Thanksgiving 2010

Early November my wonderful husband (after being gone to India for 10 days, having visitors and then one hectic week) allowed the little boys and I to go to Texas (early for Thanksgiving)! We stopped off first in Paris, then on to Neil's then a swing by Arlington and finally ended up in Paris again! It was a wonderful trip...short of seeing a few people.

It was Mom's birthday, so we stopped by her house and stayed for a long weekend. It was GREAT! We hadn't seen mom and dad since July and our visit was WAY over due.

Amy came and stayed the weekend with us and Kaden loved being around Amy. He loves his aunts...and we have some good ones! Amy brought a cake for Mom's birthday and we had a blast singing (about 20 times most days).

Our Rock(s)

Da and Leland chilling before we went to church on Wednesday evening.

Amy and Kaden getting some yummy food ready for Sunday lunch @ Mom's!

After the boys and I rested up from an 11.5 hour car ride, we headed west! Kaden was ready to see Bractn, Brazas and Brayson. They greeted up with fast legs and HUGE smiles. The boys (for the most part) traveled well. On the way to Paris, Leland made it about 10 hours but the last 1.5 was hard. On the way to west Texas the last two hours were not so much fun. Kaden did fantastic. He has his movies and he was set!

Brayson - Leland - Andrea - Kaden

We were able to eat lunch at Super Kids with Brayson...we were his family....awww! Loved being their with these boys...and Neil!!!! WHOOP!

Thursday night we went over to Pa Dale's and brought a lot of energy and fast boys to eat with him. Leland just loved on Pa Dale. They were pretty good buddies. While we were there, Braxton found an implement magazine. He asked Pa Dale 15-20 times what different implements were (what kind they are and who makes them....poor Pa Dale's eye site just went with it.)

Leland getting in some Neil time! Have I told you how much we love our aunts!!!!

This picture is priceless! Braxton is exerting energy, Kaden is sleep deprived and Brazos is contemplating what he should do next. The day before we left for Arlington, we were able to eat Thanksgiving lunch with Braxton and Brazos at New Home. It is fun to see where the boys went to school!

Kaden is Captain Random Man....They were being cowboys. Kaden grabbed two hand towels and they put them on their heads...

Leland chilling in his chair at Neil's

After a little over a week at Neil's we headed to Arlington to see Murr's. Murr's had never seen Leland (8 months old)...We were in a serious need to see her. Murr's is one of Karl's grandmother's. Took the boys to Marty and Murr's and had supper, put the boys to sleep and headed to the airport with my father-in-law to get my good lookin' hunny! WOOHOO! Highlight of the trip!

Four generations: Kaden - Robert - Karl - Murrs - Leland

We were only there one night. Robert had to work Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday. So, we headed to Paris. We spent Thanksgiving Day with some of the Zant's at Amy and Jorge's Casa. It was great and the AGGIES WON!!!!!

Mom and Amy getting on the first round of grub!

Leland asking for more cranberries!

Three super women...Sue - Mom - Amy

We had a blast at Thanksgiving! Thanks Perez for loving on our kids and letting us crash at yo place!

Kaden bringin Da and Leland toys....after he took something away from Leland (for the umth time)

Kaden enjoyed going outside every day with Da to check the cows and goats...he asked every morning before breakfast if Da was ready! Every day, Da found enough patience to take him out and sometimes to town! Kaden was in his own perfect world. Saturday Da took him to the sale barn (by himself) and they purchased two nanny goats...(Z was so proud...lol)

Da entertaining Leland while I finished up Kaden in the bath.

Leland found a friend in Paris. He watched this guy for a while and finally decided he was a nice reindeer!

The Sunday we traveled back home we helped celebrate Eli's 5th Birthday! Kaden loves being around all of his cousins...who doesn't?

Papa and Leland

We enjoyed our time in Texas.

Could have seen more family, but we made the best of what had!

Ready to get our Christmas on!

Halloween and It's Guests...

Halloween came around and Karl was in India for all of the "pre-Halloween events"....but Andy was here. We are thankful for so many things...

Here are some of our captured moments from Halloween.......

Andy took the boys and I to Night Eyes (our Blank Park Zoo's Halloween Event)

one cute bat and one wild zebra...

