Want to Take a Ride?

So, this first picture has nothing to do with taking a ride. I uploaded it and was going to move it, but had trouble doing that so it stays here. Our weekend started out Friday night with a party for our friends Jeff and Idania, who were getting married the next day. During the party Jim and Jeff entertained us with some music.Saturday morning Jim went mountain biking (no injuries!) and Jack and I went to the Affton Vehicle Fair with our friend Dave and his sons Garrett and Nick. The first vehicle we saw was this fire truck. Jack didn't want to climb into it, but was happy to say "cheese" and get his picture taken in front of it.

Here are the three boys sitting on the fire truck: Garrett, Jack, and Nick. I think Jack might be making gang signs, or doing the itsy bitsy spider.

This tractor/bulldozer was Jack's favorite vehicle to "drive."

We certainly don't need a lawn mower this size for our tiny lawn.

Jack got to sit on the right side to drive the mail truck.

Of course the Rams truck was a big hit (since they have been playing soooo well lately).

Jack is driving a big garbage truck.

It will be a few years before he can reach the pedals of this Mustang.

At the end, we all rode in a school bus back to our cars.

On Saturday afternoon, we went to Jeff and Idania's wedding, and then to the reception that evening. Both were beautiful and lots of fun. Jim and I went to the Farm Aid concert on Sunday. We didn't get there right when it started, but we were able to see Gretchen Wilson, Wilco, Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, and a little of Willie Nelson. In order to avoid the awful line leaving the amphitheater, we left before Willie Nelson came on, but we were able to see him play a couple of songs earlier (with Dave Matthews and Neil Young).

On Monday, Jack and I went to the zoo with Uncle David and Aunt Melanie. They have moved out of Chicago and are in St. Louis until they leave next week for a month and a half of traveling in South America. They will come back to the States for a few days at the end of November and then they move to Australia! We will miss them lots, so we are trying to spend as much time as possible with them now.

Awesome Weekend

We had a great weekend this past weekend. The weather was nice (for the most part) and we spent all day Saturday and Sunday together as a family.

On Thursday (before the awesome weekend), Jack and I met Grandma and Grandpa at the zoo. It was a great day for the zoo. The weather was nice and it was not very crowded at all. Now that school is in session there are a lot fewer visitors to the zoo during the week.

Jack had a snack while we waited to meet Grandma and Grandpa at the entrance. It turns out they got there before us and were waiting just inside.Of course we rode the train.

On Saturday, we headed to St. Clair, MO to a party on farm owned by one of Jim's colleagues. Rain poured down on us as we drove out there (over an hour away) and we wondered if we were crazy to even go. Shortly after we arrived, the sky cleared and we had a beautiful day. We had so much fun. Jack's favorite part was riding a horse. He went on a few horseback rides, as Jim walked along beside him.

Jack waited patiently in line for his turn to ride.

He's riding a horse!!!

After the ride, he got to pet the horse to say "Thank You!" We also went on a hay ride.

Jack is standing in front of the wheel of the tractor that pulled us. When we see a picture of a tractor in his truck books now, he likes to tell us how he rode in a tractor.

We walked down to the river.

Jim and Jack tried to catch a frog.
Then Jim showed Jack how to skip rocks on the water.

Jack enjoyed the s'more Jim roasted on the fire for him.

Shortly after eating s'mores, the rain came again. We helped clean up and then headed home. We made it home in time to go to a friend's house to watch the ND-Purdue football game. ND won! I was actually rooting for Purdue since there were 5 ND fans and 1 Purdue fan at the house. I thought I would make things a little more even (and my brother and sister-in-law did go to Purdue, as well as my good friend Connie).

On Sunday we walked to an art fair after church. We got some bbq from one of the booths and headed to the playground to eat it. A juggler entertained us at the playground for a while.

No trip to the playground would be complete without a ride on the swings!

Two Weeks Worth of Stuff

After not blogging for over 2 weeks, I have lots of pictures to share. First are pictures from 2 Fridays ago when Jack and I met Margo and Nancy at the Magic House. We had a lot of fun. First Jack played in the sand. Next, he did some sliding.

Then he put on a smock for some water fun.

Lastly, we headed outside for lunch and fun in the outdoor play area. He and Margo play really well together. I think it is because we probably see Margo more than any other friends and so they know each other well.

On Labor Day, we finally got Jim a new bike. He really likes it and has started riding it to work. He even went mountain biking with some friends this past weekend. The weekend before he took Jack for a ride in the trailer.

Jack loves it! He and Daddy both have blue helmets to match Daddy's new blue bike.

Last week, we went to the Powder Valley Nature Center for storytime and a short nature hike. It was fun, but Jack was not interested in following directions.

He's not so sure about that deer's head.

He quickly got over it and put his head inside it.

This past Friday we went back to the Magic House for a members-only morning. Jack got to do some things we rarely do at home because Mommy thinks they are too messy: play with play dough and paint.

On Saturday, we went to the Cardinals-Cubs game with our friends Bill and April. We sat in the third row, just to the right of home plate! We were actually in the third row behind the green seats, but these were the best seats we've ever sat in (and it was for a game against the Cubs)! The weather was perfect and Jack did great. Best of all, we beat the Cubs!

This picture is after the game, but taken right in front of our seats. You can really tell how big my belly is getting in this picture. Only 3.5 weeks until my due date!

Today we went to Suson Park with my neighbor and her grandson and Nancy and Margo. I had never been there before and really liked it. We got to see horses, ponies, cows, roosters, sheep, goats, and some other animals.

The kids really liked playing on this old tractor tire.

Jack showed the others how to jump off it.

Jack and Margo ran down to the end of the horse stable. I think their favorite game is "chase."

We fed the ducks.

After looking at the animals and feeding the ducks, we went to the playground for a picnic lunch and playground fun.

I thought this picture was funny because it looks like he is about to fall off, but he doesn't.