Christmas Fun!

Christmas festivities were all a success!  It started last Thursday when Kale had his preschool Christmas program.  He fretted about it for a couple weeks.  He was so anxious about how many moms and dads would be looking at him.  To our surprise, he was Joseph and did wonderfully!  He was so proud of himself!

Santa made an early appearance at our house.  We Skyped him to ask him if he would grant our early request since we would be leaving for NW Iowa.  As it turns out, Santa was very excited about this since he has so many people to deliver to on Christmas Eve!

The kids must have been VERY good this year!  Our living room was FULL of surprises.  I don't know that they were that good, were they??
Turns out a sled is just as good (if not better) inside since there is no snow outside!

Then we headed up to Everly to catch Christmas Eve service at Hope Lutheran.  Mom hosted the Goeken Christmas and EVERYONE was back.  Good times had by all!

All dressed up!

The great grandkid table.

My kids stayed up EXTRA late until had to be forced to bed.  Jake could have went on for a few more hours I think.  He was good entertainment... "I sure did!"

Surprisingly, the kids slept until about 7:30 before we had to get the first party of the day started.  Gifts Galore!

We got the four wheelers on our Black Friday adventure (that will never happen again) but the smiles made the struggle completely worth it.  Christmas is so much fun with kids... they were so delighted :)!  I love finding something and just knowing that they will totally LOVE it!  Can't help but to spoil them a little...oh well!
It was Will's first Christmas!  He was obviously thrilled about his gifts as well ;)

Nana's traditional Hallmark ornament

 Then it was on to the Schueller Christmas for us!  And trust me, we didn't go without there either...

Macie's first Christmas..

Notice the sun glaring in!  Is it really December?? No snow... and extremely nice.  Makes me wonder when the DUMPING of snow will hit!  Plus, it doesn't feel like Christmas without snow!

Landyn checking things out.

We could not have shoved another thing in our car without leaving a kid behind.  It was Christmas all over again as we unpacked the car and the reactions were even better the second time around.  Should have had the video camera rolling.

Thanks to our families and close friends for another wonderful Christmas!  Bring on the New Year!

Christmas Break has begun!

Winter break and we spent the afternoon......at the PARK! This weather is so nice.  However, I know I will be putting my foot in my mouth in a month or so...BUT  LET IT SNOW!!!!!!!

Trick or Treat!

This years weather was perfect for a gallivant around in costume!  Kale has many costumes around here so he waited until the day of to decided which "workerman" he would be... fireman (after a little guidance away from the plumber he randomly suggested about 10 minutes before go time).  Ava sported the trusty skunk costume.  Kale wore this... remove the bow tie and stick in a hair bow...good to go!





Too cute not to share!

 This year we were invited to our friend Addison's trick or treat birthday party!  Here's the whole crew!

We captured a fierce tiger!

 Around here, everyone asks for a joke when the kids are at the door(we didn't do that in Everly, just a  "trick or treat" did the trick.  So, I quickly prepared Kale with a couple jokes which he was already feeling hesitant and embarrassed to say "trick or treat."   Here's how it went..
Woman:  Happy Halloween
Kale: (hesitantly) Trick or Treat
Woman: What's your joke?
Kale:  (silent)
Woman: Do you have a joke?
Kale:  (pause) Knock. Knock.
Woman:  Who's there?
Kale: (long pause) Orange.
Woman: Orange who?
Kale: (longer pause)  orange...house.

Tricksters still playing pranks.. pretending to "sleep" on the drive home.-- couldn't fool us,
our kids RARELY sleep in the car. Why? I have no idea!

A few of our neighborhood gang.

The pictures I end up with of Ava just crack me up.  She really is a happy kid.. even tho the pictures don't prove it!  She definitely has her opinion of photography by b.

What? Ava, is that a smile??

I have been refraining from posting this updated blog mostly because I knew I would have to put it in writing... Kale turned FIVE!  I am the mother of a FIVE year old?? Really??  It is so strange how still, to this day, 5 years later, I can remember exactly what his tiny baby fingers looked like, the tiny snort he used to make and looking into his tiny dark dark blue eyes like it was yesterday.  I remember the weather, the hospital bed, the visitors, everything about it..like it JUST happened.
And here he is now, a lively, busy, rowdy, smart, stubborn and imaginative boy....NO BABY...a boy. Crazy.

Kale Goeken Schueller 10.17.06

We had been telling Kale that when he was 5 he could have a "friend" party (at the time 5 seemed so far away). Well, here we found ourselves at 5 and or course, Kale, held us to the 5 year old "friend" party. So, first we had a family party in Everly....

