Birthdays, Football, Farm Animals ;o)

I'd love to say we've just returned from an extended stay on an island but, unfortunately, my lapse in posting is just a result of too busy'itis. So we'll catch up on this one and then move on to Miss Natalie Noelle's first birthday.

FOOTBALL
Starting with Noah aka Mr. Football. This is his first season and he did great. Pat has talked about being very fast as a little guy until he was hit with rheumatic fever and it appears Noah has those 'run like a rabbit' genes too. He has been responsible for numerous touchdowns during the season.

Huddle time

Tying your player's shoe qualifies
you as a good guy coach!

Run - Noah - Run!!

... and back the other way. Notice Seth in the
background helping out.

Noah & his favorite brunette - Lindsey!


John & Lindsey were able to see one of Noah's
last games. I love this shot with all the kids.

Mom's form a bridge at the end of the game
for all the players to run through. John,
Audrey & Lindsey were in on this one.

Jackson & Lindsey checking out either planes
or cars on her laptop. If you want to bond with
Jackson - find something with an engine!

FARM ANIMALS & PUMPKIN PATCH TIME
The weekend we celebrated Noah's birthday we all went to a wonderful place north of town - Papa Charlie's Pumpkin Patch.
Charlie & Debbie are friends of ours and it dawned on me that he
simply recreated what his kids must have enjoyed; from hay
climbing to corn maze to rolling down hills. I don't think they had a train tho!!

Steph watching Seth in the big, bouncy pumpkin

Papa, Seth, Noah, Natalie, Audrey,
Tyler & Jackson in front of the bouncing pumpkin

You just are never too old for the petting zoo!

Noah, Seth & Audrey checking out the
chickens, rabbits and REALLY big turkey

I think the pumpkins weigh more than the kids

Natalie amusing herself with some yoga stretches

Charlie converted his cement floor into tractor
'bumper cars'. I think this was one of the kid's favorites.

This slide was made out of a long stretch of heavy plastic,
a hill and hay bales for bumper guards. A burlap sack
sped you on your way!

One of the rides most enjoyed was rolling down a hill
inside a drainage (clean of course) pipe. Lindsey was on
the other side of Audrey but she made a very ungraceful
exit which I promised faithfully not to post. If you are
ever visiting tho - I still have it!!

Pat retrieving the hi-tech rolling tube

Pretty girls!!

and handsome guys!

There were wonderful pumpkins and gourds

I had never been through a corn maze and, luckily,
this one wasn't very complicated. Stay right for a longer walk
and left for the shorter one. We took the longer walk and got
some great pictures! This shot is of Tyler and you get an idea of how
tall the corn was and how autumn blue the sky was.

Family of the corn - Ty, Natalie, Jackson & Pat

Steph & Audrey

I'm not sure what epic adventure Jackson has in mind
for himself & Papa - but he does look determined doesn't he?

Necessary fall kids picture followed by . . .

fun fall kids picture!

BIRTHDAYS

The weather continued to be beautiful and we all
enjoyed being outside (especially knowing winter was coming). OK,
maybe Noah not so much - obviously a game crises.

We celebrated Noah's 8th birthday. Caleb has probably
seen shots of Shane's models lying on gravel and over cars
so thought he'd give it a shot for Lindsey's picture.

Noah with his American legos and Italian hat

Help from Papa

A football jersey cake - who'd have thought!!

OK - this would be called a cheesey smile

Since four out of eight grandchildren are born
in the month of October - we'll move right along
to Miss Katie B's birthday party #4!

Did you know they now make princess babies - as
Katie would tell you 'this is Cinderbella'
Joy acting as the present assistant
Dora is pretty cool and deserves a place
on Katie's cake. Joy made this for her.

