Who's who...the Stewarts

My parents, Larry and Candi.
(my dad just had eye surgery and one of the lenses was out of his glasses, so it looks a little funny)

US!

Me, my mom and my sister Jennie.

Jennie's husband Sean and son Tate.

Who's who...the Burback side

Some asked for a rundown of who's who.
So this is it.
We'll start with Paul's side.
He has 2 sister and his mom and dad.
Tom was one of the ones who could not make it this year, so he is not pictured here.
But this is Paul's sister, Erin.
She's his youngest sister.
She and her husband Luke are expecting their first child in December.

This is Paul's sister Lisa, her husband Tony, and their 2 girls Macy and Hadley

And here's Paul's mom, Donna, with her 3 kids.
She was in heaven.

And Donna with her grandkids...minus the one on the way...

The Orchard

So this is the reason for the trip.
Or at least this is what we claim to be the reason...

The first year we made the trek to Gays Mills,WI to go to an apple orchard,
we passed a piece of cardboard stuck in the ground with a stake that read
"Pick Your Own"
It was written in black sharpie.
We passed it by and went to this huge orchard where the apples are already bagged and there are millions of people milling around. We bought gallons of apple cider and cheese curds and pounds of apples. And it took all of 15 minutes.
Then we looked at eachother and said, "Now what?"
This wasn't exactly the kind of orchard we were expecting.

So my dad said, "Hey, we passed the little cardboard sign that said pick your own. Maybe we should go check it out."
So we did.
And we were sold.
That year there were only 7 of us.
And Brigg was a mere 3 months old.

This year there were seventeen of us.
And Brigg is 8 years, 3 months old.
And there are several more children now!

And there is no longer a cardboard sign, but it's still so nice and the people are so friendly.
They take our photo every year and we talk about past years.
So fun.
My most favorite family tradition!
And one that I'm quite certain our kids will never forget.

toys

The house came with
2-4 wheelers
1 Go Kart
1 Kayak
2 Snow mobiles
lots of fishing poles
and on and on.

After we returned from the orchard on Saturday, we filled the rest of the day with testing out all the toys. And I'm pretty sure the adults appreciated them more than the kids.

Too too fun....

The girls

They love to match.
And they are so cute...

Here they come...

as i'm sorting through these, i'm just going to start posting.
if it's too much for you, disregard.
i apologize.

The night we arrived, we had some time to kill before everyone starting rolling in. The house we stayed in was incredible. And a complete gift from one of Paul's co-workers.
A huge home that sat on this amazing piece of property.
It was like a dream.

So the first evening, Paul, the kids and I went on a little walk to discover what was out there.
It was so fun.
Woods, a little stream and a tree swing.

The sun was setting and it was beyond beautiful. Not another house in sight. Just the sound of the stream and the kids giggling. Almost too much for my heart to take.
They are getting so fun to take on this trip.

Each year gets a little better. And this year was the best, by far.

A little taste...

Lots of photos to sort through.
Here's a little sample of what's to come over the next couple days...

Home

Made it home.
I must say that this may have been our best apple picking trip yet.
The weather cleared up and it was perfect.
Our accomodations were AMAZING.
More about that later.
No computer...so I'm quick posting on Paul's.
He's leaving for the week, so I'm going to be without.
What will I ever do?
Hoping to get mine soon.
Lots of pics as soon as I do!
Ahhhh...it's good to be home.

Goodbye again, big green machine...

My computer is going back into the "shop". (aka, kelly's house!)
She just isn't working right.
And we are headed out for the weekend in a few hours, so I'll work out just fine.
Oh how I love apple-picking weekend!
Hoping the weather clears up.
See ya next week!

I think I'm going to take it back.

Quitting, that is. I think I'm going to run it. I've trained too hard for too long to quit now. It's just 3 weeks away. The hard part is behind me. Even if I have to walk some, I think I need to do it. Ever since I said I was giving up, I've had a pit in my stomach. I don't think I can NOT do it. So there, stupid half marathon!

Another local opportunity...

This is great....and exactly what Water for Christmas is about.
Tom Randleman, the man who led the charge at West Middle School that raised enough money to fund a well, is at it again. Only this time he is spray painting! When this project started, we talked big about how regular people could just use their individual talents to bring awareness to this cause and hopefully raise money along the way. And people stepped up. Baking, dancing, running, sewing, painting, and on and on. I think it's so great to see what others are doing with their own talents. Something as simple as spraying painting! Tom has a goal of painting 1000 driveways this fall. All he asks for is $20 that will go DIRECTLY to providing water to Liberia. Not only raising money, but raising an awareness throughout the community. Nobody asked him to do this. He just believes in this project. And when you believe in it, suddenly everything goes through a new set of lenses. Anything can be used as a way to raise awareness and money. Watch this video and let Tom know if you're interested. You can email him at harley20@machlink.com for more info.
Watch and think about what YOU could do in your own community....

this is where i hang my head and tell you...