Ava and Kaden were so excited to be at Living History Farms they just let go...

Leland the bat. He has two top teeth and two bottom teeth. His top teeth are just outside of the bottom ones so he looked the part of a bat!

Daddy and his wild animals on the hay ride at LHF.

Max and Leland enjoying some down time...they didn't get much of this while Jennifer and Micah were here because we were just always on the go!

Saturday we ventured out to Geisler Farm's (a pumpkin patch and corn maze). We had a blast and enjoyed our fellowship with the church out there!

Jennifer and Karl carried the smaller boys all the way through the maze. We made it through without getting lost! Thanks Micah! Ava and Kaden walked most of it...

Ava and Max giving the go-cart a try!

Leland wanted to eat the corn. Kaden and Ava would have stayed here most of the day if we had let them. The corn vat was inside. It was so beautiful that day we didn't go in the building except to check in and out...

covering Karl...

my little helpers...the brownies were a hit...before and after they were cooked!

Monday morning we went to the Science Center of Iowa! We love our SCI. It was Karl's first time to see the center. The Davinci is here on display...as was Micahinci.

Max and Jennifer. Max is just a happy baby. He was crawling everywhere!

Micah and Karl playing at the SCI...

And here is the tail of our tale...or weekend! We had a blast. Thanks Micah and Jennifer for bringing your kids to visit us. Kaden misses Ava and has asked to play with her many times. We are thankful for such great friends!

Leland's 7 months old

Leland is 7 months old and Kaden is going to be three in a month...where has my time gone? I love their ages! We have a blast every day...some more challenging than others...but we still manage to have a good time!

Kaden's eye...

On Friday, we had a house full of boys! Kaden was in his room playing with the blinds (which he knows not to do) and they fell down on him. Back in the early spring, Kaden had a small piece of plastic surgically removed from his eye. We have a pediatric eye surgeon on our list of "people". It came in super handy at 4 pm on Friday. The blinds fell and scratched his eye. So, at 3:45pm I called the office and asked if I should take him in to the ER. Generously enough, the receptionists allowed us to come in.

They had a computer on in the middle of the room and the object was for Kaden to match the pictures on the place mat with the pictures on the computer.

Poor boy. He was a trooper. They ended up having to dilate his eyes (because the scratch was so close to his retina.

Parker and Leland never even got to venture off of the stroller...they are such great boys!

Dr. Evans did a thorough exam and an hour later, she decided his eye was ok and we could go home. We are thankful for good doctors that stay late on Friday for scratches!

The rough and rowdy crowd I tag along with! Whew! Getting four boys in and out of the car and in and out of an office is work...Work, I tell you! Good thing they are well behaved children!

Family Camp

Our McDonald Fam

We had a great time at Family Camp!

The boys and I went out for a walk...Kaden decided he had to go back and go potty so Karl, Leland and Claire kept going. When Kaden and I went back to look for them, Kaden thought Karl and Leland might have hidden in the drain pipe...so, he crawled through it! They weren't there....

Kaden loved the bridge and roaming around outside.

Leland is 6 months old

Leland is 6 months old and he is a force laugher! He LOVES Kaden and Kaden LOVES to make him laugh. My prayer is that they will (for the most part) love each other this way for the rest of their lives!

6 months stats:

27 inches long

18 pounds 7 ounces heavy

Leland has tried and loved everything I have temped him with...all fruits, all veggies, all smoothies, all breads, all puffs and water. He refuses to take formula. He loves water out of a bottle or sippy cup but prefers to nurse.

He is trying to army crawl but mostly spins in a circle. He enjoys being in his bouncer or on his tummy. He is a rocking machine. He gets stuck on his back and wakes up during naps. Sleeps through the night (except if he gets stuck on his back...we flip him and he goes right back to sleep). If you set him up he will sit there until he is tired and then he will slide onto his tummy. He can go places backwards efficiently!

Leland is a laid back, sweet, loving, force laughter boy.

No one can make him laugh like Kaden.

We are thankful for two sweet, healthy boys!

Leland is sitting up!

For the first time yesterday, I witnessed Leland sitting up...he leans forward after about 5-6 minutes and then rolls over on his side.

He is a rocker...he gets up on all fours and rocks his little heart out.

Way to go Leland!