Visiting Oli

I took the kids in town this afternoon to see an old friend of mine and her little guy!  Kelly and I were best friends all through school!  It was so fun to catch up with her and see her little guy, who is turning 1 next week.  The last time I saw him he was just a few weeks old!

Me, Oliver & Kelly

Addison, Oliver, McKenzie, Tyler & Trevor

Helping Out

Grandma had some little helpers today to clean up the back deck.  It was a beautiful 62 degrees. (Still chilly though)

They helped for a while, but then came across some other things that was more fun.

And then they ended up on the swings:

Farmer Nick

Yesterday while the kids and I traveled back to central Iowa, Nick found himself with nothing to do. No kids to chase after, or feed, or a wife to talk to... (I'm sure he was just beside himself..no kids... no wife... poor thing. I wish I knew what that felt like)

He soon found himself back in the field helping his cousin, Mark, with some harvesting.

 

Farmer Nick

At the Carwash

The kids and I drove back up to Colo to my parents for a couple days.  We drove my in-laws van.  They live on a gravel road, so we stopped by a drive through carwash to wash it up a bit.  Addison hasn't experienced that before, so I thought it would be fun!

I was wrong...

Each time the water went past her window, her eyes would just burst open, she would scootch clear over in her carseat, hide behind her sippy cup, and freeze until it went past.

Poor thing.  Trevor enjoyed it though!

Turner Mountain Day 2

Not too much went on today. It was a nice lazy day.  Nick loaded up some barn boards he wants to save and came across an Asian Beetle Convention:

If only Trevor had his bug box...
(I think it would have gotten a bit crowded in there, though)

Meanwhile, Addison was inside, helping Grandpa Larry finish his lunch. No, she did not just wake up from her nap, and no the camera is not playing tricks on you.... she had a cute little piggytail on her head, and decided to pull it out.  Her hair is SO not cooperative. (Pardon the lighting with Nick's cell phone camera)

Tyler had some good discussions with Grandpa as well:

OH! Speaking of Tyler... he rolled over from his belly to his back today! I had him on the floor, went up to get ready for bed, and when I came down, Nick announced he was on his belly, and when he looked back over at him, he was on his back.  So, no one actually saw him roll over, but come on. It happened.

To Turner Mountain...

We headed down to Nick's parents today (the Original Turner Mountain). It was a BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!! The thermometer hit 71 degrees today!!! It was the perfect day for Nick and 3 of his brothers and his nephew, and Max, the self proclaimed hunting dog, to head out for some pheasant hunting.

Nick, Jim, Philip & Tim

Meanwhile, Nick's mother prepared a fabulous lunch for us all! She insisted it was just a simple preparation, but it was close to a Thanksgiving feast if you ask me! YUM!!!

After lunch, and dessert(s), the boys helped clean up the kitchen by doing the dishes and putting the table away... and here is proof!!!

(we were so proud!)

Then they had to get some target shooting in... no cats were targeted this outing.

McKenzie got to shoot her pistol Nick got for her; a Beretta 22:

She was even gracious enough to let me shoot a couple rounds:

That's right, don't mess with us!!!

Once the shooting was done, the kids got to roam the farm and kept themselves entertained outside:
McKenzie gave the kids rides on the mower... Addison was thrilled with this experience!

It was so nice out this evening, that it turned into a little "Fall Cleaning" frenzy:

Luckily, Nick had lots of helpers:

Nick... has....created... FIRE!

The beautiful Iowa sunset

Addison's thoughts: "Just a little GREEN paint, and we'll be good to go!"

How 'Bout Them Hawkeyes!!!

My Grandpa Wilson has season tickets to the Iowa Hawkeye football games.  He has had them for as long as I can remember. Each season, each of us grandkids would get to go to a home game with him.  This past weekend, Nick and McKenzie got to go with him to the Iowa-Indiana game.

They were all decked out in their appropriate apparel (regardless of what you may think, JIM!!!!) :)

They had great seats, and luckily, it wasn't too chilly that day. As long as the sun was out, Nick said it wasn't too bad. 

Here is the panaramic view Nick took with his cell phone.

Nick said the band reinacted Michael Jackson's Thriller at half time.  It was quite entertaining!

Thank you Grandpa for letting McKenzie and Nick go to the game with you! They had a great time and it was a great game (well, from the 3rd quarter on)!!!! GO HAWKEYES!!!! 9-0!!!!