Tot Lot

There is the wondeful place where I can take the boys' for a mere $2 and they can run, jump, ride, and go crazy for 2 1/2 hours. It is called Tot Lot and two days per week, they have two inflatable bouncy houses up to add to the fun! It is the perfect place to spend a rainy Fall or cold Winter morning. It has often become a hang out for Aiden and his Kinderfarm pals too! Here are a few pictures that I took of the boys' this morning.





This pic didn't transfer from my phone cropped, but Aiden and his Kinderfarm gang riding their bikes.

Bro's in the bouncy

 And then I caught this little guys riding on the edge of the gym floor all alone just practicing his pedaling skills...too cute!!!

 

We're All Going Bananas (ehhh...Pumpkins) Around Here!

We had a pumpkin crazed afternoon at the Davis Homestead today! But first we needed to get our work done!


Aiden the 'worker' raking leaves



Tyson the 'runner' as soon as Daddy fired up the sucker/blower machine


Then, we got down to some very important pumpkin business! Aiden wanted so badly to carve a pumpkin this year so, Jeff and I tried to make that happen for him! We got the kitchen table all prepped and ready to go! We had two bouncy and excited boys' and then we cut those pumpkins open...
                                                      EWWWWWW...GROSS!!!!!!

So, before Jeff or I could say 'Happy Halloween' both boys' were sitting at the kitchen table with their noses and eyes all contored watching us elbow deep in those babies! Well, the carving did not go as planned and Jeff and I hurridly carved two pumpkins that looked like they were carved by a 4 and 2 year old! Come by our house and take a gander for a good chuckle!

BUT, Mom (pat on the back for myself, thank-you very much) came to the rescue with paint! So, off went the clothes, out came the pint-size punkies for the little lads', and away they went!

I had to redeem myself with the carved pumpkin on the front porch and painted my own pumpkin! Here are our finished masterpieces!

I think they turned out great! Aiden's is the one on the left and looks so awesome in person! Ty's is on the left and has more color/paint on the stem of the pumpkin then the actual pumpkin, but he had a heck of a good time!

We ended our pumpkin frenzy with pizza for dinner and pumpkin shaped cookies for dessert!

A pumpkin frenzy would not be complete without taking a few pictures on the front porch with our finished projects.

I know you are laughing at the carved pumpkins right now! It's OK....we did too!

And then I have to end this post with this snap shot that I got of Ty while I was supposed to be raking!

Gosh I love this little punky of mine!!!

Belly Up To The Bar...

Belly up to the breakfast bar in the kitchen that is! Jeff is painting tonight at Ty's Daycare so, I had to feed the animals so that Jeff and I could hopefully enjoy a quiet dinner later.

The boys' and I have not let this rainy and cold day get to us! We cleaned the house this morning. Give these boys' a Norwex rag and they are little cleaning machines!

We also ventured out this afternoon to run some errands. Aiden had to pick out his Birthday cake at

Hy-vee. More to come on the decided theme for the 5 year Birthday party! We also made a quick trip to Costco too. I have never appreciated the indoor parking as I did this afternoon!

We even found some time for some rainy day afternoon movie. Last week I bought the boys'

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. What a hit! It was one of my favorite movies as a child so, it is fun to see them enjoy too!

We're still here!

I took a little blog vacation and this was not on purpose, but the past few weeks have just zoomed on by! I got back a week ago from a long weekend trip to Las Vegas with some of my girlfriends' to visit my friend from high school, Casey. It was a blast!!! It felt so good to get away from it all and just be silly and hang with my girls'! I didn't sleep much and I paid for it royally last week. I told Jeff yesterday afternoon that I finally woke up on Thursday morning to go to work not feeling utterly exchausted. It was well worth the lack of sleep!

