Weekend in Howard

Scott took Friday off from work, and we picked Grandma Brenda up and headed to Howard to spend the weekend with Uncle Terry and Aunt Amy.  He was just at the tail end of harvest, so we got to see "how it's done!"

 

The boys on the way to the field where Uncle Terry was harvesting

With the exceptionally dry year a lot of the corn was lying low to the ground making it hard for the combine to get all of it picked up.  Well that made for some great "corn hunting"!  Grandma makes corn husks dolls with her school kids, so she sent us on a mission to find come good ones!

I know...I'm cool!:)  Hey... it was windy and cold!

Check out those beauties!!

 

Uncle Terry was kind enough to take the boys for a spin, so they could see how it works!

After the boys were done with their ride in the combine, they hopped in the semi that hauled the corn back to the grain bins right next to Amy and Terry's house.  Since I was pretty clueless on how the ole combine worked, Terry took me for a quick spin...very cool!

This handy vehicle quickly became Tyson's favorite!  After a quick lesson from Dad he was all over getting to drive it on his own!

"Check me out Mom!!"
 

Saturday we got up and headed to the big city of Sioux Falls to spend the day!  Aunt Jessie was able to meet up with us to spend the day, which the boys thought was very cool! First things first...we hit Sc.heels!  It is two stories and the boys (especially Tyson) were in heaven.  Aunt Amy and Uncle Terry gave the boys each some money so they could buy something special for themselves...very thoughtful.  Aiden found this puppy at Sc.heel's and he was instantly in love.  He immediately named him Sam.  Tyson found a sport band that he could wear when he plays hockey.

Aiden with his buddy....Sam

After lunch at Pa.nera Br.ead, we headed to the Butterfly house.  We had been hoping to go to the zoo, but it was way too cold and windy to brave that!  The butterfly house was great, and well worth the money...and warm!)  They also had an aquarium section that you walked through before entering the butterfly house that was really cool.  You could pet sting-rays, and they also had starfish.

Aiden checking out the "Nemo fish!"

Giving the baby starfish some love

Aiden wasn't quite as sure

Next was the butterfly house.  Scott had made it very clear that it didn't sound like a very "cool place"..."to just look at some butterflies."  Well, it turned out that butterflies are a lot like cats...if you don't like them...they will flock to you like crazy!")  He was the regular butterfly whisperer!:)  It was actually very beautiful and peaceful!  The room was warm and tropical feeling and there was literally hundreds of beautiful butterflies everywhere!

Getting some lunch

Aiden giving this little guy some loves

See...the butterfly whisperer!!! :)

Tyson trying out his butterfly catching skills

Aunt Jessie helping Aiden find a "little buddy" of his own

Sooo proud

Not sure if Tyson had a butterfly on his finger that flew away right before the picture was taken, or if he was just ready for one to come land:)

Grandma and her boys

Aiden giving his best "I'm serious" face

 The butterfly house was right next to the Outdoor Campus and a huge park, so we quick checked them out before heading back to Uncle Terry's and Aunt Amy's.

Aiden throwing rings around the buck horns

Hold on Grandma!!!

Aunt Jessie and Aiden checking out this contraption

Taking one last ride before heading out on Sunday morning.

 We stopped by the field to say good-bye to Uncle Terry on our way out.

Aunt Amy with the boys

Aunt Amy and Uncle Terry with the boys

We had a great weekend and were bummed to have to go back home.  Thanks again, Aunt Amy and Uncle Terry for letting us hang with you guys for the weekend!  We can't wait until we get to do it again!!

 

Marla's 1/2 Marathon!

Marla competed in her first half marathon on Sunday!  She has always enjoyed running (crazy, I know:), but she was afraid that she would never be able to again after her accident 2 years ago.  Her recovery has been great, though, so she decided to give it a try this last spring.  Before she knew it she was running like crazy and made the decision to enter in her first 1/2 marathon.

 

Marla and Mom before the race

Marla and Tony

Giving Mason a high-five along the course!

Coming across the finish line

Just minutes after she finished the race

 

She had been sick the entire week before the race, and she was really worried she wouldn't be able to run the entire race.  Well she not only ran the entire thing...she killed it...coming into the finish line under 2 hours!  Great job Marla!  You are awesome and an inspiration to us all!!

Giant Pumpkin Festival

We have made it tradition to check out the annual Giant Pumpkin Festival.  This year they had it down at the new Downtown Square.  We went in bright and early to be there right when it started.  They had some bagpipe players and then Stevens high school drum squad start off the day.

 

 

 

After the band finished it was off to check out all of the vendors. 

Making some pumpkin masks



The finished product!

Walking over to the "pumpkin catapult"

 

After close to 3 hours of walking around and watching the pumpkin catapult competition we were starting to get hungry.  The huge bag of kettle corn apparently wasn't cutting it:)  We walked downtown a few blocks and had lunch at Thirsy's.  By the time we walked back to the square it was crazy busy!  You could hardly walk down the street!  The boys each quickly picked out a pumpkin to carve for Halloween, and we got the heck out of there!

Weighing one of the giant pumpkins

                                          A great weekend, and a wonderful way to kick off Fall!

Bird House Project

Tyson and Cade worked on bird houses down at Poppy's house over Labor Day weekend.  Tyson was very proud of his work, as he should be!  He did a great job!  He could hardly wait til the weekend, so that him and Dad could get it put up in the back yard.

 

Working together to get the job done

Aiden working on his own project...moving rocks!:)

The finished project!  Looks great buddy!

Aiden didn't want to be left out of the photo ops...lookin good little buddy!

Proof that it works!

Labor Day Weekend

We headed down to Grammy and Poppy's to enjoy the long holiday weekend with the entire Dunbar clan!  These 2 boys wasted no time in finding a "project" to do.  They decided to work on a tunnel.  They worked feverishly...even through the periodic wind and sprinkles.  After all they were prepared...check out the use of the umbrella:)

 

Meanwhile, little guy got some good quality time with Poppy...all to himself:)



Poppy and Sam ready for the ball...check out Poppy's helmet:)



Dad and Aiden trying their skills



Silly boys...standing against the wind and rain.



Don't worry...we made sure Aiden quickly got back out before further digging commenced:)

Aiden and Poppy had no problem finding games to play to keep them busy.  They maybe weren't all that safe...but fun...yes indeed!



The look on Poppy and Megan's faces just about says it all:)

Now we're getting the hang of it!



Enjoying a little down time...playing Ds

 Sunday we all took a little field trip to the park.  We had a fried chicken picnic, and played a crazy game of softball (of which I have no pictures since we were busy playing the game:)  We then walked over to check out the North Platte River.  It was a beautiful day, and the kids enjoyed wading in the water and skipping rocks.



Check out that fancy bunch of kids!



Aiden and his favorite buddy....Kyra!



Grammy and Poppy

Grammy and Poppy with the grand kids



Grammy and Poppy with "the kids".  Leave it to Scott to give Grammy bunny ears:)

Monday morning came all to quickly.  The boys helped Grammy and Poppy with the traditional biscuits and gravy breakfast before everyone took off back home.



Aiden making his biscuits

We had a great time, and are already counting down the days until Thanksgiving when we get to do it all over again!