...that i am letting "her" defeat me.
the half-marathon, that is.
i hate her.
and i am getting old enough to know when i should bow out.
this is the time.
the days are gettings shorter and my training runs are getting longer.
it HURTS for me to run these long distances. and i am talking lots of miles a week.
since labor day i haven't felt like i could run.
my shins are killing me.
i haven't run a "long run" (8 miles or more) since then.
and i don't feel like my body can do it yet.
which means i don't feel like i'll be prepared on oct 18.
i'm not quitting running. just running these long distances.
and maybe if i keep up the running, my body will be more prepared next year.
but for this year....she wins.
and it wasn't until this morning that i was ok with it.
whew...earase that off my list. that's a relief...

Busy busy

It's been a pretty crazy week so far and looks to continue that way.
We are heading out on Friday on our annual apple picking trip. It is one of my favorite weekends of the year! We haven't missed a single year since Brigg was a few months old. So that makes this year our 9th year. WOW. That's scary. And also explains some of my gray hairs that have been popping up lately!
It's quite a bit of planning to pull this off, but as you read earlier, I love that part!
We just need the weather to hold out. In all of the previous years we have experienced lots of different weather. FREEZING temps, HOT temps, sunshine and clouds. But we have lucked out on no rain. As of today, there is rain in the forecast for Saturday. That would likely put a bit of a damper on our apple picking/picnic in the orchard plans. So we're hoping the weather man is wrong!
After my power shopping today, I feel pretty prepared. Just need to do some baking and cleaning. I'm feeling the need to have my house in showing condition before we head out.
So if I am MIA sometime this week, know that I'm scurrying around, in my happy place, planning away.
What can I say? It's who I am. Love it or leave it.

Shopping and Parties and Such

I love parties.
I love hosting parties.
I love attending parties.
And I love planning parties...that comes a close second to attending parties. :)
I was thinking about it today. Thinking about why I love them. And what it exactly is that gets me excited about parties. And it's the people. The activity. The escape from reality.
As I thought more about it, I realized it's not just parties. It all things highly active.
Bars/restaurants.
Concerts.
Church right after the service.
When everyone is chatting and laughing and music is playing in the background.
I love that!
I've decided that it is my escape. Some people watch TV. Some people play computer games. Some people read (strangely enough, reading is right behind parties for me!).
I party.
HA!
It's usually just a couple hours and I always feel such a sense of relief after I've spent time with lots of people and lots of noise (adult noise) and lots of activity.
It's my escape from reality and it allows me to unwind and prepare for the next day of real life.

I hate shopping.
Well, I take the back. I love internet shopping. I hate going to the stores. I hate trying on clothes and picking out what looks best. I hate waiting in lines. I hate all the shopping activity. I hate wondering around a store for hours. And I'm pretty sure my mom hates shopping with me. I'm not a fun shopper. I don't go to the stores often and when I do, I am on a mission. I know exactly what I need and how much money I have to spend on it. I know approximately how long it should take, it if it takes longer, I get crabby. I hate shopping.

That is, unless I am party shopping. I then I love it.
And today I party shopped. Planning a baby shower for my sister-in-law. We picked out decorations and plates and talked about food and cakes and all things party. It was so fun.

I think I was a party planner in a previous life.
Anyway, I just wondered what your escape was? What do you do? Because really, party planning and shopping is not very realistic...and not in my budget on a weekly basis! :) What's your stress-reliever?

In case you were worried about the children...

They were in good hands. Nana B joined Nana and Papa S and they took good care of our babies while we enjoyed adult time! So thankful for great parents close by!!

i'm not sure she should be trusted with a fork

You can see it in her eyes.
She is thinking of how the fork could be used as a weapon.
And it doesn't take a genius to figure that out.

How is it that I want to squeeze her and eat her up
BUT
at the same time I think she needs to be in time-out.

There is never a dull moment when she is around.
NEV-ER.

Always so busy.
Constant movement.
Constant testing.
Constant pushing.
She's a smart one.
It's scary.
(and she is not allowed to used the fork with Lani is around...)

Not only...

...was there a Big 10 football competition,
but there was also a very serious baggo tournament as well.
And one round Paul and I both got all four of our bags in.
Lisa was very impressed.
She felt documentation was necessary...

And obviously, I was very very proud.
We are super talented baggo players.
I wouldn't mess with us.

Lisa and Tony are good as well.
But apparently when we put boys against girls, the girls stink.
But we have tons of fun either way.

Love Iowa football.
Love Lisa and Tony.
Love Baggo.
Good good day, all around!!

Too bad it wasn't any fun at all...

