Happy Birthday to happy little Noelle

What a little joy Noelle Rose is for our family.  She wakes every morning completely elated and in the best mood.  I should bottle it up and make a fortune selling it. 

When she is not happy she is screaming. 

 

She started her birthday off at 5:15 am, I was gone to workout, but Robert said he sent her back to bed and tucked her in.  She slept until 7:20 which is pretty late for her.  These morning thunderstorms sure do help the sleeping, keeping this dark!

Rob did his dad thing and took her out for breakfast (pic on his phone, I will get it loaded soon), and the dropped her off to preschool.

 

 The kids and I visited preschool the last 40 minutes or so and brought birthday treats and got to see the celebration.  Her teacher shown here is Jackie.  Noelle really enjoyed the crown and wore it the rest of the day.

 After a busy afternoon of taking Em to class and volleyball we met Robert and Gpa at Hickory Park.  Ames is about 10 years behind in this trend, but we finally have Cy's around town sponsored by different businesses and painted uniquely.  It is really fun to be driving around and see them.  This Cy is a Cyclone Soda Jerk at Hickory Park.

 

We gave her a couple presents on Tuesday.  Dallas picked a stuffed talking Olaf for her, super cute, will be kind of creepy if it talks in the night though.  Noelle got her a jewelry box that you decorate with jewels.  She loves it.  Sticking stickers on things is so fun for her right now.  Robert and I got her the Doc McStuffins dress up outfit, and Grandpa got her an ISU scarf.  I will hopefully have another gift ready for her on Sunday when we party with the whole fam.

Hello first day of school

first day of school PE walk around the lake

 Emily, age eight, third grade

 Dallas, age 5, kindergarten

New curiculum that I am trying to learn

Other things that get done inbetween fair, friend and pool visits.

 I am decluttering kids art and other misc.  Remind me to snap a picture of the after pile.

 We tended the Homeschool garden last week and I guess this girl got hungry on the way home.

I know Dallas has a list going, but I would take this in a Med.  I actually think I will go back for it, not sure I can wait for Christmas....

We had a date last Friday and I out drank Robert for the first time, maybe ever.  Fun Laura!  Expensive bill.

We are getting more garden bounty than we can gobble up.  I had a light bulb moment and decided to roast the stuff that had a weird spot or that needed used up today.  I cleaned up all the veggies, in this case it was several zucchini, summer squash, lots of little yellow tomatoes that had split open on the vine, some banana peppers, and a couple of large red tomatoes that had a weird bug spot in that I cut out. I tossed them all with coconut oil and roasted for 20 minutes at 400.  I let the veggies cool a bit on the pan when finished then I stuck it all in the blender and pureed them.  I froze the puree in 1 cup portions and I plan to sneak add them into soups and sauces all winter. It was pretty delicious as is, I bet a splash of heavy cream, salt and pepper and it would make a good soup.

Iowa State Fair 2014

 This poor guy is just having a rough go at it lately.  I am hoping he just needs less summer fun and more sleep, but if you think of it say a prayer for little Dallas and his sensitive emotions.  He was all over the place emotionaly at the fair.  He had been sitting in the stroller and even though we gave him time too he didn't participate in the Butter Cow photo op.  Anyone who has been to the fair before knows there is a line and it can be quite a little wait, and I felt like we couldn't hang out in the prime spot and let this five year old throw his fit about missing the picture.  He rebounded and decided to have one with the cow, he is trying to smile...

 This was my favorite part of the fair.  Noelle loved these little Brown swiss cows.  We talked to them for quite some time waiting for Emily and Robert to finish riding the sky lift.  This one in particular went in for a little smooch while we were taking a photo, I love the joy on her face.  Then we rounded the corner in the dairy barn and there were babies... brown swiss babes, we petted the babes for a while then she asked if we could take it home.

 One of my favorite spots

 The ISU booth in the Varied Industries building was pretty popular with the Kibbe's.  They had the names of 97,000 graduates living and working in Iowa listed.  It was fun to find our names.  The top picture has Lynne.

The booth also had all of the cool Big12 trophys won by the sports teams this year. 

 This was a new installation at the fair this year.  It was a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be.

 Emily loves riding

So does Noelle

Dallas has started his Christmas/Birthday list

This boy is in the mood to buy, buy, buy.  He asks for things all the time in the store. I don't like my kids to beg in stores.  He has requested these to go on his list

 This is a camoflauge ISU hat, camo being the key here. 

 His sad face when I said we couldn't buy this righ that minute.  Orange is his absolute favorite.

 This is a Lighting McQueen nightl light project images on the wall/ceiling sort of device, found at Walmart.  He really would like a Superman version, but we don't know if that exists.

Dollar store find, this is an eight pack of car themed party blower thingies.

Picture update

 Cruising in the Chevelle

 Some of our very favorite little people

 Donut Donut Day, she almost always picks the powdered Bismark, wouldn't you?

 I love babysitting this little squirt.  I made her take 50 or so pictures with me, I will show restraint and only post the one, you are welcome.

 We changed rooms around a bit and made this cozy little spot to hang out

 Valentino's has kids eat free night on Tuesdays.  Free face painting and the kids get to make their own mini pizza to take home and eat the next day. My Favorite!

 Robert thinks I would rock this car. 

 I also took more than enough pictures of old guys checking out the Chevelle at a local car show.  Makes me proud

 Adventureland 2014 was epic.  I did not ride any rides that turn in circles.  So I was happy.  Maybe next year I will try Dramamine, anyone have any luck with pre-dosing?

 Train riding

 The carousel was Noelle's favorite

 The first family picture with the Chevelle at Good Guys 2014

 Robert and Emily love riding sky lifts

 Checking out Jack Trice during Jr. Cyclone Club packet pick-up

 There is always time for a picture with Cy

 Dallas trying on come football gear

 Like father, like son

 Tea Cups, Adventureland

 more Adventureland

 The kids are all enjoying Garfield cartoon books right now. 

 Home school prep is what I do in the evenings when the kids are tucked in, and Robert is working

And this girl acquired some long legs this summer, no more baby chub on her