Happy Birthday Great Grandpa!

A couple of weekends ago we were able to celebrate the birthday of my Grandpa, Noah's Great Grandpa.  It was a beautiful Fall day.  We roasted hot dogs, ate homemade pumpkin and apple pies, ate outside and enjoyed the company of family.  Noah was very excited to go to Grandma and Papa's (my parents home) and doubly (is that a word) excited to celebrate a birthday (anyone's birthday).  Noah enjoyed the day playing with cousins he barely knows but played with them like they see each other everyday, having adventures on Papa's farm, helping Great Grandpa with his presents and blowing out his candles and of course eating!

I was proud and overjoyed when my uncle gathered us up to pray before we dug into our feast when Noah after hearing the words 'let's say the blessing' started in on 'Oh the Lord is good to me'.  He didn't hesitate when no one else joined in and sang loud and clear through the whole blessing giving a excited 'Hallujah, Hallujah, AMEN!'  My heart was bursting. 

Later that day as we drove home and I reflected on the day I was happy to know that moving back to Iowa has put us closer to family and that Noah will grow up knowing his cousins, grandparents and the GREAT-grandparents and how important family has and is to my life.

Fall Fun Pics!

My handsome men!!

Some yard work!

I'm Going To Be...

a BIG BROTHER!!!

That is right, Noah is going to be a big brother in April.  We are expecting our second child and wanted to share the news.  I am twelve weeks along and feeling pretty good.  It has been a bit of a different pregnancy than Noah's but some of my dear friends have had worse so I can't complain.  A bit quesy but no sickness - but that is starting to wear off, hopefully it will go away completely. 

We had our first appointment on Tuesday and baby looks good, everything is looking GREAT!!  Here is our little tomato-tomato!

One, Two, Three JUMP!

Noah loves to jump on our bed and we usually let him.  He has made up a new game where either David or I lay down and he jumps over us.  As you can tell by the pictures I don't really trust my son and I am afraid one of us is going to get hurt but so far no injuries and plus it gives us a chance to lay down and play with Noah without doing a thing!!

Daddy's Turn!

(this is probably my favorite)

Mommy and Noah Day

As you all know I stay at home with Noah now and work three mornings a week so it has been an adjustment to be a stay at home mom after being the one that left every morning 5 days a week.  I love being with Noah but I am not very good at the staying home part so Noah and I are taking many adventures in the Siouxland area are challenge usually is to make them FREE adventures.  Here is an adventure we took a couple weeks ago to the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.

There were lots of hands on items.

Some live frogs, honey bees and fish.

These are the honey bees:

And a fun little area just to be a kid: block, books, discovery bottles.

It was not a huge place, not a place you could really spend more than an hour at (atleast not for Noah's age).  We did see a live turkey outside in the woods but was gone by the time I got my camera out.  There are trails around the center too.

Popcorn Day

A couple of weekends ago we went down to my parents house spent the night and then enjoyed a local towns Popcorn Day!  We woke up early to go see the tractors in the tractor cruise, had lunch in the park (most of Noah's lunch consisted of cotton candy), enjoyed the parade (giving us more candy) and then dinner at my parent's house before heading home.  It was a beautiful weekend.

We Are Still Here!

Wow, time has flown by the last couple of weeks.  Lot's of happenings in our home and lives.  The biggie - the end of summer!!  Can you believe it?  Here is the quick points:

David:
- new faculty trainings and workshops (3 weeks worth)
- FINALLY, the completion of campus office and I FINALLY get lots and lots of books out of the house!
- first day of classes as Professor Elder!! - he told me he has felt like such an 'imposter', I told him he was made for this job!
- met Monday night with the men's group from the church we have been attending to pizza and beer - had a great time.

Me (Rebekah):
- started my job on Monday (23rd), great bunch of kids - I am still trying to dust out the cobwebs from my brain but really a great first couple of days, three year olds don't really notice the cobwebs!
- accomplished my first ever canning!!! Check out my Sweet Elder blog for recipe and pics!
- finding my 'nitch' at being a stay at home mom - I do love it but Noah can be just as stubborn as me

Noah:
- his last molers are coming in
- started daycare three mornings a week while I am at work.  He seems to enjoy it, no crying at drop off atleast.
- he has picked up some kung fu moves, which he 'tries' on mommy every once and awhile (we watched Kung Fu Panda for family movie night)
- sat through one whole church service!!
- has been playing more imaginative play, mostly with the lego men

- went to the Omaha Zoo with mom and left Dad home sick!

As A Family:

- We have moved Noah's room upstairs.  For 4 nights in a row is insisted on sleeping in the guest room and we let him and after night 4 I told him if he was going to sleep upstairs that we were going to move all of his things up too.  So on Sunday we made the move.

- David and I attended a beginning of school faculty party at the Dean's home- met lots of great people!

- attended a Sioux City Exploreres Baseball game, beautiful night and Noah made it through the 5th inning

So there's a catch up for you all!  Hope all is well!