3 weeks away...

A few weeks ago, I started thinking a lot about the idea of visiting Manitoba again. I think it had to do with looking at a photo book every morning with my toddler of our trip in July. It made me want to see all my parents again. And Grandma Helen got a new play structure and wanted Noah to see it. I wanted him to see it to.

One night, Shane throws out the comment that maybe I should go with Noah on one last flight before he's 2 in December. And my heart and mind snatched the idea and ran with it that evening and the following days =)

In the last few weeks, we started to realize our original plan to return for Christmas wasn't going to happen for a number of reasons. But the idea of coming for a visit in November was still on my heart and in my prayers. It was looking impossible financially but we kept praying about it.

Well, last week it came together. The peace dropped in our hearts. $400 came in toward a ticket. And I book it =) We're going to see our family again in 2013 =) Yay! Thank you Jesus!

3 weeks today at this time, I'll be hanging out in Manitoba at one of our parents' houses and enjoying some family time =) And I'm guessing I'll be cold in the "northern" climate again =)

Family Time!

I sure love family time =) My boys are such a joy to me and I LOVE spending time with them!

Today we visited our first pumpkin patch! I don't remember hearing about pumpkin patches in Canada...though they may be there. But they sure seem big here in the midwest.

Last year, we went to a corn maze with some free tickets and right next door was a very cool and fun looking pumpkin patch! I wanted to do that next year! So, next year is here and I have a very energetic toddler that loves animals, tractors, trains and pumpkins these days and all these things are found at that pumpkin patch! So, thankfully I found a steal of a deal (free admission) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4-6pm! So we went!

Noah LOVED the train. He LOVED the tractors and went on his first hay ride! And he squealed with delight feeding the goats from his hand =) That was possibly the best part to watch =)

Yay for fall! Yay for family time!

22 Months Now!

My adorable little boy is 22 months now! Only 2 short months and we'll be celebrating his 2nd birthday! I asked him the other day what he wants for his birthday party. He said two things...aunties and mowers. So we will try to invite his favorite KC aunties and have a mower-type theme =)

Noah is learning new words daily! He surprises us! His vocabulary is already at 75-100 words and he's starting to say phrases and it is so adorable!

The other day, he woke from his nap, sat up, sighed, smiled and reclined, folding his hands and said "Let's pray!". Hilarious! I asked who we should pray for and he said "Nana!" (that is the only person he suggests we pray for....Nana is Auntie Stephanie). He usually suggests we pray for her and then waits quietly while I do the praying. This time, he prayed along with me out loud =) So cute!

Noah is growing and growing! He is growing out of a bunch of his clothes and is already too tall for the sleepers we bought in Canada in July! Wow! Others around the base have been making comments that he seems to be growing inches over night these days!

In celebration of 22 months, I weighed and measured Noah. He is a whopping 23.5 lbs now and 33.25 inches (2 feet 9.25 inches). Such cuteness to me!

He continues to show us so many parts of his personality and character. He is smart and very perceptive. He is tender and compassionate, especially if he hears someone crying. He is super duper friendly, loving to talk with strangers and saying hi to everyone he passes. He has a gift for names...amazingly remembering the names of some people he's only met once. He has more energy than anyone I know. He has a strong love for mowers, cars, trains and animals these days. He also loves bedtime. Glory!

Happy 22 Months, little guy! You are a joy to our family!