Pumpkin Patch

Columbus Day weekend I took the girls up to WI for our annual pumpkin patch trip. I really love the trip this time of the year. The beautiful colors of fall make for a much more eye pleasing trip than the usual boredom I-39 has to offer. Face it folks, if you don't believe the Creator God is responsible for all, you are either ignorant, stubborn or just plain stupid. Sorry, just had to say that. But it's true. Here is just one of the beauties we set our eyes upon.
Another reason a trip to my parents is enjoyable in October is the weather. It is generally not too hot and not too cold. Considering my parents do not have air conditioning and they keep the thermostat set at 59 and lovingly bump it up to maybe 68 for guests, it's a good time to go. This year it was lovely, almost hot but without humidity. Last year we wore winter coats, hats & gloves to the pumpkin patch. It is amazing the difference from one year to the next. It's hard to get a good picture of all 5 of the kids especially when the sun is shining in their eyes and 4 different people are staring at them with cameras. Here they are on the wagon waiting to head out to pick and cut their pumpkin right from the patch!

Annual height check

Shelby's Pick

Morgan wasn't in the mood for a picture in the patch and never did find one to claim as her own. Hard to imagine I know. She did pick a tiny pumpkin back at the little store. She's holding it in her picture above.
After the pumpkin patch we went back to my parents and visited my dad's little patch. Although his patch is small, he had 2 enormous pumpkins. Below is the biggest of the 2. One of my brothers hauled this one home and the other took the 2nd largest. I took the 3rd largest but considerably smaller compared to the other 2.

We barely fit all the pumpkins & kids in the back of papa's truck!

Ashley and I took the girls for a scooter ride on the trail in town. The girls found a friend to pose with.
The trail runs along the mighty Pecatonica River. Here they are watching the rapids move quickly by.

Coming soon will be the great pumpkin carving event and trick or treating. Still trying to catch up on this old blog.

Fall Soccer Wrap Up

Shelby wrapped up her fall soccer season a few weeks ago. I think she enjoyed it and plans to continue playing in the spring when competition starts again. She will be on the same team as this fall. It was fun to see her old preschool friend Isabelle on the opposing team of one of the last games. I enjoyed catching up with her mom as well. Here are a few pics. I found it hard to get good pictures. It seemed like she spent more time at the opposite end of the field then where I sat each game.

Shelby and Isabelle did not get to play against each other. They either sat out at opposite times or played on opposite fields. So this is the best I got of Isabelle. But it clearly shows her personality!

So we will put away the PCSL uniforms and the ball & shoes, and wait for spring. And then we will see if she is interested in continuing with soccer.

4 In 3

Continuing the theme of Morgan and her injuries, I thought I would post about the first 1/2 of this week. If you haven't figured it out already, this should give you a true understanding of our Morgan. 4 in 3 means, 4 injuries in 3 days. After reading my last post, Nate said that isn't even the 1/2 of it. Let's start with Monday. When Shelby and I went to BSF, I sent Nate and Morgan to return an unneeded Halloween costume. She was wearing the Minnie Mouse dress up dress and ears and he requested she change before they go. (He just wasn't in the holiday mood I guess). He said as she was going upstairs to change she started to take the dress off. She tipped herself over backwards while taking the dress over her head. She went down a few stairs. On Tuesday, I was gone for BSF and the girls were having fun with the remote control Barbie Jeep. Somehow during this activity she bit her lip in a couple of places making it bleed. Later that evening at bedtime was the accident recorded in my last entry. Wednesday made 4. Her final injury of the week was at AWANAS. While running during game time she tripped and fell and hit her eye on the leg of a table. She was left with a small bruise and lump. Here's to hoping she's had her fill for a while. I know I have.

Really, I'm Not Making This Stuff Up!

Stuff meaning - Morgan and her injuries. Here's her latest klutzy adventure. While rocking her before bed tonight, Shelby comes in and wants to be rocked too. Morgan does not like sharing the chair so she wasn't happy about it. She asked to have the light turned on so she could look at a partially torn toenail. I decided it would be easier to send her downstairs to have Nate help her clip the nail while I rocked Shelby. When she came back Shelby would go to bed and I would finish rocking Morgan. So she heads downstairs. Keep in mind in our house Morgan's room is at the far end of the hallway from the top of the stairs and the banister. One must hang a short left and go around the banister if one is avoiding walking into it. Well this particular One, who regularly does not watch where she is going, ran her mouth into the end of the banister post. I heard the thud from the other end of the hall just before I heard the crying. Luckily she just cut the gum line a little bit and it was bleeding and looks a little bruised. Her tooth seems to be OK. Sadly, this is not the first time or probably even the second time she has hit some part of her face or head on that thing. I'm not sure how many times she will run into it before she figures out she should look straight ahead when walking down the hallway instead of looking off to one side or the other. I am thankful that as far as I know no one from DCFS or my Insurance Co reads this blog!

I Mean, Seriously!?!

OK, it's Friday. No school. Parent/Teacher Conferences. Done with Shelby's conference. I'm at the computer checking email and the girls are supposed to be picking up the toy room so the neighbor boys can safely play later during their parents' conference. The key word to that last sentence is SUPPOSED. Shelby is moving slow because she put a movie in, and as well I'm guessing because we are going to get her a flu shot when they are done. Morgan is busy doing her latest injury to herself. And this one out of all will be placed in the "stupid" category where injuries are concerned. The ding a ling cut her tongue a little bit with a silly pair of kid scissors. I mean seriously? How many times must 1 mother say, "Scissors are for paper"!!! Dah! So she can't work with her tongue hanging out and a wet washcloth stuck to the end to collect the blood. The scissors are in the trash and I give up!

Johnson Family Picnic

I have a lot of catching up to do on this ole blog. Waiting on pictures and mostly a major lack of motivation or desire to use my brain, has put me behind. Working my way to getting caught up I will start with the annual Johnson Family Picnic on the farm. I'll start out with a little history on how the annual picnic came to be. In December of 2007, my grandpa Johnson was sick over the Christmas holiday so the family gathering was cancelled. Sadly he passed away in January of 2008. When Christmas rolled around again, my grandma was not ready to host a big party. So in the summer of 2009 we tried this picnic idea and it was well received and attended. With such a big family and so many people going in so many directions during Christmas, the summer seems to be a better time for the majority of us to gather together. Since there are 12 kids in my mom's family, each year 3 of them are on the committee. Since she is #5, this year was her year. That put my brothers in charge of games. Jamie did a great job putting together some fun water games and relays. The cowboy boot pinata was perfect in honoring my grandpa who loved his horses and had a business of buying & selling. And what kid doesn't love to smack something with a stick and bust open the treasure? Here are some pics from the day. Aside from the flies that come with being on a farm, great fun was had by all.

Morgan in a water relay

Shelby scooping out marbles

Morgan scooping

Daddy playing Hillbilly Golf with Shelby

(I think Nate had already passed his kidney stone by now)

The Gang

Mosley Family

Me and my best cuz with my grandma

(Looking back at this picture reassures me the decision to stop growing out my hair was a good one. Never again will I attempt such a thing in the summer with the humidity)!

When my grandpa died in 2008, his obituary read that he had 12 children, 48 grandchildren & 32 great-grandchildren. Considering the youngest grandchild is in 2nd or 3rd grade, it is hard to imagine the total number of great-grandchildren the Dwaine and Bessie Johnson family will have. Another one was born this month and the first great-great grandchild is due to arrive in less than 9 months. Yikes! I think one day everyone is not going to fit in one picture!

Stay tuned for the rest of our summer adventures as I get caught up.