Curtis Pumpkin Patch

October 8, 2011

Eighty-two degrees Farenheit! What a great day to join the other half of central Illinois at Curtis Pumpkin Patch for pumpkin picking! We were actually quite shocked to experience such a warm October day. It didn't feel very Fall-ish, but we still had a great time. I can't believe how packed the place was. By the time we left, the kids were exhausted. Dad carried Charlee to the car over his shoulder and Van got a shoulder ride from Mom. We couldn't leave without purchasing the much talked about Apple Doughnuts and Apple Cider. Pretty sure Joel and I ate a half dozen doughnuts by ourselves on the way home. Mmmm... The kids got to ride horses, feed goats, jump on the blow up toys, and of course pick pumpkins.

Wagon Wheel Pumpkin Farm

October 6, 2011

First preschool field trip! Yea! Today Charlee and her preschool class went to Wagon Wheel Pumpkin Farm today in Farmer City, IL. This cute little family owned farm had a chicken coup, corn boxes (instead of sand boxes), and of course a pumpkin patch! Charlee had a great time with her friends. She especially liked the hay ride around the pumpkin patch where she was able to point out the biggest and best pumpkins she could see. We had a great time!

Teamwork

September 25, 2011

So, the kids are climbing the fridge now. Yeah, it's what they do. There are motivated to get the "potty prizes" off of the top of the fridge. Joel happened to capture this shot with his phone when he walked in the kitchen to see this. This just cracks me up.

Preschool

September 13, 2011

Dear Charlee,

I wonder if you will have a memory how absolutely adorable you are at this age. You are my little spunky, energetic, independent, strong-willed girl. And I absolutely LOVE you! I love you in the morning when you change your clothes a thousand times, and get riled up if your "clothes don't match". I especially love it when your clothes DO match (and you look like raggedy Ann) and we just go with it because it's not worth the effort of fighting because I know you will win anyway. I love it at night when I tuck you in, and you tell me just how to do it. When some nights you say "NO! I don't want kisses." And other nights when you tell me you want a "butterfly kiss," or an "eskimo kiss". I don't know where you get your little attitude, but I do love it. I don't know if I will love it when you are a teenager.

I can't believe you are big enough for preschool. I know you love making friends and "playing with the kids." I also know you are one smart cookie! You sing your ABC's and count to 10. Your favorite song lately is Twinkle twinkle little star. Your version being, "Krinkle, krinkle little star". Whatever. This school thing will be a piece of cake. I love you Charlee!

Love,

Mom

Chicago Trip With Carly

September 12, 2011

My sister Carly came out to visit over her birthday and we were able to celebrate in Chicago! It was a first for the both of us and we had a GREAT time. We spent a couple of days at the Rafaello Hotel near Michigan Avenue in Chicago. It was a great location next to the John Hancock building, and close to all sorts of fun shopping and all the main attractions you might say. We really did have a fun time.

Grandma and Grandpa Hunt Visit

September 5, 2011

Grandma and Grandpa Hunt came to visit over Labor Day and we were SO glad they could join us. We were glad that Don was able to get some time away from his new job and come to see us. Don has also been busy getting ready to run for Riverdale City council. And, on top of that is struggling with a seriously painful ankle that needs surgery soon. We were happy to see them!

I was able to talk Sandy into staying longer than originally planned so she could help watch the kids while I started my new job at Carle Hospital (2 weeks total). I really do hope it was a "win-win" situation. It was so nice to know that my kids were in good hands with Grandma while Joel and I were at work. Going back to work would have been a lot harder if I thought that I would have to leave them with people I'm not familiar with. I know the kids can be exhausting, and while I know Sandy has been missing her Grandbabies, I didn't want her to be sick of them by the end of the trip. I know that even if they wore her out tremendously, she would never EVER show it, or let it be known. That's just the way it is.

Fosters Inn

September 5, 2011

This past week Joel and I ate over at our friends Natalie and Joel's house. As we were eating dinner we were talking about how Joel's parents were going to be coming to town over Labor Day weekend. Earlier that day Sandy had called to let me know that the Best Western in town was totally booked but asked me what I thought about Foster Inn, which I didn't actually know anything about. All I knew is that there are only two hotels in Monticello, Best Western and Foster Inn. As we are explaining this to Natalie and Joel (both born and raised in Monticello), they both start laughing out loud. Natalie says to me, "Oh no, don't tell me that they are going to stay at Fosters." Her husband also starts laughing. I reply, "Uh, actually yes, I told her that it would be fine to stay there. Is it that bad? I've never actually been inside it." They begin to tell us what a dump it is, and how horrible of a place it is. Then they realize that they are REALLY going to be staying there so Natalie says, "It's probably not that bad anymore, I mean, you could always loan them sheets and stuff, and they can always shower at your house if they need to."

So I pick Sandy and Don up at the Amtrak station in Champaign Friday night and take them to Fosters Inn (the metal roof painted red, which is peeling off horribly). They check in, and as we enter the room Sandy and I are immediately over taken by the potent aroma of mold. I say to Don, "It's a good thing you can't smell. No, seriously, I am glad you can't smell." **Long pause** "Alright, goodnight. Call me in the morning when you wake up and I'll come pick you guys up."

Now that is hospitality at it's finest. Welcome to Monticello, Illinois.