Off to Gather Some Treats

Trick or treating and the goodies that filled our treat sacks will likely be motivation enough for costume wearing in years to come.

My boys... off to trick-or-treat

Brothers

Happy Halloween!

Dressing up

This was the first year that Halloween actually involved a costume for anyone in this house. Jonathan didn't want to dress up last year (or the year before), and I didn't fight those battles. Caleb was too small to care last year and was still in utero the year before that. Alas, the first year of costumes:

Jonathan saw this in a magazine and decided this was the costume for him: a road with cars and motorcycles driving.

"The road" without cars and with a dragon hat

The dragon costume from our friends, the Allisons. Caleb was a much more willing participant at almost two than Jonathan was at that age.

By the way: do you notice the boxes and chaos everywhere? Less than two weeks until we move!!

Esther, dear Esther

She is fun. Spunky. Patient. Understands the strong personalities we have around here. We love her and will miss her greatly. I'm already hoping she'll visit once we move!

Leaves

What gorgeous fall weather for walking outside, playing in the leaves, and enjoying the company of friends!!

The Line

My husband laughingly (mostly laughing) refers to something called "the line". It's when the mess in the house crosses "the line" and I can't take it anymore. Or, I'm tired and I cross the line into being too tired. There is no definitive set of circumstances that lead up to "the line" nor is it easily predictable. In my growing wisdom (ha!), I've learned to begin communicating when we are approaching "the line". Communication: We are approaching "the line" with this rental, these boxes everywhere, my children in a tiny box of a room, the limbo and transition. And, we have two more weeks of this chaos.

As I am nearing "the line" I am becoming well aware of my need for a little intervention. Enter: lesson of the day from something I read on a blog. I was reading about God's patience with us when I was impacted by how skewed my idea of patience had become. Patience with my children isn't looking the other way when they disobey or enduring their disagreements. It is lovingly and firmly pointing them back in the right direction over and over and over. And over, and over, and over. Kind of like God does for me when I cross "the line" and I need redirection over and over and over.

Part Squirrel

Jonathan's pants had lots of dirt on them so I quickly threw his outfit into the washer without checking the pockets:
Sixty minutes later I found this surprise from my little squirrel's pockets.

Carving Pumpkins and a Lot of Paint

We carved pumpkins last night. Kind of. Jamie carved one, and the boys and I painted them because we decided it would be unwise to both be wielding sharp carving utensils while trying to referee. This was a good call. I had to be in prime referee/supervising mode. We also decided to do it outside in the whipping wind because we are renting this place (with mostly carpet... ugh) and thought the landlord would not appreciate paint/pumpkin guts on his floors.

Jamie's finished product was pretty nifty. The rest of us had fun. And, that, was our pumpkin thing for this year.

Fight, fight for Iowa...

They fought and they lost, but we still had a splendid time at Kinnick:

James, me, Carla (and baby: due in 6 weeks), and Nate

Jonathan

Jonathan, my oldest boy... my quiet, strong willed one... my bag carrying, outside-loving, dog fearing little boy. Life is never dull with you around. You gather items all day in your bag, bucket, purse, or lunchbox of choice. The items never seem to go together for any purpose, but you know if I remove certain things from the "bag".

You don't give out hugs or kisses or even conversation for free. But, if you are game, your conversation is delightful and your hugs worth the wait. I love that you will still snuggle with me on occasion and you'll wrestle and tackle your daddy until he calls a truce.

You are a master at "Rush Hour" and like to make up your own rules to other games if given the chance. Competition is in your blood, and you'll make anything a race: running, bike riding, racing your little cars, washing hands, getting dressed. I think your daddy may have influenced you a bit on that one :+)

Happy 4th Birthday, big man! I'll miss a lot of things about three, but I look forward to being a part of your life at four!

1,2,3,4!

Four years of fun, big opinions for a little boy, laughing, playing, crying, teaching, and getting to know our oldest boy. We celebrated with a little donut cake this morning which Caleb found very exciting and Denny's for dinner.

Jonathan...

-loves to play with cars, trucks and things that go.

-and Caleb are great friends. So great that they can have some whopper fights.

-picks out his clothes and detests any shirts with buttons.

-thinks that most shoes should be flip-flops.

-is hesitant around new people but talks a blue streak if he feels comfortable.

-enjoys church, story time, making granola or other treats with me, and driving his "Jeep" outside.

