Not much to report...

I don't have a lot to post but thought I would post these pictures. I just love this picture of Jenna..pig tails, her bottle (which she will NOT give up for her milk) and her bus. I got this outfit at a thrift store for a steal... it is nike and sooo cute! Here are a few pictures of Jenna showing her new trick.. "I Don't Know"... she puts her hands up like she has a question.

Not much else to report right now.... hopefully these 50mph gusts don't blow us away!!!!

How are we going to save money this winter??

Well, being yesterday was beautiful we went and cut some wood.. Clarification.. Barry cut the wood, I hauled it and the kids played in the leaves :) We have a good start but it is no where near where we need to be to keep us warm this winter. My goal is to keep our heating low but keeping our fire going all day.

We had a play date. Our friends (thanks guys) stopped by and visted us on their way through town. It was a much needed visit and we had a blast as always. Olivia was the princess, Jackson hosted a tea party and loved LOVED his birthday gifts from Josh, Kylene, Olivia and Alayna. Thank you soo much. He was talking even last night about "that was soo nice of them to bring me fruit snacks and my new game". We played it last night and Dad won.. BOO!!

OTHER EXCITING NEWS.. I am finally going to start a spin off blog from this one of gluten free recipes. THESE ARE NOT MY recipes... but rather ones that I have found. Check it out. http://gfmama.blogspot.com/

Mom.... Dad is letting me carry a gun!!

Ok.. before you call social services let me explain. Jackson is going phesant hunting with Barry today and is VERY excited about it. To see the excitement on his face this morning and to know how much it means to Barry and how long he has been looking forward to this... brings tears to my eyes. So he did come into my room and say "Dad said I could have a GUN too!".. I gave Barry the "WHAT THE #%^#" loook. They went downstairs to get ready to go and I had to go and check what gun he was bringing.. check out the backpack in the picture toward the bottom... It is a nerf gun that Barry bought him a while ago. Ok.. so the other pictures. The first one of Jackson CRACKS me up. I made smoothies for breakfast and Jackson was not using his straw and tiped it up and it got all over him. We were both laughing soo hard!


APPPLE PIE... Being gluten free is tough but thankgoodness for the internet. I have found some great recipes and apple pie is something Jackson kept asking for... never had it before but he wanted it. So we went out and purchased a couple more apples (WHOA.. anyone notice how expensive they have gotten) and we started the process... and a process it is. Well, this was the result. IT WAS GREAT... I am not a pie person but this was GOOD! The crust is a bit different than traditional pie crust... it is softer.. I liked it. YUM!! Keeping that one for the future. Next one will be a pumpkin pie... I have one crust in the freezer yet.

And Finally the pictures of the boys ready to go this morning. Jackson was a bit sad he didn't get a REAL gun, but was excited he got one. I can only imagine the things that will go on. He walked outside and said.. HEY.. the sun is not out? Nope.. gotta sneak up on those birds when they are still sleepy! I will post results of the trip later. Oh.. Jackson was predicting a few hundred birds.

A NEW BABY.....

See details below on new baby....

Pictures of Jenna bundled up to go outside.. it is chilly. Jenna is also my little strawberry stealer... she LOVES THEM.
Jackson was surprising us from behind the bush. Jenna and Jackson had a snack.. this is one of their FAVORITES.. got them at Costco... Grandma found them. Dried apples. ONE bag is an apple and a half. Great snack on the go. Then the next picture is the kids and our pumpkins. We carved on Sunday... Have yet to light them up but hope to do that once all of us are feeling better. NOW.. to the baby!

No ..not me. (Although now I have the baby bug... but barry SQUASHED IT) But my brother and sister in law had a beautiful baby girl... Katie. She is great... and I can't wait to hold her again. Now Jenna has a little girl to play with..

Don't ask me how I got this video.... I just did. I was laughing soo hard watching Jacksons head bob. He said he was not tired.. didn't want to take a nap... well, he finally gave in.

The dragon in person....

Here is the dragon (Jackson) in person... the costume came today.. he looks sooo adorable!

Jackson and Jenna were hanging out with the pumpkin on the front porch. This pumpkin came from Bumpa's garden! Then after Jackson went to school I took a few pictures of Jenna. She is getting better at sitting while I take pictures. I love this hat on her! It remindes me of little house on the prairie. There are little flowers on the top... too cute.
Jackson is playing with leaves.. we made a pile and jumped in it. I am actually catching up on a few things today. I am making homemade caramel corn.. yum... chili for me and Jenna.. hopefully she likes it since I am really the only one in our house that eats it... and sloppy joes for tonight. This morning I made gluten free blueberry muffins shaped like ghosts.... and a cinnamon roll for Jackson.. his Thursday breakfast! Been a busy day!

Mom, is your body broken?

Jackson and i have been going to church on Sundays and then sunday school. This weekend we had communion...no big deal. Go up, receive our bread and wine and blessings and sit down. We sit down and jackson wispers.. MOM.. did you eat your bread? Yep... (Here is where he usually says.. I'm HUNGRY.. can I have some bread too) Mom.. oh no... is your body BROKEN? WHAT?? IS your body broken.. the bread broked your body. ME... LAUGHING!! Nope... my body is ok. BUT MOM.. it is SHEAD for you. hehe.. he listens to EVERYTHING even when you think he is not. He was sooo worried!

