Spotted Cow

This year would not have been as perfect if we didn't get a chance to hang with Herman under the Polka tent. As for you two, it wouldn't have been as much fun if we didn't let you pick out something from the toy store:)

Once again we enjoyed the park, the sound of the polka and the sips of the beer. Surprisingly, Jacob, you were reaching for the cheese curds and requesting a pretzel. Even after you ate a fair amount of food at breakfast...Maybe it was because you dropped both hot dogs last night or you are simply growing. When it came down to standing in another line for an 8$ pretzel or no line at the toy store, you chose wisely. The purchase has entertained you longer than the line was long. So with that my friend,  I believe you are growing older and wiser:)  

Julia, we thought you might be growing out of getting sick in the car. In fact you said so yourself on the way up. Too bad you jinxed it and luckily we managed to get you out of the car to get sick. Phew. 

This weekend we experienced some new with the old. Altogether, it was another great time at Oktoberfest. Thanks dad for making us all happy and giving us a little bit of what we need. I'm craving spatzel and sauerbraten at the moment, so I'm sure we will find a way to keep Oktoberfest going strong in Cedar Falls. 

All we need is a little "Spotted Cow" playing in the background. 

A Morning in Pictures

Getting waffles made while you look at your planes 

Reading a sweet note that you wrote for me in bed last night. 

Played copy my shadow in the backyard. 

Eating a little snack before we run some errands...leftover Doritos from our road trips. Lucky You! Get these things outta here:) Oh, and I let you watch Balto, so I could get some laundry done. 

Checking out our "yellow brick road" after making it to two stores. 

You found Dapple! Thank goodness you decided to read it to yourself! 

No big plans for the day, but we managed to squeeze in a "hello to dad" trip and you got your ice, saw the fish at the store, watched a cake get decorated, picked out a new bed for Andy and gave him a bath, watched Balto, scooted fast on your scooter, swam at Stephanie's, played hide the planes with your with your brother, read 5 books and managed to get to bed by 7:45! 

Oh and you got your second bee sting and decided you wanted to be Dorothy for Halloween...I'd say it was a pretty low key day! 

CaMpinG FUN

Pitching a tent by the light of the headlights! Thank goodness for battery chargers;) 

Almost asleep by the time we reached our site! A movie kept you entertained while the boys did the work. 

You checking to see if there was the right amount of ketchup and mustard.

I dare you to guess what Jacob is saying about that hot dog!
You only dropped both of the other ones:) you felt pretty bad but no tears were shed. Too much excitement.

Content with the zippers for the first 2 minutes.

I don't have any pictures of you helping dad with the fire or you collecting sticks. "Click" I guess your dad and I will have to rely on our minds for that memory. 

You two enjoyed taking turns pounding the stakes in...pounding not south take turns!

You enjoying your s'mores. Jacob made me the best marshmallow I have ever had.

This fire kept me and your dad entertained while we sipped delicious drinks and talked uninterrupted (aside from the occasional black walnut falling) for over an hour! As the music was winding down 3 miles away, so was I. Camping was way better than I thought it would be...oh wait I haven't made it into the tent yet!

I have to give your dad credit for this trip. He did it all. He made the decision to cancel the expensive hotel room, found the last camp site, bought the camping gear months ago, and thought ahead for keeping us safe. Not to mention he had the tent up in less than two beers! All I had to do was pack the clothing...to find out that you don't really need clothes for an overnight camping trip. That is something you could never count on with you messy kids:)

I guess I could have stayed awake to watch you two sleep the night away in your cute little sleeping bags, instead I chose to give the ground prepared by Mother Nature a try. Aside from the gentle slope and cold wet sides of the tent, it wasn't so bad,not! You guys grew bigger and my space grew smaller. One of you requested a book in the middle of the night which I would gladly do over taking you out in the middle of the night to use the restroom. Thankfully, you bought the "there aren't any books in the tent." And went back to sleep. The next request one of you made was for that of my mattress because your spot "wasn't so soft enough." Ugh. I gave it to you and managed to wake in the morning without an aching back?!
I woke to two happy children, which would make me do it all over In a heart beat.

Julia, your dream was that of a catfish and bluegill fighting, and was the first thing you shared when you woke. 

Jacob, you were all smiles while lying awake and just snuggling. 

We loved hearing you take orders for pampakes and coffee. It was the best entertainment I could have asked for in a tent. Next time, we will get to our site early enough to make sure we have time for scary stories! We have to save something for next time, right?

Later on you enjoyed the pillow fight/wrestling match in the tent. Remember how your brother found a way to clean his hair? Too cute:)

Julia, you always find a way to make things a little more interesting and full of "crazy" energy!

Not long after that,you guys were ready to start the Oktoberfest festivities and do the usual...not a campsite breakfast. 

Seriously, we had to pay 75 cents to pet Pickles, the goat? The things we do for you, but the joy that it brings us is worth every penny!

Remember when...

As this fall semester gets underway, I can't help to think about the time we had together last year. Will you guys remember last fall as "that fall?" It couldn't have been planned more perfectly. And if you haven't figured out how your dad and I roll, well we don't do much planning. As we embark on the first week of fall, I hope I will remember the change of season that we saw last year.  Even though I'd rather have the Florida temperatures in the Winter, I'm not sure I would trade it in for the beauty you see unravel in September and October in the Midwest.
I came across a couple pictures to help us remember the time we had together...

I think I will be content with the weather ahead for the next month. However, I hope we get outside and soak up every last ray of sunshine! Here's to fall! We have some fun in store for you two! 

Our dog

Our dog is showing signs of old age more and more these days. Still, he is the mild mannered pup who is looking for a scrap, wagging his tail for a treat, showing excitement for a walk, slowly climbing the steps, tolerating a three year old that finds ways to play with him more like he's a stuffed animal instead of an aging dog and he's just easy going. He's loyal and has his routine with dad in the morning, and finds his place besides Jacob's bed at night. 

Back in the early days he was the perfect rescue pup that ate some important mail, chewed on expensive shoes, was scared to death of linoleum floors, and loved to wrestle around with a neighbor dog named teddy. After moving to Iowa he won the hearts of a spotted female Dalmatian along with her owners. He accompanied  us on trips to PA and St. Louis but found respite in Cedar Rapids too. Before you guys were born he came with dad on trips to visit us in the hospital. He became the favorite patient on the floor. 

Here's a few shots of your young dog. He is such a good dog.