1st snow of the season.

• My new list: Hat check, gloves check, snowpants check, Coat Zipped checked all this times 3 . This is what snow means to me. It takes a lot longer to get out of the house. Oh well the boys really did enjoy the 1 st snowfall. Lance took them outside to make a snowman and snowforts. Henry was so excited because he learned how to make a snowball and likes to hit any moving target with them. That night when the boys went to bed Henry thanked his dad for teaching him how to make snowballs and snowmen. He can be the sweetest boy.

Festival of Trees

• Every Nov. the QCA has the Festival of trees to start the holiday season. This year like in years past we watch the parade in Lance's office (because it is to cold to be outside). This is the biggest balloon parade in the Midwest. It is our little Macy's day parade. Later in the week myself the boys and my mom went to check out the trees and watch the holiday train run. This year the Festival had games and crafts for the kids. Very fun time. Every year I try to get the perfect picture of the boys standing in front of one of the pretty trees and every year they do not cooperate. However this year I did get a pretty good picture with Santa. I need to crop the batman and spider man crocks out of if but I think they are all looking at the camera.

Thanksgiving

• Henry had a wonderful program called the Thanksgiving day feast. He sang songs with his preschool and then we had a nice meal of food his class had made. (cornbread, butter, and applesauce) You better be sitting for this. Henry tried cornbread and liked it. We now have a new food to fix. Yeah. Henry was in the front row however really didn't like to sing to much. He told us he is just to shy. How cute.





• We spent Thanksgiving day and Rich and Carole's house. We had a nice time just the 7 of us. The food was wonderful and be also watched old family videos. After dinner we went to Heather and Nathans house (Lance's cousin) to visit with them and Sarah and Jared who were in town from Vegas. The kids had fun playing with their 2ND cousins and us girls decided on where to shop on black friday. I know I am crazy for getting up at 3:30 in the morning to shop. We were done by 9:00 and then had breakfast.

Boat Races

• Jack had a big race for Cub Scouts this month. Grandpa Dick and Jack made the boat then painted it and put stickers on it. (The boat was a kit) The boys had to blow on the sails to get the boats to float down rain gutters. The 1st boat to the end of the rain gutter was the winner. We had a really fun time even though Jack did not win this year. However his boat look fantastic with lots of stickers.

Jack turns 7 and Charlie 4 months

• Hard to believe that on Nov. 10 our little jumping Jack turned 7 years old. He is a wonderful big brother and has many fun interests. Flags, Planets (star wars), trains and wii games to name just a few. This year we or I broke down and bought him one thing that he has always wanted. A Hawkeye shirt. I think he may have liked it better than the DS he asked for. For his celebration we went to Chuck E Cheese. Grandma and grandpa Landsness and grandma and grandpa Mueller joined us for pizza and fun.




• Jack also had a friend party. The theme this year was red, white, blue and American flags. We had fun playing games, having cupcakes and making ice cream sundaes. This year we even did a pinata in the basement. 11 little boys sure kept us on our toes. I think it took me a week to recover. HA HA



• Charlie turned 4 months old and is now able to eat cereal and baby food. It took some getting use to but he loves it now. He is a slow eater so finding time to feed him isn't always easy. Charlie is laughing and almost rolling over. He is sleeping through the night and is still very easy going.

sports and treats

• Well it is now Nov. and I am just now posting again. Our weekends seem to be full of such excitement. We had so much fun with Halloween this year. It did seem to go on forever though. Wed we had class parties, Thurs. went to Lance's office for a kids costume party; then to my mom and dad's to trick or treat. Friday was such a warm nice day that the kids were able to wear there costumes with out coats. Because of the nice weather the boys stayed out trick or treating till after 7:30 (the dad's had to empty their cooler before heading home). We had our friends the Zuckers over and Craig and Gayle stopped by.
  
  
• Sat. was a day full of sports for us. The boys started basketball for the first time. They both really enjoyed it Henry made 1 basket and Jack by the end of the game could dribble the ball. Later that afternoon we went to our friends the Hassles to watch the Iowa vs Ill. game. The woman pretty much played pass the baby around(Charlie didn't mind). Henry was so happy because Regan had the Mickey Mouse club house to play with. He comments on how his friends Mickey Mouse club house is in China so he is really excited he found someone else who has it. If that was not enough sports for one day we had our monthly Parcheesi game. We play this game with the Zuckers, Kerstins and we think well we hope we finally have found our fourth couple the Tews (we are on our 2nd or 3rd fourth couple). The kids played very well and the adults did too.
  


• Sun. Jack played his last game of flag football. The game was held at Brady Stadium where the High School's play. The boys had their names announced and some of the plays announced over the speakers. It was a great ending to the season. While Jack played football Lance was busy golfing at DCC. It was the Turkey shoot and well he won $80.00 and a hat.
  
  
• It is Nov. 4th and that means Election day. Jack is very interested in this whole process and came with me to vote today (along with the other two boys). Thank goodness there wasn't a line. We let him stay up late tonight to watch some of it on TV. Jack also lost one of his front teeth. He came home from school today and told me he had good news and bad news. Bad news he lost my flag pin (from 911) I let him borrow for Election day and good news he finally lost his tooth that was barley hanging on.

