September Photo Update

Here's a little of what we've been up to this month.

Going to the park as a family before Jason starts school, Noah trying out his new helmet, and Dylan's push bike, Camp Menno Haven fun, Champaign fun with Jeanie at the mall and Curtis Orchard with Grandma Cindy, Dylan's first day of school, Noah pretending he was going to school too (needed his own bag).

from rock star to rock climber

Noah tried rock climbing this weekend at the church retreat.
I put him up on the wall and he took a few steps up...actually doing it...and then got a little stuck and started freaking/crying. Of course I took him down immediately.

Here's from the few moments before he cried:

Kiddieland is fun for whole family

We went to Kiddieland back in August, and took our niece, Michaela, along for the fun. The kids had a blast, and so did Jason and I! Kiddieland is a wonderful, clean park. Actually, make that WAS a great park. It closed it's doors for good this month. Something about a family dispute over land and leasing or something.

We will miss you Kiddieland. We only went once, but that time was a special one, and we wish we could go back!



Noah and I try out the Roto-Whip. I think my legs were bruised afterward.

Dylan and Noah's first real roller coaster experience. They didn't like it much...something about the dips.

Noah takes daddy on an old-fashioned car ride. Meanwhile, Michaela, Dylan and I were on the very scary log ride. Dylan did not like that one either - BIG dip. "I am glad that is over," she sad.

My big boy riding his motorcycle. He thought he was such hot stuff on all the rides.

Noah loved this boat ride in real water - he went several times. The joy of no lines.

The drop ride was by far my favorite. I laughed so hard I cried crazy tears. It was hysterical. It wasn't a huge drop, but just kept going up and dropping you, up and dropping you like 15-20 times. I was almost peeing my pants. Thank goodness for kegels. Dylan was a rockstar and LOVED it too - she went on twice - once with Jason and Michaela and once with me and Michaela.

They all four crammed in this teacup - and wow, Jason looked real uncomfortable. Not made for 6 foot, 1 inch men.

Holding hands by choice, waiting in line for the kiddie ferris wheel.

Enjoying a brother/sister kiddie ferris wheel ride. So glad they have each other!

everyday at our house.

My Little Rock Star

Afternoon at the farm

I can't go back and do things chronologically or I fear I'll never catch up, so I'll just go with what JUST happened, to keep things current.

We visited Dale and Charlene Rhodes' farm yesterday (Dale is Jason's dad's cousin). - Their daughter, Sara, is a friend from Goshen, and she and her husband Dave have two girls around the ages of our kids. We saw them at the reunion, and she said we could come visit and see her dad feed the sheep! Well, as you can imagine, us city folk jumped at the chance to do that!

Dale and Charlene were so welcoming to us, and gave us the 4-star farm treatment. They showed us around and gave us some really interesting facts about their life there and the history of the farm itself.

This is Dale feeding the sheep as we watched.

My little city kids watching on in amazement...

Aunt Jeanette, Uncle Eddie, Auntie Mo-Mo and Eli also were along for the fun.

They had a llama who watched over the sheep and kept the coyotes and dogs away.

We got to see several pregnant cows too!

And they ended the tour with a ride on the 4-wheeler! Thanks so much Dale and Charlene! It was a perfect Iowa field trip.