Catching up again..

I seem to not be able to keep up with the pictures and blogging.. so here is a bunch of what we are doing. I made some gluten free chocolate cake.. YUM... can I say that enough... YUMMO! Jenna Jackson and I loved it.. Barry.. not so much but what matters here is that the kids liked it. Jackson would keep asking for it and Jenna would see it and do her signature grunt!

I ordered the kids halloween costumes (see below) and was in the spirit of haloween. I decided to try and teach Jenna how to say trick or treat. She kinda has it.. but she DEFINATLY understands what it means.. TREATS! We practiced and the kids had a blast. I think they will be ready to go.

Jenna loves to climb the playset we have outside. I have to watch her since she likes to climb by herself. The real reason I took this picture is because her butt looked soo cute in these pants!

Jenna all smiles outside playing on the swing.

Jackson was wearing this COOL jacket the other day. He looks like he could be in the movie grease.
A few movies for your viewing pleasure!

Halloween costumes and Jenna's BIG christmas gift.

Jennas Haloween Costume.. it comes with a pretty tiara... she will be a PRINCESS... I liked this one since it has long sleves... Jackson will be the DRAGON! I thought this would be a fun thing. Trying to talk Daddy into being the knight who saves the princes... hmm.. what should I be. Maybe the crocodile in the mote..
DA da da da!!!!!!! This is Jenna's big xmas gift... rose petal cottage... I can't wait! I am sure she will love love love it... I think Jackson will like it just as much!

I will post pictures later of the kids.. but here are pictures of the kids halloween costumes and Jenna's BIG christmas gift.. we are not doing much for the kids this year... they each are getting one big item.. and a few little items... then what ever Santa brings.. which is usually fun things like chapstick and gum..

Working with Dad and the MALL OF AMERICA!!

We were very excited when Dad and Uncle Ryan had a job RIGHT NEXT DOOR to our house. We surprised the guys and cleaned up the mess in the yard while they went to lunch. After lunch we helped clean up what we could and then Jackson had to WORK. He loves to hammer and measure!
This past weekend we went to the Mall of America. It was a quick trip since I just got back from Omaha NE but after the drive to Mpls we met up with Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie, Uncle, Hannah and Hunter. Jackson had ONE GOAL... to see the BIG DORA. Not only did he see the big Dora, he met a BIG SHARK, saw sponge bob and rode on a ton of rides.

Jenna was NOT soo thrilled with the shark. Eventually she did give him a high five but Barry is laughing because she totally dissed the shark. Would not look at him and turned away when he came close.
We treated Jackson to a visit at the Build a Bear Workshop. I have always wanted to go there and it was a lot of fun... Jackson picked out a puppy and named him BUSTER. After filling him with his stuffing, choosing a sound (he says.. I love you) and putting his heart in him, he was fluffing him in this picture.
Then it was time for some clothes. Jackson picked out a soccer outfit... actually I think it was dad that found it and Jackson loved it.
Jackson and his buddy BUSTER! Later Grandma and Grandpa surprised him with a super hero outfit for Buster.

Here we are in the Nick Jr amusement park. Jackson was able to go on a TON of rides by himself. Grandma went on lots of rides with him too but Jackson was just thrilled to go from one ride to the next. He handled the noise and stimulation like a champ. We laugh because we have never heard soo many threats from parents in our entire life while we were there... LOL... "If you don't listen there will be NO ice cream". "Stop it right now or we are going HOME.". We made it from about 12:30 to a little after 5. Jenna was NOT happy at that point and it was time to head home.

Jackson, Hunter and Hannah and their bears.
Jackson when we started walking into the Nick Jr. area.... it was PRICELESS... the look on his face.
Here you can see it better... he could not believe everything there was....
Attacking the shark.. can you tell he was pretty excited!
We had a great time. While we were there I got teary a few times... watching my son and how far he has come... how grown up he is. We agreed that we would have NEVER done this even a year ago. I look at my family and how blessed we are. Jenna is such a precious child. I can look into the future and see soo many great moments and I am thankful that I am able to be home to see them all! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for the trip to the Mall. Sunday we went and visted Papa and Nana and went to the thrift store. I got a TON of clothes for the kids and a belt for me... WHAT... I used to leave there with stuff for me and a few things for them. I guess that is what happens when you have kids and only so much $$$$$. oh well... not that I need any more clothes. Barry was my BIG helper at the thrift store. YEP.. he went with. He is battling a cold and was not up for golfing. We then went out to lunch with Papa and Nana (THANK YOU) and then drove home. Thanks to everyone for the fun weekend..

Now I am concentrating on getting going with diva girls. I went to training and am ready to go. I have parties in October and November and am booking out for December and into next year. The products are wonderful and it is going to be a GREAT company to work for. CHECK IT OUT... www.divagirlpurseparty.com