Monday, October 31, 2011

Motor Mites

I just can't say enough about the community we have moved into. It is a stay-at-home-mom Dream World and awesome for the family too. Once work slows down we will be able to enjoy soo many more activities. We have been here less than 3 months and I could be busy every single day with a million things. One great thing the Peoria Park District does is, Motor Mites. This is an awesome idea for the winter months, or rainy days. On M, W & Friday they have a kids open gym with tons of scooters, mats, slides, basketball hoops, and much more. You can bring your kids, they can play and you can chat up other moms! GREAT FUN FOR ALL!


































More Pics from Galena Halloween



























Not the best pics since they came from my phone, but thought I would add. Hope Miss Sue at the Owners Club doesnt mind her clown pic :)



Sunday, October 30, 2011

Halloween Fun!



We continued the tradition of spending Halloween weekend with my family. This year we relocated the fun from Savoy to Galena. The kids were able to go to a AWESOME Halloween party at the Owners Club where Aunt Anna and Uncle David just had their big party. :) The kids had so much fun decorating cupcakes, seeing the other kids dressed up, playing games, eating snacks and doing crafts. We also went to the biggest Halloween Parade in Illinois, in Galena. It was crazy how many people were there. The kids loved it and Uncle David helped Clayton score some candy. Of course we had to have an adult activity so we hit the Galena Brewing company afterwards a few beers for the adults and some fun music for the kids.



Can't go to Galena without seeing Great-Mimi and Great-Papa. We all went to the farm so Justin could help get the blind up and do some target shooting. Maddie and Clayton had fun exploring in the yard and playing with Great-Mimi. I think Maddie rearranged her chair, arm covers about a million times. Clayton got to snack on venison his favorite!

Clayton would be upset if I didn't mention Billy the Bull, his and Mimi's good friend & Farmer Thoele's Pumpkin. Let's just say Anna and I were about to loose it as mom was hanging out the window yelling at this HUGE bull, talking like they were old friends. :)

Thanks mom and dad, we had a blast! Hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

I Don't Like My Room


















Clayton has decided that he doesn't really like his room and doesn't want to sleep there. Ha, I wish it was my room since it is the only one we have completly finished right now. So it is both funny and scary where I find him sleeping these days. Here are a couple of pics of his recent nap locations. Maybe they should build toddler cribs for this phase. :)

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Crafting Project #1!!!
























What a great weekend! I can't even begin to say how much I love being closer to my sister and brother-in-law! Anna was able to come over yesterday and stay the night. The kids loved playing with her and we got to have some sister time too! We did our first craft project. (Credit goes to Deanne Panther for the idea!) This is super easy, super cheap and tons of fun!!! We can even take our berries and flowers off after fall and put something Christmas on it, with a different ribbon to re purpose it. Mine is a cream since my door is darker. Anna's is on the right, she went with a darker burlap because her door is cream. Pics arent the greatest, they are from our cell phones. All you need is:

Monday, October 3, 2011

Justin & I

So the focus of this blog is usually the kids. Lets be honest, I know that is why most people check it. They want pics and fun news about Maddie and Clayton. :) I thought I would take a second to share how busy and great work has been for Justin and I though.

Justin started with BNSF last October! Wow, it is hard to believe it has been a year. While the journey was a bit longer than we hoped, our destination is incredible! We love being back in Illinois and LOVE the Dunlap/Edwards area. Justin has been really busy at work and loves the new challenges that working for the railroad bring. The claims he sees are very different than the insurance business, that is for sure. We love to hear his stories and Clayton is over the moon that daddy works for Sir Topham Hatt! Justin has worked so hard that he was given a promotion back in September. We are so proud of him and thank him so much for all his hard work so we can be back in the IL! Oh, and thanks Uncle Warren, you have a great company!

Yes, besides staying home with my adorable kiddos, I am also working. Things have been nuts. It was official on Friday that Ingersoll Rand the parent company I worked for, sold off their Hussmann division to be a stand alone company. Hussmann manufactures the refrigerator units you see in a lot of grocery stores. Next time you are in Hyvee look! :) It is cool to work for a company that really does have an effect on our everyday lives. It is amazing the technology and innovation that is needed to keep food costs down and keep food fresh from "farm to fork". I am now working as a HR Specialist for Hussmann and couldn't be happier. (Just celebrated 5 years with them in September. Time flies!) The next few months will be filled with work and possibly travel, but I do enjoy using my "adult" brain. I couldn't be luckier though to be able to spend all this time with Clayton and Maddie. I can't imagine not being able to see them grow, learn and play together everyday.

Well, that is enough. :) More posts to come on the kiddos!