Addy's first field trip

Well, as some of you know, Addison took her first field trip yesterday. She was quite excited to ride the bus, even if it was down the road we travel every Tuesday and Thursday, somehow that trip just seemed so much more fun in a bus where you don't have to be in a car seat!!! We traveled to the local Orchard, and learned about how apples grow, how they are picked, washed, bagged, crushed, cidered...ok, you get the picture. The best part was when one of Addy's classmates threw up at the end of the tour RIGHT in front of her!!! Aunt Beth would have lost her mind!!!

Here are some pictures from the day!

Addy in front of the bus...even though it was only 50 degrees and windy, Addy was so excited that it was finally cold enough to wear her tights that she refused to listen to Mom and wear pants (she was sorry she didn't listen to me at the end of the trip!)


On the bus, ready to get going! And, yes, sadly, she does ask to wear this hat.


Addy's friend Maggie who loved the ride as much as Addy did


Addy and her class listening about apples





Standing in front of empty apple trees. Apparently the 3-4 days of frost that we had in late spring really hurt the apple production this year. This was the reason they gave for not letting the kids pick their apple right off the tree.


Addy picking out apples to take home. She choose a "teeny greeny" apple for herself. I guess she likes 'em sour!


Sitting on pumpkins after her snack. Can you see the oreo crumbs all around her mouth??


Until next blog,
Jen

Our weekend: Bappy fairy, orchard, and Anniversary

So, Brian decided to put an end to the pacifier nonsense; he told Addy that the Bappy Fairy was coming last Thursday, and she did! At first he suggested that we take the bappies away from both kids, but I assured him that if he wanted me to be in a good mood on our anniversary, that we just focus first on Addy. It went much smoother than I thought! Despite a 1-2 minute crying spell before she falls asleep, she's pretty much over them. Pretty good for someone who was addicted to them for nearly 4 years!!

4 months...


18 months...


2 years...


3 years!


Saturday was our annual family day of a parade and orchard visit. The parade gave us TONS of candy...I'm sure most of it will get tossed. And the orchard was fun because we did the "u-pick" apples, which we had never done with the kids before. Keith got stung on his chin by a trash bee while drinking a cider slushie, but somehow that sugary goodness seemed to keep his crying to a minimum!

Addy in the apple tree


Keith trying to pick up a pumpkin as big as him


Addy in the pumpkin patch


Keith gets up high for the perfect apple


Sunday was our 7 year anniversary. Since it was a beautiful day, we left the kids with Grandma and Grandpa and went to Bloomington and strolled around the IU campus. It was very beautiful and quiet, and fun to stroll down memory lane at the place where Brian and I met. We couldn't believe how much things had changed! We also stopped at Worms Way and bought a composter. Aren't we the romantics???

Brian and Jennifer...7 years younger


Until next blog,
Jen

Cousin Johnny mocks blog, so funny pictures are posted for his birthday

It was recently brought to my attention that my very own cousin is making fun of his wife for having my blog in her favorites list....so, I decided to do the only thing I could and make him a feature for today's post. I've selected a few of my favorite pics of him; excluding the one where he is getting hot-shotted while we prod him up the hog ramp. I decided to leave that one out because I wasn't sure how the public would view 4 children under the age of 10 playing with electrical hog equipment! And sorry to Amy and Uncle Buck for their embarrassing pictures, but I didn't have the heart to cut you out. Happy Birthday Johnny!!!

Johnny is the cute little baby in the front with the 1970s terry-cloth tank top!!


Awwww....


Sweet Buick!!



Also, a belated happy birthday to Grandma Billmeier, who turned a year wiser yesterday! We celebrated with Puss-in-Boots cupcakes AND German Chocolate cake (yes, the kids were bonkers!!)



And finally...last but not least! A big CONGRATULATIONS to my FSIL (favorite sister-in-law) Beth on her recent engagment to a wonderful person, Kyle Krause. Kyle, and his dog Boomer, will be a wonderful addition to the Billmeier family. Addy is looking forward to your wedding, but requests a disco ball just like at Cousin Johnny's wedding!!!

The newly engaged couple; Beth and Kyle


Until next blog,

Jen

Toilet training a boy...the fun begins!

