Indianapolis

We drove to Indy today to visit one of my friends from college. We studied abroad together in the Czech Republic. We visited the Indianapolis Museum of Art -- we went to the out door exhibit. I also took the opportunity to get some pictures of the boys and me in our new fall clothes. I made all three outfits from patterns that Jonathan's Grandma gave me over the summer. Thank you!!!!

Islwyn made a new friend. He really latched onto Cindy and did not want to leave!
The boys playing on the giant skeleton.

School Days

Amund and I sent the big boys off to school last week. Jonathan has been really busy with all of his classes, fieldwork, and his job at the library. Islwyn started pre-school last Wednesday. He really likes it and was excited to be the first student in the class to bring show and tell. Amund and I walk Islwyn to school every day. This is a picture of the boys on our walk the first day of school.

I also had to take a picture of Islwyn in front of the school building. If look really closely behind him you can see the cornerstone--it says "Peace Lutheran 1949."

We couldn't be happier with his pre-school. We love the teachers and the director. They only do pre-school and pre-kindergarten there. It is only in the mornings from 9-11:30. There are 11 kids in his class and they are all from our neighborhood and from all different backgrounds. The main focus of the pre-school is on Jesus and they have chapel once a week with the pastor. I hear a lot of different languages spoken by the parents (mostly English, Spanish, and Burmese). And we love our morning walks to and from school. We have been able to really enjoy the late summer/fall weather so far. Amund and I have been enjoying spending time together. I think Amund really likes having all the toys to himself for a little while!

Ohio

We spent the weekend with my sister and her family. The boys were super into playing with their four cousins (also all boys!)

We got to go enjoy a local lake. Amund had lots of fun throwing rocks into the water.

Islwyn did lots of exploring in the woods on our hike.

And with his cousins.
Swinging from the tree in the front yard.

Amund loved the pinwheels in the front yard.

After a long day with 6 little boys, the adults got to enjoy a wonderful meal at the restaurant where my brother - in - law is executive chef.

More Kansas

We had a really great time visiting with Jonathan's relatives in Kansas this summer. Everyone very generously put up with us and our 2 sleep deprived kids as well!

Here is Amund with Great-Grandma.

Pa singing Amund "The Farmer in the Dell."
Islwyn after his birthday cake.
Blowing out the candles.

Grandma very generously sharing her little boy patterns with me. I now have a new Autumn outfit all cut out for Amund and Islwyn from patterns she lent me.

Bucyrus, Kansas. We were able to spend some time with Jonathan's Aunt Regina and Uncle Darrel. Also with their son Logan (Jonathan's cousin) and his wife and three boys. They have a family owned and operated pumpkin farm that we went out to visit. We even got to pick the three pumpkins that were fully grown and bring them home with us. We are the first people in town with pumpkins on the front porch.
Jonathan with his cousin Logan -- looking at the pumpkin patch.

Islwyn and "Allergy" (as he calls Aunt Regina)

Logan also grows chrysanthemums, and let me take one home with me. Islwyn is helping pick it out.

I like how my son is clutching a basketball and a beer cozy.....hmmmm.

We also got to meet up with one of my college friends and her two kids for a fun day at a local park/farm. It was so great to see them and meet the kids. We hadn't seen each other since college so it was a bit surreal to me. I felt like I was back 10 years ago in college when we were talking and then I would look over at my two kids.....Amund and Leo ...both of them super tired out and past nap time I think.

Islwyn and Sophia feeding the goats.
Of course had to show one with Islwyn and his giant popsicle!

Watermelon!

Islwyn picked out watermelon seeds at the store, planted them, watered them, and picked them pretty much all on his own this summer. We have picked 3 so far. They were super good today. Here is Amund enjoying a big bite of brother's watermelon.

YUM!


Showing it off after he picked it.

We try and help the kids do fun things on their own. I am so glad we did this with Islwyn and so proud of how he did almost all the work himself. I would find him out there, sitting next to his pumpkins, looking at them and talking to them. And of course I LOVED eating the fresh watermelon straight from the garden today.

3,326 Miles Later....

We are finally home after more than 3,000 miles of driving. The boys did great....mostly thanks to my mom getting them a DVD player so they could watch movies. But Islwyn also LOVED playing with all of the little McDonald's toys and beads that Aunt Mical donated to the cause. Amund liked playing with the pipe cleaners. Then on the last leg from Kansas to Fort Wayne, Jonathan's Aunt and Uncle very generously gave both boys birthday gifts that were perfect for the car. Islwyn keeps his in the car and colors on short car trips in town too. And Amund keeps his Mr. Potato Head in the car and plays with it. He wouldn't even let go of it to go into the store the other day and just played with it the whole time. Anyway, here are the boys feeding and playing with Grandad's horses in Colorado.

Note Islwyn's super nice cowboy boots he got from Grandad and Nani for his birthday. We also got him his own cowboy hat.

Thinking about this ...very serious!
Amund, Dada, and Grandad.

Once back in Kansas we got to spend some more time with Jonathan's grandparents. The boys helped Pa pick up the sticks out of his yard.
Photos in the back yard.

The best. toy. ever.

More of the best. toy. ever.
Islwyn begging for them to play with him...

Sugar City, Colorado. We stopped here to play and have some lunch.
More pictures to come of Islwyn's birthday party and our time in Bucyrus, KS.