50, 50, 50!

Lane Ryan cracks us up with the things he says... He's beginning to act an awful lot like his Uncle Shawn! Definitely likes to get laughs. So here is something he's been chanting all day. You know the Hefty Garbage Bags commercials? Here's Dig's interpretation...

"stinky, stinky, stinky...FIFTY, FIFTY, FIFTY!!!"

He says the stinky really high-pitched and the 50 really deep and loud. I don't have the heart to tell him it should be "Hefty, Hefty, Hefty!" What a goof!

Happy Veteran's Day

Thank you to all of the men & women who serve or have served our country...

Especially my Grandpa Harold, Ryan's Grandpa Ray, Ryan's Dad, Arnie, several Great-Uncles and many other friends & family members!

We're off to the Veteran's Day Program this morning...and I have my very own "Red, White and Blue Singer!" I'll be sure to post a picture of her, if I can get one!

Morning Parade

It started the same day as Kindergarten. DD would try and skip stall getting to school. She'd ask every morning if we could drive by Nanny & Pa's house to see how the siding was coming along. Then we'd drive down Grandma Mary's road to do the same. We live in the middle. From our backyard we can see Nan & Pa's front yard. From our front yard, we can see Grandma "Mair's" backyard. Well, after a week of our siding inspections, we let my parents and grandma know we had been driving by their homes every morning before school. And to our surprise the next morning, we had WAVERS!

And EVERY morning since, Nanny & Pa (and sometimes Uncle Shawn) will be at the window waving good morning to DD & Dig. When Great Uncle Jim, Uncle Steve & Cousin Joey were here, they too took part in the morning parade.

As you can see...this Momma doesn't "get ready" before taking DD to school. And this brother doesn't even get out of his jammers!

We never miss Great-Grandma Mary's house either. She's always on the front step waving and yelling, "Have a good day!" to the kids. It's kind of a neat way of checking in on her, making sure she's doing ok.

I can't help but think our "Morning Parade" and the smiles that come with it are a great way to start the day, not only for the kids & I...but for the 'wavers' waiting for us to cruise on by!

My Budder

That's how Drue used to say 'brother'..." I love my budder!" Drue & Lane are exactly the same age apart as Steve and I are, 19 months...so it's fun to come across pictures we've taken at the same ages...for example,

Then came Shawn. My own real-life 'baby-doll.' Sorry, DD, you won't be getting one of those.

Happy Halloween!

Excuse the messy counter, Awana books, Costume/ sewing supplies everywhere! But, look at those cute pumpkins...and the jack-o-lanterns!

Drue was a Pumpkin Princess for her Kindergarten Fall Party. They walked around the business in Eldora. Her skirt even lit up!

Pebbles & Bam-Bam! This picture was also on the WHO-TV13 News this morning...the news caster said, "I bet those kids were chilly last night!" He didn't know we hadn't trick-or-treated yet, but, it will be chilly tonight!

More pictures to come. We beg for candy at 5 and head to New Providence for the Costume Carnival at 6:30. Should be fun!

25 Random Things

I'm joining the blog-wagon and sharing 25 random things with you as requested by a blogger I follow, I BELIEVE it will be fun!

1. I really don't think there's much about me or my life that is "random!" I 'schedule' everything and often need to say my schedule out loud just to hear it myself. (yes, Ryan pretends to listen)
2. I've attended all 3 State Universities...and have degrees from 2 of them.
3. When I was little and people asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, the only answer I ever gave was "a Mom!"
4. I love everything Amish!
5. I brain-washed the kids into loving Little House on the Prairie so I could watch it with them.
6. I sometimes pretend I'm on cooking show while fixing supper!
7. Secretly (or not) want to take photography lessons.
8. Always write 'To Do' lists and LOVE the feeling of crossing things off...I'll even add things to my list that I have completed, but weren't on my list, just to cross them off!
9. Loved being pregnant & in labor (however, there will be no more little Luikens)
10. I have seen a 'ghost' or angel as I prefer...several times, same one.
11. almost have a panic attack if towels are put away messily in kitchen drawers or bathroom cabinets.
12. Enjoy decorating and used to dream of being an interior decorator.
13. Love to organize!
14. Need & want to make time to read the Bible more.
15. Worry waaaaay too much!
16. Love, love the feeling of an empty laundry basket.
17. Love to watch people fall or be scared! (I know, it's a sickness!)
18. Am petrified of mice, baby goldfish-like fish and baby (newborn) kitties (ick!)... but LOVE to scare Ryan with snakes!
19. Got engaged to Ryan after knowing him only 5 weeks! I'd never even seen him before!! (Now don't go and try that on us, Drue Kathleen! No-way!)
20. I think the kids have grown up way too quickly!
21. I always wear slippers.
22. Feel so fortunate to be able to have stayed home with our Monkeys!
23. I really wish I could help Ryan farm and raise our cattle, drive equipment & all ...when the kids are both in school...Just like Grandma. I'm not even sure Ry knows this!
24. I melt when I hear Drue & Lane say, "Momma, I love you forever, for always, no matter what! Ubba!" (Ubba is our translation for Love ya! It's how Drue said it when she was tiny and it has stuck, Grandmas & Grandpas, Aunts & Uncles use it, too. Ryan and I even say it to eachother!)
25. I still rock both kids to sleep EVERY night...and will until they don't let me any longer!

Yes kids, we are lost.

Well, we were for a while. We went to the corn maze in Wellsburg Sunday afternoon. Finally, a beautiful Fall day. Even with a tall daddy, we couldn't find our way out very quickly. But, speed was not the objective. We had to find 5 paper punchers hanging from posts inside the maze. If we found them all the kids would receive a prize...little did we know it was a single piece of Halloween candy...oh well, they were happy with it. At one point, Lane did get a bit nervous and asked to be held, but when he realized on daddy's shoulders he could see the barn, he relaxed a little and was able to enjoy the rest of our adventure. We were in there at least a half hour!

The kids also fed animals in the petting barn (yard) rode bikes in a straw maze, played in a corn box and picked out pumpkins for carving...Now Momma has to get busy with those Halloween costumes!