-still sucks on his first two fingers at bedtime and whenever he is tired. We've managed to eliminate most mid-day occurrences of this.

-sleeps with his beloved "blue blankie".

-makes all sorts of vehicle and structural creations with legos.

Happy Birthday to our biggest little man!

"Ride Bike Trail"

When asked if Jonathan would like to go on a bike ride, his response is usually, "I want to go to the ride bike trail with Julianne and Erica." He loves these two friends, and we continue to enjoy our weekly nature walks/bike rides with them.

Pumpkin Farm

The boys and I ventured to the pumpkin farm on Monday to play on the giant toys and pick out a pumpkin or two. We had hoped to go with Jamie, but with all of the weekends taken in October we had to settle for a weekday. The three of us had a grand time, and we were sufficiently wiped out upon arrival home.

Jonathan and Zack

Keith, Ruth, Jamie, Jonathan and Caleb (both children a little irritable by this point in the photo taking)

Always Remember

Our neighbors... remember how much we love them? Here they are:

Donnie and Angela... still lovebirds after 27 years

Matt, Kate, Zack, and Ben

Tyler, Drew, Jonathan and Caleb

Katie and me

John and Sharon

Our neighbors had a BBQ for us as a farewell on Sunday evening, and we had great food, great company and perfect weather.

9 years, 3 cities, 7 residences

My mother commented the other day that when we arrive at our destination after our move next month, we will have lived in seven different "homes" in our nine years of marriage. Three major moves to new cities. And, we won't be entirely settled next month as we will still be looking for a new home to own.

Today marks nine years of marriage. Nine years of loving, laughing, refining, changing, and commitment. We look back in amazement at where God has taken us, enjoy today because we still have great fun, and look forward to what is yet to come.

Our annual celebration usually includes a little more fanfare than will be occurring this year, but we are both weary. Weary of limbo, weary of driving here and there, and weary of saying good-byes. We will celebrate with a quiet dinner out tonight and will look forward to time away this winter when things are calmer.

James and Sarah... sitting in a tree... :+)

Fall Fun

It was the weekend of parties for the Guild family, and we had one good time after another. Party number two of the weekend was at our friends' house about thirty minutes from here. It was a gorgeous evening, great company, and super duper kid things to do. We had a blast and Jonathan would consider moving in with them, as I think he thought that he had arrived in heaven with all of the fun things to do!

Jonathan and I... Connor and Chad Allison

Jamie and Caleb, Chad and Connor

Kaila, James, and Jonathan

Trying to catch a fish

The mini-bounce house... kids' paradise!

Biggest little boy

Jonathan requested that the tractor be green and yellow with a blue seat, red wheels, and a few sprinkles on the blue part. Mission accomplished.

Jonathan turns four on Thursday, and we had a little shin dig for him on Saturday at the YMCA park. He had a great time playing and eating cake (made with love by Daddy).

Jonathan and Hannah

Jonathan, Andrew, and Caleb with the beloved, Esther.

Jonathan and Andrew Nehre

Jonathan and Esther (babysitter, friend, and good pal of all of us)

Guild family with the John Deere tractor cake

Almost, Sort of, Not Really

We almost offered on a house today. We sort of felt okay about it. When it came down to it, we didn't actually feel all that great about it. We felt rushed, kind of frazzled, and not all that enthused about the price for the house we would have gotten.

Alas, we will be renting. Large financial decisions have to ruminate in my gut for a while. I've probably seen too many deals made in haste go badly. We are remembering three years ago when we almost bought a financial nightmare of a house in a small town near where we live. The only thing that saved us from that disaster was a bold appraiser. All these things have made us skittish and slow to decide.

We actually feel tremendous peace about renting for the next six months and deciding slowly.

Back-up... Beep, Beep!

We are still hanging in limbo. We will (hopefully) have an offer on a house very soon, and then we can begin moving towards the next season. Jonathan is still a little out of sorts. He is a thinker. Something will happen and he'll ask about it days later, and he'll actually process the situation days later. I think this change requires a little more time for him.

Caleb is oblivious now that he is sleeping better (not quite so enamored with his brother in close proximity). We are all still here, and that seems to be what matters to his 22 month old little mind.

Caleb has begun to talk like crazy and here is one of my favorites:

"Truck, back-up. Beep, beep!!"

Caleb also loves puzzles. He will sit for 20 minutes, by himself, doing puzzles. He also likes us to do some of the harder ones with him, and who could say "no" to that?

News on our new digs coming soon :+)