He requested a blue combine cake this year.

He's all decked out in football gear now!

Quick to test out the new football gear.

We tried for some cousin pictures.....

This was quite the process and the best I could do....



This was quite the process, as well, c'mon people.....work with me!




5 Years!



Then for the friend party.  Drive in movie theater party.  Parties are a lot of work though, aren't they? Phew!

Featuring the movie: Babe
Rules no honking during the movie! Only2 or 3 kids actually watched the movie.  They still had fun. and who doesn't love a cardboard box, right?

Happy Birthday Kale! XOXOX



Holy Whirlwind...

School has begun.  I always forget the feeling of...well, chaos.. I feel right after summer trying to juggle work, home and lesson plans.  So much to do.  So little time.
My first graders are quite the crew.  I have several missions to accomplish with this group.  But it WILL be done! :)  First mission:  There are no TANTRUMS in first grade.  I will let you know when this task has been complete. 
Kale is an official preschooler.  We have been so happy with the program so far.  The teacher is wonderful and it seems like we may have started just at the right time!  With the new director, who just started, we have already seen some improvements and it seems like she is going to make some great things happen.  First is a BRAND new playground that is being installed,  she also has developed an entire room dedicated to large motor, and arranged for several other special things to happen in the next couple weeks.  She has made all these improvements in the past 3 weeks so she is a woman on a mission.  Kale is talking like Mrs. Buck at home.  While we were eating spaghetti one night, Kale said, "I think Mrs. Buck would say 'sssssssss  spaghetti'   then I would stop her and say 'no, I hear ssssppp spaghetti."  As a first grade teacher who LOVES to teach kids how to read I tried to take advantage of this and continue this initial sound activity throughout supper.  I got shot down.  I am hoping he will have several great teachers because this boy will NOT be participating in any activities his mother tries to implement.

Daddy got the front step picture on the first day of school.

Ava continues to have her ear battles.  Despite attempts of chiropractic treatments and other home remedies, we have decided we cannot continue on this path. Especially after a recent ear drum rupture that led us to the ER in the middle of the night.   So we are going for tubes and praying for relief for this poor babe.  She is really quite the trooper but excited for her to actually to be able to walk around without all that fluid in her ears. 
We've been hitting up the ISU games!  And what a great start to the season it has been!  We sit hillside, the thought was that if we sit hillside the kids can run around.  Last year at the games, Kale would bring his football and run up and down the hill.  Well, this year, the hills have been PACKED.  So not much room for running but it still has been fun.  We also didn't consider poor ava not exactly being able to walk too well on the hill this year.  Last year she just sat there so we did realize how steep it actually is for a toddler.  The first game was wet, rainy and late.  After a long day of tailgating and it being past bedtime, she was so clumsy she just kept rolling down the hill (unintentionally).  We'd look down and there she was rolling out of control.  She didn't seem to mind as long as we reeled her back in! "Send up the little girl in the pink rain coat this way please!" :-)  Poor Ava.

Geared up for the game!

We have a new nephew and cousin born on September 16th. William Walter is here! He was having a little trouble breathing and after a series of scary tests (all of which came back negative) in the NICU, it was determined he was having difficulting coordinating that tongue to suck and then to remember to breathe and swallow. All is good now, and both Shannon and Will are doing well. My kids were both thrilled to meet him and Jake is a proud big brother (although he keeps telling everyone his baby's name is Austin).

They like him, can you tell?

Ava loves being a BIG cousin

Fall on the farm is always my favorite time of year. Kale is chomping at the bit to get in the field for harvest. He is hoping to be in charge of the grain cart this year. And although, Nana is looking forward to handing the job over to someone else.... we keep telling him "maybe when you are 6." Then next year we can say "Maybe when you are 7."

 

This four wheeler is well photographed.

Children of the corn.

Ava htiches a ride in the back of the "grain cart".

Happy Fall!

Revival of the BLOG!!!

Somehow, and can hardly believe I am saying this, summer has come and almost gone! How did that happen? This is going to be my very LONG attempt at reviving this blog and documenting what we did this summer. We have been busy keeping our busy bodies on the move and of course, as expected, I have the pictures to prove it!
Much of this summer has been spent shirtless and dirty! What more did you expect right? Our neighbors all seem to be very clean all the time. How do they do that? Maybe its the farm blood in us. We like to be in the dirt (or if your Ava, eating dirt...and as it appears in this picture Kale may have had a big bite as well. Either that or it's chocolate. I'm betting on chocolate!) By sunset, if we aren't a little grubby with a few stains on the clothes we actually ARE wearing, we have been TOO lazy! :) (when I say "we" I mean "the kids" I am fully clothed :))

Over the Fourth (having to jog my memory of what even went on back then) we had the Schueller family join us down here. Kale loved having those babies around. He could hold a baby for hours. And the smaller the baby, the more he wants to snuggle. He was particularly fond of Macie this weekend. Ava, gave the babies no attention....