 

We have had a very relaxing weekend at home and the rain has totally helped with our laziness! Whereas I love our busy, fun-filled weekend's, I do look forward to our quiet one's at home in our sweat pants! I am not going to lie, I may have taken a very long snooze during most of the Iowa game yesterday. I am a huge fan, but get this girl a pillow, blanket, a comfy couch, some football, rain, and.... ZZZZZZ!!!! The boys' and I did venture out in the rain this morning for late church as I had to serve in the church nursery. Jeff ran into work for a few hours this morning so, he didn't join us. I don't always prefer to serve in the nursery when I can't go to the early service first because I feel like I really didn't go! But, I follow a fellow blogger who is a very strong Christian woman who just posted on her blog today that she had to do the same thing and put it totally into perspective...."I don't really feel like I went to church this morning to get fed, but I am grateful to serve so that other's can get fed."

Playing Dentist with Daddy while Mommy cooks dinner. Aiden was waiting for Ty to finish up so that he could give Daddy his 'goody' bag with the toothbruch/past to take home.

Our next few weekends are going to be busy as my bestie from college Erika and her hubby, Matt are coming down for the IA vs Penn State night game. We are having a kid-free weekend! Watch out Iowa City.....we may just have to party like it's 1999!!! Then, the weekend after that, Jeff is going to the Auburn vs Texas A&M game!

Watching a movie!

Here are a few pictures of the boys' over the past few weeks as I do an 'Iphone camera roll dump'

Aiden is just growing up before our eye's! I had to put him in time out yesterday afternoon and afterwards I said to Jeff that I can't remember the last time I had to do that with him! He such a big helper and becoming so articulate with his conversations with us!

Aiden trying on Daddy's glasses.

Ty is still giving up gray hairs and wrinkles by the minute. He is such a great kid, but the 'terrible 3's' are upon us!! My Mom told me when Aiden was little that three is far worse than two and I totally belive this!!! He challenges us everyday in new ways that Aiden did not, but I know that everything will turn out eventually if we stay consistent with him!!!

Ty at 'Lil Chef's' Their October activity at the North Liberty Rec Center

This and That...

Let me just begin by saying that I cannot believe that it is already October! This is my favorite time of year....the colors, the smells, the food....I LOVE FALL!!

We have been so crazy here at the Davis Homestead and I don't forsee it slowing down anytime soon! I know that this sounds crazy, but I am already starting to think about Christmas because it always seems to sneak up on me so fast! 

Jeff and I enjoyed going to the Hawkeye football game last Saturday with the Kellbachs'. We are finally at a stage where we can share a babysitter with them. So, Saturday was our first go at it and it went great! The kids' had a blast and the adults had fun too!

Cheering on the Hawks!

Jeff has started to play basketball on Sunday night's again so, the boys' and I have been going up to the Rec Center to watch him play. The boys' really enjoy watching him and they are always yelling 'hi' to him when he's on the court and then they are right there on the bench when he's sitting out. Another highlight is the Kellbach girls' to run aorund with!

The boys' and I have started our 'colder weather' activities on my days off. Today we met my friend Dawn and her little girl, Kate to play at the Childrens' Museum. Here are a few pictures that I took today while we were playing...

Aiden 'working' at the Bakery in the Grocery Store

Ty racing his 'Mom made' car

Aiden, Ty, and Kate



We're Stocking Up!

I recently got a very helpful hint from my Mom and Stepdad that meat prices are going to skyrocket this winter due to the drought. So, I have been watching the Hy-Vee and Fareway ad's every week for their meat specials. I am pretty proud of my current stock pile in my deep freezer! I have 8 pounds of ground hamburger, 10 packages of chicken breasts, and 8 packages of pork chops. I also cooked a huge pork roast in my crock pot all day today. We had a very small portion of it for dinner, I left a small portion in the fridge to make BBQ Pork Sandwiches, and then split the rest into two packages for meals for a later date. I am really hoping to keep our grocery bill down this winter by not having to buy as much meat!

My friend Dawn and I also went to 'Crazy Days' at Hy-Vee last Thursday and stocked up on some crazy deals!! $0.99 bread....cheap fro yo....they were practically giving away frozen pizza's....and so much more...oh my!!!

I also did two batches of sweet corn in August. I ran out of time and didn't freeze nearly as much as I wanted to, but it will be a good stock pile for a few months!!