Big Grandma Marion turns 80!!

On October 30th, we headed to Great Uncle Jeff's farm to celebrate Big Grandma's 80th birthday.  When we got there, Brooke convinced Big Grandma to put her super cool birthday hat on... and she left it on!

The moms had planned a fun surprise for the great grandkids - we all got to wear our Halloween costumes a day early, so the grandparents, aunts, uncles and everyone else could see them!  Check it out!

Kylie the Princess

Front: (Brooke is hiding), Kenna, Kylie, Neela, Mallory, Louden
Back: Lauren, Drew, Ethan, Megan, Mason

Papa Pizza, the clown, joined the fun!

We all REALLY liked his nose!

With Papa Pizza & Big Grandma - Mallory is hiding behind Mason!

Who says the apple falls far from the tree?
Big Grandma at 80, and Papa Pizza at 60!

Front: Karen, Big Grandma, Lois, Rhonda
Back: Papa Pizza, Jeff, Curt, Randy, Bruce (Pete is missing!)

Dancing with Daddy

He's SOOOOOO funny!

Peek-a-boo!

Pumpkin Fun!

Aunt Heidi came up for a meeting, and stayed for a visit.  After Tracy's on Friday, we went out for dinner and "Booing".  (This means you fill a basket full of goodies, and leave it on someone's door with a ghost picture - without them knowing about it!)  Aunt Heidi was our secret weapon - she ran up to the doors, dropped off the basket, knocked, and ran back to the car while we all cheered.  However, we had a little problem... at the last house, Heidi forgot about the step, and fell on her arm on the concrete.  We got home - and Daddy thought it was broken... so after a stop at the Urgency Room (check it out - they are awesome!), Heidi had a broken arm.

That didn't stop her from helping us clean pumpkins the next day - check it out:

Here is the finished product - Daddy got creative with all the extra pieces he cut out!

Here are the pumpkins from Tracy's -- Neela's in the happy pumpkin, and Kylie's is surprised!  Can you guess which one is which???

A special day with Mommy

We spent a day with Mommy doing only stuff with big girls...

First, we had doughnuts for breakfast from Doroty Ann's.

Then, we got to ride on a school bus!
Then, we saw "The 500 Hats of Batholemew Cubbins" at the Children's Theatre (he had LOTS of hats - and they just kept showing up, Mom!).

Then, we got to ride on the school bus again!
After we got back to Woodbury, we had lunch and went shopping with Mommy!

We had so much fun!

Fall Chili Feed Trip


We had our annual fall excursion to Sioux City so Daddy could golf with Papa, Big Papa and Chuckie in the Deer Run Chili Feed -- of course, this year, they wore shorts it was so nice out!

Kylie was so excited to go and see Chuckie, "He's my favorite guy!".  When Kylie wouldn't get out of bed the morning we were leaving, Neela enticed her... "First, we go to Tracy's, then we go to Grandma and Papa's - and you get to see Chuckie, he's your favorite!"  It was so cute!
They didn't sleep much at Tracy's or in the car, so they stumbled in, sat on Grandma's lap, and fell asleep - with barely a glance at Chuckie!  The next morning, they made sure to give him some hugs before he left to golf.  Then, we headed out... We had to stop at the candy store - we can't make a trip to Sioux City without a brief encounter with Palmer Candy's finest!  After that, we went to visit Little Grandma and have lunch with her -- cheeseburgers!  We also got a "ride" in her new chair, and fought over who got to push the buttons on the elevator!

Kylie & Little Grandma

Neela & Little Grandma

Little Grandma & the 3 Girls

After Little Grandma's, we went home to play with Big Grandma. 

Playing with Grandma

Then, it was out for Mexican... and on to the Muskateers hockey game. It was "Turn the Rink Pink" night in honor of breast cancer awareness. Kylie LOVED every minute, Neela slept through most of it, and Brooke wasn't sure what to think!

Sunday, we got all dressed up in our Steelers gear!  We helped Big Papa cheer the Steelers on to another victory, then headed home.

Brooke's Latest Escapades

Brooke has responded to The Little Gym the same way as Neela -- climbing on EVERYTHING, up everything, over everything...

Brooke loves to climb over the side of the chair, then stand-up and dance on it!  She thoroughly enjoyed the pumpkins once we took them out.

I love to be flipped in back whoop-di-doos (from the Little Gym), and any direction Daddy flips me.  Mommy can only do drops vs. flips in the air!

Brooke and the big girls helped Daddy rake the front yard, then carry all the leaves to the backyard...

Cy knows where the best treats in the house are now, too!  Brooke also uses her fork and spoon with pride, even if not very effectively!  She is always looking for her silverware when it's not on the high chair.

Brooke loves to give kisses - she even makes the smacking noises when she's done.  She is working on blowing kisses, and loves to wave goodbye at everyone!

Brooke has also taken to climbing on the art table, then eating markers, literally! Neela helped Daddy pick them all up, and hide them from Brooke!

ISU Family Weekend 2010

 We ventured to Ames for Family Weekend 2010, and Brooke's 1st Cyclone experience!  We started with Great Plains pizza for supper at a bonfire at the stadium... we spent the night at the Holiday Inn Express - Brooke slept in a crib, Neela slept with Mommy, and Kylie slept with Daddy.  The next morning, we went swimming (do you know how many times we were asked about that??).

After our swim, we got cleaned up, put on our Cy clothes and tattoos, picked up Hickory Park for lunch, and headed to the "Football Party" (i.e. TAILGATE!).  We joined the Grimes and Simodynes clans for an afternoon of fun - and chili!!

Family Photo

Kylie & Neela in Ben & Adam's Hats

Mom & the Girls with Cy tattoos

Neela, Ben & Adam

Neela, Ben, Kylie & Adam
Can you picture the girls as cheerleaders 15 years from now posing with football players???

All the kiddos!

Looking at the Tailgate festivities from the Alumni Center

Kylie & Neela made it into the game - and to the top row of section N (top row, upper deck).  That's a lot of walking for 3 year olds!  They watched the first half, and they didn't get to see "Big Cy" (we may never live that down!).   However, they are already asking when they get to go to another game... Daddy may have found his football fans!

PS: This week, Brooke looked right at Cy and said "Cy"... what a Cyclone!