Aubrey Lynne Scholl...What a Blessing!

What a blessing! October 14th, my niece, Aubrey Lynne Scholl arrived!

8 lbs. 9 oz.
20"

My little sister, Kim, and wonderful brother-in-law, Brian, are going to be great parents! My arms yearn to hold her...and soon will as I get to visit them in Seattle in November! I can hardly wait. She's just a little dolly as you can see with lots of dark hair and big cheeks!

God is so good!




Look at that hair!

I just want to kiss all over those chubby cheeks! :)

First sponge bath..she loved her hair washed.

Welcome to the world, little one!

Snow! What?!?

Yep...we had snow...October 10. Seriously...just so not ready for it. But, the kids had a great time outside building a fort and going sledding. OK, now warm up again. I'm ready for short sleeves. :)

Playing in the snow. Sawyer was NOT happy about having to wear mittens...he couldn't pick up a thing! :)

Lainey warming up with hot cocoa.

Humphrey Bazaar!

We made a quick up and back trip to the Humphrey Bazaar the first Sunday of October. Again this year we were not disappointed. We are simply amazed by the incredible meal that is served, the fun games the kids get to play and the prizes on the prize list. It's fun to watch the auction as well and see the beautiful quilts and other items that the sewing ladies work on all year. Of course, I love the country store full of craft items and fresh canned goods. There are just so many people the come together to make this day work. It is truly a love of community.


I rarely saw my Grandma Sunday. It's hard to believe this woman will be 88 this year. Here she is manning the quilt chances table for her couple hour shift. She also cooked food, helped sew the quilts and other handmade goods, sold raffle tickets, of course played some Bingo and other games I'm sure. ...and really who knows what else. I'm sure she had other things that she was commited to. I do know that she had two huge kettles of homemade soup in the fridge for us for supper before we went home...and a sack of cucumbers from her garden for me because she knows home much Lainey loves them. I sure do hope I got lots of her genes!

Sawyer driving the kiddie cars.

Kiddie car ride. I really didn't have my camera with me much that day...just too busy I guess.

Sophie driving the kiddie car.

My mom...still healing from surgery...and Lainey after winning one of her prizes.

Vala's 2009

Well...it's Fall, I think. The weather as of late sure doesn't prove that to me, but sure enough, fall is here. And, with fall, comes one of our favorite places....Vala's Pumpkin Patch. I usually take the kids about three times/week. This year, we haven't been as frequently due to weather and me being sick...but we're hoping that turns around. The kids love it there, and so do I.

What a difference a year makes. Last year Sawyer was never out of the stroller.

Our first picture on the pumpkins. Maybe I'll try to get another this year when I can get them all to look...maybe. :)

Ahhh...sweet, sweet Lainey.

Zander the Dragon.

We tried and tried to get Sawyer to peek through that bottom window. I barely snapped this in time before he was gone again. :)

Riding the bikes...one of the kids' favorite things to do at Vala's.

Sophie on the bike track.

Sawyer got a little help from dad. I'll bet next year's post won't show that. :)

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my kids!

This year we rode the tractor out to the field and let the kids each pick their own pumpkin. They thought it was GREAT!

School Lunch

Lainey is LOVING school...which I knew she would. But, selfishly, I sure do miss her during the day. So, I had to bring her teacher's birthday gift up from the class the other morning (I'm one of the room moms for Kindergarten), and I planned it so we could have lunch with Lainey. It's been a long time since I carried a plastic tray through the lunch line (not as long as some as I did occasionally indulge in the hot lunch when I taught middle school)...but Lainey showed me the ropes as we lined up with her class and walked down to the lunch room. I don't know who was prouder...Lainey as she walked around her classroom and went through the lunchline like a pro...or me, as I watched her at school amongst her friends, following the rules, doing everything she was told. I packed a lunch for Sophie and Sawyer, and they thought it was so special eating lunch AT SCHOOL with their big sister. We even followed her out to recess and played on the playground. What a fabulous afternoon for us!

Naptime?

Our little Sophie quit taking naps at 15 months, but she still goes into her room for part of Sawyer]s nap and is supposed to "rest". Her resting has resulting in some shaky electrical work in the toyroom directly below, pen markings on her walls, a dismantled nightlight (the likes of which I am sure I could not have done myself...and am most positive she could have gotten hurt doing), chapstick circled on the carpet and bedspread, oh and the list goes on.

But, most days, I love to stand at the door and listen to her imagination run wild. I never do know what I will walk in and find with her toys. The other day I encountered her Barbies playing Hide and Seek she informed me.

