Coloring

Here are some rare photos of all the kids sitting together nicely and coloring! It's fun that they are at ages that they can do something together. Amelia really likes to color and/or draw. She really does a good job keeping the colors on the paper.

Leaves for Fun

Yesterday, I raked up a pile of leaves for the kids to play in. This was Amelia's first time in a big pile. She thought it was great! And loves it when big brother threw them on her. Well, until he got a little too crazy. She found that leaves down her shirt and diaper were kind of itchy. Ellie was at school, so that's why she is missing from these photos.

Jack was not too sure about the laying in the leaves.

Amelia was very content!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to everyone! This year I'll have a Cheetah, Pirate, & Chicken here at my house. I won't have all the photos up until this weekend - as we do have fun plans at the Skaar Haunted Household tonight in Roland that we'll want to photograph and share.

But here are a few preview shots of two kids to get you spooked!

Captain Jack Sparrow

Amelia, the Chicken.
This was Jack's costume 2 years ago. Go to 2006 archives to see him in it.

Amelia, practicing her "chicken talk" before the big night!

HERO Makes Headlines

Many of you have heard that Billy & I are an active part of our community group, HERO, here in town. Recently, we were awarded the first Iowa Utilities Board Grant of $5000 to do a Weatherization project in the Ballard area.

This was an effort by our entire group, namely those that had the ideas, wrote the grant, and then executed the efforts headed by Russell Zimmerman, our Vice President. It has also taken many, many volunteers outside of our organization to winterize over 50 homes on two Saturdays. A great thanks to all of the time and efforts from everyone.

Last night, our story was featured on Channel 13 news ... a few of our "men in blue" were shown working on a first-time homeowner's home. Please check out the video link at our website. We are VERY proud to be part of this organization and the work we are doing here in the community! Billy will be helping this Saturday to finish up the homes. If you live in the area and would like to be a HERO, please feel free to contact me.

http://huxleyheroes.com/hero/

Needing a rope

I love this blog so I can record little stories like this and not forget them!

On Sundays, Tony comes to our church parking lot to pick up the kids between services. Billy was outside waiting with them, and Jack asked, "When is daddy going to be here?" And Billy's common response when the kids ask when someone will be here is "when they get here" or "when they show up." It usually gets them to stop asking.

Today Billy responded, "When he pulls up." Meaning, of course, when Tony pulls up in his car. Jack then exclaimed, "But he doesn't have a rope!"

Oh, man ... what a funny thought.