Fall Family Visitors!

The kiddos counted down the sleeps until Grandma Pam and then Aunt Laurie came to visit! While I was in Boston for a conference, Grandma Pam came to experience the fun of getting the boys up and ready for school, making school lunches :) and even helped out with the boys' lunchtime. Since I wasn't there, we didn't get many pictures, but here are a few! 

Kylie definitely has big brothers - I turn around and the boys are pushing her around in a truck!

They kept busy with so many activities like leaf rubbing pictures, sticker books, coloring, and enjoying treats from Grandma & Grandpa's trip to Europe!

 We only had to survive one day after Grandma left and then Aunt Laurie came for a long weekend visit. We filled the weekend with fun Halloween activities! 

A neighborhood church hosted a fall festival - the boys especially enjoyed all of the games....oh, and of course the candy!!

Mulberry School hosted a trunk-o-treat. They met their friend Mason there!

 Ghostbuster chasing the lone ghost!

Pretty creative decorating! And leave it to Evan to dramatize the monster eating him as he crawled to get his candy!

Brave Auntie took all three kids to the not-so-scary haunted trail Saturday evening. The wait was long, but the kids had tons of stories about their adventures. The best: their first bus ride! Oh were they ever excited!

Thanks for the fun-filled weekend Aunt Laurie!! I think everyone (including Auntie) took a Sunday afternoon nap!

The Other Rader Farms!

The buzz every fall around Central-Illinois is everyone's trip to Rader Farms. I found it silly to pay money to go to a Rader Farms, when I practically grew up on a Raeder Farms (now if I was inferring I did a lot of work on the farm, my sister may argue this point)! I knew Rader Farms had a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, and likely some animals, but I had no idea all of the other activities for kids! 

I was lucky enough to chaperone Evan and Jaden's classroom trip! It was the hottest day in October, but with so much to do, we literally spent the whole day out there! Here are some highlights!

Miss Colette's Class!

 Enjoying popcorn and a movie about the animals on the farm. 

Hay-rack-ride to the pumpkin patch where they got to pick their own pumpkin!

 They created a pumpkin necklace as they learned about how pumpkins grow. 

 Took a break to hydrate and refuel with our picnic lunches!

 Finally, they got to play!!

 SO much fun, that we took Nathan back after work since our passes were good for the day!

Grandpa Al needs to look into making this with his hydrant. Jaden could play with water ALL day!

 I think I know what they are asking for next year for their birthday......a season pass to the IL Rader Farms:)

Evan & Jaden's 5th Birthdays!

I have no excuse. Well, I have a lot of them: Evan, Jaden, Kylie, submitting materials for tenure/promotion, I could go on - but will spare you. This past year I have fallen off the blogging bandwagon; and no one ever said anything about it until yesterday! That was just enough motivation to decide to post. Instead of fretting over all the posts I have not written, I will start with where we are this month: Evan and Jaden turned 5!!

Labor Day weekend, we have traditionally met our families in Des Moines, IA- centrally located for all. This year we decided to rent a house in Rochester, MN. The logistics of the weekend, 12 people under one roof, went surprisingly well! The kids LOVED to play outside in the backyard, and of course, found a hose. A benefit of not being at a hotel. 

Grandma Pam knows somebody everywhere! One of her former students is a Rochester firefighter, and he gave us a tour of the Rochester Downtown Fire Station. Even the adults who were hesitant to come along, found the detailed tour very informative. The boys still talk about what they learned like 'stop, drop, and roll.'

 We (I) were very addicted to the Olympics this summer. What a better theme for a 5th birthday, than using the 5 rings of the Olympics! 

 The Evan & Jaden Olympic games included all of us competing in the Pentathlon!

 The final game in the Pentathlon was the Piñata! Evan, Jaden, and Cousin Elliot really enjoyed hitting the piñata, and of course loved the candy inside! Thanks, Auntie!

The little things: Stickers and Dinosaurs!!

Thinking about that wish......... 

Thanks to our family for making Evan and Jaden's 5th birthday so memorable! 

 Can you believe they are FIVE?!?!