Then, as we were walking out, she said...oh well, the blue one was Queen of the Mountain too. Ahhh...got it, Soph! :)


I have to wonder what these ladies' conversation was like when the door closed this day? :)

Sickness :(

Well....I am SLOWLY recovering from H1N1...and I do mean slowly. I've been secluded in my house for a full week, 8 days to be exact and ventured out today to run errands only to be completely and totally EXHAUSTED tonight from just my usual everyday living. This stuff knocks you down...but I am now finally albe to be around other people :) and feel like I am living. So, I cannot complain! :) Oh...and Matt is not traveling this week as he was last, so life is good.

But, back to my blogging which has severely suffered...as did laundry, cooking, cleaning, you know...just about everything. :) So, following will be several posts in a row...or as many as I can get done before I NEED to go to bed tonight. :)

Oh...and yet another good piece of news during all this. As of now...I am the only one to get this. So, please pray it stays that way. Sawyer is on Tamiflu, and the girls and Matt have just remained healthy!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Big Boy Sawyer!

WOW! I can hardly believe my little boy turned 2 years old on Monday the 21st. To look at him as I post these pictures, I see him change from that baby into a little boy. And, if I do say so myself...what an adorable little boy he is! :) Sawyer certainly blesses our life daily. He smiles so easily and is so happy. He is energetic, climbing and maneuvering in whichever way possible to get whatever he has his little mind set out to achieve. His little giggle is certainly infectious. However, don't let that little smile fool you either...he is as ornery as all get out. He's 100% boy...well, until he dons that tu-tu when the radio comes on (previous post). :) I can't say enough about Sawyer except that I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE him!!!

Look at this cutie..enjoying a birthday cupcake.

Sawyer running through our traditional streamers on his bedroom door.

His birthday cupcakes...he had a soccer ball too...but it mysteriously disappeared. :)

Happy Birthday, Dear Sawyer! Happy Birthday to you!

Yummy!

This is becoming Sawyer's new smile of choice. ChEEEEEse!

The girls colored wrapping paper for Sawyer. It was so special...not that he appreciated it...but I sure did! :)

Even Sawyer's barber gave him a special gift. What a lucky boy!

Sawyer has been flying around our house lately in his superman shirt and cape from Aunt Kim and Uncle Brian.

Lucky little Sawyer not only celebrated ON his birthday at our house and in Kearney (previous post)...he also got to celebrate over the weekend in Wallace with Matt's family in conjunction with Wallace Fall Festival (fun!). It was the most gorgeous day! The kids enjoyed jumping on the trampoline with balloons (well, until the balloons blew away or popped). :)

They played the unroll the toilet paper game...which I know you saw in Sophie's Birthday post. It has become one of their favorite birthday party games. Sawyer and the kids' cousin, Aldyn, are just trying to stay on! :)

Lainey and Sophie with their cousin, Aldyn.

Sawyer blowing out his candles on the birthday cake Grammy Ruth made him and Sophie for their birthday celebration in Wallace.

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I just can't say it enough....Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Dear God for this precious little boy you have entrusted to us! What a gift he is!!!!

Happy 4th Birthday to Our Precious Gift!!!!

Sophie turned 4 years old on Saturday, September 12th. I can hardly believe it. She celebrated with a party with some of her friends. We were lucky there wasn't any rain as she just wanted to play lots of games outside for her party. We had to move the games to the driveways rather than the backyard, but the kids had a great time!

Sophie waking up to birthday streamers in her doorway...a tradition at our house.

With our BIG 4 year old. Photo courtesy of Lainey. :)

The birthday kids on a scavenger hunt.

Sophie playing the unroll the toilet paper roll game...a big party favorite! (inspired by Sawyer) :)

Pin the Tail on the Donkey...Sophie pointing to her tail.

The girls competing in the "gumball on a spoon" race.

Sophie with her birthday cake.

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Sunday, I drove with the kids to Kearney (while Matt worked on staining the fence) and celebrated Sophie and Sawyer's birthdays. My mom recently had rotator cuff surgery, and I didn't want her to make the uncomfortable trip to Omaha. So, we brought the party to her for the day. Of course, the kids had a great time celebrating with everyone and loved getting to play with their cousin, Keaton.

Keaton climbing through the tunnel.

Lainey climbing through the tunnel.

Lainey and Sophie unrolling their toilet paper rolls.

Sawyer trying to pop his balloon. That silly thing just would not pop.

Keaton and Sawyer popping their balloons.

Sophie with her cake at mom and dad's. It was a hit with the kids because of all the bubblegum.

We celebrated with Sawyer too since his birthday is the 21st.

We came home Sunday night from Kearney. The kids were exhausted after a full day of FUN!

We are so thankful to God for our spirited, fun-loving, ever-joyful (albeit now with a new found 4-year-old attitude) :) little girl, Sophie!

WE LOVE YOU, SWEETHEART!!!!!