Farm Review

On September 5--hubby's 31st birthday--we took another "vacation" day. This time we visited Lake Metroparks Farmpark in Kirtland. The weather was beautiful and the setting was perfect for two little boys and a stroller. First we watched Mickey the cow get milked and Levi even tried his hand at milking her. Then we watched as all the children cranked the handle on the homemade icecream maker. It took so long we didn't wait around to try the finished product but I'm pretty sure it would've been the best we've ever tasted. Levi and Ian's favorite part of the day was watching the electric train go 'round and 'round the track outside. We also took a tractor ride out to a huge corn maze and watched an informative presentation about sheep. We didn't have time for everything but the park is small enough that another hour or two would've done the trick. When the boys are older I'm sure they will be interested in more things--maybe even taking a pony ride or feeding some of the animals. In addition to the cows, horses and sheep, they have pigs, goats, llamas, alpacas, rabbits and chickens. I'm sure this park will be on our list of annual spots to visit for many more years to come.

20 Weeks

I'm 2 days away from being halfway through my pregnancy--yahoo! Tomorrow is the BIG ultrasound. I'll post if there is any big news and maybe a picture or two. Next week I'll find out if I've gained the 5 pounds that I think I have. We don't have a scale so I just have to wait.

Ian's 2-year birthday is right around the corner. To prove what a big boy he is, on Friday he peed in the potty! He hasn't done it since, but I still have hope that he will be trained before the next baby arrives. If there is any time between when Ian gets trained and #3 is born, it will be the first time in 4.25 years that we won't be changing diapers!

Levi is enjoying his winter line-up of activities...On Tuesdays he goes to the library for storytime and crafts. On Wednesdays I go to a ladies Bible study while he enjoys playtime with another boy his age. On Thursdays we go to the recreation center for gym time & swimming lessons. Sunday brings Sunday school, of course, and Awana Cubbies in the evening. He's starting to recognize letters as we drive around, and he points and yells about them in the store. We're still debating about sending him to pre-school in the fall or just waiting for kindergarten.

Next month I'm planning to accompany DH on a business trip to Florida. I'm so excited! It's going to be a short trip but I'm looking forward to quality time with my hubby and alone time while he's at his seminar during the day. Here's hoping the boys will sleep for Grandma M!

Back to earth

Levi & Johannes at the fountain in downtown Denver

My little hiking troop at Red Rocks

We're back from vacation. What a hoot. I did not sleep the night before we left. I did not sleep the first night we were in Denver. I was a total basketcase. The next night we slept at my cousin's house where I managed to get a few hours. The next two nights we stayed in a spider & cockroach hotel but I got a little sleep at least, even if Ian was in the bed with me and my hubby was not (twin bunk beds). For the last three nights we were back at our cousin's posh home in Longmont where I finally got a good night's rest. My cousin took us out for several great meals which made up for the so-so meals at camp. I did not do any cooking for a week except breakfast--a huge break for me. We also caught a great break on the way home. Our flight was overbooked so they bumped us onto an earlier flight and reimbursed us $300 each in future flights plus $40 in meal coupons. We didn't even have enough time on our layover to spend it all! NWA is my new favorite airline.

3...2...1...Fly!

Ahhh. Relief. We made it through the VBS week. The last cookie has been eaten at the closing program and my children are soundly sleeping in their beds. Now on to our vacation! We leave in 3 days for Denver, Colorado...a place I've wanted to visit for several years, ever since I had my eye on Nathan and he went there without me. This time we are going together with our two boys in tow. I'm meeting many relatives that I've never met before and staying two nights at a place called Fellowship Camp. I don't have a picture of mountains or I would have added that instead of a pineapple and coconut!