September

Annika's birthday party was a success! She wanted to have it at Pam's Playground. We spent the week making a pinata. I don't plan to make anymore pinatas. They're a lot of work for the $15 it saves. We bought goodies at the dollar tree and put them in party bags so each kid could just have a bag when the pinata burst open.

Esther taking a whack while Hannah watches

Olivia Harris, Hannah Behling, Kingston, Leah Jensens, Spencer, Amber Stutz, Truman, Reagan Harris, Esther, Annika, Benson, Clay Jensen, Tyler Harris, Janelle

We had Unicorn poop frosting on the cupcakes. :) I made three different colors of frosting and stacked them in a frosting bag. They were fun!

Michelle and Tyler Nygard

cute birthday girl!

Benson sitting by Brynlee

I went through my newborn and 3 month boy clothes and discovered that I didn't have enough winter clothes. We went to a few yard that morning. The first yard sale had a table full of baby boy clothes! I scored a bag full of like 25 items for $7! They were mostly Carter's and all long sleeve. It was an epic yard sale day :)

Benson snapped this less than flattering picture of me fixing Annika's hair. But I like that it shows our everyday life and my growing belly.

Adams County Fair time!

Jessica and her kids joined us.

watching the horses

the kids' favorite part of the fair was a kid's play area. There was a wooden cow to milk, potatoes to plant, fake eggs to gather, and a huge pit of corn kernels to dig in.

"Cheese!" at the fair

Happy birthday, Uncle Daddy! He requested biscuits and gravy and oreo truffles for dessert.

Traditional cheesy picture holding his birthday dessert

We went to visit Grandma Stock and Bambie (while she was visiting). Annika made gifts for each of them. She loves to make and give gifts!

Jessica came for the rodeo parade. The kids made a haul on candy! We went to Pam's Playground after the parade and had lunch. The kids played and Jessica and I enjoyed talking for a few hours. It was a lovely morning! David worked the Elephant Ear booth all morning.

eating candy after the parade!

Annika made me breakfast in bed :) Oatmeal, milk and chocolate chips

This was Annika's third soccer season (fall, spring, fall) and Benson's first! He has been anxious to be on a team since last spring when I told him he had to be 4 to play. At that time, he kept saying to Annika "No, you're 3 and I'm 5!" Well now he is old enough to play. He spent the first half of his first game crying as David walked around the field with him. But he got over that by second half. By the end of the season, Annika was saying things like "Oh, it's raining. Is soccer cancelled." Benson definitely was motivated to get his cleats on every Tuesday and Thursday when I reminded him about the after game snacks. So neither one of them was that into it. I think we might skip it this spring; especially since David will be coaching tennis and I will have a new baby. And as for next fall, Annika really wants to do dance. It seems expensive (like $40 a month plus costume cost). But, I know she would LOVE it. I wish they offered gymnastics in Othello. I think Benson would love that. There is Karate. But that's even more expensive. I want my kids to try fun new things. But I don't want to sign them up for activities just to be doing something. 

Esther loves her overalls! They're kinda a pain for going to the bathroom. But she looks adorable in them. The pockets are her favorite!

posing for pictures :)

Benson often asks to have a turn with the steam mop. Lately he's been asking me to mop about every week. So this last time, I swept and then I handed the mop over to him and he did the whole floor! I had to touch up a few spots, but he did a great job!

Annika's first time riding the bus home! We had Annika ride the bus with Olivia and Aubrey Harris, just so she would know what to do if we need her to ride in the future. She loved it! It was pretty much a play date with the Harris girls. Crystal said we should expect her home at about 3:45. So I went outside around 3:40 to wait. Eventually, we were all out there (grandpa and Beusie too). We waited and waited. We finally saw the bus at 4:05! Apparently, with the bus driver shortage, the drivers are having to take on two routes. They take the kids for both routes at the same time. Annika didn't mind at all and has been begging to ride again. We let her ride one other day and driver was double routed again. We'll be avoiding the bus until they get more drivers, if we can.