Is it the weekend yet?

SO ready for the weekend.
We are heading to the Iowa game tomorrow. And quite honestly, there are few things I enjoy more than a Saturday in Iowa City, tailgating and watching the Hawks. Why is that? Do other colleges know how to tailgate like we Iowan's do? I wonder.
The smells and sounds and excitement. All the black and gold.
LOVE it.
Family arrives tonight and we are doing tacos.
After our showing and Lani's soccer practice I'm making tortillas and getting our tailgating food prepared.
And can I just say that the weather is perfect? These past couple weeks have been per-fect. If only it lasted all year. Not ready for winter. Nowhere NEAR ready for another Iowa winter. So I'll just deny it's arrival as long as I can.
Here's to a great weekend!!!

Short wait

Another showing tomorrow at 3:30.
Different people.
They are looking at lots of houses.
Oh please let ours be the one...

Now some good stuff!!! Run/Walk 4 Water

Super exciting things happening with Water for Christmas.

We have so many exciting events planned this year.

Our team is HUGE and PASSIONATE!!!

I love meeting with them....being in a room with a group of people who care so deeply about the same things I care about. It's a great feeling.

Anyway, the first opportunity to get involved this year is a local event.

But you can come from anywhere if you so choose.

A great team of people put together a 4 mile Run/Walk for water.

It's going to be here in Muscatine at the River Front on October 24 at 8:00am.

Go HERE to print off your registration form.

You don't have to be a runner or even an avid walker!

Bring your kids...bring your stroller...bring your friends.

T-shirts are guaranteed to the first 100 to register with a $20 donation to water.

So register quick!

It's going to be so much fun!!!

Good times, good cause.

Please join us! And get the word out there. Once people get a taste of this whole water idea, they are going to have many more opportunities to get involved this year!

The showing...

She loved it.
She's looked at 15 houses and this in the only one she loved.
BUT
It's just too much house.
She's single.
It's just too much house.
Fab.
So that's that.
Hopefully it's not another 2-3 months before our next showing.
Oh, and it's kind of nice sitting her in a clean clean house with no housework to do while Ayla sleeps. Very very nice....

go! Go! GO!

Spent the morning "picking up".
Got the living room all put together...vacuumed and dusted.
Got all dirty laundry in one pile in the basement.
Got toys put away.
And NOW I clean.
Just laid Ayla down.
I have at LEAST 2 hours, hopefully 3, to get this place in tip top shape.
Which is hilarious and probably not possible, but I will do my best.
I've totally given up on perfect.
Who likes perfect anyway?

And now the bad news...

We haven't had a showing in a couple months. And in my mind I assumed we would never have a showing again. I do not have nearly enough hours to get this house in order. Not nearly enough.

Also, as a reminder to myself, Ayla is still very very allergic to eggs. Breakfast for supper turned into a crazy breakout all over Ayla's torso and itch-fest 2009. It was bad. And I thought she had outgrown it. I was wrong. No eggs again for a long long time...

breaking news

are you ready?


are you sure?


we have a showing.
oh yes we do.
thursday morning.

now back to regular programming.....

I'm pretty sure...

I over compensate for Ayla on my blog.
I have all these adorable pictures of her.
Deep sigh...
She does take super cute photos...

But man.
Ayla is hard work.
And I'm not sure if you all know that about her.
Hard work, I tell ya.
If you see us on the street, you wouldn't know it.
But if you could be a fly on our wall, you may just be appalled by what you see.
Persistant, demanding, independent, aggressive.
INTENSE.
And sometimes just down right mean (and most times, Lani is on the receiving end of it...or Paul).
And it wears on you.
By 11:00am I am more than ready to put her down for naptime.
I dread the day she give up naptime.
She naps well and wakes up rea-dy to go.
She is extreme.
Either flailing about, swinging fists,
or 2 seconds later
snuggling in for a hug and kiss.
To be honest, we've never had to work too hard at the parenting stuff.
Brigg and Lani were so easy.
Look at them sideways and they were put right back into line.
So this is all new for us.
And there are days when we feel like we are failing her.
But we keep plugging away.
Trying new things.
Praying.
they.
work.
:)
And also hoping we get the right equation figured out before those tween years.
It could be a long road.
She loves hard and she pushes hard.
And as I sit here typing this, listening to her heavy breathing through the monitor, I think to myself
"I will be better. I am going to be better from here on out."
And then she wakes up.
And hits me.
Or scratches me.
And again, I'm at a loss.

Anyway, just thouht you should know.
This adorable little curly-haired, angelic looking girl...
...well, she has a little attitude as well.
And it's taking a toll on her parents these days.
Ah...parenting.
Hard work. Lots of hard work.
Yet so so many rewards....

Thank Him

If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart.

(Oswald Chambers)