Halloween ~ Trick or Treat ~

Here are the costumes!

My very handsome little soldier and a beautiful ballerina (?) with camo leg warmers :) Lee spent a lot of time sewing patches on Grant's uniform, it is an exact replica of his uniform.

The businesses on the square in Winterset host trick or treating for the kids from 3:30-5:00. So, since the kids are so young, that is what we did again this year. Much less walking and it's not dark!It was cold, windy, and drizzling when we were out trick or treating though, so we hurried as fast as we could. Grant had fun and wanted to do it again...Brynna, well she was just bundled up in her stroller, and along for the ride!

A couple pictures from our week

Brynna, snuggling up to a warm pile of laundry, fresh from the drier,

after just waking up from her nap.

Brynna updates:

1. is up to FOUR teeth, the fifth one is trying hard to poke through
2. is back on her original formula (we tried to switch- BAD idea)
3. is a wild woman and is NEVER still
   
   
   

Grant helping with the "clean up" after making brownies :)

Grant updates:

1. has been "practicing" trick or treating in his costume (he even has a trick)
2. wants to go outside to play, even if it's cold and raining
3. really loves puzzles and "writing" his name right now

Kids are FINALLY in bed tonight. We narrowly avoided a bedtime crisis, "Froggy" (close relation to "Frog") was missing!!! After a serious 15 minutes of searching, he was finally found in a basket of dirty laundry...hmmm, pretty sure I didn't put him there, but Grant says he didn't either??? I'm just happy he was found and Grant could go to bed!


On the agenda for tomorrow, TRICK OR TREATING!!!
Pictures to come...

Lee's Deer

This 14 point buck was taken the last night of the early muzzleloader season, 130 yard shot.

"Redneck Family Photo"

Brynna was not impressed, actually she started crying...

Brynna at 6 months...and other random photos.

Brynna is 6 months old today!!! I truly think this has been the fastest 6 months of my life! She is such a sweet pea and is learning more everyday...and maybe getting cuter too??? :)

Weight: 15.15lbs (between 50-75%)

Length: 26.5 inches(75%)

She is working on at least three new teeth. The top middle two and top left. OUCH!!!




THIS is why you never leave a baby in a BUMBO seat unattended!

This picture should be on the warning label!!!




Grant trying to quickly pick up all of HIS toys before Brynna gets them.

For all of you that were starting to think she was the "perfect" baby...NO green beans for Brynna! Notice big brother is even holding her hand to help her through it :)

Jack O' Lantern!!!

Deployment Alert

Yes, all the stuff you have heard on the news regarding the largest call up of Iowa National Guard troops since WWII, does include Lee. We have known about this upcoming deployment for quite awhile, this is just the "official" alert the Iowa Guard received from the Department of Defense.

Please remember this deployment is scheduled for the fall of 2010 and A LOT can change in a year, especially when you are talking about the Army. We will keep everyone posted and informed as information becomes available.

For now, just pray!

Here is a link to the press release:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/21360408/National-Guard-Units

Dear So and So...

I got this cute and fun idea from my sister-in-law, Stephanie (The Welsh Way of Life) who got the idea from one of her blogger friends. It is a fun way to thank "people" for the happenings in your life. So, Dear Bloggers, thank you for sharing ideas. Let's get on with this, shall we?

Dear Brownies,
Thank you for being SO good that I cannot resist you no matter how hard I try. I was enjoying my new, smaller sized, jeans, but thanks to you, I’ll probably be back in my old favorites in no time.
Blissfully Baking,
Jessica

Dear President Obama,
Thank you for being so indecisive about the war in Afghanistan. It really makes an Army spouse feel great, when the unit gets alerted for deployment, that at least we have the POSSIBLE support from the administration to win the war.
Positively Patriotic,
Jessica

Dear Deer,
Thank you to the select few of you that grow large antlers and turn my husband into a forest dweller this time of year. I love dealing with two crabby kids, and getting dinner ready, by myself, in the evenings.
Suddenly Single Mom,
Jessica

