Big Truck Night

Things have been a bit hectic with our schedule lately. So, we almost skipped Big Truck Night. But I just kept thinking, "What if this is our last Big Truck Night...." So, I talked us into it. (well, maybe I talked Jeremy into it might be a bit more accurate). I am so glad we went, it was a fun family evening. Grace was excited to climb up in trucks this year! And Faith followed along some, but mostly choose to watch. Titus was a happy camper in the back pack.

We got to watch the helicopter land again, but didn't choose to stand in the LONG line to see inside. Maybe next year...





Faith loved petting the horse.
Seeing all the little boys loving the trucks made me excited thinking about Titus having a blast in the future.

RAPpunzell

HLG's production of RAPpunzell
A little squirmy after the show.
Faith's photo-op.

Our most recent playgroup trip was to the local college to see RAPpunzell a rap version of Rappunzell for children. It was very cute and Grace was quite intrigued. She was very interested to know how they knew the story. We talked about how they read the story and then remembered the words (like our bible words), practiced, and then put on costumes for the show. They were both shy at the meet & greet time afterwards, but I did coax Faith into a picture.

Signs of Fall

We recently took a walk and Grace suggested we look for signs of fall like we did in the Spring.


These are definitely a sign of fall at our home. Each autumn they fall in our backyard bringing lots of noise with them. When we used to have a tin roof shed it sounded like a gun shot!
The girls learned that a mum is flower that blooms in the fall.
A few leaves....just starting to turn.


Happy Fall!

Holst Cattle Company

My kids are famous! We don't like to brag, but our gorgeous girls have a marketing contract. My brother, Cody, is having his first ever cattle sale this November. For the sale bill, he wanted some pictures with kids. So, for a small price we offered to let him borrow ours.

One of the things I love about my brother is that he is a dreamer. This sale is a realization of one of those dreams. We will be there in November in our Carhartt best to support Cody & Erin at HCC's first annual cattle sale.

In case you want to buy some cows (actually I should say heifers), or just see cute pics of my girls you can check it out here.

Go Illini!

He looks good in orange, doesn't he Papa?

Funny Gracie

The other morning Grace came back from "washing her hands" after Breakfast looking like this. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: Wow, you put on some make-up!

Grace: Don't I look beautiful? (with eyelashes batting)

Me: Yes, but I think Mommy might need to help you a bit before we go to the library.

Grace: Why?

Me: Well, the trick to make-up is to just use a little bit, so you show off how beautiful God made you.

Grace: Oh, I never knew that part!

The funniest part of the story for me as a mommy is about half way through story time I realized in our haste to get out the door I had forgotten to help. Luckily upon inspection I found some of it had rubbed off and she was wearing a more subtle sparkle.

Gracie,

You think you are absolutely gorgeous. You ask me often, "Mommy aren't I beautiful?" I always reassure you that you are. Sometimes I worry that I need to sprinkle in a little humility with all the compliments. But, I know the world will make you doubt yourself soon enough. I hope you always see yourself as beautiful, because God has indeed made you gorgeous. I love you my little make-up artist!

Mama

Daddy N' Hammock Time

Two years ago when we would come home from Wednesday night church Grace would get to have hammock time with her daddy while I went in to nurse Faith before bed. She loved this special time when they would look at the stars just the two of them. Well, last summer our yard was a disaster and so we didn't even get the hammock out. But, Grace would often ask to have hammock time with Daddy. Well, its fall again. Daddy and now his two big girls enjoyed some hammock time just the other night, while I put Titus to bed. They loved every minute- complete with glow sticks from Big Truck Night. These are the moments we will miss as they grow up!

From Daddy:

Grace and Faith oh how even now I treasure "our hammock time." We lay looking at the stars, moon, air planes, and sky. You point out every star to me and I ask "Who made that star?" To which you reply "God." The funny thing is I sit amazed at how beautiful and endless the stars are in the sky but I also am amazed that the same person made you too. You both will always be my stars God made.

Sawyer's Creek

We had the honor of being invited to Wyatt's third birthday party. We have gotten to know the Whetstone family through our church & playgoup. We had a lot of fun discovering the new fun things for kiddos at Sawyer's Creek a local "tourist" attraction.

Riding the train.
Playing at the Kids Zone.


Titus & Logan "playing."

The Birthday Boy-Wyatt.
This was one of those rare occasions when I got the most pictures of Titus! (No third child complex here!)