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!

Brutis

Dig got a Bronco uniform from Uncle Steve & Lisa for his birthday. He wears it at least once EVERY day. Somedays, he even gets his own cheerleader.

Recent quote from the Little Man...

"MOM!! I'm gonna be a Backer-line when I grow up and play for the Broncos!"

I have to be honest...it took this mom a minute to figure it out. I admit I don't know much about the game...but I know a tight-end when I see one! ha!

This Future-Football Mom has some serious learning to do.

Real Princesses

This morning DD noticed a book my mom purchased for me on the kitchen coffee table.

"Mom, who is this...Ellen?" (Ellen Degeneres)

"uh, no it's actually a lady named Princess Diana. She was a real princess."

"oh...like me?"

"yup, honey. Just like you."

I guess Little Miss Eldora is forever a 'Real Princess' ... at least in our eyes!

Pictures

Hey All! Here are a few recent pictures!

Kindergarten Roundup

Today, Drue Kathleen had her first of two days of Kindergarten Round-Up. She was so excited. Wednesday, she kept saying, "Mom...I'm DYING to go to Kindergarten Round-up! I'm so excited!" That sure makes a mom feel better than wondering if she'd be nervous, like the first day of preschool. I woke up early to make the breakfast she requested, sausage and pancakes. She woke up herself up before I had to. She came in the kitchen grinning, hair all braided up (she wanted curly hair for school today). Pretty routine morning, that actually went better than a lot of mornings do around here. She had her outfits picked out on Monday, they were laid out on her bedroom floor, since then. She looked just like I would picture a little girl going to round-up would. My parents stopped by before heading to work to see her off. She wore pink plaid capris and a pink shirt with a gray sweater...cutie pie! at 7:50 we headed to the school. She was in the same room as her uncles, Steve & Shawn had Kindergarten. She even had a locker with her name on it. The theme for round-up is "Round-up" (duh!) It was a cowboy/ cowgirl theme. She was a little bothered by the fact she didn't get to pick who she sat by, but ended up being at a table with 2 other girls she is friends with so that turned out ok. I took a few pics. of her sitting at her spot doing a puzzle. Swinging her little legs, happily looking forward to her day. She was perfectly fine. Momma, on the other hand? Well, I held my tears until I heard the door shut behind me. Then I lost it for a couple minutes, then realized, Lane probably thought I was sad it was just him & me, and I whipped myself back in to shape. It was weird without her. I constantly wondered what she was doing. Lane and I did a craft, took a walk, made sour-cream raisin bars for my dad, at lunch at mom & dad's, took a little rest while watching Diego, he played on the kids' computer while I did dishes, then it was time to pick up Sister! She walked out of the school with a gazed look in her eyes, kind of numb-like...I think she was asleep standing up! :) It was so funny! She told me that she ate all of her lunch, (chicken fingers, green beans, applesauce) and all but a little bit of her brownie. They had 'art class' as she told me. She enjoyed 3 recesses, snack time, story time, nap time...tomorrow will be more testing and sharing! She really enjoyed herself and informed me that she thinks she should just skip the rest of Preschool and go to Kindergarten from here on out. "preschool is just so boring!"

After school, we stopped home to pick up a couple Mr. Freezes...you know like we used to get at the pool...the kids ate theirs while heading to the farm to feed the bottle calves, Daphney, Dora and '46'...poor calf can't have a real name because he/she will be sold, so I told the kids not to get too attached, (really cute though) We saw Uncle Shawn feeding some year old calves and stopped to see Pa who was planting corn. Drue had phone calls from her Nanny and best friend Campbell to see how her day went, actually, Campbell called before school, too! She gets to go to her round-up the first week of May. Then we came home and I started to make dinner as DD hopped in the bathttub. She requested biscuits and sausage gravy for supper. Then Dig had a bath, we ate supper and packed up supper for Ryan. We took his out to him while he was cultivating. Lane fell asleep before he even got to see his Dad and Drue didn't make it all the way home before zonking out. So, at 7:30, both kids were in bed, out for the night. Whew! What a day. I sure missed Drue today, but also really enjoyed the time I spent with Lane. I was home w/ DD for 19 months, just her & me...now I get some Mom & Lane time before he goes to preschool the year after next. Drue is quite the little lady. We love her so much and are so proud of all she's learned and accomplished in the past 5 years. It's truly amazing to watch her grow up.

*for some reason, my camera keeps changing the date to Oct. 2007...hmm...no, these pictures are from today, April 23, 2009

If you haven't noticed, i'm back at the old blog I just found it a little easier to navigate and add pics, etc...plus, a friend of mine was hosting the other blog, and he never charged me for his work...I felt bad. But I don't want to lose the posts I've made over there http://www.theluikens.com/ so I'm attempting to cut & paste them here...excuse the mess...I just want everything in one place...pay attention to the date if you don't want to be confused! :)

I'd love to say I will keep up better...but you know how schedules get. The main reason for the blog is to keep a journal of memories, so the kids can read it someday and know how much we cherish them and how blessed we are to be their parents. Secondly, for those other readers who want to keep tabs with our family... that's you...so enjoy!