Fall Harvest

Nate left last Friday for his duck hunting trip, so we headed to the cities. We met our friends at the Fall Harvest Farm for a morning of fun. They loved seeing the cows, turkeys, and chickens. We went on a tractor ride and picked corn and gourds and then we were so tired out, we headed home.


The goats were Walter's favorite part of the farm. Henry didn't want to feed them, but Walter thought it was so fun to have them eat out of his hand. I had to include the second picture because wanted to look them right in the eye!



The corn pit was actually Henry's favorite thing (Walter liked trying to eat the corn) but I couldn't get a picture of him or the boys together in the corn that wasn't blurred!


There are obviously not good pictures - Preston is the only one who would look at the camera. I thought it was funny how they all went different directions and did their own thing once they saw the pumpkins - maybe orange wasn't the best color to dress Henry when I wanted to be able to see him easily!

My Funny Boys

Nate is hunting is Canada (I'll post a pic later) so the boys and I stayed with my family for a few days so I couldn't post any pictures. There's my excuse...


Henry relaxing with blankey, Little Bear (who is actually a dog), and Shorn.


Walter loves to help me vacuum.


"Hmm. Now where did I put that?"

Afternoon at the Farm

Our friends, Randy and Christy, invited us to spend some time with them at Randy's parents' farm today. Henry and Walter had so much fun...and it made me miss my grandparent's farm. The boys' favorite thing was the cattle - they even got to feed them some apples.


They loved watching "the shy cows." I had to stop both of them from trying to climb over the fence.


The cats were a big draw, too. They finally figured out that if they sat down the cats would come sit by them...chasing didn't work!


Oh, the Gator! Walter wanted to drive all by himself. It was hard to convince him to let Dad take him for a ride because he would have to get out of the driver's seat.


Watching the cat.


Damon helped Henry pet the cat.


Here is Henry on the combine. Farmer Harold was kind enough to take Henry and Dad for a ride in the combine while he took out his soy beans. Henry thought this was pretty cool...Walter was even impressed!

Lunch with Dad, Chalk, Tomatoes, Bikes

LUNCH WITH DADDY
One wonderful thing about living in a small town, is that Nate works 2 blocks away from home so he comes home for lunch every day. As you can see, the boys love having Daddy home!


Resting with Daddy


Wrestling...or smothering

CHALK
Henry and Walter had lots of fun using chalk to draw on the driveway last night. You can tell how much fun they had by how dirty their clothes got...







TOMATOES
This spring, Uncle Dave gave us 4 tomato plants that he started and this is what they look like now! They are taller than Nate.


Someone told us it looks like we'll need a chainsaw to chop down our tomato plants this fall!


The boys love picking sweet treats off the tomato plants.

BIKES
Today we visited our friends and enjoyed a beautiful morning riding "bikes" together and playing.


They were very busy.


Tseganesh


Trying out pedals


The seat is a little high, so he found a new spot to sit.


Hmmm, this thing looks way more exciting than those bikes!

Important Mail

After 9 months of waiting, Henry's Certificate of Citizenship arrived in the mail yesterday with a letter from the President. He even let me take a picture of him with the certificate.


"Stick Cheese!"


Taking a look...


So this wasn't part of the mail, but the boys had fun playing in their ship (my laundry basket) this morning...


...and then taking everything out of the kitchen drawers to find some great "hats."

Mama Bakkel's Birthday Weekend

Here are a few pictures from this past weekend.


Getting ready to head home - all tired out!


With my boys...I may look a little worn out, too.


One of my little sweeties


I think the highlight of Henry's Saturday night was talking with his friend, Uncle Denny. They talked for a long time! Anytime I got close to the table, Henry would say, "Beep, beep Mommy." Which basically means he wanted me to leave. It was so sweet to hear part of their conversation:
Henry: My mom takes to me candy store....
Uncle Denny: Does your mom buy you lots of candy?
H: No. Just 1.
D: Why does she only buy you 1 candy?
H: Umm, well, tummy aches.
D: Oh, your mom doesn't want you to get tummy aches?
H: Yes.

When I took these pictures and asked Henry to say cheese, he said, "Cheese!" Then he looked at his friend and said, "What kind?"
D: Swiss.
H: Stick cheese. (string cheese)



Happy Birthday, Grandma!


Playing with cousin Lincoln.


Family Picture


Dismantling Mama L's couches and climbing "to the top of the mountain."

Wild Things

This weekend was the first time our family was away from home since we got back from Korea. I wasn't sure how it was going to go, but it turned out to be a really nice weekend celebrating my grandma's birthday and visiting family and friends. I'll have to break the pictures up because I need to go to bed...(I am listening to the big thunder storm at 12:30 a.m., hoping it's not washing away the paint Nate and I just finished putting on the porch floor!)

We had pictures taken on Friday afternoon and then headed to my parents. Our friends, Patrick, Mary and Addie stopped by to visit. It was wonderful to get to spend some time with them again. The kiddos had lots of fun with each other and the dads made it even more fun! It was pretty wild.


Oh the giggling that was going on while Nate bounced them up and down!


Patrick the Tickle Monster - I don't think Henry is having any fun at all...


There was lots of rolling around on the floor, pretending to be steamrollers.


Henry and Walter love trying to do somersaults lately.


Addie


Having fun playing the piano together.