Fun and not so fun activities

• We have been busy the last few weeks with lots of fun activities. Okay maybe some of them were not so fun. We spent the day at the pumpkin patch on Oct. 11. It was a very warm day and the boys had so much fun. We almost got lost in the corn maze so, not sure if I will do that next year (to many bugs).




• Oct. 18 Lance went to the Neb.vs Iowa State game with friends and his brother Brett. Jack and Henry were so excited to see Uncle Brett but they wonder where Luke was. ISU lost again and Lance also lost his pillow and case that matches our bedding (told him to take a old case).




• Oct. 20 I had to the 3 boys to the Doctor. Jack said his ear hurt so I thought oh know the start of ear infections. His ear turned out to be okay so we all got flu shots since we were there. Jack ran around the room screaming and tried to escape. It took myself and 2 nurses to get him to lay down and when it was all over he said " that wasn't to bad" and the nurse told him to remember that for next year. Poor Henry had to go last and was also crying. I just couldn't wait to get out of there. However that would not be our last visit to the medical center. On Wed. I found out we were exposed to the Whooping cough and this can be very serious for babies. Henry, Charlie and myself had been coughing so we had to get tested. Now this test involves a Q tip type brush that goes up your nose for 10 seconds each nostril. Boy did that hurt. This time Henry went running around the place crying. I am happy to say we did not have the Whooping cough.
  




• Oct. 24 and 25 we had two Halloween parties. One was at Davenport Country Club and the other at our friends the Zuckers. Lance and Jack were able to attend the rest of us were not allowed to leave the house (because of the whooping cough). Jack had a lot of fun out on the dance floor and hanging out with his friends. Henry and I read Halloween books and made cookies. I also painted our hall way and main floor bathroom I had to get the hallway ready to put up my uppercase living saying Enter with a happy heart.





• Our pumpkins are carved the candy is bought and the house is all decorated now we are just waiting for the big day.

Oct. is here already

• We are now in the month of Oct. We celebrated Lance's Birthday on the 1st. The boys gave him a putting green for in the house. All three of them love to golf and our bar has now turned into a putting green. I hope this will help Lance's game. If not they sure do have fun playing with it.


• Jack has been busy in tiger cubs. His den visited the Quad City times News paper and the boys got to see how they make the newspaper. He has also been busy selling popcorn for his pack. He has sold almost $700.00 so thank you to everyone who bought popcorn. He is the top seller in his den.


• Charlie is 11 weeks old now and loves to give us big baby grins and makes lots of little noises. My mom says he can say hi but that's a grandma for ya. He is happy most of the time and is starting to play with toys above his head (he punches them according to Henry).


• Lance and I with 3 other couples (Chad, Charoline, Tracy, Jeff, Shelley, and Frank) went to the Zoofari ball Sat. night. We had a lot of fun. Some of us had to much fun and I will leave it at that.

So sorry it has been awhile since my last post.

• Sept. 29 Henry, Charlie, myself and a few friends (Shonna, Heidi, Jenna, and Ryan) went to visit Kim, Dan and the kids. No we did not go to China they were back in the States for a wedding. We had so much fun spending the day together. The day went by to fast and we already miss them so much. Henry ask " when will I see Ethan again" I had to time him when your 5 because he just doesn't understand how far away China is. However I did purchase a web cam so I will have to let Henry stay up late one of these nights so he can see Ethan that way.



• Sept. 30 Bowling started. This year I now have my own ball, shoes and bag (all pink) and team bowling shirts are coming. I am hoping my new ball will help my game. If it doesn't oh well I am there for the social part anyway bowling is just a excuse for coffee with friends.

Little things that make us smile

• This week Henry has found a love for Thomas the Train again. This makes mom very happy because we have so many trains from when Jack was into them. Henry will spend hours playing with the trains (not the track or any of the fun bridges and ect).


• Henry loves to sing the ABC song to Charlie it's the cutest thing ever and yesterday Henry ask me "Mom how do you start the ABC song?" I was a little confused by this question I told him A and he said" Oh yeah mom your right" and starts singing it again.


• Jack survived his 1st flag football game on Sunday. He was the quarter back and Lance was so proud because Jack passed the ball and didn't cry when he got hit and flipped over onto his back. I thought this was flag football but the boys are still learning the rules of no pushing or tackling. We have practice tonight which is a good thing.


• Charlie is smiling and cooing it is exciting to see him start to interact with us and he is more aware of his surroundings. I am posting pictures of his room. I had so much help with it from friends that it makes it extra special to us.


• This morning I took all 3 boys to muffins for moms a fund raiser for Pleasant View. I think I had a few bites of my muffin but spent most of the time retrieving juice and napkins for the boys. We had to be at the school at 8:00am and wait in a long line to sit in a lunch room full of moms and their kids listening to the 6th grade band. Next year I think I just send money. just kidding Jack had fun and ended up with muffin all over his shirt.