Note to all parents of young children: A backyard little blowup pool is worth EVERY penny. (Even if the water does get a ..whats the word Cole? Stagnant or something? Cole's paranoid about it..lighten up! :)) We spent hours and hour jumping in this thing! With or without water! with or without safety goggles as well! expect nothing less from kale!

This is my absolute favorite picture from the Fourth weekend. Apparently, our fireworks didn't even leave the ground. Landyn wanted nothing to do with pictures. All of his shouting was too loud for Macie who showed her disgust with that sweet lil' pouty lip, Ava was easily distracted and off to the races.... and then there was Kale, who wanted nothing more than to get this picture over with so he could leave, trying to hold the crew together with all his might. Needless to say, we called it a wrap... no picture of happy little angels in matching Fourth of July shirts. Maybe next year!

Our neighbors, Jill and Jeremy, kindly allowed the kids and I to crash their party with their family. Kale LOVED running around with all those kids. Here are some of the kids waiting for fireworks. They were more impressed by the dollar laser lights! It was a perfect night (minus the fact that Joe had to work but don't worry he joined after hours!)

Sweetie corn Ava! Big girls eat corn right off the cob and ...shirtless, of course!

And her pretty pink toenails! So, she won't let me put anything in her hair and I was feeling a little more girly than normal and I decided to take on the task of painting Ava's toenails. I knew my little busy bee would NEVER sit still long enough for me to accomplish this task under normal circumstances....SOOO I put her in the highchair and distracted her with a yummy ice cream treat. It wasn't graceful by any means but I haggled and wrestled and we got those suckers painted and you better believe they looked pretty! :)

Kale has made several successful attempts at this no training wheel thing. He can go straight on his own and is quite proud. However, his bike is never actually and "bike" to him. Its many other things. (i.e. motorcycle, crop sprayer, tractor, A+ lawncare treatment applicator, etc.) Those types of machines have a lot of work to do on a daily basis. So, it isn't long before he needs to make of for lost time of only going straight and get those training wheels back on so he can get his work done!

We spent a few days in Okoboji with the Goeken's! Mom and Dad rented a gorgeous condo (which we are trying to convince them of gettting one of their own..... it only seems logical right?). The kids all had a great time swimming, boating, fishing and catching fireflies. How wonderful!

Ava enjoyed the park there, as always. She loves to swing, slide and climb! And look at that sweet lil smirk.

Kale loved playing captain Kale in the boat and learning how to fish with Papa.

All the kids and Nana and Papa ready to go for a late afternoon cruise. It worked out perfectly and turned out to be a nice relaxing vacation with everyone.

Drake has been exhausted this summer. The neighbors got a dog, Max. They like to chase each other back and forth from their opposing sides of the fence. It makes for great exercise. In fact, Drake is down 2 pounds (which is a miracle considering all the foods Ava proudly feeds him during mealtime.) Our vet commended us for keeping him in great shape... :) Thanks Max for making us look good!

Hours in the sandbox. Lots of repeated phrases like, "Not in your mouth Ava." "No, Ava. Don't eat the sand." "Mom, Ava just ate all my sand!".... yep people, the girl loves dirt. we're talking not a tiny bit of sand..A WHOLE MOUTHFUL of sand...and shes sneaky about it!! Little stinker. Will she be on TLC's my stange addiction?..please, no!

Note #2 to parents of young children... Halloween costume are worth EVERY penny! Lots and lots of superheros, cops, firefighters and farmers at our house (just wait for the fairy princess costumes to join the collection!)

Kale got to go to VBS for the first time this summer. Here he is at church in his Wild For Jesus shirt. Overall success!

Ava has joined Kale in the love of books (which makes this teacher momma very happy :)). And again, in the underwear... don't judge people, less laundry!

Farmer Kale, husking our meal.

We love the pool! We are poolrats. Ava loves the water. It has been so fun to see how much they both have grown since the beginning of the summer. Ava loved the pool from the beginning but now she loves to find just the right depth so she can lay with her ears below the water and listen to the splashing. Kale, too, loved the water from the get go.... but amazingly he went from someone who THOUGHT he could swim to a someone who actually COULD swim. He swims under water like a little fish! He is so proud of himself!