'So Grandma if I stand here and look really
hopeful can I have another bite of your cake?'You are healed / or blessed/ or really, really loved Daddy
Audrey having a moment with Papa
.......and then what happened!?!?
Caleb asking how long Jack & Natalie are in for
Ryan, Caleb & Katie with Papa Wade
Jeff & Pat catching up
Katie & Natalie - the baby girls in the family (so far)
Nana with a wonderful armful of Natalie

with brothers some things never change - and that is alright!
Caleb enjoying Aunt Steph time
Noah & Seth on the playset
Ty, Ryan & Natalie - I love watching our kids pick up
and play with each others' kids
Shifting gears to a weekend with just Ty & Jerilyn

It was a pretty cool, rainy weekend, especially Saturday.
Sunday wasn't as wet so Jack did a bit of tree sitting.
Natalie was fine with Daddy's arm sitting
I LOVE this little shape!! You just want to scoop her
up and cuddle her - she's good with that too!
Jack was mesmerized by the 'inside of the car' DVD taken
when Pat rode around the track at the Kansas Speedway.
Is that Santa Barbara on the other side??

All for now folks - next up Caleb & Natalie's big birthdays!!

Labor Day Family Fun!

As with all good holidays our Labor Day weekend involved a lot of food! Neal & Theresa (my nephew & wife) hosted a Sunday get together. This was the first time several family members had met Natalie.

Even the cool breeze did not prevent kids swimming -
look how much Audrey has grown!

Madison emerging from the pool
If not for the Dino life vest Booke would look like a
professional model!
Katie surveying the vast blue space
Seth & Noah enjoyed Neal's video games

As did Ty and Jessica
G-Aunt Dana finally got a chance to cuddle with
Natalie - she lived with us when Ty was this
age so this cuddle was extra special!
OK - they are pink and yes, they are Barbie
but they have wheels!
As our day wound down we found Brooke reading a
book to Katie in a quiet corner.
The O'Donnell bunch then headed to Chillicothe to
celebrate September birthdays and to save
Ty & Jerilyn from yet another 8 hr round trip! Katie
rode with us on the way home and we were serenaded with
various songs including 'Awesome God'. Here is a picture of
the glorious sunset proving that fact.

Since everyone had to leave a mid-day on Monday
(something about school & work) we opened gifts
Sunday night. Here is a line-up thinking that
things are MUCH more fun when it is their birthdays!

Joy had bought Ryan an antique gun - so Jeff & Steph
gave him a gun cleaning kit

Jeff had two very eager helpers
Seth was actually the birthday 'Santa'

I got lots of good stuff - can't wait to use it all
Notice the girls have decided to share Audrey's
headset to listen to music - we must not have
been very entertaining

If you have ever considered messing with the women in this family -
DON'T

Monday was a beautiful day and we spent most of it
outside. Football was the order of the day!

'Honest Dad - I'm big enough & I'm wearing red!'
'Do you guys want me to go long?'
Some guidance from Dad

Caleb rescued by Aunt Steph

Love this shot of Jeff blocking Seth

Noah looks like a pro doesn't he?
Smokey wants to try so Noah holds the ball -
alas he just didn't get the whole idea

Ty & Seth - it was wonderful
watching everyone play

Noah & Caleb - it was breezy - notice the frisbee?
Jackson thought Katie was the greatest thing
since sliced bread!
I know what this looks like but, no,
Caleb was NOT getting ready to whip Jackson
with the stick as some weird Missouri ritual!!

Gotta give Katie credit - she has no concept
of limits!
Papa even braved the ragweed long
enough for some football

After a birthday lunch of lasagna it was time for
the cakes / pies (needed more calories you know)

Audrey made a banner for the birthday folks


Katie helped with some artwork


Then Katie helped Joy finish Daddy's pink strawberry birthday cake
with lots and lots of sprinkles - good thing Ryan had his gun
and football to balance things out!

Do you think we have enough sugar here?
Lindsey called just as we were getting ready to light
candles. I handed her over to Joy who was able to put her
on speaker phone. It would be a wonderful world if we could
get everyone within a few miles of all their loved ones wouldn't it?

No matter what is going on - take time to celebrate!