Dollingers Farm

We went to Dollingers Farm on Saturday. Unfortunately, Mike had to work so I took the boys so we could enjoy the beautiful weather while it was still here. We did the normal pumpkin farm stuff---petting zoo, hay ride, pick out pumpkins, play on park....etc......Jackson wanted the biggest pumpkin there, it was too big for me to pick up so I took him to the next size on down. Parker was all fascinated with the facts and tales he heard on the hay ride. He keeps asking me "Is that true?". They had "creatures" of some sort walking around with signs stating the Haunted barn was open---Mason was terrified, clung to me and buried his face in my neck. When the thing was gone he told me "I not like that scary guy".

Too Cute.

Family pictures.

We had family pictures taken in September. We asked my neighbor to take the pictures for us. It was very interesting to have pictures done with 15 people---7 of them being children under the age of 9. As you can see-some of them were pretty good. My favorites are the middle row on the right, and the bottom on the left. To list people I will go by the bottom, right picture: back row: my sister Kelly, her husband Ken, My Dad, my Mom, Sarah's husband Mike, Sarah

Front row: Jenna- age 6, Alissa age 4(both Kelly's kids), Me, Jackson in front of me- age 6 1/2, Parker-age 9, Mike with Mason(age 2 1/2) on his lap, Madison-age 6 and Brayden-age 4 (both Sarah''s kids)

Marshmallows

So I have a cute story to share. My mom and I were shopping at Target the other day, walking up and down the aisles and Mason yells "look Nana, MARSHMALLOWS!"..........However, they were not marshmallows------they were-----

-----cotton balls! TOO CUTE!!

Mud, Mud please go away

So I am trying to find humor in this picture. I mean-- I walk outside and see Lucy, my dog, all muddy. She looked at me all cute and was thinking she was in trouble. She is still a puppy, I remind myself.....mischievious and curious like a puppy should be........deep breaths........so i don't scream at her. I am thinking where on earth am I going to put her to dry and how is she going to get clean???? I can't give her a bath, she is too big........Thank goodness the rain had stopped because I actually left her outside for about 2 hours. I talked to the important people at the Village of Minooka today and plans are done and work is supposed to begin in the back of my yard and the easement to help with the drainage problems. Hopefully this will help with the standing water in my yard and I won't have anymore muddy dogs. I can hope, right??

Rain, rain, please go away

Attached are pictures of the rain water we had in the last couple of days. But let me explain how irritating this all is. (this is the shortened version of the story) Since we have moved in here (July 2004), we have had drainage problems. Our sales lady flat out lied to us and told us that this water on the lot would be graded away. We repeatedly asked to speak to an engineer to confirm this. She would not grant our request. So we accepted her statement and went on with building the hosue. A berm was put in the back of my yard with some storm water inlets to help with drainage. My yard gets soppy with heavy rain, and the manhole covers the village put in to help the problem keep getting cloggd and covered with debris.

Then in August 2007 there was tons of heavy rain. A man-made damn up the hill broke and a gush of water came our way, flooded my next door neighbors basement with water and all sorts of much that the water brought her way. My yard was covered with what-ever the water brought--rocks, mulch, our large plastic house, etc. We have since been trying to get the village to remedy the situation. I mean--its only been a year---how long does this process take?? So this past weekend, we again had heavy rain. The water was rising over the berm and coming into my yard. (We were afraid it would soon head to the hosue). We probably had about ankle deep water in the grass. Behind the berm, it was up to our knees. Mike, my Dad and my neighbor Nate were out there trying to get the debris moved and put up logs and sandbags to block the water flow. Thankfully it worked. I went out to take more pictures so I can take them to the next village board meeting to ask them what the heck is going on.

Busy Busy Busy

We are so busy. I was trying to figure out why I have been so tired. I mean- I try to get to bed between 9:30 and 10 every night, so why am I exhausted?? The answer lies in our schedule. This is our life as of now:

I (Kristi) babysit on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays (2-3 extra kids a day).

Tuesday mornings we all go to the story hour at the library

The 2nd and 4th Wednesdays I go to MOPS.

The 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month our Church has a moms group that I attend.

Parker has soccer practice on Thursday evenings and sometimes another weekday.

Jackson has soccer practice Monday and Wednesday evenings.

We are in a small group through Church that meets the 2nd and 4th Wednesday evenings.

Parker and Jackson have soccer games on Saturday mornings.

I volunteer in the Church toddler room the 1st and 2nd Sunday of the month.

I am in fitness class Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Mike works every 3rd day and night at the Fire house.

Mike also works his "off" week days at his office job.

Mike is helping my neighbor teach a running class on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings.

When scheduling allows- Mike attends a mens group ( Bible study) on Saturday mornings.

I am just getting started in a neighborhood playgroup every other Wednesday.

The boys have homework just about every weekday.

I am trying to atttend the school PTO meetings once a month.

Mike helps the Church with set-up the last Sunday of the month.

He also helps to run the Church computer system once a month.

And then when you add in all the playdates, doctor and vet appointments, grocery shopping, housework, birthday parties..........my calendar is FULL!

Whew- I am sure that was a boring post, but I had to get this down on "paper" to see the chaos.

My 9 year old

Today I am the mother of a 9 year old child. Yesterday he was 8 years old and 364 days........He is now 9 years old. Parker was born September 8, 1999, via c-section at 11:37 pm after 17 1/2 hours of labor. I was actually induced because he was due on the 7th and had decided he was not ready to come into the world. Although, that does not describe him now. He was not much of a sleeper as an infant and toddler. And is not one to sleep in late. He can be shy and quiet, but will open up once he gets to know someone. He is creative, inquisitive and asks LOTS of questions. He is sweet, sentimental and sensitive. He loves to swim, play video games, and create things. 9 years ago my life changed when I had him.......I am now called Mommy---one of the best names I have ever had. So Happy Birthday to you sweet child..............

Labor Day Weekend

Whew! We had a busy Labor Day Weekend! Saturday we went to our neighbors (the Bafias) camper on a lake, I think it is somewhere down in Godley..............you take I55 south............. Anyways----- It was a beautiful day, sunny but not too warm. The boys were so excited to go to the beach. Mason kept telling me "I wanna go to da beach". They played in the sand and the water and went on the boat. Parker even went on the "SeaDog". Mason was so tired, after no nap, that he fell asleep on the way home at 6:30 and slept until 7:00 the next morning! Needless to say--Parker now wants a boat and a place on the lake. And Jackson was telling Becky that he was coming back "tomorrow".

Sunday after Church, we went to meet our friends, the Kracinskis, at the Frankfort Fall Fest. I t was a HOT day. We found ourselves seeking shade. The kids, of course, enjoyed the carnival rides and ice cream. And Lisa and I "shopped" the many craft booths. I bought neat picture frames that have the kids names cut out of the bottom. (yep--of course, picture frames, for my lots of pictures). We went to Aurelios afterwards and enjoyed the air conditioning and pizza.

Monday--Labor Day--We went to my parents house to celebrate my Moms' birthday, which is Sept. 4th. My sisters were there, so of course with 7 kids running around, it's a bit loud and crazy. We ordered Jimmy John Sandwiches for lunch. I called to place the food order and apparently they did not hear me order a BLT for my mom, so the birthday girls lunch was not delivered. BUMMER! I then took the kids over to the Houcks house (friends from Church) . They made a delicious prime rib for dinner. The kids had fun hanging out and running around outside. I was soooooooooo tired and could not wait to put the kids to bed so I could relax.