This picture says it all...ever since he was born, Keith has always been interested in what Addy was doing and trying with all his might to copy it immediately. So, naturally, he now wants to go to the bathroom on the toilet instead of his diaper because, after all, that's what Addy does. And, while he definatley gets an "A" for effort, I'm not sure he's quite up for it yet...or maybe its me thats not ready! Case in point...yesterday. He walked through the front room shouting "Have to go potty!!" and ran to the bathroom, lifted the seat, and started to pull his pants down. I ripped off the pants and diaper as quickly as I could so as to seize the moment. He stood, leaned forward, grunted, and nothing came out. I asked "Don't you have any pee?" and he replied "nope" then ran off (pantless) to go see what Addison was doing. I gather his pants and get a new diaper and then go find him. I find him standing in the office, watching Addy play a computer game, with poop right on the floor by his feet. Looking back, he did answer my question correctly...he didn't have to PEE!!!! We now have a very clean spot on the carpet in our office and I'm left wandering what the best method for toilet training a boy is. I mean, with Addy it was so simple, you sit for everything. But, not being a boy, I'm not really sure how to approach the whole 'sit when you poop, stand when you pee" training session; and its quite obvious that Keith can't properly verbalize whether he needs to do #1 or #2. Any advice is highly sought after.

Until next blog,

Jen

Watch out Thomas, Percy might be taking over!

Our kids LOVE their Thomas the train wooden railway. I really can't complain...they will spend hours moving those locomotives all over our front room, and they never tire of it. If I want to get something done, all I have to do is set up the train tracks and VOILA!! they're happy. In fact, while I post this blog, they are playing with their trains. The thing about the Thomas the train sets is, whenever you purchase a big set, you get a free train, only its NEVER Thomas...its always Percy (for you Thomas-illiterate, thats the green train with the number 6). Brian and I were just laughing about this the other day because we currently have FIVE Percys and haven't purchased a single one!



Some of you may be aware that, recently, some Thomas trains were painted with the lead-based paint. So, we went through our set and pulled out the few that were affected. The deal was, you send back the defective trains and then RC2 (the makers of Thomas Trains) send you back the new, lead-free trains, plus a check to re-imburse you for your shipping and handling costs. When we recently sent our trains in, Brian and I joked about how it would be funny if, when they sent us our new trains, they sent us a free Percy for our troubles. Well, our replacement trains came today, and guess what came with them???? Thats right!! Here's Addy with our SIXTH Percy!! We had a good laugh from that!!



A few months ago we added to our family of cats. My cousin-in-law, Stephanie, sent me an email of a cat that was going to the slaughterhouse, I mean humane society, if their current owner couldn't find a new home. How could I, in good conscience, ignore this plea??? Her name WAS Raven, but Addy insisted that we call her Raisin, instead. Well, when Raisin first got here, she was VERY shy and skittish, even jumping when I would just sneeze! As you can see from this picture, she has started to relax a little bit around us. I think she may even be in close competition with Bergie for Addy's favorite cat!



And, finally, to continue the Monarch saga, the kids recently got to observe a Monarch coming out of its chrysalis. Here they are holding it before it got up enough strength to fly away.




Until next blog,
Jen

would you like some catch up with your blog?

Ha ha...get it??? Catch up...Ketchup...c'mon people!! The title...Its supposed to be FUNNY!!

Anyway...I've been a little slow to blog this past month, so there are a few things I need to post on to get you all up to speed on our EVER so exciting life here in small town, USA.

Addison dresses herself, Keith, and the blow-up turtle in beads:



Brian tills up our puny garden. Thanks to the drought, its so dusty he has to wear a mask to keep his lungs clean!!



My niece, Brooke, turns 14!!!! Here is the birthday girl with her peanut butter pie:



And here she is opening some presents:



Audra makes a funny face:



Addy makes a funny face:



Nana makes a funny face!!:



We went on another camping trip at the end of August, this time to Van Buren State Park in Michigan. The weather was AWESOME and our campsite was right on by the beach, so we mostly hung out there. But one day we drove up to Holland, MI and visited the Dutch Village. Here is Brian and Keith in front of the windmill at the Dutch Village:



And here are our cute little Dutch kids:



Addy tries on some wooden shoes:




Even Addy's little Pumpy enjoyed the Dutch Village!



Hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of the fall weather. I am certainly not sad to see those 90+ degree days going away, but I do dread the winter which is just around the corner!! Ugh.

Until next blog,
Jen

Keiths 2nd birthday

Here is a lazy way to share Keiths birthday with everyone...hope the slide show works. It still is hard for me to imagine that 2 years have gone by! We are so blessed to have such wonderful kids and great family and friends to surround them.

Sorry, I would blog more but everyone is sick with a cold in our house and Keith is currently crying...


Until next blog,
Jen