We did a two hour shift ringing for the Salvation Army at our local Fareway.  Em made it the entire time.  The kids and I rang for almost 80 minutes.  Dallas was "starving" and Noelle was cold, so when Robert arrived we left Em and him to finish the last 40 minutes.  He also likes to ring "on the beat", so it was good that I took the erratic ringers home!

 Assembling a fireplace at Grandpa Dallas new place, Emily was daddy's helper.

 This little sickee was napping in our bed earlier this month.

 Basketball practice has begun

 This church has a garage

 Cyclone tree got new lights this year thanks to finding a gold strand at Fleet Farm

 Rehersal:  It takes practice to be this angelic

 These two pictures were from our Chrsistmas devotion.  "What God wants for Christmas"

 Reading Christmas books

Baby Jesus getting a ride to the car wash

My sweet little boy is five years old. He hates sleeping through the night, he loves sleeping in our "soft, cozy bed". He loves building, towing, and setting up rigs to haul or dump just about anything. He plays quite well with Noelle these days, they are constantly in the middle of some tale and they are both sad when it is time to break to eat or have Dallas head off to school. He likes preschool these days. Gone is the first hard month of anxiety. He happily hops out and scampers in to greet his teachers and friends. He loves his new snow boots (I can't believe I bought camo boots!) His favorite friends at school are Ben and Cameron. But sometimes he plays with Bailey, who he says always wants to sit by him. The teacher says he is a great helper, and most of his skills are right on track. He could write his name a little better, but we are practicing when he wants. They seem so excited that he enjoys going now, they know what a hard time we had in the beginning. He has taken a little interest in math lately, Em and I drill a lot orally and I think he picks up on some. Prepare to be stumped when he asks you what "times seven times 5 plus" is. He loves wearing his cowboy boots, and dressing up for church, I do believe he likes all the compliments he gets when he wears a bow tie. Dallas always has a plan, and likes to try it out before hearing your theory on how it works. He is really proud of the things he makes and wants to tell you about each intricate detail. He asks the best questions, completely out of the blue. He is always thinking, especially about vehicles, or what daddy's big red truck can do compared to his little green truck vs. the van. He really wants us to sell the van and have me drive a "smooth" car again.

 

 Birthday mail

 His little pallet on our bedroom floor.  This was well past 8:00 am. 

 Building birthday Legos

 admiring his handiwork

 He wanted Jimmy John's for his birthday meal.  We even let him eat in on furniture in the living room!

One big birthday cake!

Fourteen things

It's December!

1.  We will have a five year old in the house by the end of the week.

2.  Remind me not to ever buy Pixar themed stamps again, the kids think they are stickers.

3.  Emily and I played Christmas songs together as background music during the Festival of Trees this Sunday.

4.  We are doggless again, we recently returned Riley to his new house in Ankeny, and of course Noelle and Dallas were playing doggie today.

5.  Robert is back to working, working, working, preparing to feed us in the New Year.  He had about three hours of rest over Thanksgiving break.

6.  We saw the movie Frozen on opening day.  It was wonderful.  And guess what, a guy's true love kiss didn't solve all the problems in this movie. 

7.  The house is 70% decorated.  I am afraid the Cyclone tree needs to be restrung.  I am in search of gold lights, I remember it was difficult to find them the first time around.

8.  Ames has been dealing with a rash of burglaries, I was fine dealing with it, until Robert got worried about it.  Now I get a little freaked out in the evenings.

9.  I am breaking in new workout shoes. Lynne and I went shopping a few weeks ago.  I hated them for two weeks, but I think we are finally friends.

10.  Parenting is hard work

11. Homeschooling is hard work. 

12.  We have been having a rough time lately, hoping we are in a brief valley and the big girl and I can climb on out soon.

13.  Maybe I will get a sweet teacher appreciation gift.  I will have to remember to get some for Dallas preschool teachers as well.

14.  I am debating the merits of purchasing one of the one cup coffee makers.  I have been tolerating Casey's coffee and Dutch Oven's coffee.  I take it with half and half, and I like that it is warm.  I am not sure it is keeping me awake, but I think I am less grumpy. 

November happenings

 Cute squirrel cuddled up in our tree, nope!  Dead squirrel, had a 11 yr old remove it for me.

 I found this special note left for me on the fridge

Dreaming of an actual mudroom to contain this mess. 

 My kids are banned from full size yogurts.  They never finish them.  Used 5 half eaten yogurts in a smoothie. 

 I am adding these slippers from Target to my Christmas list.  size 10 please

 Laundry folding is my nemesis

 Half-naked kiddos, applying deodorant.

 Emily is a bracelet making fool.

 Leaves, just fall already.  Raked three times, these slow pokes are gonna be hanging out on my lawn come Spring.

Emily also enjoyed trying on boots at Target, she wanted pictures of all of them. 

SEMA show

A couple weeks ago three years of hard work and sacrifice culminated at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.  I made an appearance for 2 days.  I couldn't let this opportunity pass to see the car, Robert speak and work. 

 Me sitting in the car complete with my racing harness, see the pretty roll cage?

 A blurry picture of Robert presenting at the YEN business competition.  That guy behind him had just introduced him, he was the MC, and apparently famous in the trucks and drifting worlds.

 I took this picture for Dallas.

 Robert working, he worked the entire time, 7:00 am - 9:00 pm.  Here he was interviewing the guy that restored the original license plate, Restore-A-Tag works magic. 

 This was the only famous person I knew, or cared about (besides Rob). 

 These guys are like family now.  The Florida group, Muscle Car Express and Street Metal Concepts.
Only missing guy was Jeff Allison from Allison Customs in New Mexico.

Before Robert left

 Nope, not pop

 ISU game

 Go Cyclones

 Digging

 Cleaning

 Design

 preparing for a road trip

 meeting of the minds

 last hugs

 Road trip partner in crime

 Let's do it - Dallas as photographer

Truck ready - Dallas as photographer

While Rob was gone.

 Dallas and the kids were sick.  He gets major fevers, it's just his body's way.  He finally succumbed and had a little nap.  Em and D rebounded, Noelle ended up at the Dr, with an ear infection.

 Halloween was fun.  Two mermaids and Beau Duke

 Noelle and I dropped in on Dallas preschool Halloween Party

 Aunt Lynne joined us for a spooky $3 burrito at Chipotle and then trick or treating! 

 We found Christmas music on the radio

Fun mom appeared and we had ice cream for dinner

 We watched the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, after the holiday

 We had Saturday morning cuddles

 Drove home from Osky and cousin Drew's baptism.  Girls were still sick and passed out right away.  Dallas was not sick, got hot and stripped down... He also got to watch Mater Tales all by himself.

Noelle got new pj's.  They glow in the dark.