars out of cardboard for races. It was the cutest thing ever and the kids loved racing around the front trees. Ava really turfed it and the yellow car didn't make it after that. What a great memory for Easton to have. Easton ended up getting a lot of fun gifts. Mostly tractors since his love for tractors has flourished. What a great weekend it ended up being. Everyone for the most part made it to Easton's birthday and it turned out amazing!!!! Cannot believe our little boy is already 3 years old...now to start planning for Ace's 1st birthday party

10/30 Trick or treating was spent in Vicky's neighborhood. The boys..Easton especially had a great time going door to door asking for candy. He was a little greedy when it came to only picking out one piece of candy. We decided not to do our neighborhood since the boys were tired and we hadnt' eaten anything yet. Overall it was a fun experience for both the boys