Pumpkin Patch 2010

Keri and the kids drove to a not-so-close pumpkin patch to meet up with a few of Sophie's preschool classmates. It was a great patch with lots of things for the kids to do and free with canned food donation.

The kids had fun going on the giant inflatable slides and bounce houses, visiting the pumpkin house, and recognizing a myriad of character cut outs. We then ate lunch at benches beside real horses and a pig. Following lunch we got to go on a hayride and enjoyed the dust in our teeth!

We had a good time but Keri is glad the pumpkin patch visit is over for another year.

Ben at the wheel and Sophie practicing her princess wave.These next two are for Neal--Star Wars and Phineas and Ferb.Something we love about Sophie is that she is fearless!This is my favorite shot of the day!Hayride! It was a bumpy one!

Our Children

Our Rhys is walking quite a bit now. He is also signing the words more, eat, milk, all done, and baby. He is starting to follow along with finger plays.Sophie loves her preschool friends. She is excited about the Halloween decorations that are now up in our house. She is so cute when she holds her brother's hand.

Sophie recently commented on the sky from the backseat of the car. Referring to the clouds, she noted that "God take out the pink ones" (from a sunset earlier in the week) and "put on white ones."

Sophie also does Meals on Wheels every Monday with a family friend. This is the conversation Neal and Sophie had while he held his little girl:
Daddy: Did you do Meals on Wheels today?
Sophie: Yes.
Daddy: Did you like giving the people their food?
Sophie: Yes
Daddy: You know, Sophie, when you help people and feel good, that is the Holy Ghost telling you that you did the right thing.
Sophie: You're fuzzy Daddy! (This while rubbing his unshaven cheeks)

We'll keep trying. We know it will get through some day.

Grandma J and Getting Crafty

We were happy to have Keri's mom, Judy, visit for the third time this year. She stayed for 2 1/2 fun weeks. Judy let Keri sleep in everyday and helped with the house and kids. We also got out to do some shopping, eating out, and spending time at the local parks.

Keri's white blood cell counts have been much too low. She has been getting 1-2 shots a week to help her get her counts up. Those shots wipe Keri out so the extra help was very much appreciated.

While Judy was in town we made some dishes from her recipe box. Keri loved many of them because they were yummy tastes from her childhood. Neal, in particular, enjoyed the carrot cake.

Judy also taught Keri how to crochet. She has tried to teach Keri before but this time Keri wanted to learn and didn't get as easily frustrated. Before Judy flew back to CA, Keri had 1/4 of a baby blanket completed. Crocheting is fun and relaxing.We also dusted off the sewing machine and made fleece hats for the kids for the upcoming fall and winter weather. Keri loves the ears. Sophie has a lavender one.

Doesn't Rhys look absolutely horrid! He has been walking quite a bit lately and his face met the sidewalk yesterday. It's even worse up close. It breaks Keri's heart every time she looks at her son. He doesn't seem sore though. He's still happy (after a few initial tears) and still enjoys walking the sidewalks.Not only did we get crafty, but Judy brought her Pillow Talk DVD. Keri and Judy grin during the entire movie! Dorris Day and Rock Hudson make a great duo on film. Neal was not forced to watch it a second time.

Judy also babysat so Neal and Keri could go on a date. They went to Ruth Ellen's for dinner. It is a historic home that serves simple, delicious comfort food. They had a local choir there that night and we enjoyed their singing while we finished cleaning our plates. Following dinner we had the pleasure of seeing a presentation on the history of women in flight and space at our local public library. A reporter interviewed us briefly afterwards but we didn't say anything too profound. Maybe if he is desperate, he'll print something we said.

With Halloween upon us, Keri has added some cool pictures to the spooky decor. She found these at The Dollar Tree and thought the pictures were great but the plastic/sticker frame was so cheesy. So she cut the frames off and slipped the pictures into (cheap) wood frames. See how the picture changes depending on your angle? Sort of reminds you of the pictures in Disneyland's Haunted Mansion, huh?

Sweet

The sweetest thing is seeing Rhys fold his arms when we say it's time to pray.

Keri looks up and says,"That sure is a pretty sky." Sophie follows with, "Heavenly Father did good job!"

Previous Quote of the Blog

Hope and happiness and joy are not products of circumstance but of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ --Elder Wilford W. Andersen

Yet Another Cancer Update

Keri had a oncology appointment this week and got good news. Although, she had to stop chemo treatment for a few weeks when she got her gall bladder surgery, we are still on schedule to end chemo on the 15th of November. She's due to get some body scans in the next two weeks, including a brain MRI. She told the doctor the brain imaging wasn't necessary. She said she already knows her brain is tweaked and that was prior to the cancer diagnosis.

Balloon Festival and More

Lately, Sophie has been putting on Keri's winter socks to make her own fashion statement. She tries to put them on Rhys too, but he has never fully cooperated. Sophie watching Disney's Cars (her favorite) in the cold pack styrofoam box Keri's chemo comes in. Thank you mail order pharmacy for the bonus furniture.

In her Tigger costume watching, what else? Winnie the Pooh...

Rhys loves climbing up on things and sitting on them. His toys, our dusty treadmill...

What a ham!You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Neal has recently started baking his own bread. It just keeps getting better too. Here are some hamburger buns. Yum!It's one of our family traditions to go to the Plano Balloon Festival each year. Neal got out of work a bit early and we bought Subway sandwiches and headed out. And the heavens opened and poured out upon us. We knew there was a storm going through but it looked like it was going to blow through quickly. They delayed, we ate a picnic dinner under a tree in the parking lot as it rained and thundered. Even after it let up we could see the skies were still threatening so we went home.
And arose early at 5:45 am, ON A SATURDAY MORNING! Neal is a morning person. Keri, not so much. We tossed the kids in the car, got donuts and kalachies (this is how Neal bribes Keri to get up early), and met up with Opa and Oma to take in the morning launch.

Fun with Oma

Pitter-Patter Rain Drops

Thank you Tropical Depression Hermine for bringing us much needed rain! Our kids love it! Also, I want the world to know I had Sophie fully dressed this morning. She still believes pants are optional.

Grandma Sue Visits

Neal's mother, Susan, came for her annual visit and luckily brought some cooler weather with her.

Sophie started preschool last week. It is a co-op preschool where the parents take turn teaching an agreed upon curriculum. There are 4 boys and 2 girls in the class. This is her on her first day.We enjoyed some showers while Susan was in town. She took the kids out in the rain to enjoy the puddles.

Sophie's good behavior earned her a chance to be silly with silly string.

Rhys is walking several steps when he feels like it but he doesn't feel like it often. Grandma bought the kids clothes and we finally got him in a pair of shoes that fit.

We also made our annual visit to the Barnette side of the family where Susan's Uncle Alvin celebrated his 83rd birthday! He says he has three canes but chooses not to use them because people will think he's old.

Susan returned home to CA this past Sunday. Thanks for coming out and we'll see you next year, Grandma Sue!