Fall Weekend II

This is part 2 (last Saturday afternoon). So if you haven't caught the morning news yet, check the post below.

On our way out of downtown Madison, we stopped for a Chinese buffet lunch (delicious!) and then a couple of geocaches.

I LOVE this first picture!

On Our Way

The Cache (I'm bummed about the weed right in Hope's face, but it is a great picture of her with two of her favorite people.

The Cacher

I've mentioned before the Hope loves to collect sticks. Anytime we're outside she rounds them up. Here she is using one as a cane. She's pretty creative!

Here is the second stop.

This is one of the smallest we've found. The "log" is coiled up in there.

I'm too old to be climbing trees!

Special Passengers

Our next stop was Pecks where we watched the goats for a bit and then chose our pumpkins to carve.







Anyone who has seen Kai-Lan will recognize the "twirly whirly fliers" in these pictures.


Clowning round with the giant pumpkins.



Choosing a couple just her size.


Maze - I don't know if you've noticed, but our little girl doesn't often slow down. Run Run RUN!




See ya' next year Pecks!

Fall Weekend

Last weekend we headed south to visit Mark and Andria. We don't get to see you nearly enough guys! Thank you for another great visit!

It is a long drive for us and we didn't get down there until well after Hope's bedtime but she needed some run around time after being in the car. Hope's shirt here says "Daddy's under my spell." Guess you could say that.



Saturday morning we got up and headed downtown to the free zoo.

The favorites of the day were the prairie dogs,

...polar bears,



...and these crazy creatures.

"SHADOWS DADDY!"

Here are a couple pictures from the aviary, too.



"Look what I found Uncle Mwok."


HEY! Remember we're having a new baby in our family in March. YEA!

This is my favorite picture from the morning (we happened to be watching the polar bears at this time).

On that note...I'm going to bed. Hopefully I'll be able to add our pictures from our pumpkin afternoon/evening soon. Night all - Beth

Big Girl

Where has our little girl gone? The following videos were taken at the park down the road from our home. Hope is doing incredible things these days.
We say: "Are you a turkey?"
Hope's answer: "No, I'm a monkey."

At the end of this one Hope sees another family walking up to the park. "KIDS!" She was so excited to meet a new friend.

"Don't get me Daddy!"

On another 'big girl' note, we've had POOPIES IN THE POTTY for 7 days straight now! Saturday to Saturday!!! We're so excited! Now, if we could just get her to more regularly tell us when she needs to go to the bathroom we'll be set. It is sort of funny though, when we're out and about she gets really curious and has to go with each new stop. So, currently in the fluctuation that is toddler potty training, we're doing pretty well.

Photo Collection

I realize that since I've been recovering from surgery I've also been sort of a lazy blogger. Here are some tidbits from the past month. Have fun sifting through the pictures. Also, heads up 'cuz this is a long one. If you're short on time, please read the last paragraph and get you're praying knees ready. Now, if you have a few extra moments...read on and enjoy!

Hope with her new camera from Aunt Lisa. When I was in the hospital and when I was first home, things were a bit rough around here for our little one. Hope understood that Mommy wasn't well and that she needed to be gentle, couldn't be lifted, etc. But, it was still difficult. So, it was pretty special when people remembered her and brought fun things to keep her busy and playing as every 2 yr. old should. Thank you to everyone for your prayers, thoughtfulness, and for taking such good care of all of us.

Hope busted Daddy dipping his oreo. HMMM - monkey see...


On Sept. 1 we had our first outing since coming home from the hospital. Ron drove us north to a nice park, we had a snack and Daddy and Daughter played. I was just happy to be out of the house and enjoyed sitting at the picnic table watching my beautiful family.
Snack time! Carrots...

...& FRUIT SNACKS!!!

Activity of the day - "I want to swing s'more!"



Best place to be on a nice day...on a swing and in Daddy's arms.

Here is Hope showing off her pizza making skills again...this time standing proud in her new chef's hat. (9/2/08)

On the 6th, we went to one of the best parks around for some afternoon play.
Hope on her favorite Castle Park slide.

I thought I'd better get some pictures with my girl. This is my first picture since coming home. Time passes so quickly when you're not paying attention. I look so tired in this picture still.

Here's our little reader. Notice the empty shelf next to her.

Grandpa was really on the phone, but sometimes one phone just 'aint enough.

Hope looks like she's having fun getting away with something here. She loves ice cream...

...but who taught her to do this? (A-hem Grandpa!) HaHa! We needed bathtime after this dinner. ;)

I'm closing this post with one of my favorite pictures from our first day out at the park. Wish I knew what Hope was thinking at this moment. She's so inquisitive...always studying...curious...I think she looks angelic. So, in that spirit, thanks for checking in everyone. And, when you have a moment, would you stop by here and here and pray for these families. The first is a family faced with some incredible health concerns (Mommy and new baby). The second is a family currently in China needing a miracle to bring them home with their little girl. Pray Pray Pray! These families need us.

God Bless!

Chef Hope

Hamburger?

I know that I'm due to post some recent pictures. These were taken a couple weeks ago. SO CUTE! There is video to come.

Check out Hope's new grill! We found it on Craig's List - bargain for sure. She loves it! We took it out front so she could make dinner with Daddy at first, but now it is on the deck.

(The deck is also a new addition. It has been Ron's summer project and it's still in progress so I'll post more about that when it is complete. It's functional now. I think the stairs will be the finishing touch.)

Anyway, here are some more cute pictures of Hope with her fun toy.



It had been raining earlier on this day. I didn't have the camera outside in the rain, but Hope had fun in her coat. Here she decided to put it on again so I grabbed a few shots this time. I LOVE hand-me-downs! Isn't this the cutest outfit?

Update - I'm just fine. :)

I realize that the last post may have caught a few people off guard. You have my apology. Things happened pretty quickly and there were some unknowns prior to my surgery so I opted not to share much information.

So, the short version of my story: Yes, I did have surgery. The outcome was very good. I spent four days in the hospital and now I'm home for the remainder of my recovery.

I think what has been the most difficult is that I feel pretty useless. It broke my heart to see Hope confused when she saw me in the hospital. I felt so badly about not being able to hold her and explain things. I still am not supposed to be lifting or doing much, but I can have her in my lap and geez does that feel good after two weeks.

As it stands now, I'll be home for a couple more weeks before returning to work. Hopefully I'll be able to finally do some more things on my own around the house and make it through a day without absolutely crashing into an afternoon nap. Good as new, right?

Thank you to all for your thoughts and prayers during this time for my family. Ron has been working overtime trying to play nurse to me and act as #1 primary parent/only one who can lift Hope. And, he's doing it all with a smile.

Hope is doing her best to understand. She walks around the house saying "My tummy hurts, too. Mama can't lift me." She gets it, but doesn't like it. She's also testing boundaries quite a lot because she's figured out that I can't chase her down either. :)

To my family - I'm so blessed to have you watching out for me. Ron & Hope, Mom & Dad...I love you very much and am touched by your support and care over the past couple of weeks. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! ...for EVERYTHING!