Dear Bills,
Thank you for being such a regular, dependable thing in our life. Every month, no matter the circumstances, you are there! It doesn’t matter how often I pay you, you just keep coming back for more!
Cash Conscience,
Jessica

Dear House,
Thank you for continuing to get messy. No matter how hard I try to keep you clean and sparkling for my adoring family, you still look like a tornado just went through a Toys R Us store!
Constantly Cleaning,
Jessica

My Birthday

So, birthdays are not quite as exciting when you are 33 as when you are three! Needless to say, Grant was a little more excited about the birhtday "party" then I was. I think he just wanted cake, but hey, don't we all?

We had a great day! We went to Center Grove Orchard in Cambride, IA and then to Ames for Hickory Park and birthday cake!

LOVE this picture, Grant's smile is a little forced, but cute anyway!

Self-timer on the camera.

Yes, we almost had to call the fire department b/c Lee actually put 33 candles on my cake! They were the trick ones that kept relighting too...he took it outside eventually b/c of all the smoke!!!

I don't know how photographers do it...
we couldn't get everyone looking at the camera at the same time.

Applesauce and other stuff...

It's been a busy day here at the Vandewater house; Brynna "crawling" everywhere, Grant and I making lots of applesauce, and getting my "to do" list done.

Yes, I've made myself a weekly "to do" list, it's the only way I can get everything done. It is divided into days and then each chore that needs to be done is planned out for the entire week. I also made a monthly meal calendar, it's so much easier to look at the calendar, know what I need for groceries and then, know what is for dinner every night. No more stressing at 5:00 trying to decide what's for dinner.

Anyway, back to the applesauce...here are some pictures.

Yummy!

I have been studying the "Proverbs 31 Woman" lately (Proverbs 31:10-31). It really makes me feel like I am fulfilling my God given duties as wife and mother when I am busy around the house. I know the motivation for getting everything done is not of myself, but from God...and for that I am very thankful!

"She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness."

Proverbs 31:27

The video

Okay, here goes...

Notice she went for Grant's toys, not hers...life is going to get very interesting :)

Army Crawl/Inch Worm - She's on the move!!!

Yes, she is MOBILE!!! I wouldn't exactly call it crawling, but she does this funny half Army crawl, half inch worm thing and can get across the floor IF and WHEN she wants to. It's so cute, but seriously, she's not even 6 months old yet. I'm starting to think I'm going to have TWO crazy busy children...I had better start a running program to keep up with these two!

If I can ever figure out how to post video, I'll post it so you can all witness her moves! I'll email Aunt Steph, she has figured out how to do it. More to come...

Pumpkins!!!

Grant needed to play outside this morning...which means we ALL had to play outside...BRRR! I tried to turn it into a photo session (even though Brynn was still in her jammies and Grant's mittens didn't match his coat) but we didn't have much success. Oh well, these two are kind of cute, I guess.

My little pumpkins with their pumpkins!

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Snow in OCTOBER????

Yes, we got snow on October 10th...measurable snow at that!?!? Grant was excited, I think Lee was too...Brynna and I, well we stayed inside cuddled up. It was gone by the afternoon, but still, snow in early October...YIKES!!

He woke up and saw the snow outside, the first thing he said was, "I want to ride my Gator in the snow!"

Camo is required in Madison County :)

Lee pulling Grant and the sled behind the four wheeler. Wow...when did we turn into hillbillies???

Brynna and I stayed snuggled up inside!!!

A few new pictures

Grant loved pushing Brynna around the yard in her stroller...he only tipped her over once :)

She even got to be part of the "line up."

I would have never let a three year old push Grant around the yard in a stroller...it's funny how relaxed you are with the second baby!

SQUASH....yummy!!!!

I cooked and pureed some of the squash we picked at Larry Joe and Jean's...how's that for "organic" :)

Brynna loved it! Her first food other than rice cereal.