Joe had to work and we were antsy, so we packed up to the state fair parade. Ava sat right beside Kale on the curb the whole time. They both seemed to be pleased. I on the other hand was thinking this was NOT worth a late bedtime. But, it wasn't about me right????? That's what I kept telling myself ;)!

Our state fair is a great state fair (insert the rest of the lyrics I don't know here)... We went to opening day of the state fair. We aren't very big fair goers (in fact, we didn't go at all last year) but the weather was absolutely gorgeous so we decided to pack up the troops! Surprisingly, it wasn't that crowded. Not even a line for the bathroom (and as it turns out we are very thankful for that...long story for another day)..phew!

We are typically very spontaneous in just about everything that we do...BUT this time i made an itinerary of what we were going to see in our visit. Way more fun, an itinerary is highly recommended! :) Kale enjoyed everything (except for when we decided to have Ava get a free eye exam. She screamed and so... Kale did too. He was "worried". Surprise surprise, his favorite part was sitting on the tractors, skidloaders and lawnmowers...hes a cheap fair date. Ava, of course, insisted on sitting on everything as well!

The big slide was fun! It IS a great state fair!

Joe has been keeping busy with work. He really likes his job and we are lucky enough to be living in an area where I don't worry. BUT you just never know. Joe has seen a lot this summer. In our relatively low key area we are occasionally reminded of us of what his job entails and the sacrifices he could and would make if he was put in a difficult situation. We just pray that he will make smart quick decisions and stay safe!

We have also been sucked into following some blogs of friends (actually friends of friends, that we don't even know personally) that are dealing with illnesses and now deaths of their sweet babies. One situation was a baby girl in, who at 7 months, was suffering from liver failure and died waiting for a donor. It is sad. It really hits home when you have young children yourself. We are now feeling guilty for our worries/stresses about Kale listening the first time, being gentle and calm, and using good table manners and Ava waking up before 6:30am, gagging herself on purpose at the table, screamign to get out of her carseat and picking her nose. We have two beautiful healthy children to be thankful for who are happy (well, most of the time). And somewhere, right now, parents are dealing with so many bigger life altering issues including the death of their precious baby. I can not even imagine! I am sure they would give anything for their child to wake them up in the middle of the night or throw a tantrum in the middle of the grocery store. My heart is so heavy for this family (again, that I don't even know but I feel like I do). Hug your babies people. Tomorrow is no guarantee. I am not going to sweat the small stuff with our kids anymore. They are just kids. Our kids. Happy and, thank God, healthy kids.

Whoa...sorry to get all spirtual and sappy and down! Let's turn this blog around now! Phew!

Kale's recent quotes:
(at raccoon river) Kale: What's a hillbilly?

Me: I don't really know how to explain it...

Kale: (quickly responding) Is it like that guy?

Me: (looking at a man with a long beard, swimming in overalls...busting out laughing) yes, I guess that would be a good example.

(Conversation stopped here...later that night getting ready for bed.)

Kale: Its funny hillbillies don't like swimming suits.

(we are mowing)

Kale: Why are you doing it that way?

Me: What?

Kale: That's not the way to do it.

Me: It's fine.

Kale: (as he stomps away) Interesting. (Really?? does he think he 16 or something?!?! :))

Ava's recent words (and lack there of but she makes up for it in busyness)

Dada

mama

Dah (Kale)

Dah (Duck)

Dah (Drake)... yep, duck,Drake AND Kale get the same name

Da En (the end)

Ah Du (all done)

NahNah (Nana)

Ahdododahdahdoo (We don't know what this is yet but she will have a full converstation with you repeating this phrase).

Look at these big baby blues.... and that beloved plug she can't get enough of! She is only to have it when resting or riding (but sometimes she suckers us into letting her have it more) but for the record she IS riding in this picture...a wagon ride counts!

Look at those big green eyes! and nope! luckily, he doesn't have a plug during resting OR riding ;). But oh does this boy give us a run for our money. But I guess I can only blame myself. From what I hear I am getting a taste of my own medicine..... and I wouldn't have it any other way (but if he could just go with the flow a little better...)

One of Ava's "looks" she has many of them... she has cute, shy, flirty,surprised and a not so nice "what the hell do you want!"... I think that would be this one. I guess her momma trys to make her smile too much for the camera. She's not taking the bait today!

Below Ava is reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar. We have now read this book 8,903,451 times. I could recite it right now but I won't. She will sign "more" throughout the book until you get to the butterfly at the end. Just so she can swat it! :) She LOVES bugs...mostly because of the swatting.

Cheers to the end of summer and the start of fall! Looking foward to watching these two grow some more!