Dolliver Park Fun!

On Sunday October 11th Caleb, Aubrey, and I drove on down to Dolliver park near Fort Dodge to enjoy the weather and family. We got there around 1:00 and enjoyed fried chicken, potatoes, beans, buns, fruit, and more. Caleb had a great time playing football with Landon, and Aubrey loved wandering all over the place and (unfortunately) taking toys away from her cousin Mabel. (We will have to work on that...)

We walked over to the stream and threw rocks in the water, then we went for a short hike with the Aljets kids. Landon and Caleb enjoyed climbing the big rock and playing more football together. It was a beautiful day, and I'm so happy we made the trip down to see family. Pretty soon the snow will be flying, and the outdoor playing and driving might not be so pleasant!

Aubrey and Mabel had fun catching up :)

Football time!

Get up Landon, they want a picture of us.

Ah, what buddies :)

So then Sarah and I tried to get a good picture of all the cousins together...take your pick. Aubrey wasn't being very cooperative, but Caleb tried to keep her in line...

Enjoying the lovely weather.

"Grandma, I want that!"

Out for a little walk.

What a beautiful day it was!

Exploring with the Aljets kids.

Caleb enjoyed checking out the water.

Throwing rocks in the water.

Aubrey tried it out too...

Going on a hike...

Sarah and Landon :)

Caleb and Nathan.

Caleb and mommy!

Landon and Caleb following Nathan...

The boys and Seth!

Walking across the bridge.

What a happy guy!

Most of the picnicers...

Fun on a big rock...

No, this is a BIG rock!

Sliding on the rock.

And jumping off the other rock again.

Aubrey relaxing in Landon's chair.

Aubrey's ready to play football now :)

Fun with Grandma Teresa and soon to be Grandpa Craig!

Grandma Teresa and Craig bought a cabin in Minnesota in September, and the Sunday before Labor day we headed on up to check it out. Unfortunately it rained on and off all morning, but by the afternoon we ventured out to swim in the lake. Caleb and Aubrey both loved it, but we eventually had to drag them out because they were getting too cold and starting to shiver. (Please note as in my usual fashion I forgot our camera and only had my phone to take pictures.)

Craig had planned on having his family and Teresa's family both there that day because he wanted to propose while we were all present. And Teresa said YES! The wedding is set for November 21st!

Cousin time...

Makayla and Caleb playing on the kindle.

Lake time!

Caleb absolutely loved jumping in the lake!

Aubrey's one year pictures, well sort of...

Well I've been a bad mom, and I haven't been able to work out a time to have Aubrey's 1 year pictures professionally taken. (She's actually 14 months old now.) A couple of weeks ago, Matt and I decided we needed to invest in a new camera and just take her pictures ourselves. So last weekend we took Aubrey out to the park while Caleb was at Sunday school and ended up with a few keepers. Here's how it went...

Caleb's First Day of 3-Year Old Preschool!

Caleb had his first day of 3 year old preschool on Tuesday September 1st. I was lucky enough to get to take him to his first day. He was a bit hesitant at first, but after a couple of minutes he came around and joined the other kids on the rug.

His second day of preschool didn't go quite as well. We had planned on one of the other parents from daycare who has a child in Caleb's class to pick him up and take him to preschool for us, but Caleb had other plans. He refused to get in the vehicle with the parent, so Carolyn (our daycare provider) had to take him herself.

The third day we tried another approach which I was fairly certain would also fail. Caleb was to ride the bus with his cousin Makayla (They are in the same class). The weekend before he kept telling me that he didn't want to ride the bus because he was too "shy," but Tuesday morning Carolyn walked him onto the bus with no tears. The preschool teacher e-mailed me afterwards (I warned her he might not show up because he was being stubborn.) to say he walked off the bus with a smile on his face, hung his backpack up, and sat right down on the rug with the other kids.

And he's loved riding the bus ever since! Especially bus driver Jon :)

Aubrey was in a good mood :)

Eating all of his mini pancakes before his first day of 3 year old preschool!

Caleb's ready to go!

Sharing a sibling moment.

Caleb likes to tell Aubrey about everything and tell her what to do too :)

Once we got to school...he was a little hesitant.

But he found his name and hung up his backpack :)