Package in the Mail

It is rare, RARE I tell you, that I get a package in the mail and today I got one! Ben's mom sent me a package! I was racking my brain trying to think what could be inside and since she sealed the envelope so well I had some time to think. When I finally got out a scissors and opened up the darn thing, I found 2 wonderful surprises inside!

She crocheted 2 Reversible Swiffer Socks from some of her leftover yarn. Resourceful AND reusable. If you click on the picture above you can read the description...but, one side is loopy to help grab dust and the other is smooth - let me tell you, it works! Please don't judge how horridly dirty my floors must have been...

Holy bananas, that's a lot of dirt, hair, grass and whatever else! So, then, I took the big dust bunnies off and flipped it over to use the second side which is smooth for wet mopping.

I've always used a Windex/water mix in a spray bottle to clean my hardwood floors. I spray it on, then go over it with a Swiffer and call it good. So, I did that with this handy reusable swiffer sock and it was even better then with a regular Swiffer cloth. In fact, this was more effective then I have ever experienced the traditional Swiffer to be.

Thank you Sue!!

Pumpkin Patch

Friday turned out to be our day to visit the pumpkin patch this year. Thankfully, my mom came with me, if she hadn't I'm not sure we would have ever left! The boys always have such a wonderful time there - so good, we always leave in tears.

Noah LOVES to shuck corn - or whatever this contraption is called. They could have spent an hour doing this...

This captures Levi these days - silly. He's funny and he knows it.

Searching for our pumpkins. I thought we'd only buy one big pumpkin since we already have several smaller ones at home. But, Noah was very busy with the clippers and we ended up with 3 pumpkins! Like the sign says, "You cut it, you buy it."

If you're in the area, be sure to check out Papa's Pumpkin Patch - you're sure to have a great time!

On their own

On Friday, I took the boys with me to Hesston Decorating to look at flooring for our bathroom. While I thought they were quietly playing with paint swatches...they were actually outside. They opened the trunk of my car and got my camera out.

Thankfully, they were just fine - and quite excited about their adventures -

but I learned an important lesson.

(These are just a few of the photos Noah took on Friday.)

Last Weekend

I know I've had a busy week when I find myself blogging about something that happened a week ago. I posted about Fall Fest, but never mentioned that Ben's parents were here for the weekend. It was great to see them again! The weekend flew past and before we knew it Monday morning arrived and Tim and Sue were headed back to Illinois.

Sunday after church we ate lunch at Ben's grandparents and enjoyed playing and eating wonderful food.

Ethan and Eric got in on some farming in the driveway

and Levi was thrilled to have such nice, soft dirt right next to the sidewalk to play in.

I think we need a dirt pile in our backyard...

Fall Fest

Fall Fest started at 7:30am for Noah and me. I had volunteered to help sell New Years Cookies and Noah came along to help. The weather was perfect and Noah turned out to be an excellent helper!

Rylee was there!

Hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls from Mojo's made a fantastic second or...third breakfast.

The huge slide in the kids area was a HUGE hit again this year.

Friday at the Farm

You're not tired of farm posts yet, are you? Surely, not! I understand if it seems like that's just about all I blog about. But, it's a huge part of our life. The boys ask almost daily to go to the farm, they farm all over our house and so here's some more farmin' for ya.

First thing on Friday, we went out to the farm. Dad was loading the air seeder with seed wheat and fertilizer when we arrived.

It was a gorgeous day, almost unbelievably perfect. Finally, the tanks were filled so off Noah and grandpa went.

Levi, Ben and I stayed at the farm to do some yard work - which was mostly an excuse to be outside.

My dad and Noah planted 70 acres of wheat in the morning and after lunch got the combine out. Lucky for us, dad was harvesting just across the road from the farm.

Levi managed to get on the combine just before grandpa finished the field.

Beans are dry, brown and just plain ugly when they get harvested.

Another, wonderful Friday at the farm.

Busy at the farm

Life at the farm is busy these days!

Bus rides

Your friendly bus driver Levi will take you just about anywhere you want to go - as long as it's someplace he wants to go too.

There was spraying to do, but that's mostly done now

Sometimes, you just never know what you'll find

Soybeans are being harvested and wheat is being sowed. The wheat comes in a huge bag

and goes into one of those enormous tanks to be placed in the ground. There's a second tank on there too (you just can't see it in the photo) that holds fertilizer. It's pretty cool and try as I may, I cannot figure out the equipment my dad farms with.