::quiet::

It's so quiet.

Brian and I are in Leuven, Belgium, visiting Ann and Koen. The tv is only background noise as it speaks in Dutch. No "kid" noise and the cats don't stir much. I slept longer than normal trying to get rid of jet leg and adjust to time difference.

It will be quiet on the blog, too... More to come when we return to U. S.

harvest with Great Pa

We got to see Great Pa a lot this fall with our frequent tractor and combine rides.

In fact when he wasn't there, Lucas always wondered what else he was doing. 

 

 

He was telling me about having lunch at the cafe and telling some of the other "regulars" about the four generations of Perrys that had been farming this fall.  He is so proud.

 

 

This just happened to be the evening we finished combining. 

Fill it, empty it, clean it and put it away until next year!

:: ding dong ::

I've never been so surprised at who rang our doorbell on Saturday morning. My bestest friends from forever ago schemed a plan to surprise me. There was a whole (very detailed) plan and I fell for all of it.

I was so glad to see them {tears}. So glad to hug them {tears}. It was wonderful to spend eight hours talking. There was some eating, too, but mostly talking. They sacrificed part of their weekend to drive (a long way) to see me - away from their kids and husbands. Just because they love me.

So blessed.

Halloween fun

 

Parading around the Roundhouse.

~lalalala~

 

Hi, Daddy!!! 

 

 

Thumbs up for 4th place!

 

 

Night Eyes at Blank Park Zoo.

Riding the train.

Toto got to ride on the train, too.

 

Searching for spiders on the train ride. 

 

We also just happened to celebrate my birthday with dinner at Hickory Park with Papa Steve, Gramma Connie and Uncle Brian.  And trust me, I saved room for ice cream!  We also drove through every implement dealership on the way home.  There were at least four stops.  :)  It was a fun, family weekend!

fall fun

I love fall.  I love the weather, the harvest, football, apples and pumpkins, fun adventures when it isn't blazing hot... or frigid cold.  We explored a petting zoo and family center on a beautiful Sunday afternoon with the Vander Wilts, Andersons, Berans and Tripps.

Jonah and Lucas.

Miniature horses and a zebra!

Hannah was interested to feed the donkey but didn't want to get too close. 

Riding the teeter-totter with Ellie.

The kids could have done these duck races for hours! 

Genius idea of pumping water to "push" the ducks, the water recycles in a big tank.

 

sooooo big!

 

The soybean maze was pretty easy.

The kids loved being able to see over the beans.

 

And Hannah... well, Hannah is consumed in a bean field by all of the little beans that have fallen out of the pods.  She feels the necessity to pick them up. All of them.  She did this in Papa Steve's bean field, too.  Hand fulls!

 

The corn maze was more difficult and we *may* have chosen an early exit. 

Shh! Don't tell the kids.

They were happy to exit!  Hugs for Garrett, Lucy, Jonah and Lucas.

 

 

 

 

Climbing in the hay castle.

 

Woohoo!

* * * * * * * * *

 

 

 A group of mom friends took all of our kiddos to another pumpkin patch close by. 

Some of the same, some different - still lots of fun!

 

 

 

 

Hilarious sign:

 



decorating pumpkins

We take the safe attempt to decorate pumpkins at our house. 

It isn't necessarily any cleaner - we are dealing with paint... but no stringy pumpkin goo in the hair.

 

Our stacker pumpkins from a visit to see Nicole.

This photo doesn't do it justice, but the way the colors of the kids' pumpkins ran together made them so pretty. 

 

 

I usually get to do the fun parent days at preschool and go on the field trips, but this time I shared with Brent. 

 He helped carve pumpkins with Lucas and a couple of classmates.

Proud little guy.