Last Kick At The Can...

We have had 2 of the most gorgeous days - what they call an Indian Summer. It is soo hot right now (29 degrees Celcius) that we decided to get out the swimming pool again (which has only been brought out once this year cause it has been such a cool summer!) Needless to say Jaren enjoyed running around with as minimal clothes on as possible loving his freedom outside! Thank goodness for "big boy" pants! :)

The roses are in full bloom again with this warm temperature - so we are enjoying them while we can right now before we get hit by a bad frost (which is bound to come sooner than later).

Taking time to smell the roses

Out of sight, out of mind

(hiding under the deck in the shade but still able to watch Jaren and not miss out on too much excitement)

Oh Happy Day!

Landen and I had the early part of the afternoon to ourselves as Jaren was combining the barley just southeast of our place with Kevin. Landen had fun twirling around in his entertaining exersaucer and sitting on the floor playing with his blocks for a long period of time. Each and every day he is getting stronger and stronger.

When we got our call from Jaren that he was a little tired of being in the combine we headed out to the field. Of course we were at the opposite end which Kevin and Jaren were at so we had to wait patiently a few minutes for them to make their pass to us. Landen got to try out the front seat of the Tahoe for a bit while we waited.

Kevin and Jaren unloading a hopper full of barley.

We are really hoping that the weather stays nice (which is in the forecast) and we should be done combining in a couple of days! Praise the Lord! We'll have Kevin around again - it has been a LONG 2 months without him!

Happy Birthday Dad!

We just wanted to wish dad a Happy Birthday today! We hope that you have a wonderful evening tonight with friends and family as you celebrate your day!
Happy birthday to a wonderful father, father-in-law and grandpa!

We ALL love you soo much and miss you tonnes!

Wish we were there!

More Harvest

Not everyone gets to see one of these coming into their driveway everyday. The pleasures of country living for a little boy!
Finally got a picture of Landen going for his 3rd-ever combine ride - with getting the kids, Kevin's lunch and whatever else into the vehicle, I usually forget the camera. Not this day though!
Soo much fun in such tight quarters for the 4 of us :)
Landen loving the view and ALL the moving parts

Before getting back into the Tahoe and going home for baths and bedtime we tried to do a little photo session in the straw. I think I just created more work for myself as there was more straw in the vehicle than in the swath!! :)

Lovin' Fall & Lovin' the Help

This morning we headed outside to work in the yard while the weather was still nice and warm. We got the yard mowed for the last time before winter and Jaren helped me pick the apples off of our tree so we can make some applesauce tomorrow (hopefully!). Once winter hits I am really going to miss being able to get outside without covering every piece of exposed skin. I love this time of year. Even Landen got to enjoy a bit of the fall freshness with us as he played in his exersaucer and watched the leaves twirl around him.


I took these pictures below yesterday afternoon as Kevin and Jaren were having their afternoon rests. If Jaren was awake I 'm sure that Landen wouldn't have been able to get this close to his precious tractors.

Very carefully studying over the tractor to see how it drives and handles - he's our serious one of the family so far. That may change though in the months (years) to come!

TGIF

We are very thankful it is Friday cause this has been a very long & busy week. We have finally had a complete full week of harvest so we see very little of Kevin since he's been getting home every night around 2am and then out the door the next morning by 8am. So by the time supper rolls around I usually have 2 tired boys and one exhausted mom! All I can say is that I would never want to be a single mom full-time! I am thankful though for my two growing boys. Jaren was learning today how to vacuum and I must say he did a rather good job! So Friday cleaning may become a little shorter with my new acquired helper!

This week also consisted of some more firsts for Landen. He has his first two teeth. His 71 erupted on Tuesday and just this morning I felt his 81 in hot pursuit. So EVERYTHING is in the mouth and he his chewing till no end. He also is sitting up more and more everyday. I still don't trust to leave him alone while he is doing it cause we need eyes in the back of our head as big brother goes tearing by. Landen always seems to loose his balance as he tries to follow with his eyes.

We had our 6 month appointment yesterday at the health unit and Landen is now weighing 15 lbs 5 oz and is 24 1/4 inches long (we're over 2 feet tall now!).

Grandma Connie's 60th Birthday

Today is Connie's BIG 60th birthday so to celebrate we had a birthday party for her at our house last night along with 28 other people. We enjoyed a Mexican theme supper with chicken & bean enchiladas, Spanish rice, taco salad, bean salad, vegetables and homemade buns. Then for her birthday cake we were all treated with a DQ ice-cream cake (YUMMY!!). It was a wonderful evening and all went well. I think she was a little surprised because we told her that we were just going to have the family over for supper that evening so when she showed up and saw some of her good friends here she was a little shocked. Thanks to all of those who traveled a distance to be with us and thanks to all who helped out in the meal as well.

Grandma and her grandchildren

That Time Again!

The boys and I have had a busy morning canning some tomatoes. We were able to get 17 quarts done and should have a few more to do once the rest of the tomatoes ripen in a few days. Hopefully when they are old enough to help they'll know what to do from watching me and being under foot during the entire time :) By that time they'll have MORE important things to do like combining I'm sure!!!

6 months old and already admiring the tractors!

The finished product

6 Months Old

Our little man is now 6 months old! It is hard to believe that 1/2 a year has passed already since the day we brought him home from the hospital! Each and every day he is getting stronger and a little more active. He is starting to accomplish sitting on his own already. He thinks the world looks much better from an upright position rather than from on his back. I don't think that any of us could imagine life without our litle Landen!

Landen's 1st Meal

Landen had his first real attempt at food during lunchtime. It went better than what I thought - he did pretty good with the whole spoon thing. We'll spend a few days on rice cereal before we add anything else to our diet. I just wish I knew what was going through his mind, since I don't....this is what I think he would have said to me.....

"You want me to eat THAT??"

"Are you serious Mommy!?!"

"Oh boy, here we go!"

"What in the world is that stuff?"

I captured some of the moment on the video mode with our digital camera - so here it is... I love some of the facial expressions.

A Day at the Park

We did a lot of running around in Consort this afternoon so for a treat to the boys I decided to take them to the park to burn off a bit of energy. It was a beautiful day and we had lots of fun enjoying the sun for about an hour. Landen got to swing in the swings for quite awhile and loved it.

Letting his hair blow freely in the warm breeze :)

Where there is something to dig - there is Jaren

Getting braver and experiencing new heights

Just a swingin'

Harvest Time

We've been trying to get harvest rolling here but with the damp cooler days this season is beginning to drag on and it's only begun!! Here are a couple of pictures from the other evening when the kids and I took supper out to Kevin.

"I'm soooooo excited to ride in the combine!!!"
"Gotta check the grain first like Daddy"
"Why do I ALWAYS have to wait in the vehicle while big brother goes for a ride in the combine with Daddy - some things have gotta change!! I haven't even been in the combine once yet this season!!"
Great Grandpa's mode of transportation to make sure things are being done right. 90 years old and still "farming".