Saturday Soccer

One of our favorite Saturday afternoon activities the past month has been going to watch the Emmaus soccer games. Usually we meet Grandma and Grandpa there and have lots of fun playing, running around, kicking our little soccer ball, eating snacks...and oh yeah, watching a bit of the game!

Helping Grandpa get the game ball

Getting a 'Grandma flip'. He loves them!

Zach being cute

Work

Morning cup of coffee...Checking my email
What a busy schedule...

The past few weeks...

We have had a fun few weeks. One beautiful Sunday afternoon we took the boys to an apple orchard that was having a fall festival. Elias loved the big boy toys. Zach just enjoyed being out.

Elias in the bounce house. He was one happy boy!

Zach can't wait to get in there with his big brother

An Iowa boy

This tractor driving is serious business

Brothers!

Reading

One of my fears of having kids was that they wouldn't like to read. We heard much advice about reading to your children daily and exposing them to lots of books....believe me, I know, I am a reading teacher! Well, Elias has proven that he loves to read. He often brings books to us to read to him. Recently, he has started to read 'all by himself'. I love to see this!

Reading his Bible one morning. He loves that book already!

A little time with Daddy.

I can't wait to start reading novels to him at night. I love this little guy!

Weekend In Wisconsin

We took a road trip to Wisconsin this weekend. Ben was speaking at a church in Wausau Sunday morning so the boys and I tagged along. We drove up Saturday afternoon and spent Saturday evening with a very nice couple from the church. Elias and Zach fell in love with Ms. Becky and Mr. Phil, especially Mr. Phil. Elias even chose Phil to read a story to him over Daddy!

Sunday, we went to church and then out for lunch with some friends of my parents from years ago. After lunch we headed out to Marathon City (population 1200) to see one of my childhood homes. It was fun to visit and drive through the little town.

Red brick house. It looks a little smaller than I remember.

The barn. We played in here all the time. There used to be a treehouse right behind it that overlooked the cow pasture. So many good times!

Terry and Nancy DuFour. They knew me when I was smaller and cuter (and talked more:) )

Enjoying the ride home...

"How much longer?"

Poor Elias, he doesn't like to sit for too long.

He finally found a good book to read to help pass the time.

Almost 7 Months

It is hard to believe that Zach will be 7 months on Monday. The time has flown by. He is such an easy going baby, fussing only when he is hungry, tired or needs a diaper change. His favorite friend is his big brother Elias, who he ALWAYS smiles for (even when Mom and Dad can't get him to smile). He is becoming mobile, rolling and scooting all over the floor. He even is sitting independently...at least for a few minutes. What a big boy!

I have been getting a bit of grief from a few family members (Grandma and Grandpa) that there are not too many pictures of Zach around. Well, I finally got some. Here they are.

What a grin!

Ready for my cereal and veggies!

Shoes

Last week Elias got new shoes. There is a story behind these shoes...but first I want to remember his old shoes. Sandals bought by Grandma at the beginning of the summer. Sandals worn everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE! The great thing about these sandals is they could get dirty, muddy, sandy and stinky, and all I had to do was wash them. They cleaned right up, except for the 'stinky' part!

Hiking shoes

Sand shoes

Water shoes

They were great shoes...we miss them. But with the cooler weather coming (and the 'stink' growing) it was time for new shoes.



That is right folks, he has WIDE shoes. Boy was it tough to find a pair that fit. After visiting 3 stores, trying to stuff his feet into shoes that didn't fit, Elias crying to get them off, we finally found this one pair. Nothing else to choose between. This is what he gets! Grandma and I might have to make a trip to a big city to stock up on shoes for the poor guy.