The corn harvest

We got to go out in the field and pick corn.

This nice man taught the kids how to do it.

And I think Ayla is about as good at following directions as me.

She chose to do things her own way.
Good for her.

Did I mention it was beautiful outside?!? Or that I love Iowa in October? It was and I do.

Can't sleep

Really, I should be in bed.
But I just can't sleep. I've tried everything. Seems like these eyes will not close before midnight...ever.
So all these thoughts are rattling around in my head, the most recent being,
"I wonder where Lani put all that candy she collected at Tate's party. I sure could use some."

Fun with Ayla photos...

The Parade

Before we left town on Saturday, Lani walked in the parade with her cheerleading group.

She loved it.
She was a perfect little cheerleader!

And I think Ayla was pretty proud of her sister as well!

First soccer game

I know these kinds of pics are really no fun, but when you saw it all unfolding before you, they have a lot more meaning! :) Tonight was Brigg's first soccer game. He loved it. He claimed that soccer is "his destiny". But I'm not sure where it actually falls on his list of destinies...before or after TKD, baseball, golf or skating. He loves it all. And I love cheering for him. And I think THAT is actually my destiny. I happen to be louder than all other moms out there. I know...shocking.

And little Ayla Lyn

i look at her and wonder what she'll be like. she is definitely her own little person. often times her mannerisms remind me more of brigg, but that sparkle in her eye when she smiles and leans forward is all nalani. although she is a little more leary of new people...sometimes giving them a good long stare right into their soul before offering a smile...which is definitely more of a brigg trait. she is interacting more and more and also becoming quite the little "talker". her personality is coming out a little more each day. so anxious to see how it develops over the years to come. i love them all so much and feel so fortunate to get to be their mommy!

And then there is Nalani

i'm pretty sure she and brigg have the same cold, but when it was time for her to go to school, she got up and skipped to the bathroom to get ready...SO excited to get there and see her teachers and friends. once she is there though, she is much more shy than brigg. she likes to stick by her teachers and be a "helper". she doesn't make friends quite as easily. which seems so strange to me. from the way they act preparing to head out the door to school, you would think those interactions at school would be reversed. it really is so fun to raise these little people and figure out how to romance each of their hearts in different ways.

I love this child...

but often times i just don't "get" him. we are so very different. i have always LOVED school. we often times struggle to get him out the door. he came down with a cold on sunday and has been feeling down and out ever since. this morning he did not have a fever and i told him he had to go to school. he has now missed 6 days (5 for vacation and one for being sick)! he cried and whined and informed me of how unfair it was that he had to go to school ALL DAY five days a week and nalani only had to go three days. and i just don't understand. he has lots of friends. he does really well at school. i have seen him there and he thoroughly enjoys it! it's just GETTING him there. and people, he is in KINDERGARTEN! for heaven's sake, we have 12 years left of this! someone tell me it gets better. please.

I really don't understand why

I don't get it. I literally scrubbed the bathroom a couple days ago. And this is what I found today. WHY? Why must the toothpaste end up ALL OVER the bathroom? I don't get it. I did not include photos of it on the floor and running down the front of the cupboard. Brigg's sink is the one on the left and Nalani's on the right. Is it just MY children? Or is this common for a 4 and 6 year-old?

More pics from Saturday

And Ayla again...hanging in her car seat...happy as can be! :)

Chris and Bode visit

Chris and Bode came Friday morning and stayed the night. The kids played and rode bikes together. It was so fun to be around Bode, as always. He cracks us up over and over again. (the helmet was a bit big for him!)

Moving on...

We gave Ayla her first food tonight...Organic brown rice cereal. YUM! She actually did really well...at first. By the 4th bite or so, she started gagging. Literally. So we stopped. She's so funny!

Mohawk

So Brigg wants a mohawk. Jennie is coming this weekend and setting up shop. Brigg has decided on a mohawk. I, personally, am not a big mohawk fan, but he is confident that this is a perfect hairstyle for him. And he IS six years old now, so he has an opinion. So this morning we went online to try and find the perfect mohawk hairstyle. He was certain that this was NOT the one...

And he definitely didn't want this one...

But he said this one was "PERFECT!"...

I'm not sure about this, but of all three, this one is my favorite, too. I'll be posting pics of my little "6 year-old trying to look like a 25 year-old movie star" on Saturday.

The Blizzard of 08?

Not sure if this storm will be remembered for years to come, but it's pretty bad. Paul is out shoveling for the second time today and it is STILL coming down pretty hard. I took these pictures of him from the window. I think in the last one he is praying for it to just stop! :) He caught me taking pictures and didn't look so happy. So I flipped him the " I love you" sign and he flipped one back to me...one that was not so affectionate(sorry I didn't capture that on film!). He loves me. He really does.